Julia López Alcolea

Mrs. Julia López Alcolea

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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18 November 2024 in Diagnostics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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Julia López AlcoleaJulia López Alcolea
Julia López Alcolea
AAAna Fernández Alfonso
Ana Fernández Alfonso
RARaquel Cano Alonso
Raquel Cano Alonso
AAAna Alvarez
Ana Alvarez
AMAlejandro Díaz Moreno
Alejandro Díaz Moreno
VVVicente Martínez de Vega
Vicente Martínez de Vega
Background: The increasing integration of AI in chest X-ray evaluation holds promise for enhancing diagnostic accuracy and optimizing clinical workflows. However, understanding its performance in real-world clinical settings is essential. Objectives: In this study, we evaluated the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of an AI-based software (Arterys MICA v29.4.0) alongside a radiology resident in interpreting chest X-rays referred from the emergency department (ED), using a senior radiologist’s assessment as the gold standard (GS). We assessed the concordance between the AI system and the resident, noted the frequency of doubtful cases for each category, identified how many were considered positive by the GS, and assessed variables that AI was not trained to detect. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study analyzing chest X-rays from a sample of 784 patients referred from the ED at our hospital. The AI system was trained to detect five categorical variables—pulmonary nodule, pulmonary opacity, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, and fracture—and assign each a confidence label (“positive”, “doubtful”, or “negative”). Results: Sensitivity in detecting fractures and pneumothorax was high (100%) for both AI and the resident, moderate for pulmonary opacity (AI = 76%, resident = 71%), and acceptable for pleural effusion (AI = 60%, resident = 67%), with negative predictive values (NPV) above 95% and areas under the curve (AUC) exceeding 0.8. The resident showed moderate sensitivity (75%) for pulmonary nodules, while AI’s sensitivity was low (33%). AI assigned a “doubtful” label to some diagnoses, most of which were deemed negative by the GS; the resident expressed doubt less frequently. The Kappa coefficient between the resident and AI was fair (0.3) across most categories, except for pleural effusion, where concordance was moderate (0.5). Our study highlighted additional findings not detected by AI, including 16% prevalence of mediastinal abnormalities, 20% surgical materials, and 20% other pulmonary findings. Conclusions: Although AI demonstrated utility in identifying most primary findings—except for pulmonary nodules—its high NPV suggests it may be valuable for screening. Further training of the AI software and broadening its scope to identify additional findings could enhance its detection capabilities and increase its applicability in clinical practice.

18 February 2025 in Diagnostics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AMAlejandro Díaz Moreno
Alejandro Díaz Moreno
RARaquel Cano Alonso
Raquel Cano Alonso
AAAna Fernández Alfonso
Ana Fernández Alfonso
AAAna Alvarez
Ana Alvarez
JAJavier Carrascoso Arranz
Javier Carrascoso Arranz
VVVicente Martínez De Vega
Vicente Martínez De Vega
Background/Objectives: The growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in musculoskeletal radiographs presents significant potential to improve diagnostic accuracy and optimize clinical workflow. However, assessing its performance in clinical environments is essential for successful implementation. We hypothesized that our AI applied to urgent bone X-rays could detect fractures, joint dislocations, and effusion with high sensitivity (Sens) and specificity (Spec). The specific objectives of our study were as follows: 1. To determine the Sens and Spec rates of AI in detecting bone fractures, dislocations, and elbow joint effusion compared to the gold standard (GS). 2. To evaluate the concordance rate between AI and radiology residents (RR). 3. To compare the proportion of doubtful results identified by AI and the RR, and the rates confirmed by GS. Methods: We conducted an observational, double-blind, retrospective study on adult bone X-rays (BXRs) referred from the emergency department at our center between October and November 2022, with a final sample of 792 BXRs, categorized into three groups: large joints, small joints, and long-flat bones. Our AI system detects fractures, dislocations, and elbow effusions, providing results as positive, negative, or doubtful. We compared the diagnostic performance of AI and the RR against a senior radiologist (GS). Results: The study population’s median age was 48 years; 48.6% were male. Statistical analysis showed Sens = 90.6% and Spec = 98% for fracture detection by the RR, and 95.8% and 97.6% by AI. The RR achieved higher Sens (77.8%) and Spec (100%) for dislocation detection compared to AI. The Kappa coefficient between RR and AI was 0.797 for fractures in large joints, and concordance was considered acceptable for all other variables. We also analyzed doubtful cases and their confirmation by GS. Additionally, we analyzed findings not detected by AI, such as chronic fractures, arthropathy, focal lesions, and anatomical variants. Conclusions: This study assessed the impact of AI in a real-world clinical setting, comparing its performance with that of radiologists (both in training and senior). AI achieved high Sens, Spec, and AUC in bone fracture detection and showed strong concordance with the RR. In conclusion, AI has the potential to be a valuable screening tool, helping reduce missed diagnoses in clinical practice.

14 November 2024 in Radiology Case Reports
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Journal Article
Open access
AVAna Álvarez Vázquez
Ana Álvarez Vázquez
Julia López AlcoleaJulia López Alcolea
Julia López Alcolea
JUJavier Urmeneta Ulloa
Javier Urmeneta Ulloa
AGAlberto Forteza Gil
Alberto Forteza Gil
JOJorge Rivas Oyarzabal
Jorge Rivas Oyarzabal
VVVicente Martinez de Vega
Vicente Martinez de Vega
Takayasu's Arteritis (TA) is a rare, chronic large-vessel vasculitis that can lead to severe cardiac complications and life-threatening outcomes. Early diagnosis is essential for improving patient prognosis, but its nonspecific clinical presentation and laboratory findings often cause delays. We present a 34-year-old woman with a history of heart murmur who presented with chest pain but no additional symptoms. Imaging revealed aortic regurgitation, ventricular septal defect, myocardial ischemia, pericarditis, aortic wall thickening, and multivessel stenoses, leading to a diagnosis of Takayasu's Arteritis, treated with coronary bypass and aortic tube graft surgery. Takayasu's Arteritis should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with atypical clinical features and cardiac involvement, particularly in cases with valvular disease. This case highlights the essential role of multimodal imaging in the detection and management of TA.

4 June 2025 in JACC: Case Reports
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
Julia López AlcoleaJulia López Alcolea
Julia López Alcolea
AVAna Álvarez Vázquez
Ana Álvarez Vázquez
Javier Urmeneta UlloaJavier Urmeneta Ulloa
Javier Urmeneta Ulloa
JCJosé Ángel Cabrera
José Ángel Cabrera
AGAlberto Forteza Gil
Alberto Forteza Gil
VVVicente Martínez de Vega
Vicente Martínez de Vega
Four-dimensional flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance is highly effective in evaluating aortic prostheses and valve-related complications, particularly in detecting abnormal communications and leaks. This case series presents the clinical courses of 3 patients who developed postprocedural complications. The cases include: 1) a small periprosthetic leak with a fistula into the right ventricle; 2) a periprosthetic leak into the noncoronary sinus; and 3) severe prosthetic valve regurgitation.

30 December 2022 in Revista colombiana de radiología
Verified
Journal Article
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MRManuel Recio Rodríguez
Manuel Recio Rodríguez
AMAlejandro Diaz Moreno
Alejandro Diaz Moreno
Julia López AlcoleaJulia López Alcolea
Julia López Alcolea
DCDavid García Castellanos
David García Castellanos
Se presenta un caso de un feto de 26 semanas al cual se le diagnostica mediante resonancia magnética (RM) fetal hemimegalencefalia total izquierda, asociada con una mutación en el gen SENP7 no descrita previamente en relación con esta patología. La hemimegalencefalia es una enfermedad rara, con muy pocos casos publicados diagnosticados mediante RM fetal, que consiste en un crecimiento hamartomatoso de todo el hemisferio cerebral afectado, debido a un trastorno de la proliferación y migración neuronal que conlleva alteraciones neurológicas graves. Se describen los hallazgos por RM de dicha patología.