ABSTRACT
Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) has emerged as a social issue as e-cigarette use is rapidly increasing worldwide and is related to many deaths in the United States. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of EVALI in South Korea of a 24-year-old man with acute respiratory symptoms and a history of e-cigarette use. Chest CT revealed diffuse bilateral ground-glass opacities with subpleural sparing, airspace consolidation, and centrilobular micronodules as typical patterns of EVALI with organizing pneumonia and diffuse alveolar damage. Infection was excluded with meticulous laboratory examinations, and the patients’ illnesses were not attributed to other causes. EVALI was diagnosed by meeting the diagnostic criteria with consistent clinico-radiologic findings through a multidisciplinary approach. Radiologists should have good knowledge of EVALI radiologic findings and play a cardinal role in the proper diagnosis and management of EVALI.
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Background/Aims@#A better understanding of cancer cell biology has led to the discovery and development of several new targeted agents for cancer. These drugs are widely used in cancer treatment and have good toxicity profiles. However, some patients are extremely sensitive to these drugs and can develop severe toxicities. Among the toxicities, pulmonary complications are infrequent with most targeted therapies. This study aimed to identify the radiologic pulmonary complications in various targeted therapies and to analyze the characteristics of patients with pulmonary toxicity. @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and chest image findings of 644 patients who were treated with targeted antineoplastic agents at Soonchunhyang University Hospital between May 2005 and September 2014. @*Results@#Of these 644 patients, 90 (14.0%) developed pulmonary complications as noted on chest computed tomography. Among these patients, 15 (2.3%) developed drug-related pulmonary toxicities. Treatment with targeted agents was discontinued in all patients, while 11 patients were simultaneously treated with glucocorticoids. Three patients died of drug-related pulmonary toxicity. @*Conclusions@#During targeted therapy, clinicians should assess for pulmonary toxicities and symptoms that occur with dyspnea. If drug-induced pulmonary toxicities are suspected, imaging studies should be performed immediately, and the possibility of variable radiological patterns should be considered. Discontinuing the use of implicated causative agents and treatment with glucocorticoids resulted in an improvement in both symptoms and imaging findings, but some patients still experienced fatal pulmonary toxicities.
ABSTRACT
Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH) is a rare, multi-systemic disease primarily affecting young male adults with a history of smoking. The two patients with PLCH in our report showed relatively early and atypical radiologic presentations at initial evaluation. On chest CT, PLCH presents variable radiologic features depending on the evolutional stage of the disease. Atypical CT features of PLCH may render precise radiologic diagnosis difficult and usually require lung biopsy for a confirmation of the diagnosis. Our case review is aimed at raising the awareness of radiologists on the atypical CT features of PLCH, to help make accurate radiologic diagnosis and prevent unnecessary and invasive diagnostic procedures.
ABSTRACT
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), based on the 2018 international clinical practice guidelines, can be diagnosed with a usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and compatible clinical findings. Given that imaging is pivotal for IPF evaluation and diagnosis, more emphasis should be placed on the integration of clinical, radiological, and pathologic findings for multidisciplinary diagnosis. Interstitial lung abnormality (ILA), on the other hand, has a purely radiological definition based on the incidental identification of CT abnormalities. Taken together, differentiation between ILA and clinically significant interstitial lung disease (ILD) must be based on proper clinical evaluation. With this review, the recent updates in IPF diagnosis and the radiologic considerations for ILA can be well understood, which can be helpful for the proper diagnosis and management of patients with diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.
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Background@#Few studies have classified chest computed tomography (CT) findings of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and analyzed their correlations with prognosis. The present study aimed to evaluate retrospectively the clinical and chest CT findings of COVID-19 and to analyze CT findings and determine their relationships with clinical severity. @*Methods@#Chest CT and clinical features of 271 COVID-19 patients were assessed. The presence of CT findings and distribution of parenchymal abnormalities were evaluated, and CT patterns were classified as bronchopneumonia, organizing pneumonia (OP), or diffuse alveolar damage (DAD). Total extents were assessed using a visual scoring system and artificial intelligence software. Patients were allocated to two groups based on clinical outcomes, that is, to a severe group (requiring O2 therapy or mechanical ventilation, n = 55) or a mild group (not requiring O2 therapy or mechanical ventilation, n = 216). Clinical and CT features of these two groups were compared and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent prognostic factors. @*Results@#Age, lymphocyte count, levels of C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin were significantly different in the two groups. Forty-five of the 271 patients had normal chest CT findings. The most common CT findings among the remaining 226 patients were groundglass opacity (98%), followed by consolidation (53%). CT findings were classified as OP (93%), DAD (4%), or bronchopneumonia (3%) and all nine patients with DAD pattern were included in the severe group. Uivariate and multivariate analyses showed an elevated procalcitonin (odds ratio [OR], 2.521; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.001–6.303, P = 0.048), and higher visual CT scores (OR, 1.137; 95% CI, 1.042–1.236; P = 0.003) or higher total extent by AI measurement (OR, 1.048; 95% CI, 1.020–1.076; P < 0.001) were significantly associated with a severe clinical course. @*Conclusion@#CT findings of COVID-19 pneumonia can be classified into OP, DAD, or bronchopneumonia patterns and all patients with DAD pattern were included in severe group. Elevated inflammatory markers and higher CT scores were found to be significant predictors of poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.
ABSTRACT
Background/Aims@#A better understanding of cancer cell biology has led to the discovery and development of several new targeted agents for cancer. These drugs are widely used in cancer treatment and have good toxicity profiles. However, some patients are extremely sensitive to these drugs and can develop severe toxicities. Among the toxicities, pulmonary complications are infrequent with most targeted therapies. This study aimed to identify the radiologic pulmonary complications in various targeted therapies and to analyze the characteristics of patients with pulmonary toxicity. @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and chest image findings of 644 patients who were treated with targeted antineoplastic agents at Soonchunhyang University Hospital between May 2005 and September 2014. @*Results@#Of these 644 patients, 90 (14.0%) developed pulmonary complications as noted on chest computed tomography. Among these patients, 15 (2.3%) developed drug-related pulmonary toxicities. Treatment with targeted agents was discontinued in all patients, while 11 patients were simultaneously treated with glucocorticoids. Three patients died of drug-related pulmonary toxicity. @*Conclusions@#During targeted therapy, clinicians should assess for pulmonary toxicities and symptoms that occur with dyspnea. If drug-induced pulmonary toxicities are suspected, imaging studies should be performed immediately, and the possibility of variable radiological patterns should be considered. Discontinuing the use of implicated causative agents and treatment with glucocorticoids resulted in an improvement in both symptoms and imaging findings, but some patients still experienced fatal pulmonary toxicities.
ABSTRACT
Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH) is a rare, multi-systemic disease primarily affecting young male adults with a history of smoking. The two patients with PLCH in our report showed relatively early and atypical radiologic presentations at initial evaluation. On chest CT, PLCH presents variable radiologic features depending on the evolutional stage of the disease. Atypical CT features of PLCH may render precise radiologic diagnosis difficult and usually require lung biopsy for a confirmation of the diagnosis. Our case review is aimed at raising the awareness of radiologists on the atypical CT features of PLCH, to help make accurate radiologic diagnosis and prevent unnecessary and invasive diagnostic procedures.
ABSTRACT
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), based on the 2018 international clinical practice guidelines, can be diagnosed with a usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and compatible clinical findings. Given that imaging is pivotal for IPF evaluation and diagnosis, more emphasis should be placed on the integration of clinical, radiological, and pathologic findings for multidisciplinary diagnosis. Interstitial lung abnormality (ILA), on the other hand, has a purely radiological definition based on the incidental identification of CT abnormalities. Taken together, differentiation between ILA and clinically significant interstitial lung disease (ILD) must be based on proper clinical evaluation. With this review, the recent updates in IPF diagnosis and the radiologic considerations for ILA can be well understood, which can be helpful for the proper diagnosis and management of patients with diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Few studies have classified chest computed tomography (CT) findings of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and analyzed their correlations with prognosis. The present study aimed to evaluate retrospectively the clinical and chest CT findings of COVID-19 and to analyze CT findings and determine their relationships with clinical severity. @*Methods@#Chest CT and clinical features of 271 COVID-19 patients were assessed. The presence of CT findings and distribution of parenchymal abnormalities were evaluated, and CT patterns were classified as bronchopneumonia, organizing pneumonia (OP), or diffuse alveolar damage (DAD). Total extents were assessed using a visual scoring system and artificial intelligence software. Patients were allocated to two groups based on clinical outcomes, that is, to a severe group (requiring O2 therapy or mechanical ventilation, n = 55) or a mild group (not requiring O2 therapy or mechanical ventilation, n = 216). Clinical and CT features of these two groups were compared and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent prognostic factors. @*Results@#Age, lymphocyte count, levels of C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin were significantly different in the two groups. Forty-five of the 271 patients had normal chest CT findings. The most common CT findings among the remaining 226 patients were groundglass opacity (98%), followed by consolidation (53%). CT findings were classified as OP (93%), DAD (4%), or bronchopneumonia (3%) and all nine patients with DAD pattern were included in the severe group. Uivariate and multivariate analyses showed an elevated procalcitonin (odds ratio [OR], 2.521; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.001–6.303, P = 0.048), and higher visual CT scores (OR, 1.137; 95% CI, 1.042–1.236; P = 0.003) or higher total extent by AI measurement (OR, 1.048; 95% CI, 1.020–1.076; P < 0.001) were significantly associated with a severe clinical course. @*Conclusion@#CT findings of COVID-19 pneumonia can be classified into OP, DAD, or bronchopneumonia patterns and all patients with DAD pattern were included in severe group. Elevated inflammatory markers and higher CT scores were found to be significant predictors of poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.
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Objective@#We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the tissue adequacy and complication rates of percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) for molecular analysis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). @*Materials and Methods@#We performed a literature search of the OVID-MEDLINE and Embase databases to identify original studies on the tissue adequacy and complication rates of PTNB for molecular analysis in patients with NSCLC published between January 2005 and January 2020. Inverse variance and random-effects models were used to evaluate and acquire meta-analytic estimates of the outcomes. To explore heterogeneity across the studies, univariable and multivariable metaregression analyses were performed. @*Results@#A total of 21 studies with 2232 biopsies (initial biopsy, 8 studies; rebiopsy after therapy, 13 studies) were included.The pooled rates of tissue adequacy and complications were 89.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 85.6%–92.6%; I2 = 0.81) and 17.3% (95% CI: 12.1%–23.1%; I2 = 0.89), respectively. These rates were 93.5% and 22.2% for the initial biopsies and 86.2% and 16.8% for the rebiopsies, respectively. Severe complications, including pneumothorax requiring chest tube placement and massive hemoptysis, occurred in 0.7% of the cases (95% CI: 0%–2.2%; I2 = 0.67). Multivariable meta-regression analysis showed that the tissue adequacy rate was not significantly lower in studies on rebiopsies (p = 0.058). The complication rate was significantly higher in studies that preferentially included older adults (p = 0.001). @*Conclusion@#PTNB demonstrated an average tissue adequacy rate of 89.3% for molecular analysis in patients with NSCLC, with a complication rate of 17.3%. PTNB is a generally safe and effective diagnostic procedure for obtaining tissue samples for molecular analysis in NSCLC. Rebiopsy may be performed actively with an acceptable risk of complications if clinically required.
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Missed lung cancers on chest radiograph (CXR) may delay the diagnosis and affect the prognosis. CXR is the primary imaging modality to evaluate the lungs and mediastinum in daily practice. The purpose of this article is to review chest radiographs for common blind spots and highlight the importance of various radiologic presentations in primary lung cancer to avoid significant diagnostic errors on CXR.
ABSTRACT
Missed lung cancers on chest radiograph (CXR) may delay the diagnosis and affect the prognosis. CXR is the primary imaging modality to evaluate the lungs and mediastinum in daily practice. The purpose of this article is to review chest radiographs for common blind spots and highlight the importance of various radiologic presentations in primary lung cancer to avoid significant diagnostic errors on CXR.
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PURPOSE: This study was to develop evidence-based clinical practice guideline in order to prevent contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: The guideline was developed based on the “Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN)”. The first draft of guideline was developed through 5 stages and evaluated by 10 experts.(1) Clinical questions were ensured in PICO format.(2) Two researchers conducted a systematic search through electronic database, identifying 170 studies. We selected 27 full text articles including 16 randomized clinical trials, 7 systematic reviews, and 4 guidelines. Quality of each studies were evaluated by the Cochran's Risk of Bias, AMSTAR, K-AGREEII. Among the studies, 11 studies were excluded.(3) The strength of recommendations were classified and quality of recommendations were ranked.(4) Guideline draft was finalized.(5) Content-validation was conducted by an expert group. All contents were ranked above 0.8 in CVI. RESULTS: Evidence-based clinical practice guideline to prevent CIN was dveloped.(1) The guideline for preventing CIN recommends using 0.9% saline.(2) Standardized rate of fluid therapy is 1 to 1.5ml/kg/hr.(3) Execute hydration for 6~12hrs before PCI and after PCI. CONCLUSION: This study suggests evidence-based clinical practice guideline for preventing CIN which can be more efficiently used in clinical practice.
Subject(s)
Humans , Acute Kidney Injury , Bias , Contrast Media , Evidence-Based Practice , Fluid Therapy , Percutaneous Coronary InterventionABSTRACT
Bone marrow aspirates concentrate (BMAC) transplantation is a well-known technique for cartilage regeneration with good clinical outcomes for symptoms in patients with osteoarthritis (OA). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has an important role in evaluating the degree of cartilage repair in cartilage regeneration therapy instead of a second assessment via an arthroscopy. We experienced a case of hypertrophic regeneration of the cartilage and a presumed simultaneous regeneration of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus after BMAC transplantation for a cartilage defect at the lateral tibial and femoral condyle. This report provides the details of a case of an unusual treatment response after a BMAC transplant. This report is the first of its kind to demonstrate a MR image that displays the simultaneous regeneration of the cartilage and meniscus with a differentiation ability of the mesenchymal stem cell to the desired cell lineage.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Arthroscopy , Bone Marrow , Cartilage , Cell Lineage , Horns , Hypertrophy , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Menisci, Tibial , Mesenchymal Stem Cells , Osteoarthritis , RegenerationABSTRACT
Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection caused by Coccidioides immitis. The endemic area is mostly south-western United States. As increasing in overseas travel to endemic areas, the incidence rate has been recently increased in non-endemic areas. The diagnosis may be delayed in non-endemic area. It is important to elicit traveling histories and to differentiate lung consolidation with eosinophilia, for timely diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis. Recently, we experienced a case with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis in a Korean American who visited Korea showed consolidation in right lower lobe on chest X-ray and prolonged eosinophilia. In the case, a confirmatory diagnostic method was percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy of lung. We report acute pulomonary coccidioidomycosis case and review previous published reports with pulmonary manifestation in Korea.
Subject(s)
Humans , Asian , Biopsy, Needle , Coccidioides , Coccidioidomycosis , Diagnosis , Endemic Diseases , Eosinophilia , Incidence , Korea , Lung Diseases, Fungal , Lung , Thorax , United StatesABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine whether adding an angled oblique sagittal plane to the routine shoulder MRI improves the diagnostic performance in the evaluation of supraspinatus tendon tears with arthroscopic correlation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 121 patients who had a shoulder MRI followed by arthroscopy. Two radiologists separately evaluated the supraspinatus tendon for tears on shoulder MRI either with or without the angled oblique sagittal images. Arthroscopy was used as the reference standard. The sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing supraspinatus tendon tears were calculated and compared by using McNemar test. Interobserver and intertechnique variability in the interpretation of supraspinatus tendon tears were calculated as a kappa value. RESULTS: Adding the angled oblique sagittal images to the standard shoulder MRI showed improvement in the sensitivity for diagnosing full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tears and also in the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for the detection of partial-thickness tears. However, there was no statistically significant difference in all of them between with and without the angled set. Interobserver agreement was substantial to almost perfect and intertechnique agreement was moderate. CONCLUSION: Adding an angled oblique sagittal plane image to the routine shoulder MRI showed no significantly different diagnostic performance in detecting the partial- and full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tears, compared to MRI without angled oblique sagittal plane.
Subject(s)
Humans , Arthroscopy , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Rotator Cuff , Sensitivity and Specificity , Shoulder Joint , Shoulder , Tendon Injuries , TendonsABSTRACT
Herein, we report a case of recurrent pleural metastasis after complete resection of invasive thymoma that was successfully treated with surgical resection. Thymoma and thymic carcinoma are uncommon neoplasms derived from the epithelial cells of the thymus. Approximately 30% to 50% of thymomas are asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. However, these cancers may present with constitutional or local pressure symptoms and sometimes with paraneoplastic syndromes, especially myasthenia gravis. Surgical resection is the mainstay of thymoma treatment and has been shown to remarkably improve long-term survival. Despite complete resection, local recurrences are frequent, and surgery is the cornerstone of therapy even in cases of recurrent thymoma. We experienced a 67-year-old male patient with pleural metastasis that developed 6 years after complete surgical resection of invasive thymoma. The pleural mass was excised by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Histopathological examination revealed an invasive World Health Organization (WHO) type B2 thymoma.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Male , Epithelial Cells , Myasthenia Gravis , Neoplasm Metastasis , Paraneoplastic Syndromes , Pleural Neoplasms , Recurrence , Surgical Procedures, Operative , Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted , Thymoma , Thymus Gland , World Health OrganizationABSTRACT
Various diseases can diffusely involve central airways, including the trachea and main stem bronchi. Central airway abnormalities are frequently not apparent or are overlooked on chest radiographs, even though the patient may have significant symptoms. Recent advances in spiral and multi-detector computed tomography (CT) with multi-planar reconstruction and three-dimensional demonstration, including virtual bronchoscopy, allow for excellent display of central airway anatomy and abnormalities with visualization of accurate locations of lesions. Early detection and proper diagnosis of airway diseases based on various radiographic findings will help determine appropriate treatment, including surgical planning and evaluation of treatment response. Herein we describe and illustrate the imaging findings of a wide spectra of diffuse central airway diseases.
Subject(s)
Humans , Bronchi , Bronchoscopy , Imaging, Three-Dimensional , Thorax , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , TracheaABSTRACT
Various diseases can diffusely involve central airways, including the trachea and main stem bronchi. Central airway abnormalities are frequently not apparent or are overlooked on chest radiographs, even though the patient may have significant symptoms. Recent advances in spiral and multi-detector computed tomography (CT) with multi-planar reconstruction and three-dimensional demonstration, including virtual bronchoscopy, allow for excellent display of central airway anatomy and abnormalities with visualization of accurate locations of lesions. Early detection and proper diagnosis of airway diseases based on various radiographic findings will help determine appropriate treatment, including surgical planning and evaluation of treatment response. Herein we describe and illustrate the imaging findings of a wide spectra of diffuse central airway diseases.
Subject(s)
Humans , Bronchi , Bronchoscopy , Imaging, Three-Dimensional , Thorax , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , TracheaABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Lung abscess is necrosis of the pulmonary parenchyma caused by microbial infection. At present, clinical outcomes after treatment are good. However, the pulmonary parenchymal changes on the chest computed tomography (CT) after treatment are not well known. We studied the changes of pulmonary parenchyma on plane chest radiography and chest CT in patients with lung abscess following the administration of antibiotics. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 39 patients who had lung abscess with or without combined pneumonia from January 2006 to July 2010. We studied the therapeutic response in plane chest radiography of them at 1, 2, or more than 3 months following treatment. If any chest CT of them during the study period, we reviewed. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was about 61.3+/-11.2. Mean duration of antibiotics administration was about 36.7+/-26.8 days. After 3 months of following plane chest radiography, 10 patients (36%) showed without residual sequelae among 28 patients. Findings from other patients showed decrease in densities (11 patients, 39%), fibrostreaky sequelae (4 patients, 14%) and bullae (3 patients, 10%). After more than 2 months, chest CT was checked only in 7 patients. Among the 7 patients, 4 patients showed no residual lesion, 3 patients showed decreased densities on plane chest radiography. Chest CT revealed fibrostreaky densities in 2 patients, ground glass opacities in 3 patients, bullous formation in 1 patient, and cystic bronchiectasis in 1 patient. CONCLUSION: After more than 2 months following treatment for lung abscess even though there were no lesions on plane chest radiography, chest CT showed fibrostreaky or ground glass opacity.