Fabio De-Giorgio , Davide Cusumano , Luca Vellini , Roberto Gatta , Luca Boldrini , Matteo Mancino , Michail E. Klontzas , Elena F. Kranioti , Evis Sala , Vincenzo L. Pascali
{"title":"Estimation liver radiomics from postmortem CT: Development of interpretable models for postmortem interval estimation","authors":"Fabio De-Giorgio , Davide Cusumano , Luca Vellini , Roberto Gatta , Luca Boldrini , Matteo Mancino , Michail E. Klontzas , Elena F. Kranioti , Evis Sala , Vincenzo L. Pascali","doi":"10.1016/j.ejmp.2025.105186","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejmp.2025.105186","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) is increasingly used in forensic investigations, offering a non-invasive and objective approach to estimating the postmortem interval (PMI). This study aimed to develop and externally validate radiomic models to distinguish deaths within versus beyond 24 h, using liver radiomic features from PMCT scans..</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A retrospective analysis was performed on 51 cadavers for model development and validated on 80 independent cases. In the training set, 173 PMCT scans across different PMIs were analyzed. The liver was manually segmented, and 40 radiomic features—statistical, morphological, and fractal—were extracted. Robustness to segmentation variability was assessed with autocontoured segmentations using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). PMI was dichotomized as ≤ 24 versus > 24 h. Univariate analyses identified predictive features, and logistic regression models were built from significant variables. Model performance was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, with sensitivity and specificity at the optimal threshold.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Four features were significantly associated with PMI, with liver skewness emerging as the most predictive (p = 9.13 × 10<sup>−4</sup>) and robust (ICC = 0.75). A logistic regression model based on skewness achieved an AUC of 0.75 (95 % CI: 0.65–0.86) and 100 % specificity at the optimal threshold, reliably identifying deaths beyond 24 h. Adding a second feature did not improve performance (p = 0.54, DeLong test). External validation confirmed specificity of the skewness model (70 % at the optimal threshold).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Liver skewness extracted from PMCT shows potential as a biomarker for identifying deaths beyond 24 h, with performance confirmed on an independent cohort.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56092,"journal":{"name":"Physica Medica-European Journal of Medical Physics","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 105186"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145194023","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Giada Petringa, Roberto Catalano, Antonino Amato, Antonio Domenico Russo, Giuseppe Francesco Fustaino, Mariacristina Guarrera, Giacomo Cuttone, Gustavo Esteban Messina, Luigi Raffaele, Alfio Domenico Pappalardo, Giuseppe Antonio Pablo Cirrone
{"title":"Design and validation of an integrated reference dosimetry and monitoring system for ultra-high dose-rate proton beams ranging from 20 Gy/s to 230 Gy/s","authors":"Giada Petringa, Roberto Catalano, Antonino Amato, Antonio Domenico Russo, Giuseppe Francesco Fustaino, Mariacristina Guarrera, Giacomo Cuttone, Gustavo Esteban Messina, Luigi Raffaele, Alfio Domenico Pappalardo, Giuseppe Antonio Pablo Cirrone","doi":"10.1016/j.ejmp.2025.105187","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejmp.2025.105187","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose:</h3><div>This study aims to design, develop, and test an integrated reference dosimetry and beam monitoring system tailored for proton beams in a dose rate regime ranging from 20 Gy/s to 230 Gy/s. The primary objective is to establish a robust system for diagnostic and dosimetry addressing the challenges associated with ultra-high dose-rate (UHDR) radiotherapy. The proposed detectors chain seeks to ensure accurate dose measurements to support future clinical applications and radiobiological experiments in FLASH proton therapy (pFLASH-RT).</div></div><div><h3>Methods:</h3><div>The system integrates three detectors, a Secondary Emission Monitor (SEM), a Dual-Gap Ionization Chamber (DGIC), and a Faraday Cup (FC) , providing dose measurements. The SEM and DGIC operate continuously to monitor dose rates, while the FC, designed with innovative geometric and electronic features, ensures dose calibration. Experimental validations were conducted using a 62 MeV proton beam at the INFN-LNS, spanning various dose rates. Calibration procedures and correction algorithms, including the Boag–Wilson theory, were applied to ensure the reliability of the dosimetry and monitoring system.</div></div><div><h3>Results:</h3><div>Experimental results demonstrated high reproducibility and accuracy of the entire system. The FC exhibited a mean relative dose uncertainty of 2%, with no significant response variation across dose rates, even at the highest dose rate tested (230 Gy/s). Similarly, the SEM demonstrated consistent performance, with an average agreement within 1.4% of the FC measurements. Additionally, the application of correction factors based on collection efficiency parameters reduced the DGIC measurement uncertainty to less than 3%.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion:</h3><div>The proposed system represents a reliable solution for the dosimetry of UHDR proton beams. Its ability to provide accurate, real-time dose measurements under extreme beam conditions supports the integration of pFLASH-RT into clinical practice. While the individual detectors employed in this work (Faraday Cup, DGIC, SEM) are based on established technologies, the innovation of this study lies in the integration and cross-calibration of these components within a single real-time dosimetric architecture, experimentally validated over a wide dose rate range. Furthermore, the system’s robustness and reproducibility make it an invaluable tool for advancing radiobiological research and ensuring the safe application of UHDR proton therapy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56092,"journal":{"name":"Physica Medica-European Journal of Medical Physics","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 105187"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145220469","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Doses to members of public or staff who may encounter PET patients after a PET scan","authors":"Colin Walsh, Geraldine O’ Reilly","doi":"10.1016/j.ejmp.2025.105155","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejmp.2025.105155","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":56092,"journal":{"name":"Physica Medica-European Journal of Medical Physics","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 105155"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145358565","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"FM Page","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S1120-1797(25)00319-9","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1120-1797(25)00319-9","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":56092,"journal":{"name":"Physica Medica-European Journal of Medical Physics","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 105209"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145362382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Feasibility study to investigate the introduction of HDR intraluminal brachytherapy","authors":"Sadhbh O’Toole , Anysja Zuchora , Cathal Coen","doi":"10.1016/j.ejmp.2025.105128","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejmp.2025.105128","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":56092,"journal":{"name":"Physica Medica-European Journal of Medical Physics","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 105128"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145362421","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}