Week in Review: Assessing epicardial fat volume | Rotator cuff tendinopathy | Educational debt

Dear AuntMinnie Member, 

Increased epicardial adipose tissue volume has been tied to cardiovascular disorders such as coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation. Our most highly viewed article this week reported on how CT and MRI findings correlated for characterizing both the volume and quality of epicardial fat. 

Next up on the top story list was our coverage of a study describing the respective values of ultrasound and MRI for diagnosing the causes of pain severity in rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy. Meanwhile, the overall prevalence of medical educational debt has declined among radiology-bound medical graduates, but those from self-identified racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in medicine continue to be more likely to be burdened by it, according to a recent study.

In other news, genicular artery embolization was found to significantly reduce key biomarkers that drive pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Also, F-18 fluoroestradiol (FES) PET/CT showed value for diagnosing axillary lymph node metastasis in women with invasive lobular cancer. And a machine-learning algorithm can help assess the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

What’s more, an AI model can help stratify lung nodule disease risk on low-dose CT lung cancer screening exams. And researchers have highlighted the benefit of a specific role for AI in screening mammography. 

See below for the full list of our top stories from last week. 

1. MRI, CT findings correlate for assessing epicardial fat volume

2. Ultrasound plus MRI helps diagnose pain from rotator cuff tendinopathy

3. Race, ethnicity influence educational debt among radiology-bound MDs

4. GAE reduces pain biomarkers in knee osteoarthritis

5. FES-PET shows promise staging women with invasive lobular cancer

6. Machine learning plus CT helps assess severity of COPD

7. ‘Habitat’ AI model helps stratify lung nodule disease risk on LDCT

8. Active thyroid surveillance effective, beneficial for older patients

9. Hybrid AI reading shows success in breast cancer screening

10. Structured CT reporting tool may aid hernia detection after bariatric surgery

11. Higher ventricular and atrial heart volumes boost cardiac disease risk

12. Combined MRI approach characterizes architectural distortions on mammo

13. POCUS performs well in assessing pathologic venous congestion

14. CE MRI-based radiomics model captures DEB TACE-induced tumor changes

Erik L. Ridley
Editor in Chief
AuntMinnie.com