The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of pre-treatment sarcopenia, defined radiologically (cervical (C3) or lumbar (L3) region), in adult head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergoing treatment with curative intent. A systematic search of the PubMed and Scopus databases was performed up to March 2024. Inclusion criteria were adult patients with locally advanced HNC, sarcopenia defined radiologically at the C3 and/or L3 level, and patients receiving primary treatment with curative intent. Risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool non-randomised studies. Thirty studies involving a total of 6924 adult patients with HNC were included in this review. Pre-treatment sarcopenia was significantly associated with worse overall survival outcomes in 26 of the 30 studies (87%), across all treatment modalities with curative intent. The most frequent sex-specific SMI cut-off values were <52.4 cm2/m2 for males and <38.5 cm2/m2 for females. The findings of this review suggest that sarcopenia is a strong prognostic factor of overall survival in HNC patients undergoing primary curative treatment. Sarcopenia evaluation appears to be a good prognostic marker in the HNC population. Future nutritional interventional studies might focus on reversing the muscle loss and improving overall outcomes in identified sarcopenic individuals.

Being able to image the microstructure of growth cartilage is important for understanding the onset and progression of diseases such as osteochondrosis and osteoarthritis, as well as for developing new treatments and implants. Studies of cartilage using conventional optical brightfield microscopy rely heavily on histological staining, where the added chemicals provide tissue-specific colours. Other microscopy contrast mechanisms include polarization, phase- and scattering contrast, enabling non-stained or \'label-free\' imaging that significantly simplifies the sample preparation, thereby also reducing the risk of artefacts. Traditional high-performance microscopes tend to be both bulky and expensive.Computational imagingdenotes a range of techniques where computers with dedicated algorithms are used as an integral part of the image formation process. Computational imaging offers many advantages like 3D measurements, aberration correction and quantitative phase contrast, often combined with comparably cheap and compact hardware. X-ray microscopy is also progressing rapidly, in certain ways trailing the development of optical microscopy. In this study, we first briefly review the structures of growth cartilage and relevant microscopy characterization techniques, with an emphasis on Fourier ptychographic microscopy (FPM) and advanced x-ray microscopies. We next demonstrate with our own results computational imaging through FPM and compare the images with hematoxylin eosin and saffron (HES)-stained histology. Zernike phase contrast, and the nonlinear optical microscopy techniques of second harmonic generation (SHG) and two-photon excitation fluorescence (TPEF) are explored. Furthermore, X-ray attenuation-, phase- and diffraction-contrast computed tomography (CT) images of the very same sample are presented for comparisons. Future perspectives on the links to artificial intelligence, dynamic studies andin vivopossibilities conclude the article.

BACKGROUND: Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) predominantly affects adolescents aged 10-15 years and is distinguished by its high aggressiveness and adverse prognosis compared with other sarcomas. It exhibits a pronounced tendency for lymphatic and hematogenous metastases at early stages. ARMS commonly manifests in the limbs and genitourinary system, with occurrences in the head and neck region being relatively uncommon. The role of CT, MRI, and 18F-FDG positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT) in the diagnostic process of ARMS is yet to be fully established.
METHODS: We report the case of a 49-year-old woman who presented with hematological nasal discharge for one month. CT imaging revealed a soft tissue mass in the left nasal cavity. MRI demonstrated a marginally hypo- to isointense signal on T1-weighted images, a hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images, and heterogeneous enhancement post-contrast. 18F-FDG PET/CT identified a hypermetabolic lesion located within the left nasal cavity. Surgical intervention entailed the excision of the left intranasal mass and the skull base lesion. Postoperative pathological analysis indicated ARMS.
CONCLUSIONS: Sinus ARMS is notably malignant and associated with a dismal prognosis. Accurate diagnosis depends on histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation, complemented by genetic analysis for specific chromosomal translocations and fusion genes. Imaging techniques, including CT, MRI, and PET/CT, are crucial for assessing lesion extent and metastasis, supporting disease diagnosis, informing treatment choices, facilitating surgical planning, and monitoring response to therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Coronary artery calcifications (CACs) indicate the presence of coronary artery disease. CAC can be found on thoracic computed tomography (CT) conducted for non-cardiac reasons. This systematic review and meta-analysis of non-gated thoracic CT aims to assess the clinical impact and prevalence of CAC.
METHODS: Online databases were searched for articles assessing prevalence, demographic characteristics, accuracy and prognosis of incidental CAC on non-gated thoracic CT. Meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model.
RESULTS: A total of 108 studies (113,406 patients) were included (38% female). Prevalence of CAC ranged from 2.7 to 100% (pooled prevalence 52%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 46-58%). Patients with CAC were older (pooled standardised mean difference 0.88, 95% CI 0.65-1.11, p < 0.001), and more likely to be male (pooled odds ratio [OR] 1.95, 95% CI 1.55-2.45, p < 0.001), with diabetes (pooled OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.95-3.54, p < 0.001), hypercholesterolaemia (pooled OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.33-3.93, p < 0.01) and hypertension (pooled OR 3.89, 95% CI 2.26-6.70, p < 0.001), but not higher body mass index or smoking. Non-gated CT assessment of CAC had excellent agreement with electrocardiogram-gated CT (pooled correlation coefficient 0.96, 95% CI 0.92-0.98, p < 0.001). In 51,582 patients, followed-up for 51.6 ± 27.4 months, patients with CAC had increased all cause mortality (pooled relative risk [RR] 2.13, 95% CI 1.57-2.90, p = 0.004) and major adverse cardiovascular events (pooled RR 2.91, 95% CI 2.26-3.93, p < 0.001). When CAC was present on CT, it was reported in between 18.6% and 93% of reports.
CONCLUSIONS: CAC is a common, but underreported, finding on non-gated CT with important prognostic implications.
CONCLUSIONS: Coronary artery calcium is an important prognostic indicator of cardiovascular disease. It can be assessed on non-gated thoracic CT and is a commonly underreported finding. This represents a significant population where there is a potential missed opportunity for lifestyle modification recommendations and preventative therapies. This study aims to highlight the importance of reporting incidental coronary artery calcium on non-gated thoracic CT.
CONCLUSIONS: • Coronary artery calcification is a common finding on non-gated thoracic CT and can be reliably identified compared to gated-CT. • Coronary artery calcification on thoracic CT is associated with an increased risk of all cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascsular events. • Coronary artery calcification is frequently not reported on non-gated thoracic CT.

BACKGROUND: For people at high risk of lung cancer, low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is proposed as a method to reduce mortality.
METHODS: Our objective was to estimate the effect of LDCT lung cancer screening on mortality in high-risk populations. A systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing LDCT screening programmes with usual care (no screening) or other imaging screening programme (such as chest X-ray (CXR)) was conducted. RCTs of CXR screening were additionally included in the network meta-analyses. Bibliographic sources including MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library were searched to January 2017, and then further extended to November 2021. All key review steps were done by two persons. Quality assessment used the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Meta-analyses were performed.
RESULTS: Nine RCTs, with up to 12.3 years of follow-up from randomisation, were included in the direct meta-analysis, which showed that LDCT screening was associated with a statistically significant decrease in lung cancer mortality (pooled relative risk (RR) 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.77 to 0.96). There was a statistically non-significant decrease in all-cause mortality (pooled RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.01). The statistical heterogeneity for both outcomes was minimal. Network meta-analysis including the nine RCTs in the direct meta-analysis plus two further RCTs comparing CXR with usual care confirmed the size of the effect of LDCT on lung cancer mortality and that this was very similar irrespective of whether the comparator was usual care or CXR screening.
CONCLUSIONS: LDCT screening is effective in reducing lung cancer mortality in high-risk populations. The uncertainty of its effect on lung cancer mortality observed in 2018 has been much reduced with new trial results and updates to existing trials, emphasising the importance of updating systematic reviews. Although there are still a number of RCTs unreported or in progress, we predict that further evolution of summary mortality estimates is unlikely. The focus for debate now moves to resolving uncertainty about the cost-effectiveness of LDCT screening taking into account the balance between benefits and harms which occur in all screening programmes.

OBJECTIVE: Multiple lung cancer screening studies reported the performance of Lung CT Screening Reporting and Data System (Lung-RADS), but none systematically evaluated its performance across different populations. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the performance of Lung-RADS (versions 1.0 and 1.1) for detecting lung cancer in different populations.
METHODS: We performed literature searches in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases on October 21, 2022, for studies that evaluated the accuracy of Lung-RADS in lung cancer screening. A bivariate random-effects model was used to estimate pooled sensitivity and specificity, and heterogeneity was explored in stratified and meta-regression analyses.
RESULTS: A total of 31 studies with 104,224 participants were included. For version 1.0 (27 studies, 95,413 individuals), pooled sensitivity was 0.96 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.90-0.99) and pooled specificity was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.87-0.92). Studies in high-risk populations showed higher sensitivity (0.98 [95% CI: 0.92-0.99] vs. 0.84 [95% CI: 0.50-0.96]) and lower specificity (0.87 [95% CI: 0.85-0.88] vs. 0.95 (95% CI: 0.92-0.97]) than studies in general populations. Non-Asian studies tended toward higher sensitivity (0.97 [95% CI: 0.91-0.99] vs. 0.91 [95% CI: 0.67-0.98]) and lower specificity (0.88 [95% CI: 0.85-0.90] vs. 0.93 [95% CI: 0.88-0.96]) than Asian studies. For version 1.1 (4 studies, 8811 individuals), pooled sensitivity was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.83-0.96) and specificity was 0.81 (95% CI: 0.67-0.90).
CONCLUSIONS: Among studies using Lung-RADS version 1.0, considerable heterogeneity in sensitivity and specificity was noted, explained by population type (high risk vs. general), population area (Asia vs. non-Asia), and cancer prevalence.
CONCLUSIONS: Meta-regression of lung cancer screening studies using Lung-RADS version 1.0 showed considerable heterogeneity in sensitivity and specificity, explained by the different target populations, including high-risk versus general populations, Asian versus non-Asian populations, and populations with different lung cancer prevalence.
CONCLUSIONS: • High-risk population studies showed higher sensitivity and lower specificity compared with studies performed in general populations by using Lung-RADS version 1.0. • In non-Asian studies, the diagnostic performance of Lung-RADS version 1.0 tended to be better than in Asian studies. • There are limited studies on the performance of Lung-RADS version 1.1, and evidence is lacking for Asian populations.

The objective of this study is to determine whether the morphometric evaluation of the foramen magnum using computed tomography can be used as an accurate tool in estimating the sex of an individual. An extensive search of the databases, PubMed, ProQuest, Google Scholar, and Scopus, was carried out to procure articles that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The AQUA tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. A random effects model was used for the meta-analysis of the eligible studies using the STATA software, version 16, 2019 at 95% CI and p ≤ 0.05. Eleven eligible articles that measured the transverse and sagittal diameters of the foramen magnum using computed tomography were included in this study. The sagittal diameter of the foramen magnum was greater than the transverse diameter, and both the diameters were greater in males than in females. Meta-analysis revealed that both transverse and sagittal diameters were more reliable for male sex estimation. Since there is a dimensional variation between the male and female foramen magnum, it can be used for initial sex identification and also as an auxiliary to other advanced methods of sex estimation.

Particle size and morphology analysis is a problem common to a wide range of applications, including additive manufacturing, geological and agricultural materials\' characterisation, food manufacturing and pharmaceuticals. Here, we review the use of microfocus X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) for particle analysis. We give an overview of different sample preparation methods, image processing protocols, the morphology parameters that can be determined, and types of materials that are suitable for analysis of particle sizes using X-ray CT. The main conclusion is that size and shape parameters can be determined for particles larger than approximately 2 to 3 μm, given adequate resolution of the X-ray CT setup. Particles composed of high atomic number materials (Z > 40) require careful sample preparation to ensure X-ray transmission. Problems occur when particles with a broad range of sizes are closely packed together, or when particles are fused (sintered or cemented). The use of X-ray CT for particle size analysis promises to become increasingly widespread, offering measurements of size, shape, and porosity of large numbers of particles within one X-ray CT scan.

OBJECTIVE: We performed a systematic review to investigate the appearance of imaging signs on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and conventional computed tomography (CT) scans of the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
METHODS: We performed electronic searches of the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Lilacs, and the Cochrane Library databases to identify studies investigating JIA and its related imaging findings. Inclusion criteria were as follows: original article studies based on humans and systematic reviews, studies enrolling patients under 18 years of age with a diagnostic of JIA, the use of International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) criteria and one type of medical imaging (MRI, CBCT, or CT), and papers published in the English language.
RESULTS: A total of six studies met the inclusion criteria, four involving MRI and two involving CBCT. Additionally, all six studies analyzed the imaging findings of pathological TMJ affected by JIA. The results showed that synovial membrane enhancement, condylar erosions, and condylar flattening were the most prevalent imaging findings in JIA.
CONCLUSIONS: MRI examinations are more specific for detecting anomalies in the TMJ than CBCT and CT. Additionally, these results must be correlated with clinical signs to verify the correct diagnosis.
CONCLUSIONS: This study identified the most prevalent imaging signs of JIA to provide an early and correct diagnosis of the disease.

In severe presentations, major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia (SZ), and bipolar disorder (BD) can be categorized as severe mental disorders (SMD). Our aim is to evaluate structural magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography findings in adult inpatients diagnosed with SMD and hospitalized at psychiatric wards. PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched up to May 27th, 2021. Articles were screened and extracted by two independent groups, with third-party raters for discrepancies. Quality of evidence was evaluated with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Synthesis was made by qualitative analysis. This study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020171718) and followed the PRISMA protocol. 35 studies were included, of which none was considered to likely introduce bias in our analyses. Overlapping areas in MDD, SZ, and Affective Psychosis (AP) patients, that include BD and MDD with psychotic features, are presented in the inferior temporal and cingulate gyri. MDD and SZ had commonly affected areas in the inferior and middle frontal gyri, transverse temporal gyrus, insula, and hippocampus. SZ and AP had commonly affected areas in the temporal pole. Overlapping affected areas among SMD patients are reported, but the heterogeneity of studies\' designs and findings are still a limitation for clinically relevant guidelines.