Diagnóstico diferencial: ¿Qué es, cómo se hace, dónde lo enseñan? / Differential diagnosis: what is it, how is it done and where is it taught?

El diagnóstico es la piedra angular de la medicina individual, por tanto, dominarlo y conocerlo es esencial para todo médico al indagar en el estado de salud y patológico de los pacientes. Los profesionales de la salud deben dedicar todos sus esfuerzos a su realización, siempre que disponga de los elementos y medios necesarios, tanto teóricos como prácticos, para la correcta utilización del método clínico, elemento esencial del diagnóstico diferencial. En este artículo se abordan los aspectos más relevantes que intervienen en la realización del diagnóstico de los pacientes; se enfatiza en los pasos necesarios para efectuar un verdadero diagnóstico diferencial que posibilite la decantación de las posibilidades etiológicas del cuadro clínico del enfermo. A través de la correcta aplicación del método clínico es posible la aproximación al diagnóstico clínico definitivo del paciente.

Diagnosis is the cornerstone of individual medicine, therefore, mastering it and knowing it is essential for every doctor when inquiring into the health and pathological status of patients. Health professionals must dedicate all their efforts to its realization as long as they have the necessary elements and means, both theoretical and practical, for the correct use of the clinical method, which is an essential element of differential diagnosis. This article addresses the most relevant aspects involved in carrying out patient's diagnosis; emphasis is placed on the necessary steps to carry out a true differential diagnosis that makes it possible to decant the etiological possibilities of the patient's clinical manifestations. It is possible to approach the definitive clinical diagnosis of the patient through the correct application of the clinical method.

Tumor miofibroblastico inflamatorio que causa obstrucción intestinal en adulto mayor por intususcepción intestinal: Reporte de caso

La intususcepción intestinal en pacientes adultos es una entidad infrecuente, la cual corresponde alrededor del 5% de todas las causas de obstrucción intestinal. Su diagnóstico no es fácil, dado lo poco especifico de los síntomas de los pacientes que la presentan; este se sustenta principalmente en los hallazgos de los estudios de imagen. El manejo quirúrgico es la piedra angular del tratamiento de esta patología, y su éxito va a estar determinado por el diagnóstico oportuno y la experticia del cirujano tratante. En este artículo se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de 62 años, que consulta por cuadro de dolor abdominal inespecífico y síntomas urinarios irritativos, el cual por persistencia del dolor abdominal pese al manejo medico es llevado a cirugía, donde se diagnostica de manera intraoperatoria una invaginación intestinal a nivel de íleon distal.

Intestinal intussusception in adult patients is a rare entity, which corresponds to about 5% of all causes of intestinal obstruction, its diagnosis is not easy given the lack of specific symptoms of patients who present it. This is mainly based on the findings of imaging studies, surgical management is the cornerstone of treatment of this pathology and its success will be determined by timely diagnosis as well as by the expertise of the treating surgeon. This article presents the case of a 62-year-old male patient who consults due to nonspecific abdominal pain and irritative urinary symptoms, who due to persistence of abdominal pain despite medical management is taken to surgery where it is diagnosed intraoperatively. an intestinal intussusception at the level of the distal ileum.

Autopsy findings of acute erythroid leukemia

ABSTRACT Acute erythroid leukemia (AEL) is an exceedingly uncommon but distinct hematological malignancy that shows neoplastic proliferation of erythroid precursors with maturation arrest and no significant myeloblasts. We describe an autopsy case of this rare entity in a 62-year-old man with co-morbidities. He underwent a bone marrow (BM) examination for pancytopenia during the first outpatient department visit, which revealed an increased number of erythroid precursors with dysmegakaryopoiesis suggesting the possibility of Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Thereafter, his cytopenia got worsened, warranting blood and platelet transfusions. Four weeks later on the second BM examination, AEL was diagnosed based on morphology and immunophenotyping. Targeted resequencing for myeloid mutations revealed TP53 and DNMT3A mutations. He was initially managed along febrile neutropenia with the stepwise escalation of antibiotics. He developed hypoxia attributed to anemic heart failure. Subsequently, he had hypotension and respiratory fatigue pre-terminally and succumbed to his Illness. A complete autopsy showed infiltration of various organs by AEL and leukostasis. Besides, there was extramedullary hematopoiesis, arterionephrosclerosis, diabetic nephropathy (ISN-RPS class II), mixed dust pneumoconiosis, and pulmonary arteriopathy. The histomorphology of AEL was challenging, and the differential diagnoses were many. Thus, this case highlights the autopsy pathology of AEL, an uncommon entity with a strict definition, and its relevant differentials.

Magnetic Resonance as a Method for Diagnosis for Traumatic Lesions by Brachial Plexus Avulsion / Ressonância magnética como método para diagnóstico das lesões traumáticas por avulsão do plexo braquial

Abstract Objective The incidence of traumatic brachial plexus injuries has been increasing considerably in Brazil, mainly due to the increase in the number of motorcycle accidents. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of brachial plexus avulsion lesions, comparing it with the findings of physical and intraoperative examination. Methods A total of 16 patients with brachial plexus injury were prospectively evaluated and treated at the hand surgery outpatient clinic from our service. All patients underwent MRI of the brachial plexus, and the findings were inserted on a table, as well as the physical examination data, and part of the patients had the plexus evaluated intraoperatively. Results In the present study, the accuracy of MRI in the identification of root avulsion was 100%, with 100% sensitivity and specificity when comparing imaging with surgical findings. Conclusion Magnetic resonance imaging showed high sensitivity and specificity, confirmed by intraoperative findings, which allows considering this test as the gold standard in the diagnosis of avulsion in traumatic brachial plexus injuries.

Resumo Objetivo A incidência de lesões traumáticas do plexo braquial vem aumentando consideravelmente no Brasil, principalmente devido ao aumento do número de acidentes de motocicleta. O objetivo do presente estudo é avaliar a sensibilidade e a especificidade da ressonância magnética (RM) no diagnóstico das lesões por avulsão do plexo braquial, comparando com os achados do exame físico e do intraoperatório. Métodos Foram avaliados prospectivamente 16 pacientes com lesão do plexo braquial atendidos no ambulatório de cirurgia da mão de nosso serviço. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos ao exame de RM do plexo braquial e os achados foram inseridos em uma tabela, assim como os dados do exame físico, e parte dos pacientes teve o plexo avaliado intraoperatoriamente. Resultados No presente estudo, a acurácia da RM na identificação de avulsão de raízes foi de 100%, com 100% de sensibilidade e especificidade comparando-se achados da imagem e cirúrgicos. Conclusão A RM mostrou alta sensibilidade e especificidade, confirmadas por achados intraoperatórios, o que permite considerar este exame como padrão outro no diagnóstico de avulsão nas lesões traumáticas do plexo braquial.

Adenocarcinoma de apéndice, un diagnóstico diferencial en pacientes con dolor abdominal. Reporte de caso / Adenocarcinoma of the Appendix, a Differential Diagnosis in Patients with Abdominal Pain. Case Report / Adenocarcinoma do apêndice, diagnóstico diferencial em pacientes com dor abdominal. Relato de caso

Introducción. El dolor abdominal agudo es una causa frecuente de consulta en los servicios de urgencias. Su incidencia es alrededor del 5%, de los cuales el 10%- 25% de los pacientes requieren tratamiento quirúrgico. Las neoplasias apendiculares primarias son infrecuentes, actualmente representan 1% de las neoplasias malignas de origen gastrointestinal. Existe un predominio en mujeres y se debe sospechar en pacientes con factores de riesgo. El objetivo es entender la importancia del diagnóstico oportuno en el abordaje del paciente con dolor abdominal agudo. Presentación del caso. Mujer con cuadro clínico de 5 días de dolor abdominal, con hallazgo en tomografía de abdomen de marcada dilatación quística del apéndice cecal con calcificaciones lineales y nodulares en la pared y su interior. Intraoperariamente, se realizó hemicolectomía derecha con resultado histológico de neoplasia mucinosa del apéndice (adenoma serrado) con pérdida de la muscularis mucosae, catalogándolo como adenocarcinoma de bajo grado. Discusión. Los tumores apendiculares representan el 1% de las neoplasias malignas de origen gastrointestinal, son un hallazgo incidental (0.7-1.4%) en los procedimientos de apendicectomía. El diagnóstico es histopatológico y el pronóstico se relaciona con la clasificación. Es importante conocer, identificar y sospechar esta patología dada su infrecuencia, con lo cual se puede mejorar el pronóstico en los pacientes. Conclusión. Los tumores apendiculares son infrecuentes, los cuales deben ser incluidos en el grupo de patologías causantes de dolor abdominal agudo.

Introduction. Acute abdominal pain is a frequent cause of consultation to emergency services. Its incidence is about 5%, of which 10%-25% of patients require surgical treatment. Primary appendiceal neoplasms are infrequent. They currently represent 1% of malignant neoplasms of gastrointestinal origin. They are predominant in women and must be suspected in patients with risk factors. The objective is to understand the importance of timely diagnosis in approaching patients with acute abdominal pain. Case report. A woman with clinical condition of 5 days of abdominal pain. Marked cystic dilation of the cecal appendix with linear and nodular calcifications on its wall and interior found in a tomography of the abdomen. Intraoperatively, a right hemicolectomy was performed with a histological result of mucinous neoplasm of the appendix (serrated adenoma) with loss of the muscularis mucosae, classifying it as a low grade adenocarcinoma. Discussion. Appendiceal tumors represent 1% of malignant neoplasms of gastrointestinal origin, with an incidental finding (0.7-1.4%) in appendectomy procedures. The diagnosis is histopathological, and prognosis is related to its classification. It is important to know, identify and suspect this pathology due to its infrequency, which can improve the patient's prognosis. Conclusion. Appendiceal tumors are infrequent and should be included in the group of pathologies that cause acute abdominal pain.

Introdução. A dor abdominal aguda é causa frequente de consulta nos serviços de emergência. Sua incidência é em torno de 5%, dos quais entre 10% e 25% dos pacientes necessitam de tratamento cirúrgico. As neoplasias primárias de apêndice são raras, representando atualmente 1% das neoplasias malignas de origem gastrointestinal. Há predominância em mulheres e deve-se suspeitar em pacientes com fatores de risco. O objetivo é compreender a importância do diagnóstico oportuno na abordagem de pacientes com dor abdominal aguda. Relato de caso. Mulher com quadro clínico de dor abdominal por 5 dias, com achado tomográfico de abdome de dilatação cística acentuada do apêndice cecal com calcificações lineares e nodulares na parede e seu interior. No intraoperatório foi realizada hemicolectomia direita com resultado histológico de neoplasia mucinosa de apêndice (adenoma serrilhado) com perda da muscularis mucosae, classificando-a como adenocarcinoma de baixo grau. Discussão. Os tumores apendiculares representam 1% das neoplasias malignas de origem gastrointestinal, sendo um achado incidental (0.7-1.4%) em procedimentos de apendicectomia. O diagnóstico é histopatológico e o prognóstico está relacionado à classificação. É importante conhecer, identificar e suspeitar desta patologia dada a sua infrequência, o que pode melhorar o prognóstico dos pacientes. Conclusão. Os tumores apendiculares são pouco frequentes e devem ser incluídos no grupo de patologias que causam dor abdominal aguda.

Clinical characteristics and gene analysis of one case of glycogen storage disease type Ⅱ / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the key points of diagnosis and treatment of glycogen storage disease type Ⅱ(GSD Ⅱ).Methods:The clinical data of one child patient with GSD Ⅱ who received treatment in Hainan Children's Hospital on May 7, 2017 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:The child presented with atypical clinical manifestations, including pneumonia first, accompanied by muscle weakness and elevated muscle enzymes. Whole-genome sequencing showed that there were two heterozygous mutations in the acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) gene, c.871C > T and c.1447G > A. The child was diagnosed with GSD Ⅱ.Conclusion:GSD Ⅱ has atypical clinical manifestations. It is easily misdiagnosed. Early whole-genome sequencing is helpful for the diagnosis of GSD Ⅱ.

Comparative analysis of clinical laboratory indicators between Kawasaki disease and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis / 中国基层医药

Objective:To explore the differences of clinical laboratory indicators between Kawasaki disease (KD) and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA), providing objective evidence for diagnosis and differential diagnosis of these diseases.Methods:A total of 41 children patients with KD (KD group) and 33 children patients with SJIA (SJIA group) who received treatment in Huainan Maternal and Child Health Hospital between September 2017 and January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. An additional 50 healthy children who concurrently received physical examination in the same hospital were included in the control group. Platelet count (PLT), white blood cell count (WBC), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) as well as C-reactive protein (CRP), serum procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and serum ferritin (SF) levels were compared among groups before treatment.Results:One-way analysis of variance and pairwise q test were performed to compare laboratory indicators among KD, SJIA and control groups. CRP, ESR, SF and IL-6 levels in the KD group were significantly lower than those in the SJIA group [CRP: (57.80 ± 25.23) mg/L vs. (77.72 ± 45.64) mg/L; ESR: (67.02 ± 28.80) mm/h vs. (83.84 ± 47.64) mm/h; SF: (320.21 ± 182.53) μg/L vs. (945.58 ± 604.65) μg/L; IL-6: (50.35 ± 20.54) ng/L vs. (89.35 ± 45.54) ng/L, q = 4.34, 3.42, 11.51, 8.85, all P < 0.05]. IL-10 level in the KD group was significantly higher than that in the SJIA group [(18.52 ± 16.71) ng/L vs. (10.01 ± 3.24) ng/L, q = -5.25, P < 0.05]. WBC, CRP, ESR, PCT, PLT, IL-6, IL-10 and SF in the KD and SJIA groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). Conclusion:Detection of CRP, ESR, SF, IL-6, IL-10 in blood can provide objective evidence for the early diagnosis and differential diagnosis of KD and SJIA, thereby reducing the misjudgment of clinical diagnosis.

Research advance in primary ovarian Burkitt lymphoma / 中国基层医药

Among all non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, primary ovarian Burkitt lymphoma (POBL) is a rare disease. Tumors can occur in one or both ovaries. The main symptoms of POBL are abdominal pain or a large abdominal mass. The differential diagnosis of POBL based on imaging characteristics and histopathological examination is the basis for further treatment of ovarian tumors from different sources. Although most patients with POBL have undergone surgical treatment after the discovery of ovarian masses, chemotherapy rather than surgery should be the main treatment method for them. Active chemotherapy combined with preventive central nervous system therapy leads to good prognosis. A variety of treatment schemes have been adopted, which greatly increase the survival rate of patients with POBL. In this review, we retrieved related literature and retrospectively reviewed the epidemiology, clinical manifestation, diagnosis and treatment of POBL. The purpose of this review is to draw clinicians' attention to the possibility of POBL when performing differential diagnosis of ovarian tumors.

Clinicopathological features of clear cell hidradenoma in 23 cases / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological features, immunophenotype and differential diagnosis of clear cell hidradenoma, and to analyze the origin of clear cell hidradenoma and the underlying mechanism.Methods:The clinical data of 23 cases of clear cell hidradenoma who underwent surgical resection in Suzhou Municipal Hospital between December 2017 and July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical manifestation, imaging features, pathological features and prognosis of the 23 cases of clear cell hidradenoma were analyzed. Expression levels of epithelial membrane antigen, cytokeratin 20, cytokeratin 7, cytokeratin 14, carcinoembryonic antigen, and gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 were detected by immunohistochemical staining technique using the EnVision system. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining was performed to visualize glycogen.Results:Among the 23 cases, 8 were male and 14 were female, aged 14-94 years, with a median age of 55 years. The first symptom of clear cell hidradenoma was epidermal bulgels in 18 cases.Contrast ultrasonography showed a subcutaneous cystic solid echo mass with abundant blood flow in the solid part. The tumor histologically consisted of two types of cells: secretory epithelial cells or glandular epithelial cells and clear cells. Twenty cases had tumors with the features of benign clear cell hidradenoma. Two cases had atypical clear cell hidradenoma with atypia and mitosis. One case had malignant clear cell hidradenoma. Tumor cells were positive for epithelial membrane antigen, cytokeratin 7, cytokeratin 14, carcinoembryonic antigen, and gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 and they were Periodic acid-Schiff-positive. Twenty-three patients were followed up for 2-36 months, of which 4 were lost to follow-up and the rest had no recurrence of clear cell hidradenoma.Conclusion:Clear cell hidradenoma is rare and has a good prognosis. Malignant clear cell hidradenoma is rarer and has a poor prognosis. Diagnosis of clear cell hidradenoma is mainly based on comprehensive analysis of pathological features and immunophenotypes. Clear cell hidradenoma should be differentiated from metastatic clear cell carcinoma, spiral adenoma, cortical adenoma, and malignant melanoma.

Clinicopathologic analysis of epidermoid cyst in intrapancreatic accessory spleen: a report of 12 cases / 中华胰腺病杂志

Objective:To explore the clinical and pathological characteristics of epidermoid cyst in intrapancreatic accessory spleen (ECIPAS).Methods:The clinical and pathological data on 12 cases of confirmed ECIPAS in the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University and Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University from January 2011 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients′ sex, age, serum tumor markers, tumor size, tumor location and distant metastasis were recorded. Tissue expression of synaptophysin (Syn), chromogranin A(CgA), cytokeratin (CK) and CK5/6, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), proliferation index Ki-67 and tumor suppressor gene p53 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.Results:All the patients were incidentally diagnosed during routine body examination. Among them, there were 4(33.3%) men and 8(66.7%) women. Patient's average age was 42 years old. All the lesions were located at the tail of the pancreas. 3 patients had elevated carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9). The ECIPAS were demonstrated as clear-boundary low or no echo on abdominal ultrasound, low-density mass on CT, and cystic and solid lesion on pancreas MRI, respectively. Eleven patients received resection of body and tail of pancreas and spleen, one patient received pancreatectomy with preservation of the spleen. The resected specimens from the 12 patients were showed as cystic and solid mass in the pancreatic tail with a maximal diameter ranging from 1.4 cm to 4.0 cm. Under microscopy, multi-cystic lesions covered with stratified squamous epithelial cells were observed. Immunohistochemistry showed that the squamous cell marker CK was expressed. In a follow-up period of 5 to 119 months, and no recurrence were diagnosed.Conclusions:ECIPAS is a rare lesion often occurring in tails of pancreas and the patients usually have no clinical symptoms. It is challenging to make a correct diagnosis by imaging, but this lesion has unique pathological manifestations and good prognosis.

The diagnostic value of X-ray, CT and MRI multimodal imaging in the vertebral compression fractures caused by osteolytic metastases and osteoporosis / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective:To analyze the diagnostic value of X-ray, CT and MRI multimodal images in the vertebral compression fractures caused by osteolytic metastases and osteoporosis.Methods:The basic clinical data and X-ray, CT, MRI imaging data of 102 patients with vertebral compression fractures from January 2019 to May 2021 in Jiangnan Hospital (Xiaoshan Traditional Chinese Medicine) Affiliated to Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, vertebral compression fractures caused by osteolytic metastases was in 47 cases, and vertebral compression fractures caused by osteoporosis was in 55 cases.Results:The age and osteoporosis rate in patients with vertebral compression fractures caused by osteolytic metastases were significantly lower than those in patients with vertebral compression fractures caused by osteoporosis: (61.95 ± 11.84) years old vs. (72.37 ± 12.55) years old and 4.3% (2/47) vs. 83.6% (46/55), the body mass index and pain visual analogue score were significantly higher than those in patients with vertebral compression fractures caused by osteoporosis: (22.58 ± 3.85) kg/m 2 vs. (18.11 ± 2.79) kg/m 2 and (8.31 ± 2.91) scores vs. (7.02 ± 2.72) scores, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05); there was no statistical difference in gender composition ( P>0.05). The rates of vertebral body wedge shape and double concave shape in patients with vertebral compression fractures caused by osteolytic metastases were significantly lower than those in patients with vertebral compression fractures caused by osteoporosis: 2.80% (3/107) vs. 60.82% (104/171) and 6.54% (7/107) vs. 29.82% (51/171), the rates of flat shape and posterior margin swelling were significantly higher than those in patients with vertebral compression fractures caused by osteoporosis: 75.70% (81/107) vs. 9.36% (16/171) and 14.95% (16/107) vs. 0, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01); the rates of pedicle involvement and soft tissue mass in patients with vertebral compression fractures caused by osteolytic metastases were significantly higher than those in patients with vertebral compression fractures caused by osteoporosis: 68.09% (32/47) vs. 1.82% (1/55) and 46.81% (22/47) vs. 0, while the rate of linear image signal in vertebral body was significantly lower than that in patients with vertebral compression fractures caused by osteoporosis: 0 vs. 96.36% (53/47), and there were statistical difference ( P<0.01); there was statistical difference in MRI signals ( P<0.01), vertebral compression fractures caused by osteolytic metastases were mainly characterized by low T 1 high T 2 and low T 1 low T 2, while vertebral compression fractures caused by osteoporosis was mainly characterized by low T 1 high T 2; the rates of disc compression and widening in patients with vertebral compression fractures caused by osteolytic metastases were significantly lower than those in patients with vertebral compression fractures caused by osteoporosis: 4.26%(2/47) vs. 34.55% (19/55) and 2.13%(1/47) vs. 18.18% (10/55), and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01 or <0.05). The accuracies of multimodal imaging in the diagnosis of vertebral compression fractures caused by osteolytic metastases and osteoporosis were significantly higher than those of X-ray, CT and MRI (89.4% vs. 51.1%, 72.3%, 83.0%; 90.9% vs. 52.7%, 60.0%, 78.2%), and there were statistical differences( P<0.05). Conclusions:Multimodal imaging is helpful to improve the diagnostic accuracy of vertebral compression fractures caused by osteolytic metastases and osteoporosis, to reduce the clinical misdiagnosis rate, with important reference value for the differential diagnosis of the two diseases.

The value of unenhanced computed tomography in differentiating brain tumors from non-neoplastic lesions / 中华神经科杂志

Objective:To investigate the additional value of unenhanced computed tomography (CT) in the differential diagnosis of brain tumors and non-neoplastic lesions.Methods:A total of 237 cases [140 males and 97 females; (49±16) years old; including 48 cases of low-grade glioma, 134 cases of high-grade glioma, 38 cases of primary central nervous system lymphoma, 9 cases of medulloblastoma, 5 cases of germinoma, and 3 cases of central neurocytoma] of brain tumors (diffuse gliomas and non-glial tumors) diagnosed by biopsy or surgery and pathology in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from September 2016 to October 2020 were collected retrospectively. Sixty-six cases [46 males and 20 females; (42±13) years old; including 12 cases of abscesses, 5 cases of infarcts, 33 cases of demyelinating lesions, 11 cases of autoimmune encephalitis, and 5 cases of central nervous system vasculitis] of brain non-neoplastic lesions were confirmed by biopsy or clinic. All patients underwent routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and unenhanced CT before the treatment. The images were reviewed by two neuroradiologists together blind to the final diagnosis with and without CT images respectively. The diagnostic results and reliability scores were recorded, and the accuracy of the two evaluations was compared.Results:CT hyperattenuation exhibited a higher specificity (95%) than conventional MRI scan (86%), and a lower diagnostic sensitivity (34% vs 86%). Compared to MRI alone, the combined modality of MRI and unenhanced CT significantly improved diagnostic accuracy (94% vs 86%). Additionally, the CT attenuation ratio of non-neoplastic lesions was significantly lower than that of neoplastic lesions [0.69 (0.61,0.78) and 1.14 (1.00,1.25), W=2 123, P<0.05]. The CT attenuation ratio in the non-glial origin tumor group was significantly higher than that in the diffuse glioma group [1.28 (1.18,1.41) and 1.13 (0.97,1.21), W=1 858, P<0.05]. There was no significant difference in grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ groups of diffuse glioma [1.11 (0.99,1.20) vs 1.16 (1.09,1.24), P>0.05 (Nemenyi test)]. However, both were significantly higher than that of grade Ⅱgroup of diffuse glioma [0.89 (0.76,1.07), P<0.05 (Nemenyi test)]. No significant difference was observed between astrocytic tumors and oligodendroglial tumors at the same grade. Conclusions:Hyperattenuation on unenhanced CT is highly specific for the diagnosis of brain tumors. Unenhanced CT plus MRI is more accurate for distinguishing the two entities in hypoattenuation lesion on unenhanced CT.

Differential diagnosis between alpha-fetoprotein-negative hepatocellular carcinoma without cirrhosis and hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Objective:To study the clinical and MRI features of alpha-fetoprotein-negative hepatocellular carcinoma without cirrhosis to compare with those of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) to arrive at a correct differential diagnosis.Methods:The data of 105 patients who underwent liver surgery for alpha-fetoprotein-negative hepatocellular carcinomas without cirrhosis at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University and the Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital of Nantong from March 2017 to November 2020 were retrospectively studied. There were 109 lesions in 95 males and 10 females. These patients had the age of (60.2±9.9) years. The data of 88 patients who were diagnosed to have hepatic FNH during the study period were collected, and there were 99 lesions in 36 males and 52 females. These patients had the age of (32.8±9.5) years. Variables including age, history of hepatitis B virus infection, T 1 weighted imaging (T 1WI), T 2 weighted imaging (T 2WI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), enhancement mode, lesion shape, lesion boundary and capsule were compared between the two groups. Results:The age and the proportion of patients with a history of hepatitis B in the alpha-fetoprotein-negative hepatocellular carcinoma and without cirrhosis group were significantly higher than those in the hepatic FNH group (both P<0.05). The proportion of lesions with quasi-circular shape, clear boundary and with capsule in hepatocellular carcinoma group were significantly higher than those in the hepatic FNH group (all P<0.05). There were also significant differences in the T 1WI, T 2WI, enhancement modes, DWI, and ADC map between the two groups of lesions (all P<0.05). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the alpha-fetoprotein-negative hepatocellular carcinoma without cirrhosis by the age >45.5 year, with a history of hepatitis B, with clear lesion boundary, with a "washin and washout" enhanced mode and with lesion encapsulation were 0.97(95% CI: 0.95-0.99), 0.79(95% CI: 0.72-0.85), 0.78(95% CI: 0.72-0.85), 0.94(95% CI: 0.90-0.97), 0.99(95% CI: 0.98-1.00) respectively. Conclusions:The presence of a capsule, clear lesion boundary and "washin and washout" enhanced mode are helpful in differentiating alpha-fetoprotein-negative hepatocellular carcinoma without cirrhosis with hepatic FNH.

The value of breast imaging reporting and data system classification combined with radiomics in differentiating benign from malignant breast lesions with different X-ray phenotypes / 中华放射学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the differential diagnostic efficacy of a predictive model of breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) classification combined with mammography radiomics classifier for various X-ray phenotype of breast lesions.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 2 055 female patients who underwent mammography examination and were confirmed by pathology from May 2013 to August 2020 in Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University. Breast lesion was classified into mass or non-mass according to the fifth edition of BI-RADS. The mass was further divided into small mass (maximum diameter ≤ 2 cm) and large mass (maximum diameter>2 cm), the non-mass was further divided into asymmetric, calcification and structural distortions. By manually segmenting the region of interest of the lesion, the radiomics features were extracted and the model was constructed. Receiver operating characteristic curve and area under the curve (AUC) were used to assess the diagnostic efficacy of the BI-RADS classification, the radiomics model and the combined model for various phenotypes of breast lesions. Differences among the AUC were analyzed by the DeLong test.Results:The AUCs based on the BI-RADS classification, the radiomics model and the combined model were 0.924±0.006, 0.827±0.009 and 0.947±0.005 respectively. Compared with BI-RADS classification and the radiomics model, AUC of the combined model was the highest, and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=9.29, 14.94, P<0.001). For large mass, small mass and non-mass, combined model (AUC=0.958±0.007, 0.933±0.013, 0.939±0.008) showed the best performance when compared to the BI-RADS classification (AUC=0.937±0.010, 0.896±0.020, 0.916±0.011; Z=5.32, 3.90, 5.08, P<0.001) or the radiomics model (AUC=0.872±0.012, 0.851±0.021, 0.758±0.016; Z=7.86, 4.53, 12.13, P<0.001). The AUC of the combined model for benign and malignant asymmetric breast lesions (0.897±0.017) was higher than that of the BI-RADS classification (AUC=0.866±0.020, Z=4.27, P<0.001) and the radiomics model (AUC=0.633±0.029, Z=7.44, P<0.001); however, the AUC of the combined model for benign and malignant calcification and structural distortion of breast lesions (0.971±0.010, 0.811±0.057, respectively) was only higher than that of the radiomics model (AUC=0.827±0.021, 0.586±0.075, Z=7.40, 3.15, P<0.001), and there was no significant difference with the BI-RADS classification (AUC=0.959±0.012, 0.800±0.061, Z=1.87, 0.39, P>0.05). Conclusion:The combined model shows better differential diagnostic performance, which is valued in the clinical application.

Radiomics based on multimodal MRI for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant lung nodule/mass / 中华放射学杂志

Objective:To develop a multimodal MRI-based radiomics model for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant lung lesions, and to compare the discriminative abilities of different models.Methods:Totally 114 patients with 115 lesions (44 benign and 71 malignant) in Nantong First Peoples′s Hospital from January 2014 to October 2019 were included in the study. All patients underwent non-enhanced MR examination, and textural features from T 1WI,T 2WI and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) imaging were extracted. The feature selection methods included L1 based, mutual information, tree based, recursive feature elimination and F-test. Then we constructed a prediction model by using logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF) and k-nearest neighbor (KNN) respectively. In order to control the number of modeling features and reduce the ininterpretability of the model, the new model was obtained by manually modifying some parameters of the hyperparameter model. One hundred and fourteen cases were rotated as training and validation sets. The performance of each model was evaluated by confounding matrix and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results:The area under the curve (AUC) of T 2WI based LR model for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant pulmonary nodules/masses was 0.71 and the F1 score was 0.57. Based on T 1WI images, LR and SVM model could be used to identify benign and malignant pulmonary nodules, the AUC before parameter adjustment were 0.77 and 0.78, the accuracy after parameter adjustment (LR a,SVM a) was 0.67, 0.70, and both the AUC were 0.72. However, no matter which feature or classifier was selected, both the AUC and accuracy of ADC-based model were less than 0.70. Conclusion:Multimodal MRI-based radiomics model is valuable for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant pulmonary nodules/masses, and T 1WI-based model shows the best discrimination.

The value of CT signs combined with radiomics in the differentiation of COVID-19 from other viral pneumonias / 中华放射学杂志

Objective:To explore the classification performance of combined model constructed from CT signs combined with radiomics for discriminating COVID-19 pneumonia and other viral pneumonia.Methods:The clinical and CT imaging data of 181 patients with viral pneumonia confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in 15 hospitals of Yunnan Province from March 2015 to March 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. The 181 patients were divided into COVID-19 group (89 cases) and non-COVID-19 group (92 cases), which were further divided into training cohort (126 cases) and test cohort (55 cases) at a ratio of 7∶3 using random stratified sampling. The CT signs of pneumonia were determined and the radiomics features were extracted from the initial unenhanced chest CT images to build independent and combined models for predicting COVID-19 pneumonia. The diagnostic performance of the models were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, continuous net reclassification index (NRI) calibration curve and decision curve analysis.Results:The combined models consisted of 3 significant CT signs and 14 selected radiomics features. For the radiomics model alone, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) were 0.904 (sensitivity was 85.5%, specificity was 84.4%, accuracy was 84.9%) in the training cohort and 0.866 (sensitivity was 77.8%, specificity was 78.6%, accuracy 78.2%) in the test cohort. After combining CT signs and radiomics features, AUC of the combined model for the training cohort was 0.956 (sensitivity was 91.9%, specificity was 85.9%, accuracy was 88.9%), while that for the test cohort was 0.943 (sensitivity was 88.9%, specificity was 85.7%, accuracy was 87.3%). The AUC values of the combined model and the radiomics model in the differentiation of COVID-19 group and the non-COVID-19 group were significantly different in the training cohort ( Z=-2.43, P=0.015), but difference had no statistical significance in the test cohort ( Z=-1.73, P=0.083), and further analysis using the NRI showed that the combined model in both the training cohort and the test cohort had a positive improvement ability compared with radiomics model alone (training cohort: continuous NRI 1.077, 95 %CI 0.783-1.370; test cohort: continuous NRI 1.421, 95 %CI 1.051-1.790). The calibration curve showed that the prediction probability of COVID-19 predicted by the combined model was in good agreement with the observed value in the training and test cohorts; the decision curve showed that a net benefit greater than 0.6 could be obtained when the threshold probability of the combined model was 0-0.75. Conclusion:The combination of CT signs and radiomics might be a potential method for distinguishing COVID-19 and other viral pneumonia with good performance.

Research progress of precise differential diagnosis of psychogenic non-epilepsy seizures and epilepsy / 中华神经科杂志

Psychogenic non-epilepsy seizures (PNES) are defined as paroxysms with clinical symptoms similar to epilepsy without epileptiform discharges. It is often misdiagnosed as epilepsy. Misdiagnosis not only delays the time for patients with PNES to get correct diagnoses and treatments, but also may increase the risk of adverse effects from improper use of antiseizure medications. The diagnostic method of PNES is video electroencephalogram monitoring, but there is no consensus on the optimal duration of monitoring. At the same time, the use of diverse physiological signals, brain imaging, laboratory examination, and the application of machine learning provide new perceptions for the precise identification of PNES and epilepsy. This article reviewed the progress of precise differential diagnosis between PNES and epilepsy.

Clinical characteristics, diagnosis and evaluation of intestinal Behcet′s disease / 中华全科医师杂志

Behcet′s disease is a chronic systemic vasculitis with unknown etiology that can involve multiple organs. Behcet′s disease with predominant gastrointestinal manifestations is diagnosed with intestinal Behcet′s disease. Severe complications such as gastrointestinal massive hemorrhage, perforation and obstruction may occur in intestinal Behcet′s disease. If not treated in time, they are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Here, we will review the lesion distribution, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and disease activity of intestinal Behcet′s disease for better understanding of clinicians.

Diagnostic values of different diagnostic criteria of 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT for primary prostate cancer / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

Objective:To compare the diagnostic values of different diagnostic criteria of prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT for primary prostate cancer (PCa).Methods:From May 2019 to May 2021, 2-(3-(1-carboxy-5-((6- 18F-fluoro-pyridine-3-carbonyl)-amino)-pentyl)-ureido)-pentanedioic acid ( 18F-DCFPyL) PET/CT images of 78 patients (age: (68.5±1.4) years) with clinically suspected PCa in Shanxi Bethune Hospital were retrospectively collected and blind diagnosed by the three criteria of SUV max, PSMA reporting and data system (PSMA-RADS) score and molecular imaging PSMA (miPSMA) score. The diagnostic efficacy for PCa, the correlation between the diagnostic results and disease risk, and the consistency of the diagnostic results of the three criteria were compared. Delong test, Spearman rank correlation analysis, and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) were used to analyze data. Results:The sensitivities of SUV max, PSMA-RADS score and miPSMA score for PCa were all 93.75%(60/64) and the specificities were 12/14, 10/14 and 12/14 respectively; AUCs of the three criteria were 0.951, 0.862 and 0.951, with no significant difference between SUV max and miPSMA score ( z=0.00, P=1.000), while there were significant differences between PSMA-RADS score and SUV max or miPSMA score ( z values: 2.71, 2.93, P values: 0.007, 0.030). There were positive correlations between the diagnostic results of the three criteria and the disease risk (International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grading: rs values: 0.66, 0.62, 0.63, all P<0.001; D′Amico grouping: rs values: 0.67, 0.64, 0.67, all P<0.001). The diagnostic results of the three criteria were highly consistent (ICC=0.941, 95% CI: 0.903-0.967). Conclusion:The SUV max and miPSMA score have higher diagnostic efficiency and correlation of disease risk, which are more suitable for clinical application.

Diagnosis and treatment of intrahepatic biliary cystadenoma / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Objective:To study the clinical features of intrahepatic biliary cystadenoma (BCA), with the aim to improve its treatment results.Methods:The clinical data and follow-up results of 86 patients with BCA treated at our department from March 2010 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Of 86 patients, there were 15 males and 71 females, with age of (48.4±13.1) years old. According to the surgical procedures carried out, 44 patients were divided into the minimally invasive group and 42 into the open group. Clinical data including imaging data, blood biochemistry, and tumor markers were collected. The follow-up data of these patients was collected in outpatient clinics or by telephone review.Results:Of 86 patients, 19(22.1%) patients had a monocystic lesion while 67(77.9%) patients had a multicystic lesion, 64 patients (74.4%) had intracapsular segregation, and 12(14.0%) patients had solid structures. Eighty-six patients with BCA were misdiagnosed as hepatic cysts in 9 patients (10.4%), hepatic echinococcosis in 2 patients (2.3%), biliary hamartoma in 1 patient (1.2%), and hepatic hemangioma in 1 patient (1.2%) before surgery. The tumor size [(6.5±3.2) vs. (9.0±4.0) cm], operative time [115(88, 185) vs. 195(160, 254) min], intraoperative blood loss [50(20, 162) vs. 300(200, 600) ml], and postoperative hospital stay [4(3, 6) vs. 8(7, 10) d] were significantly lower in the minimally invasive group than the open group. The differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). In the 73 patients with complete follow-up, (median follow-up 63.5 months), 4 patients had developed tumor recurrence. Conclusion:Intrahepatic bile duct cystadenoma lacks specific clinical manifestations, and has a high rate of misdiagnosis and mistreatment. Early radical hepatectomy improved clinical outcomes.