Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with a transient increase of intratumoral T-cell density in microsatellite stable colorectal liver metastases.

Patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLM) commonly receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) prior to surgical resection. NACT may induce immunogenic cell death with subsequent recruitment of T-cells to the tumor microenvironment, which could be exploited by immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI). In theory, this could expand the use of ICI to obtain responses also in microsatellite stable colorectal cancer, but evidence to suggest optimal treatment schedules are lacking. In this study, densities of total-, cytotoxic-, helper- and regulatory T-cells were quantified by immunohistochemistry in resected CLM from 92 patients included in the OSLO-COMET trial (NCT01516710). All but one patient had microsatellite stable tumors (91/92). Associations between T-cell densities and clinicopathological parameters were analyzed. Fluoropyrimidine-based NACT (in most cases with addition of oxaliplatin or irinotecan) was administered to 45 patients completed median 8 weeks prior to surgical resection. No overall association was found between NACT administration and intratumoral T-cell densities. However, within the NACT group, a short time interval (<9.5 weeks) between NACT completion and CLM resection was strongly associated with high intratumoral T-cell densities compared to the long-interval and no NACT groups (medians 491, 236, and 292 cells/mm2, respectively; P < .0001). The results from this study suggest that the observed increase in intratumoral T-cells after NACT administration may be transient. The significance of this finding should be further explored to ensure that optimal treatment schedules are chosen for studies combining cytotoxic chemotherapy and ICI.

Cold-stored cadaveric venous allograft for superior mesenteric/portal vein reconstruction during pancreatic surgery.

BACKGROUND: SMV/PV resection has become common practice in pancreatic surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the technical feasibility and surgical outcome of using cold-stored cadaveric venous allografts (AG) for superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and portal vein (PV) reconstruction during pancreatectomy. METHODS: Patients who underwent pancreatic resection with concomitant vascular resection and reconstruction with AG between January 2006 and December 2014 were identified from our institutional prospective database. Medical records and pre- and postoperative CT-images were reviewed. RESULTS: Forty-five patients underwent SMV/PV reconstruction with AG interposition (n = 37) or AG patch (n = 8). The median operative time and blood loss were 488 min (IQR: 450-551) and 900 ml (IQR: 600-2000), respectively. Major morbidity (Clavien ≥ III) occurred in 16 patients. Four patients were reoperated (thrombosis n = 2, graft kinking/low flow n = 2) and in-hospital mortality occurred in two patients. On last available CT scan, 3 patients had thrombosis, all of whom also had local recurrence. Estimated cumulative patency rate (reduction in SMV/PV luminal diameter <70% and no thrombosis) at 12 months was 52%. CONCLUSION: Cold-stored cadaveric venous AG for SMV/PV reconstruction during pancreatic surgery is safe and associated with acceptable long-term patency.

Tissue elasticity estimated by acoustic radiation force impulse quantification depends on the applied transducer force: an experimental study in kidney transplant patients.

OBJECTIVES: Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) quantification estimates tissue elasticity by measuring shear-wave velocity (SWV) and has been applied to various organs. We evaluated the impact of variations in the transducer force applied to the skin on the SWV ultrasound measurements in kidney transplant cortex and ARFI's ability to detect fibrosis in kidney transplants. METHODS: SWV measurements were performed in the cortex of 31 patients with kidney allografts referred for surveillance biopsies. A mechanical device held the transducer and applied forces were equal to a compression weight of 22, 275, 490, 975, 2,040 and 2,990 g. RESULTS: SWV group means were significantly different by repeat measures ANOVA [F(2.85,85.91) = 84.75, P < 0.0005 for 22, 275, 490, 975 and 2,040 g compression weight] and also by pairwise comparisons. Biopsy specimens were sufficient for histological evaluation in 29 of 31 patients. Twelve had grade 0, 11 grade 1, five grade 2 and one grade 3 fibrosis. One-way ANOVA showed no difference in SWV performed with any of the applied transducer forces between grafts with various degrees of fibrosis. CONCLUSION: SWV measurements in kidney transplants are dependent on the applied transducer force and do not differ in grafts with different grades of fibrosis. KEY POINTS: • Acoustic radiation force impulses (ARFI) can quantify tissue elasticity during ultrasound examinations. • Elasticity estimated by ARFI in kidney transplants depends on applied transducer force. • ARFI quantification cannot detect renal allograft fibrosis. • ARFI elasticity estimates may in general vary with applied transducer force.

Assessment of renal allograft fibrosis by acoustic radiation force impulse quantification--a pilot study.

Chronic allograft nephropathy characterized by interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy is a major cause of renal transplant failure. Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) quantification is a promising noninvasive method for assessing tissue stiffness. We evaluated if the method could reveal renal transplant fibrosis. In a prospective study, 30 adult renal transplant recipients were included. ARFI quantification, given as shear wave velocity (SWV), of the renal cortex was performed by two observers. SWV was compared to grade of fibrosis (0-3) in biopsies. The median SWV was 2.8 m/s (range: 1.6-3.6), 2.6 m/s (range: 1.8-3.5) and 2.5 m/s (range: 1.6-3) for grade 0 (n = 12), 1 (n = 10) and grades 2/3 (n = 8) fibrosis respectively. SWV did not differ significantly in transplants without and with fibrosis (grade 0 vs. grade 1, P = 0.53 and grade 0 vs. grades 2/3, P = 0.11). The mean intraobserver coefficient of variation was 22% for observer 1 and 24% for observer 2. Interobserver agreement, expressed as intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.31 (95% CI: -0.03 to 0.60). This study does not support the use of ARFI quantification to assess low-grade fibrosis in renal transplants. ARFI quantification in its present stage of development has also high intra- and interobserver variation in renal transplants.

Performance of long-term CT monitoring in diagnosing bronchiolitis obliterans after lung transplantation.

AIM: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the ability of CT, including expiratory scans with minimum intensity projection in predicting the development of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after lung transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty consecutive patients, 29 bilateral and 11 single lung transplanted, were followed-up with regular scans for a median of 36 months. Air trapping was evaluated on expiratory scans constructed from two short spiral scans with minimum intensity projection-technique, one at the level of the carina and the other midway between the right diaphragm and the carina. Air trapping was scored on a 16-point scale. Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome was diagnosed according to established clinical criteria and quantified spirometrically. RESULTS: Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome developed in 17 patients (43%) after a median of 12 months. Air trapping and bronchiectasis was seen before the diagnosis of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome in only two and one patient, respectively. Interobserver agreement for air trapping score was good (kappa = 0.65). Air trapping scores performed significantly better than that achieved by chance alone in determining the presence of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (P = 0.0025). An air trapping score of 4 or more provided the best results with regard to sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of an air trapping of 4 or more in the diagnosis of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome were 77, 74, 68 and 81%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Expiratory CT scans with minimum intensity projection-reconstruction did not predict the development of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome in most patients. The findings seriously limit the clinical usefulness of long-term CT monitoring for diagnosing bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after lung transplantation.

[Computed tomography in lung cancer--technique and quality]. / Computertomografi ved lungekreft--teknikk og kvalitet.

BACKGROUND: There are indications that more patients with lung cancer should be offered surgical treatment. The percentage of surgically treated patients varies from one region of Norway to the other. The Cancer Registry of Norway has received CT examinations from lung cancer patients who were not operated. Differences in examination technique and quality were evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thoracic CT examinations from 42 patients (9 women) from 32 institutions were evaluated by three radiologists with regard to technique and quality. RESULTS: Twenty-seven examinations (63%) were considered acceptable for evaluation of operability, while 15 (37%) were not. The proportion of adequately performed examinations was higher with helical CT (22 out of 25 examinations, 88%) than with conventional, axial scanning (5 out of 17 examinations, 29%). There were substantial variations in scanning technique (area, collimation, contrast medium, algorithms, and photographic documentation). The majority (n = 40) of investigations were performed with intravenous contrast medium, two without. Contrast medium enhancement and vascular visualisation was judged as insufficient in seven examinations. INTERPRETATION: Many examinations were of suboptimal quality, inadequate for pre-operative tumour staging. Several different examination techniques were documented.

[Cerebral computer tomography in subarachnoid hemorrhage]. / Cerebral computertomografi ved subaraknoidalblødning.

BACKGROUND: A cerebral CT scan is routinely performed in all patients evaluated for subarachnoidal haemorrhage. Quick and accurate diagnosis is of the utmost importance in such patients, but the accuracy and value of the initial CT scan has not been fully established. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Initial CT scans of 70 patients (45 women) with subarachnoid haemorrhage were reviewed retrospectively. Cerebral CT scans were performed without intravenous contrast and evaluated independently by two observers. RESULTS: CT scans were positive for blood in the cerebrospinal fluid spaces in 64 out of 70 patients (91%). Blood was most frequently seen in basal cisterns (75%), Sylvian Fissure (73%) and cerebral cortical sulci (67%). Evidence of raised intracranial pressure was present in 26 patients (41%). The site of the ruptured aneurysm could be localised by CT with high accuracy only in ruptured aneurysms of the middle cerebral artery. The median time from symptom onset to examination was significantly higher in patients with a normal than a pathological CT scan (87 hours vs. 4 hours, p < 0.001). A lumbar puncture was positive for blood in all six patients with a normal CT scan. INTERPRETATION: This study demonstrates that a lumbal puncture should be performed after a normal cerebral CT scan if subarachnoid haemorrhage is clinically suspected.