Induction Chemotherapy With FOLFIRINOX Followed by Chemoradiation With Gemcitabine in Patients With Borderline-Resectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Perioperative therapy is standard for patients with borderline-resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (BR-PDAC); however, an optimal neoadjuvant regimen is lacking. We assessed the efficacy of FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy followed by gemcitabine-based chemoradiation as preoperative therapy. METHODS: Patients received 4 cycles of FOLFIRINOX, followed by 6-weekly gemcitabine with concomitant intensity-modulated radiation. The primary endpoint was the R0 resection rate. Secondary outcomes included resection rate, overall-response, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and tolerability. The trial was terminated early due to slow accrual. A Simon's optimal two-stage phase II trial single arm design was used. The primary hypothesis of treatment efficacy was tested using a multistage group sequential inference procedure. The secondary failure time analysis endpoints were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier procedure and the Cox regression model. RESULTS: A total of 22 patients enrolled in the study, 18 (81.8%) completed neoadjuvant treatment. The bias corrected R0 rate was 55.6% (90% CI: 33.3, 68.3; P value = .16) among patients that received at least 1 cycle of FOLFIRINOX and was 80% among patients that underwent surgery. The median OS was 35.1 months. The median PFS among patients that underwent surgery was 34 months. CONCLUSION: An R0 resection rate of 55.6% is favorable. Neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX followed by concomitant Gemcitabine with radiation was well-tolerated. NCT01897454.

Biomarkers of Coagulation and Inflammation in COVID-19-Associated Ischemic Stroke.

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Role of Ultrasound and MRI in Diagnosis of Severe Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorder: An Intraindividual Assessment With Emphasis on Placental Bulge.

BACKGROUND. The "placental bulge" sign (focal area of myometrial-placental bulging beyond the normal uterine contour) on ultrasound (US) or MRI is postulated to represent deeper venous invasion in placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder and may represent severe PAS. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance and interobserver agreement of US and MRI features for diagnosis of severe PAS, with an emphasis on the placental bulge sign. METHODS. This retrospective study included 62 pregnant women (mean age, 33.2 ± 5.5 [SD] years) with clinically suspected PAS who underwent both US and MRI. Five readers (two maternal-fetal medicine specialists for US, three abdominal radiologists for MRI) independently reviewed images for the given modality, blinded to the final diagnosis, and recorded the presence of a range of findings (nine on US, eight on MRI), including placental bulge. Intraoperative and pathologic findings were used to separate patients into those with and without severe PAS according to International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics classification. Diagnostic performance of US and MRI findings for severe PAS was evaluated, multivariable logistic regression was performed, and interob-server agreement was assessed. RESULTS. A total of 58.1% (36/62) of patients had severe PAS. On US, the finding with the highest accuracy for severe PAS was placental bulge (85.5%), which had a sensitivity of 91.7% and specificity of 76.9%. On MRI, the finding with highest accuracy was also placental bulge (90.3%), which had a sensitivity of 94.4% and specificity of 84.6%. In the multivariable regression analysis, placental bulge was an independent predictor of severe PAS on US (odds ratio [OR], 8.94; p = .02) and MRI (OR, 45.67; p = .003). Interobserver agreement analysis showed a kappa value for placental bulge of 0.48 for MRI and 0.40 for US. Given wide 95% CIs, differences among features for a given modality and differences between modalities were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION. The findings suggest a strong performance of placental bulge in diagnosing severe PAS on both US and MRI, with a potentially stronger performance on MRI. Nonetheless, interobserver agreement remains suboptimal for both modalities. CLINICAL IMPACT. Accurate prenatal diagnosis of severe PAS by imaging could help guide maternal counseling and selection of either hysterectomy or uterine-preserving surgery.

Diagnostic significance of the CT rim sign in cases of gangrenous cholecystitis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the association between the CT rim sign and gangrenous cholecystitis (GC) and increased surgical difficulty. METHOD: Patients who had a contrast enhanced CT of the abdomen and pelvis, followed by non-elective cholecystectomy were analyzed. The scans were reviewed for the CT rim sign by radiologists blinded to the pathologic and clinical outcomes. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between patients with and without GC using t-tests or Wilcoxon ranked sum test for continuous variables, and Fishers' exact test for categorical variables, when appropriate. A logistic regression model was fitted with multiple risk factors. Odds ratios as well as 95% confidence intervals were then calculated for the risk factors. A secondary analysis predicting increased surgical difficulty, defined as an operative time of greater than 2 h or increased conversion rate to open surgery, was also examined. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients were included; 20 of which had GC. On imaging, patients with GC were more likely to have a CT rim sign (65% vs 32.5%, OR = 3.80, 95% CI: 1.24-12.7, p = 0.011). The presence of the CT rim sign did not reach a statistically significant association with an operative time >2 h or conversion to open case (56.52% vs 33.77%, OR = 2.55, p = 0.056). CONCLUSION: The CT rim sign can be utilized to raise the possibility of GC, however the presence of the CT rim sign does not demonstrate an association with increased surgical difficulty.

Non-traumatic hemoperitoneum in the ED setting: causes, characteristics, prevalence and sex differences.

PURPOSE: Prevalence and sex differences of non-traumatic hemoperitoneum in the Emergency Department has not been studied in the literature. METHODS: Following IRB approval, multiple keyword searches were used to identify all cases of hemoperitoneum over a 55-month period. Cases were reviewed to confirm and quantify the hemoperitoneum. Maximum attenuation was used to grade blood density. Medical records were reviewed to determine cause, interventions and outcomes in each patient. RESULTS: Of the 171 verified cases of non-traumatic hemoperitoneum, 76% of cases were in women. CT exams in women were positive for hemoperitoneum 0.25% of the time, while 0.13% were positive in men. Regarding size, 25.7% were large, 24.5% were moderate and 49.7% were small. Contrast-enhanced studies had HU values of 103 ± 19 (range 47-146) which were significantly higher than for non-enhanced studies with values of 82 ± 19 (range 43-121, p < 0.001). The most common cause of non-traumatic hemoperitoneum was ruptured ovarian cyst which was found in 58% of women (76 cases). Of these, 69 patients received observation, 6 patients underwent surgery and 1 patient received Vitamin K. For the 95 non-ovarian cyst cases, 65% patients were admitted and then discharged, 22% were discharged from the ED, 12% expired and 1% were transferred to a different hospital. Post-procedure hemorrhage was the second to most common cause in women (24/130 = 18%) and the most common etiology in men (14/41 = 34%). CONCLUSIONS: In women, ovarian cyst rupture was the most common etiology of hemoperitoneum. Post-procedure hemorrhage was second in women and the most common etiology in men. Although unusual causes of hemoperitoneum will be encountered, understanding the most common causes of hemoperitoneum can provide a reasonable starting point when attempting to determine the most likely etiology of hemoperitoneum in any individual patient.

Utility of Apical Lung Assessment on Computed Tomography Angiography as a COVID-19 Screen in Acute Stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Evaluation of the lung apices using computed tomography angiography of the head and neck during acute ischemic stroke (AIS) can provide the first objective opportunity to screen for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: We performed an analysis assessing the utility of apical lung exam on computed tomography angiography for COVID-19-specific lung findings in 57 patients presenting with AIS. We measured the diagnostic accuracy of apical lung assessment alone and in combination with patient-reported symptoms and incorporate both to propose a COVID-19 era AIS algorithm. RESULTS: Apical lung assessment when used in isolation, yielded a sensitivity of 0.67, specificity of 0.93, positive predictive value of 0.19, negative predictive value of 0.99, and accuracy of 0.92 for the diagnosis of COVID-19, in patients presenting to the hospital for AIS. When combined with self-reported clinical symptoms of cough or shortness of breath, sensitivity of apical lung assessment improved to 0.83. CONCLUSIONS: Apical lung assessment on computed tomography angiography is an accurate screening tool for COVID-19 and can serve as part of a combined screening approach in AIS.

Lower-extremity Arterial Thrombosis Associated with COVID-19 Is Characterized by Greater Thrombus Burden and Increased Rate of Amputation and Death.

Background During the peak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the authors noted an increase in positive lower-extremity CT angiography examinations in patients who presented with leg ischemia. The goal of this study was to determine whether lower-extremity arterial thrombosis was associated with COVID-19 and whether it was characterized by greater severity in these patients. Materials and Methods In this retrospective propensity score-matched study approved by the institutional review board, 16 patients who tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and who underwent CT angiography of the lower extremities and 32 patients who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 observed from January to April 2018, January to April 2019, and January to April 2020 were compared using three scoring systems: two systems including all vessels, with weighting in one system given to more proximal vessels and with weighting in the other system given to more distal vessels, and a third system in which only the common iliac through popliteal arteries were considered. Correlation with presenting symptoms and outcomes was computed. Fisher exact tests were used to compare patients who tested positive for COVID-19 with patients who tested negative for COVID-19 regarding the presence of clots and presenting symptoms. A Mantel-Haenszel test was used to associate outcome of death and/or amputation with COVID-19 adjusted according to history of peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Results Sixteen patients with confirmed COVID-19 (70 years ± 14 [standard deviation]; seven women) who underwent CT angiography and 32 propensity score-matched control patients (71 years ± 15; 16 women) were included. All patients with COVID-19 (100%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 79%, 100%) had at least one thrombus, and only 69% of control patients (95% CI: 50%, 84%) had thrombi (P = .02). Ninety-four percent of patients with COVID-19 (95% CI: 70%, 99.8%) had proximal thrombi compared with 47% of control patients (95% CI: 29%, 65%) (P < .001). The mean thrombus score using any of the three scoring systems yielded greater scores in patients with COVID-19 (P < .001). Adjusted for history of PVD, death or limb amputation was more common in patients with COVID-19 (odds ratio = 25; 95% CI: 4.3, 147; P < .001). Patients with COVID-19 who presented with symptoms of leg ischemia only were more likely to avoid amputation or death than patients who also presented with pulmonary or systemic symptoms (P = .001). Conclusion Coronavirus disease 2019 is associated with lower-extremity arterial thrombosis characterized by a greater clot burden and a more dire prognosis. © RSNA, 2020.

The Emergency Radiology Dashboard: Facilitating Workflow With Realtime Data.

Emergency radiology imaging volume varies widely due to predictable (eg, day of the week) and unpredictable factors. This can lead to inefficient or insufficient staffing of radiologists, suboptimal workflow and poor trainee education. In collaboration with the radiology IT division we created and implemented a 2-tiered real-time dashboard to facilitate operational workflow. This allowed us to track overall emergency department patient census, ordered but not yet performed imaging studies, and performed but unread imaging studies. The capability of clicking to obtain information on specific studies was also incorporated. We describe our experience of how this information has improved our workflow, staffing, and trainee education.

Emphysematous cystitis with extraperitoneal gas: new insights into pathogenesis via novel CT findings.

Emphysematous cystitis is a relatively rare disease entity characterized by intramural and/or intraluminal bladder gas best depicted by cross-sectional imaging. Its disease mechanism is not well understood. A case of a diabetic patient with emphysematous cystitis is presented and is notable for the rare finding of extraperitoneal gas in the pelvis based on a review of 114 case reports. Herein we propose a distension-based mechanism with intramural bacterial seeding as the pathogenesis of emphysematous cystitis based on the patient's imaging and the disease's established associations with diabetes and E. coli. The ability to recognize extraperitoneal pelvic gas as a feature of emphysematous cystitis allowed prompt diagnosis. This facilitated early commencement of successful treatment in a diabetic patient in whom the diagnosis was not suspected clinically.

New CT-based diagnoses of torso cancer is low in the emergency department setting.

PURPOSE: The incidence of new CT-based torso cancer diagnoses and the most commonly diagnosed cancer types in the emergency department (ED) setting are unknown. The purpose of our study was to determine the incidence and types of new CT-based torso cancer diagnoses in the ED. METHODS: A total of 19,496 CT reports including all or parts of the torso from 2017 were searched for the keywords: "mass", "tumor", "neoplasm", "malignancy", or "cancer". Each report and corresponding medical record was evaluated for presence of a new cancer. Cases were scored as no cancer, subcentimeter lung nodule, known cancer, new cancer, or suspicious, but unconfirmed for new cancer. Each mass was characterized as symptom-related or incidental. RESULTS: At least one keyword was found in 2086 reports. Of these 706, 126 and 905 were known cancer cases, subcentimeter lung nodules, and non-cancerous cases, respectively. There were 251 confirmed new cancers and 98 suspicious cases which lacked adequate diagnostic workup. Depending on whether only definite or definite and suspicious cases were included together, the number of new cancer cases per 100 torso CT exams was 1.3 or 1.8, respectively. Gastrointestinal, lung, pancreaticobiliary, urinary, and gynecologic cancers were most common. Only 58 of the confirmed cases (23%) were deemed as incidental findings. CONCLUSION: CT-diagnosis of new torso cancers was uncommon in our setting. Still, while extensive knowledge of cancer staging may not be necessary for ED radiologists, knowledge of the most common types of cancer including gastrointestinal, lung, pancreaticobiliary, urinary, and gynecologic cancers may improve sensitivity for these diagnoses and may expedite appropriate referrals for the newly diagnosed patients.

Imaging of Lumen-Apposing Metal Stents in Abdominopelvic Applications.

OBJECTIVE. Lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) are increasingly being used for abdominopelvic drainage applications. The purpose of this article is to describe the normal imaging appearance of these stents and the radiologic findings in stent-related complications. CONCLUSION. LAMS facilitate effective drainage, but the complications include bleeding, pseudoaneurysm formation, stent occlusion, and stent migration.

The value of FDG-PET in the staging of gastric adenocarcinoma: A single institution retrospective review.

BACKGROUND: The value of FDG-PET in the staging of gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) has been subject to debate. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of GA patients between 2006 and 2014 and identified those who had a CT and FDG-PET before initiating treatment. CT and FDG-PET images were analyzed by a blinded body radiologist and nuclear physician, respectively. Disease stage was assessed, looking at primary tumor (PT), locoregional (LLN) and distant lymph node disease (DLN), and metastasis (M). RESULTS: We identified 608 patients who had biopsy-proven GA and 207 (34.0%) had a CT and FDG-PET as part of their staging work-up. Of these, imaging from 166 (27.3%) patients was available for review. CT identified PT, LLN, DLN, and M in 120 (72.3%), 84 (50.6%), 25 (15.1%), and 32 (19.3%) patients, respectively; while FDG-PET identified PT, LLN, DLN, and M in 125 (75.3%), 78 (47.0%), 41 (24.7%), and 27 (16.3%) of patients, respectively. FDG-PET up-staged 31 (18.7%) patients while it down-staged 17 (10.2%) patients. Of patients who were up-staged, 20 (64.5%) developed progressive disease. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the use of FDG-PET as a valuable adjunct to CT in the staging of GA, as it changed the stage in 48 (28.9%) patients. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;113:640-646. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Three-dimensional computed tomography illustration of small bowel obstruction transition points in patients receiving oral contrast: report of 3 cases.

Computed tomography (CT) is often the first modality ordered in patients with suspected bowel obstruction. Three-dimensional (3D) CT imaging is now seen as a valuable tool for illustrating pathologic findings to clinicians and surgeons. Three cases are reported in which 3D CT volume rendering was used to demonstrate transition points in proximal small bowel obstructions in patients who had received oral contrast.