With the development of functional imaging modalities we now have the ability to study the microenvironment of lung cancer and its genomic instability. Radiomics is defined as the use of automated or semi-automated post-processing and analysis of large amounts of quantitative imaging features that can be derived from medical images. The automated generation of these analytical features helps to quantify a number of variables in the imaging assessment of lung malignancy. These imaging features include: tumor spatial complexity, elucidation of the tumor genomic heterogeneity and composition, subregional identification in terms of tumor viability or aggressiveness, and response to chemotherapy and/or radiation. Therefore, a radiomic approach can help to reveal unique information about tumor behavior. Currently available radiomic features can be divided into four major classes: (a) morphological, (b) statistical, (c) regional, and (d) model-based. Each category yields quantitative parameters that reflect specific aspects of a tumor. The major challenge is to integrate radiomic data with clinical, pathological, and genomic information to decode the different types of tissue biology. There are many currently available radiomic studies on lung cancer for which there is a need to summarize the current state of the art.

Without treatment, about half of patients demonstrate progressive disease on serial CT over a mean follow-up period of 32 months and, thus, required treatment. Patients showing cavities or consolidation on initial CT are more likely to have progressive disease and thus to require treatment eventually.

This was a study to compare the diagnostic efficacies of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), CT, PET/MR imaging, and PET/CT for the preoperative local and regional staging of esophageal cancer, with postoperative pathologic stage used as the reference standard. Methods: During 1 y, 19 patients with resectable esophageal cancer were enrolled and underwent preoperative EUS, CT, PET/CT, and PET/MR imaging. A chest radiologist and nuclear medicine physician retrospectively reviewed the images and assigned tumor and lymph node stages according to the seventh version of the TNM system and the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system. Four patients who were treated nonsurgically were excluded from data analysis. The efficacies of EUS, CT, PET/CT, and PET/MR imaging were compared. Results: Primary tumors were correctly staged in 13 (86.7%), 10 (66.7%), and 5 (33.3%) patients at EUS, PET/MR imaging, and CT, respectively (P value ranging from 0.021 to 0.375). The accuracy of determining T1 lesions was 86.7%, 80.0%, and 46.7% for EUS, PET/MR imaging, and CT, respectively. For distinguishing T3 lesions, the accuracy was 93.3% for EUS and 86.7% for both PET/MR imaging and CT. For lymph node staging, the accuracy was 83.3%, 75.0%, 66.7%, and 50.0% for PET/MR imaging, EUS, PET/CT, and CT, respectively. In addition, area-under-the-curve values were 0.800, 0.700, 0.629, and 0.543 for PET/MR imaging, EUS, PET/CT, and CT, respectively. Conclusion: PET/MR imaging demonstrated acceptable accuracy for T staging compared with EUS and, although not statistically significant, even higher accuracy than EUS and PET/CT for prediction of N staging. With adjustments in protocols, PET/MR imaging may provide an important role in preoperative esophageal cancer staging in the future. Accur ate staging of esophageal cancer is critical for decisions on patient treatment. Current practice guidelines for the staging of esophageal cancer include CT of the chest and abdomen, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), and PET/CT (1). EUS is a relatively accurate modality for evaluating primary tumor depth compared with CT, which cannot identify the histologic layers of the esophageal wall; thus, the role of CT is usually limited to exclusion of T4 cancers (2,3).Considering nodal metastasis, CT scans, which depend on size criteria, have relatively poor diagnostic performance, as enlarged lymph nodes may be reactive and normal-sized lymph nodes may be positive for metastasis (4,5). Currently, a combination of EUS with or without fine-needle aspiration and PET/CT is widely accepted for assessment of nodal metastasis (1). However, certain lymph nodes that are not immediately adjacent to the esophagus could be dismissed, and the EUS probes, which are typically larger than standard endoscopic probes, are not feasible if the lumen has been narrowed by a large tumor or stricture. PET/CT supports the role of EUS and CT because the maximum standardized uptake value helps identify patients with T1 cancers and pathologic lymph nodes, but the diagnostic accuracy stil...

A radiomics approach can be used to interrogate an entire tumor in a noninvasive manner. Combining imaging parameters with clinical features can provide added diagnostic value to identify the presence of a micropapillary component and thus, can influence proper treatment planning.

Micropapillary subtype has recently been established to be a distinct marker for poor prognosis in lung adenocarcinomas. According to the current classification of lung adenocarcinomas, all subtypes are listed semiquantitatively in 5% increments. In other words, a minimal amount of the micropapillary pattern, precisely <5% of the entire tumor is disregarded. Therefore, we sought to assess the prognostic significance and survival outcomes in patients with a micropapillary pattern proportion of <5% of the entire tumor. A total of 525 patients with lung adenocarcinoma were classified into 3 subgroups according to the presence and proportion of micropapillary subtype: (1) ≥5% of the micropapillary pattern (n=114); (2) <5% of the micropapillary pattern (n=115); and (3) absence (<1%) of the micropapillary pattern (n=296). Sex, TNM stage, lymph node status (N status), tumor size, and predominant subtype demonstrated a significant difference among the 3 subgroups. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were significantly different among the 3 subgroups (P=0.009 and 0.001 for OS and DFS, respectively). Furthermore, OS was significantly better in patients without the micropapillary pattern (<1%) than in those with <5% (P=0.034). At multivariate analyses, age (P=0.005) and N status (P=0.005) were independent prognostic factors influencing OS. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that even a small proportion of the micropapillary pattern, specifically <5% of the entire tumor has a significant prognostic impact on OS. N status remained an independent prognostic factor that negatively influenced OS.

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BackgroundThe diagnostic yields and safety profiles of transbronchial lung biopsy have not been evaluated in inexperienced physicians using the combined modality of radial probe endobronchial ultrasound and a guide sheath (EBUS-GS). This study assessed the utility and safety of EBUS-GS during the learning phase by referring to a database of performed EBUS-GS procedures.MethodsFrom December 2015 to January 2017, all of the consecutive patients who underwent EBUS-GS were registered. During the study period, two physicians with no previous experience performed the procedure. To assess the diagnostic yields, learning curve, and safety profile of EBUS-GS performed by these inexperienced physicians, the first 100 consecutive EBUS-GS procedures were included in the evaluation.ResultsThe overall diagnostic yield of EBUS-GS performed by two physicans in 200 patients with a peripheral lung lesion was 73.0%. Learning curve analyses showed that the diagnostic yields were stable, even when the procedure was performed by beginners. Complications related to EBUS-GS occurred in three patients (1.5%): pneumothorax developed in two patients (1%) and resolved spontaneously without chest tube drainage; another patient (0.5%) developed a pulmonary infection after EBUS-GS. There were no cases of pneumothorax requiring chest tube drainage, severe hemorrhage, respiratory failure, premature termination of the procedure, or procedure-related mortality.ConclusionsEBUS-GS is a safe and stable procedure with an acceptable diagnostic yield, even when performed by physicians with no previous experience.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12890-018-0704-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the utility of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived myocardial strain measurement for the prediction of poor outcomes in patients with acute myocarditis.Materials and MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed data from 37 patients with acute myocarditis who underwent CMR. Left ventricular (LV) size, LV mass index, ejection fraction and presence of myocardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) were analyzed. LV circumferential strain (EccSAX), radial strain (ErrSAX) from mid-ventricular level short-axis cine views and LV longitudinal strain (EllLV), radial strain (ErrLax) measurements from 2-chamber long-axis views were obtained. In total, 31 of 37 patients (83.8%) underwent follow-up echocardiography. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE). Incomplete LV functional recovery was a secondary outcome.ResultsDuring an average follow-up of 41 months, 11 of 37 patients (29.7%) experienced MACE. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, which included LV mass index, LV ejection fraction, the presence of LGE, EccSAX, ErrSAX, EllLV, and ErrLax values, indicated that the presence of LGE (hazard ratio, 42.88; p = 0.014), together with ErrLax (hazard ratio, 0.77 per 1%, p = 0.004), was a significant predictor of MACE. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated worse outcomes in patient with LGE and an ErrLax value ≤ 9.48%. Multivariable backward regression analysis revealed that ErrLax values were the only significant predictors of LV functional recovery (hazard ratio, 0.54 per 1%; p = 0.042).ConclusionCMR-derived ErrLax values can predict poor outcomes, both MACE and incomplete LV functional recovery, in patients with acute myocarditis, while LGE is only a predictor of MACE.