Comparison of CE-FDG-PET/CT with CE-FDG-PET/MR in the evaluation of osseous metastases in breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Despite improvements in treatments, metastatic breast cancer remains difficult to cure. Bones constitute the most common site of first-time recurrence, occurring in 40-75% of cases. Therefore, evaluation for possible osseous metastases is crucial. Technetium 99 ((99)Tc) bone scintigraphy and fluorodexossyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (PET-CT) are the most commonly used techniques to assess osseous metastasis. PET magnetic resonance (PET-MR) imaging is an innovative technique still under investigation. We compared the capability of PET-MR to that of same-day PET-CT to assess osseous metastases in patients with breast cancer. METHODS: One hundred and nine patients with breast cancer, who underwent same-day contrast enhanced (CE)-PET-CT and CE-PET-MR, were evaluated. CE-PET-CT and CE-PET-MR studies were interpreted by consensus by a radiologist and a nuclear medicine physician. Correlations with prior imaging and follow-up studies were used as the reference standard. Binomial confidence intervals and a χ(2) test were used for categorical data, and paired t-test was used for the SUVmax data; a non-informative prior Bayesian approach was used to estimate and compare the specificities. RESULTS: Osseous metastases affected 25 out 109 patients. Metastases were demonstrated by CE-PET-CT in 22 out of 25 patients (88%±7%), and by CE-PET-MR in 25 out of 25 patients (100%). CE-PET-CT revealed 90 osseous metastases and CE-PET-MR revealed 141 osseous metastases (P<0.001). The estimated sensitivity of CE-PET-CT and CE-PET-MR were 0.8519 and 0.9630, respectively. The estimated specificity for CE-FDG-PET-MR was 0.9884. The specificity of CE-PET-CT cannot be determined from patient-level data, because CE-PET-CT yielded a false-positive lesion in a patient who also had other, true metastases. CONCLUSIONS: CE-PET-MR detected a higher number of osseous metastases than did same-day CE-PET-CT, and was positive for 12% of the patients deemed osseous metastasis-negative on the basis of CE-PET-CT.

Rationale, design and methods of CTCA-PRORECAD (Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography Prognostic Registry for Coronary Artery Disease): a multicentre and multivendor registry.

PURPOSE: This study was done to assess the prognostic value of computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) in a large multicentre population of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) and, in particular, its incremental value compared with traditional methods for risk stratification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study that began in January 2003 conducted on patients with suspected CAD assessed with CTCA on the basis of symptoms (chest pain, dyspnoea) and/or abnormal or equivocal stress test and/or a high cardiovascular risk profile. The participating centres will provide data obtained with CTCA performed with 16-slice or higher equipment. Exclusion criteria are renal insufficiency, allergy to iodinated contrast material, pregnancy and previous myocardial infarction or revascularisation (percutaneous coronary intervention and/or coronary artery bypass graft). All patients are stratified by means of clinical assessment and/or data retrieved from a clinical database. Risk factors considered are hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking, family history and obesity. Symptoms are classified as absent, typical chest pain, atypical chest pain and dyspnoea. Primary endpoints are death, major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiac death, unstable angina requiring hospitalisation, acute myocardial infarction) and shifting of cardiovascular risk category on the basis of coronary plaque burden. The secondary endpoint is coronary revascularisation. Telephone interviews and/or clinical databases are used for the follow-up. The study will be conducted on a population >1,000 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The information collected from the Prognostic Registry for Coronary Artery Disease (PRORECAD) will provide insight into the prognostic value of CTCA in addition to demographic and clinical features. The results will allow for better use and interpretation of CTCA for prognostic purposes.

Utility of positron emission tomography/CT in the evaluation of small bowel pathology.

We describe the management principles and different roles of positron emission tomography (PET)/CT in the evaluation of patients with small bowel tumours (adenocarcinoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumour, lymphoma, metastases) from initial staging, monitoring response to treatment, to detection of recurrent disease. We also discuss the various non-malignant aetiologies of small bowel fludeoxyglucose (FDG) PET uptake, and other pitfalls in FDG PET/CT interpretation. Awareness of the imaging appearances of small bowel tumours, patterns of disease spread and potential PET/CT interpretation pitfalls are of paramount importance to optimise diagnostic accuracy.

Biliary atresia associated with multiple unrelated anomalies: what about it?

The prognosis of extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) and multiple apparently not linked anomalies has never been disclosed. We reported a rare case affected by biliary, anorectal and esophageal atresia, and collected the uncommon associations of EHBA with multiple unrelated congenital defects to make known the prognosis. An elevated rate of hepatic failure despite surgery and an early poor outcome were found in the above-mentioned associations. A liver transplantation at the first months of life could be considered to improve outcome.

Prenatal rectal perforation: an unsuspected cause of isolated ascites.

In fetal intestinal perforation, inflammation leads to production of ascites. Small bowel is usually involved by perforation with the distal ileum the most frequent site. We report the first case of prenatal perforation of the intraperitoneal part of the rectum, which presented as severe ascites at a 37 weeks' gestation antenatal ultrasonography. As none of the reported causes of intestinal perforation were identified in our case, its etiology remained idiopathic.

Pleural effusion requiring drainage in congenital diaphragmatic hernia: incidence, aetiology and treatment.

In congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), chest tube insertion at repair could determine rapid overexpansion of hypoplastic lungs, increasing the risk of pneumothorax. Therefore, in our institution no drainage tube at CDH repair was inserted after 1997. Afterwards several patients needed chest drainage for cardiopulmonary distress due to pleural effusion (PE) during the postoperative course. The aims of this study are to establish the incidence of PE requiring drainage for cardiopulmonary distress during postoperative course in CDH and to assess its eventual increase in patients with patch repair. Furthermore, the aetiology and treatment of PE are highlighted. Records of high-risk CDH operated on from 1998 to 2004 were reviewed. No chest tube was inserted at repair. Drainage was accomplished postoperatively if a cardiopulmonary distress due to PE occurred. Groups with and without patch were compared on gender, gestational age, birth weight, side of hernia, PE, hernial sac, central venous line and venous thrombosis, using the chi(2) and Student's t tests. Overall mortality rate was recorded. Out of 76 patients, 23 (30%) required patch repair. The PE occurred in 22 out of 76 patients, and in 68% of cases a chylothorax resulted. Birth weight was significantly lower, and the PE rate was significantly higher in patients with patch. Pleural drainage yielded improvement of ventilatory and respiratory parameters in all cases. Overall mortality rate was 16 and 23% in patients that required chest drain. The incidence of PE was 30% in CDH and significantly higher in patients with patch. The increased mortality rate in patients with PE causing cardiopulmonary distress warrants chest tube drainage before instability occurs.

Pattern of osteophytes and enthesophytes in the proximal ulna: an anatomic, paleopathologic, and radiologic study.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a schematic segmentation of the proximal ulna in order to detect, assess the frequency, and characterize the bony outgrowths arising from the trochlea and from the radial notch of the ulna, to enable differentiation of osteophytes from enthesophytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty well-preserved ulna specimens from the collection of the San Diego Museum of Man were analyzed by two musculoskeletal radiologists. The trochlea and the radial notch of the ulna simulate the shape of a clock quadrant. The proximal ulna was divided into 24 anatomic areas. The relationships of the joint capsule and insertions of tendons and ligaments onto these area were assessed by the two readers, and the resulting appearances of bony outgrowths were compared at visual inspection and on Radiographs. RESULTS: The interobserver visual comparison was good in 17 areas out of 24, but poor correlation was found in 7 areas. In one case, difficulties in differentiating osteophytes originating from the brachialis muscle/ tendon (area 9) from an enthesophyte originating from the capsule insertion on the coronoid process (areas 2 or 3) occurredand between two different enthesophytes in a further case. Five cases had difficulties in defining differences in the grading system of the outgrowths. The percentage of outgrowths observed in each of the areas was globally high, especially in areas 9 and 10. On radiographs it was possible to observe irregularities in ten areas; in eight at a threshold of height of 2 mm (areas 1-4, 9, 10, 11, 14) and in two at a threshold of height of 3 mm (areas 5, 6). The two readers had the same difficulties in differentiating enthesophytes from osteophytes at radiographic and visual examination. CONCLUSION: Our segmentation scheme is reproducible and objective, and permitted the differentiation of the bony outgrowths arising from the proximal ulna into osteophytes and enthesophytes, which may be particularly useful for the in vivo assessment of abnormalities seen in elbow overuse syndromes.

Internal hernia with volvulus and intussusception: case report.

An 82-year-old male presented to the hospital because of acute exacerbation of abdominal pain and biliary vomiting. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen was performed. A left paraduodenal hernia associated with volvulus, intussusception, and bowel wall ischemia were radiologically diagnosed. Surgery confirmed the diagnostic imaging findings. We present the first case of an association of these acute abdominal conditions.

Paraffinoma of the knee.

We present the case of a 90-year-old man with a swollen, painful knee and a history of paraffin injections. Radiography showed soft tissue streaky and nodular calcifications without erosions. MR imaging showed globular areas of low signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted images which became even more hypointense on STIR sequences, and an infiltrative hypointense region containing areas of high signal on T1-weighted, T2-weighted and STIR images. Biopsy confirmed soft tissue foreign body granulomata, fibrous reaction and areas of inflammation. We believe this to be the first report of MR imaging of paraffinoma outside the breast.

Efficacy of percutaneous abscess drainage in patients with vancomycin-resistant enterococci.

OBJECTIVE: We reviewed a 4-year experience draining fluid collections infected with vancomycin-resistant enterococci to determine the outcome of percutaneous intervention in patients with this highly resistant and increasingly common organism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Charts of patients from whom vancomycin-resistant enterococci had been isolated during percutaneous drainage were reviewed to determine patient response to drainage, catheter management, and outcome of treatment. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients underwent percutaneous drainage of 28 fluid collections from which vancomycin-resistant enterococci were isolated, including 16 intraabdominal abscesses, seven biliary or urinary obstructions, and five empyemas. The drainage of 27 (96%) of 28 collections were technically successful. In seven patients, drainage provided the first isolation of vancomycin-resistant enterococci from the patient. Five patients also had blood cultures with positive findings for vancomycin-resistant enterococci, and 14 collections were coinfected with other bacteria or with fungi. Twenty collections (71%) or obstructions were successfully treated with percutaneous drainage. Drainage was unsuccessful in treating eight collections in seven patients. CONCLUSION: Despite high-level antibiotic resistance, fluid collections infected with vancomycin-resistant enterococci can be successfully drained percutaneously, resulting in a favorable likelihood of recovery for patients.