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ArticleEuropean radiology2024

An artificial intelligence algorithm for pulmonary embolism detection on polychromatic computed tomography: performance on virtual monochromatic images.

Eline Langius-Wiffen, Ingrid M Nijholt, Rogier A van Dijk, Erwin de Boer, Jacqueline Nijboer-Oosterveld, Wouter B Veldhuis, Pim A de Jong, Martijn F Boomsma

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Article in European radiology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. [AI-enabled clinical decision support systems: challenges and opportunities].Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz · 2025
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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Eline Langius-WiffenDepartment of Radiology, Isala Hospital, Dr. Van Heesweg 2, 8025 AB, Zwolle, The Netherlands. elinelangius@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8290-115X
Ingrid M NijholtDepartment of Radiology, Isala Hospital, Dr. Van Heesweg 2, 8025 AB, Zwolle, The Netherlands.
Rogier A van DijkDepartment of Radiology, Isala Hospital, Dr. Van Heesweg 2, 8025 AB, Zwolle, The Netherlands.
Erwin de BoerDepartment of Radiology, Isala Hospital, Dr. Van Heesweg 2, 8025 AB, Zwolle, The Netherlands.
Jacqueline Nijboer-OosterveldDepartment of Radiology, Isala Hospital, Dr. Van Heesweg 2, 8025 AB, Zwolle, The Netherlands.
Wouter B VeldhuisDepartment of Radiology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Pim A de JongDepartment of Radiology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Martijn F BoomsmaDepartment of Radiology, Isala Hospital, Dr. Van Heesweg 2, 8025 AB, Zwolle, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesVirtual monochromatic images (VMI) are increasingly used in clinical practice as they improve contrast-to-noise ratio. However, due to their different appearances, the performance of artificial intelligence (AI) trained on conventional CT images may worsen. The goal of this study was to assess the performance of an established AI algorithm trained on conventional polychromatic computed tomography (CT) images (CPI) to detect pulmonary embolism (PE) on VMI.

methodsPaired 60 kiloelectron volt (keV) VMI and CPI of 114 consecutive patients suspected of PE, obtained with a detector-based spectral CT scanner, were retrospectively analyzed by an established AI algorithm. The CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) were classified as positive or negative for PE on a per-patient level. The reference standard was established using a comprehensive method that combined the evaluation of the attending radiologist and three experienced cardiothoracic radiologists aided by two different detection tools. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and likelihood ratios of the algorithm on VMI and CPI were compared.

resultsThe prevalence of PE according to the reference standard was 35.1% (40 patients). None of the diagnostic accuracy measures of the algorithm showed a significant difference between CPI and VMI. Sensitivity was 77.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 64.6-90.4%) and 85.0% (73.9-96.1%) (p = 0.08) on CPI and VMI respectively and specificity 96.0% (91.4-100.0%) and 94.6% (89.4-99.7%) (p = 0.32).

conclusionsDiagnostic performance of the AI algorithm that was trained on CPI did not drop on VMI, which is reassuring for its use in clinical practice. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: A commercially available AI algorithm, trained on conventional polychromatic CTPA, could be safely used on virtual monochromatic images. This supports the sustainability of AI-aided detection of PE on CT despite ongoing technological advances in medical imaging, although monitoring in daily practice will remain important. KEY POINTS: • Diagnostic accuracy of an AI algorithm trained on conventional polychromatic images to detect PE did not drop on virtual monochromatic images. • Our results are reassuring as innovations in hardware and reconstruction in CT are continuing, whilst commercial AI algorithms that are trained on older generation data enter healthcare.

Indexed as

Artificial IntelligencePulmonary EmbolismAlgorithmsComputed Tomography AngiographyHumansRadiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-AssistedRetrospective StudiesSignal-To-Noise RatioTomography, X-Ray ComputedArtificial intelligenceComputed tomography angiographyPulmonary embolismRetrospective studies

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.