Background: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a visceral fat depot surrounding the myocardium. It contributes to coronary artery disease (CAD) through local inflammation, while its metabolic activity, including the expression of uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) and incretin receptors (GLP-1R, GIPR), may exert protective effects. The relationship between EAT immunohistochemical features and imaging-derived volume remains unclear. Methods: We prospectively studied 50 patients undergoing cardiac surgery: 25 with CAD undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and 25 without CAD undergoing valve replacement. EAT samples were immunohistochemically stained for CD3, CD68, MPO, UCP-1, GLP-1R, and GIPR. Preoperative CT was used to quantify EAT volume. Results: Patients with CAD more frequently had higher CD3 immunopositivity compared to the control group (84.0 vs. 58.3%, p = 0.047), with no difference in MPO and CD68 immunoexpression. UCP-1 expression was elevated in CAD patients (p = 0.004), whereas GLP-1R and GIPR immunopositivity were similar. EAT volume did not differ between CAD and non-CAD patients (102.87 cm³ vs. 99.38 cm³, p = 0.964) but correlated modestly with BMI (r_s = 0.325, p = 0.021). UCP-1 and GLP-1R immunopositivity, as well as larger LVEDD (left ventricular end-diastolic diameter), were positively associated with greater EAT volume. Conclusions: EAT in CAD exhibits increased T-cell infiltration and elevated UCP-1 expression, indicating an inflammatory yet metabolically active profile. Larger EAT volume was associated with UCP-1 and GLP-1R expression, underscoring the immunometabolic role of EAT in CAD.

Background/Objectives: Non-atherosclerotic pathological findings on coronary arteries involve various disorders that might lead to myocardial ischemia, independent of plaque complications and consequent lumen narrowing and obstruction. These patients often present with non-specific symptoms such as shortness of breath, rapid fatigue, and exertional chest tightness. When the underlying causes are non-atherosclerotic, these findings are frequently overlooked in radiology reports as a possible differential diagnosis. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to present the role of multidetector computed tomography (MD CT) coronary angiography in the diagnostic work-up of patients with rare but clinically valuable non-atherosclerotic pathological conditions of coronary arteries. Methods: We performed a literature search on Medline (via PubMed) for works presenting data on rare, non-occlusive, pathological findings on coronary arteries. Results: The review of the collected literature was performed in a narrative manner, intended to summarize mainly findings of imaging characteristics of non-occlusive pathologies: myocardial bridge, coronary aneurysm, ectasia, fistula, stenosis, and dissection. MD CT images of selected cases that were examined at our department, showing non-occlusive pathological changes in the coronary arteries, are displayed in planar and/or volume-rendered formats. Conclusions: Non-atherosclerotic abnormalities of the coronary vessel wall should be considered in the differential diagnosis of coronary causes of chest pain, dyspnea, and arrhythmias, as they may lead to both acute and chronic myocardial ischemia. Based on the presented literature and specific cases from our clinical practice, MD CT is shown to be an important tool for the rapid, non-invasive evaluation of non-atherosclerotic pathologies.

Background: Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for the majority of cases. Radiomics and artificial intelligence (AI) have emerged as promising tools for quantitative imaging analysis and precision staging. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of an AI-based radiomics model to preoperatively predict tumor (T) and nodal (N) stage, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and postoperative complications in patients with early-stage NSCLC. Material and Methods: This retrospective study included 51 consecutive patients who underwent anatomical lobectomy with systematic lymph node dissection between 2019 and 2024, at the Clinic for Thoracic Surgery of the University Clinical Center of Serbia. Quantitative imaging features were extracted from preoperative CT scans using the Lesion Scout with Auto ID module (syngo.via VB50 MM, Siemens Healthineers). Radiomics and clinical predictors were analyzed using regularized logistic regression (LASSO) with five-fold cross-validation. Model performance was assessed using AUC, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, and F1 score, and calibration was evaluated using the Hosmer–Lemeshow test. Groups were compared using parametric and non-parametric tests. Correlation between the variables was assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. All p-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: The AI-based model showed excellent performance for predicting the T component (training AUC = 0.89; test AUC = 0.86; F1 = 0.81) and acceptable calibration (p = 0.41). Nodal metastasis (OR = 0.108; 95% CI: 0.011–1.069; p = 0.057) and LVI (OR = 0.519; 95% CI: 0.139–1.937; p = 0.329) were not significantly predicted. Emphysema was identified as a significant independent predictor of postoperative complications (χ² = 5.13; p = 0.024). Conclusions: The AI-driven radiomics model demonstrated strong predictive ability for the T component and identified emphysema as a clinically relevant predictor of postoperative complications.

Acute gastrointestinal bleeding is a serious emergency condition which without prompt and accurate diagnosis can lead to severe hemorrhagic shock and death. The initial diagnosis relies on a clinical assessment of the bleeding site. If symptoms such as hematemesis and melena are present, an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is typically the first diagnostic procedure. In cases of massive rectal bleeding, a computed tomography scan with angiography (CTA) is often used to identify the source and cause of the bleeding. multiphasic CTA is the definitive first-line diagnostic standard, enabling prompt diagnosis and crucial pre-procedural planning for endovascular management in massive cystojejunal bleeding.

Acute gastrointestinal bleeding is a serious emergency condition which, without prompt and accurate diagnosis, can lead to severe hemorrhagic shock and death. The initial diagnosis relies on a clinical assessment of the bleeding site. If symptoms such as hematemesis and melena are present, an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is typically the first diagnostic procedure. In cases of massive rectal bleeding, a computed tomography scan with angiography (CTA) is often used to identify the source and cause of the bleeding. Multiphasic CTA is the definitive first-line diagnostic standard, enabling prompt diagnosis and crucial pre-procedural planning for endovascular management in massive cystojejunal bleeding.