Dear CT Insider,
Studies have shown a connection between ratings of disease severity based on CT scans and the severity of COVID-19. But are there connections between these scores and laboratory tests in COVID-19 patients that could help clinicians get an even better sense of the acuity of the disease?
In this edition's Insider Exclusive, we're reporting on a study conducted by a team of Chinese researchers that addressed that very question.
Chest CT may also help clinicians predict which COVID-19 patients will respond successfully to noninvasive ventilation rather than intubation, while cardiac CT reveals "silent" atherosclerosis -- which could go a long way toward better prevention of heart disease, according to South Korean and Swedish researchers.
On the artificial intelligence (AI) side, we're highlighting research on how the combination of conebeam CT (CBCT) and micro-CT images can train AI models to locate pulp cavities on CBCT images, as well as how AI and radiomics can help differentiate benign and malignant renal masses. And a team from the University at Buffalo in New York shared results from a study that shows how AI can be used with CT perfusion imaging to evaluate stroke patients' collateral flow -- which could both streamline department workflow and help clinicians make better treatment decisions.
Looking at CT from a societal/population angle, a team from the University of Wisconsin said that the current U.S. Preventive Services Task Force lung cancer screening guidelines perpetuate healthcare disparities. Meanwhile, a group from the Medical University of South Carolina argued that a "centralized" lung cancer screening approach -- that is, a dedicated program to which primary care providers refer their patients -- is much more effective than a "decentralized" approach that relies on physicians to refer patients, track results, and schedule any necessary follow-up.
CT has been around for at least 50 years. And over the decades, it has not only evolved into an increasingly sophisticated exam but also taken its place as an important part of patient care across a variety of applications. Visit our CT Community often for the latest on this exciting modality.
