BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Previous studies showed conflicting results concerning the value of CBF maps obtained from arterial spin-labeling MR imaging in grading gliomas. This study was performed to investigate the effectiveness of CBF maps derived from 3D pseudocontinuous arterial spin-labeling in preoperatively assessing the grade, cellular proliferation, and prognosis of gliomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with pathologically confirmed gliomas underwent preoperative 3D pseudocontinuous arterial spin-labeling. The receiver operating characteristic curves for parameters to distinguish high-grade gliomas from low-grade gliomas were generated. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation among parameters. Survival analysis was conducted with Cox regression. RESULTS: Both maximum CBF and maximum relative CBF were significantly higher in high-grade gliomas than in low-grade gliomas (P < .001). The areas under the curve for maximum CBF and maximum relative CBF in distinguishing high-grade gliomas from low-grade gliomas were 0.828 and 0.863, respectively. Both maximum CBF and maximum relative CBF had no correlation with the Ki-67 index in all subjects and had a moderate negative correlation with the Ki-67 index in glioblastomas (r = −0.475, −0.534, respectively). After adjustment for age, a higher maximum CBF (P = .008) and higher maximum relative CBF (P = .005) were associated with worse progression-free survival in gliomas, while a higher maximum relative CBF (P = .033) was associated with better overall survival in glioblastomas. CONCLUSIONS: 3D pseudocontinuous arterial spin-labeling–derived CBF maps are effective in preoperative evaluation of gliomas. Although gliomas with a higher blood flow are more malignant, glioblastomas with a lower blood flow are likely to be more aggressive.

The measurement of maximum cerebral blood flow in collateral vessels within the Sylvian fissure is an independent predictor for both hemorrhagic transformation and good outcome. Purpose To develop a quantitative assessment of collateral perfusion at CT and to investigate its value in the prediction of outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Materials and Methods This retrospective study reviewed data from consecutive patients with AIS and an occluded M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery who underwent pretreatment perfusion CT between May 2009 and August 2017. The maximum cerebral blood flow (CBF) of collateral vessels (cCBFmax) within the Sylvian fissure was calculated for each patient. Good outcome was defined as a 90-day modified Rankin scale score of 0–2. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between cCBFmax and (a) hemorrhagic transformation and (b) clinical outcome. Results The final analysis included 204 patients (median age, 73 years; interquartile range, 62–80 years; 82 [40.2%] women). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that higher cCBFmax was an independent predictor for (a) a lower risk of hemo...

Purpose: It is controversial whether atypical meningioma patients undergoing gross-total resection (GTR) can benefit from postoperative radiotherapy (PORT). This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of PORT on atypical meningioma patients. Methods: Patients diagnosed with atypical meningioma from 2008 to 2015 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The Kaplan–Meier survival curves were generated, and the log-rank test was used to compare the differences among groups. Univariable and multivariable COX regressions were conducted for survival analyses. Results: A total of 1014 patients were enrolled. The 5-year survival rate of the overall patients was 79.0%. PORT was performed in 315 (31.1%) patients. The utilization rates of PORT in patients undergoing GTR and undergoing subtotal resection (STR) were 26.7% and 42.2%, respectively. For patients undergoing STR, log-rank test showed that overall survival (OS) time was significantly longer in patients receiving PORT than those not (p = 0.026). For patients undergoing GTR, OS time did not show significant association with PORT (p = 0.339). In addition, patients undergoing STR with PORT had no significantly different OS time compared with those undergoing GTR with PORT (p = 0.398). Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that receipt of PORT (p = 0.187) was not an independent predictor of OS after adjustment. Conclusion: PORT may not prolong the OS in atypical meningioma patients undergoing GTR. However, patients undergoing STR may benefit from PORT and achieve similar OS to those undergoing GTR.

Background: It still remains unclear whether patients with atypical meningioma (AM) could benefit from postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy (PORT) after gross-total resection (GTR).Objective: Exploring the effectiveness of PORT on AM patients after GTR.Methods: Literatures on PubMed, Embase, Web of science, and Scopus databases published between January 2000 and January 2019 were searched. After the selection based on the certain exclusion criteria, the Newcastle-Ottawa evaluation scale was used to evaluate the quality of the included literatures. Finally, a meta-analysis was conducted to analyze the effectiveness of PORT on local control (LC), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in atypical meningioma patients after GTR.Results: A total of 17 articles with 2,008 AM patients were included in the meta-analysis. The 5-year LC, 5-year PFS, and 5-year OS rates were 82.2, 84.1, and 79.0%, respectively, for AM patients receiving PORT after GTR, and they were 71.0, 71.9, and 81.5%, respectively, for those not receiving PORT after GTR. PORT could significantly improve 5-year LC rate (OR [95% Cl] = 2.59 [1.40–4.81], P = 0.002) and 5-year PFS rate (OR [95% Cl] = 1.99 [1.35–2.95], P = 0.001), but did not significantly improve 5-year OS rate (OR [95% Cl] = 1.07 [0.60–1.91], P = 0.828).Conclusion: PORT could improve the 5-year LC rate and 5-year PFS rate in AM patients after GTR. AM patients might benefit from PORT after GTR.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients with stroke etiology of large-artery atherosclerosis were thought to have better collateral circulation compared with patients with other stroke etiologies. We aimed to investigate the association between stroke etiology and collateral circulation with a new quantitative collateral assessment method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed data from consecutive patients with proximal anterior artery occlusion who underwent CTP before reperfusion therapy. CBF maps were derived from CTP. A new indicator, maximum CBF of collateral vessels within the Sylvian fissure (cCBF_max), was applied to quantitatively assess the collateral status. The relationship between collateral status and stroke etiology was investigated. RESULTS: A total of 296 patients were finally analyzed. The median cCBF_max was significantly higher in patients with large-artery atherosclerosis than in those without it (92 [interquartile range, 65–123] mL/100 g/min versus 62 [interquartile range, 46–82] mL/100 g/min; P < .001). Multivariable analysis revealed that a higher cCBF_max score was independently associated with large-artery atherosclerosis etiology (OR, 1.010; 95% CI, 1.002–1.018; P = .017) after adjustment. The area under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity of the final model in predicting the etiology of large-artery atherosclerosis were 0.870, 89.7%, and 75.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with large-artery atherosclerosis had a more adequate collateral perfusion supply with the new quantitative collateral assessment. The new quantitative collateral measurement might contribute to the prediction of stroke etiology in the acute clinical scenario for patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Artificial intelligence provides a new research concept for digital image processing. However, at present, artificial intelligence is rarely introduced into the teaching of digital image processing in colleges and universities, and there are problems such as obsolete teaching content, single teaching method and simple course experiment, which affect the teaching effect and are not conducive to the cultivation of comprehensive and innovative talents. Digital image processing technology brings more possibilities to communication engineering and makes people's communication more convenient. For example, video calls and photo transmission make people's communication methods in daily life more and more diversified. The limitation of time and space allows people to meet online, creating more communication possibilities. However, there are still many problems and methods worthy of in-depth exploration. Therefore, this paper has a comprehensive understanding and mastery of the traditional methods and deep learning methods of digital image processing, so as to improve the relevant project practice and scientific research exploration ability, and make reference for similar research conclusions.