Journal highlights

Age-related skeletal muscle loss and osteoporosis commonly coexist in older adults, resulting in increasing risk of fragility fractures, disability and mortality. Because both conditions often become apparent at later stages, earlier markers of musculoskeletal vulnerability could help identify individuals at increased risk.

In a secondary analysis published in Radiology, lead author Quincy A. Hathaway, MD, PhD, University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and colleagues evaluated whether CT-derived paraspinal muscle measurements could predict long-term thoracic vertebral bone mineral density (BMD) loss. The study included 1,316 participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis who underwent noncontrast chest CT at baseline and after 6.2 years. 

Participants with the lowest muscle attenuation, indicating greater fatty muscle infiltration, had lower baseline BMD. Adding muscle attenuation to clinical risk factors improved prediction of follow-up BMD and incident vertebral fracture. 

“Muscle attenuation is closely linked to changes in BMD and the risk of fracture, underscoring the potential for quantitative imaging biomarkers to enhance current fracture prediction models by providing novel, personalized data that are not captured by algorithms,” the authors conclude. 

Read the full article, “Opportunistic Chest CT Paraspinal Muscle Biomarkers to Predict Longitudinal Thoracic Vertebral Bone Mineral Density Loss: Results from MESA.”

Follow the Radiology editor on X @RadiologyEditor.

Improving MR Neurography of Fine-Caliber Nerves

MRI is a powerful tool for evaluating peripheral nerve disorders, traditionally for larger nerves, such as the sciatic nerve, lumbosacral plexus and brachial plexus. Advances in MR neurography, including improved vascular signal suppression, now enable assessment of fine-caliber nerves, generally defined as nerves measuring up to 6 mm in diameter. However, their small size and proximity to vessels make them an imaging challenge.

In a review published in RadioGraphics, Niels Vinicius Padua Carvalho, MD, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, Sao Paulo, and colleagues provide technical guidance and case-based examples for imaging fine-caliber nerves throughout the body.

The authors recommend protocols combining high-resolution two-dimensional sequences with three-dimensional isotropic acquisitions and multiplanar reconstructions. Tailoring the field of view, coil selection, spatial resolution and vascular signal suppression can further improve nerve visualization.

“Successful imaging requires protocol planning, appropriate coil selection and a thorough understanding of complex nerve anatomy,” the authors write.

Read the full article starting Oct. 8, “MR Neurography of Fine-Caliber Nerves: Technical Considerations and Practical Applications.” This article is also available for CME on EdCentral. 

Follow the RadioGraphics editor on X @RadG_Editor.

Comparing Breast Cancer Detection and Risk Prediction of AI Models

Although screening mammography has reduced breast cancer mortality throughout Europe, up to one-third of cancers are interval cancers. AI-based mammographic detection and short-term risk models have distinct intended uses, despite overlap between the two tasks.

In an article published in Radiology: Imaging Cancer, Yao-Kuan Wang, MSc, KU Leuven in Belgium, and colleagues retrospectively studied 20,187 screening exams of 7,430 women. Detection and risk models were evaluated in intended and non-intended settings using single-round screening outcomes.

The top detection and risk models performed similarly for breast cancer detection. At the sensitivity of double reading, however, the detection model demonstrated higher specificity. In contrast, risk models identified relatively more interval cancers and showed the strongest performance for predicting interval cancers among patients with negative screening results.

“The benchmarking of AI-based breast cancer models in this study confirmed that detection models and risk models were better at identifying screen-detected and interval cancers, respectively,” the authors conclude.

Read the full article, “Comparison of Artificial Intelligence Detection and Short-term Breast Cancer Risk Models within and beyond Their Intended Use in Mammography Screening.”

Become an RSNA Peer Reviewer at RSNA 2026

Interested in becoming a peer reviewer? Join RSNA journal editors at RSNA 2026 in Chicago for the inaugural RSNA Journals Reviewer Workshop Tuesday, Dec. 1, 3–4 p.m. Open to all annual meeting attendees, this interactive session will cover the fundamentals of peer review, what makes an effective review, manuscript evaluation criteria and ethical considerations in medical publishing.

Upon completion of the workshop, participants will be invited to serve as reviewers for Radiology and other RSNA journals. No advance registration is required. Simply save the date and attend during RSNA 2026. Check Meeting Central for location details.

RadioGraphics Monograph Focuses on Disease Screening

The October RadioGraphics monograph will explore the role of imaging in disease screening. Published since 1999, the annual monograph features focused issues across radiologic subspecialties, offering up-to-date reviews of state-ofthe-art topics for radiologists.

This year’s collection will examine screening across body systems, with articles on cardiovascular disease, pediatric cancer predisposition syndromes, colorectal cancer, breast cancer in pregnant and lactating patients, opportunistic CT screening, gynecologic malignancies, hepatocellular carcinoma, high-risk newborns and infants, lung screening and pancreatic cancer screening.

Learn more and explore past issues of the RadioGraphics monograph.