This study evaluates the performance of a fully automated algorithm to detect active inflammation in the form of bone marrow edema (BME) in iliac and sacral bones, depending on the quality of the coronal oblique plane in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). The results were assessed based on the technical correctness of MRI examination of the sacroiliac joints (SIJs). A total of 173 patients with suspected axSpA were included in the study. In order to verify the correctness of the MRI, a deviation angle was measured on the slice acquired in the sagittal plane in the T2-weighted sequence. This angle was located between the line drawn between the posterior edges of S1 and S2 vertebrae and the line that marks the actual plane in which the slices were acquired in T1 and STIR sequences. All examinations were divided into quartiles according to the deviation angle measured in degrees as follows: 1st group [0; 2.2], 2nd group (2.2; 5.7], 3rd group (5.7; 10] and 4th group (10; 29.2]. Segmentations of the sacral and iliac bones were acquired manually and automatically using the fully automated algorithm on the T1 sequence. The Dice coefficient for automated bone segmentations with respect to reference manual segmentations was 0.9820 (95% CI [0.9804, 0.9835]). Examinations of BME lesions were assessed using the SPARCC scale (in 68 cases SPARCC > 0). Manual and automatic segmentations of the lesions were performed on STIR sequences and compared. The sensitivity of detection of BME ranged from 0.58 (group 1) to 0.83 (group 2) versus 0.76 (total), while the specificity was equal to 0.97 in each group. The study indicates that the performance of the algorithm is satisfactory regardless of the deviation angle.

Introduction and aim. Aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are both vascular abnormalities that can occur simultaneously or separately and increase the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. The aim of this research was to characterize patients with intracranial aneurysms and AVMs. Material and methods. This retrospective research was based on analysis of Digital Subtraction Angiography. The research group consisted of 118 patients. StatSoft STATISTICA 13 was used for the statistical analysis of parameters, such as dimensions and vascularization pattern of vascular abnormalities. Results. The total number of aneurysms described was 168. In addition, 33 patients with cerebral aneurysms were also diagnosed with cerebral AVMs. The average dimensions of the aneurysms were 6.33mm, 95% CI (5.47 7.18) × 4.76mm, 95% CI (4.09, 5.43). The abnormalities were found in the extent of circulation of ACA (anterior cerebral artery) 50 (29.76%), ICA (internal carotid artery) 48 (28.57%), MCA (middle cerebral artery) 26 (15.48%), PCA (posterior cerebral artery) 23 (13.69%). There were 76 (64%) patients with diagnosed single aneurysms and 42 (36%) with multiple. Conclusion. Aneurysms are more likely to occur singly than multiply. The majority are located within the vascularization of the ACA. Aneurysms can coexist with AVMs, which increases the risk of rupture.