18F-Choline PET/CT, MRI, and Software-Based Image Fusion Analysis in Patients With Primary Hyperparathyroidism.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of 18F-choline PET and MRI in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Furthermore, the additional value of software-based PET/MRI scan fusion was analyzed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study includes 42 patients (38 women) with an age between 32.5 and 79.1 years. PET/CT scans were performed on a dedicated system after injection of 250 to 350 MBq 18F-choline. For the MRI examination, T1-weighted images of the cervical region were used. The image fusion was made by anatomical coregistration using an automated algorithm based on mutual information. RESULTS: A total of 46 lesions were discovered and histologically confirmed in 42 patients. Histopathological examination revealed 38 adenomas and 8 hyperplasias. This means that, in 4 of these 42 patients, 2 lesions per patient were discovered. PET/CT also detected 46 abnormal findings, but only 43 were correctly recognized, whereas the other 3 were false-positive (FP). Six lesions could not be detected correctly: 3 were FP and 3 false-negative, which resulted in a sensitivity of 93.5% and a specificity of 97.5%. The site-specific evaluation showed 18 true-positive enlarged parathyroid glands with MRI, but also produced 13 FP findings and failed to detect 28 lesions; the sensitivity and specificity are thus 39.1% and 89.3%, respectively. The difference in detection rate between 18F-choline PET/CT and MRI was statistically significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: 18F-choline PET/CT is clearly superior to MRI for localization diagnostics in primary hyperparathyroidism. Image fusion of both modalities can be helpful for more precise anatomical assignment.

Serum Tumor Marker Dynamics as Predictive Biomarkers in NSCLC Chemo-Immunotherapy and Mono-Immunotherapy Maintenance: A Registry-Based Descriptive Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate serum tumor markers (STM) as predictive biomarkers in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with chemo-immunotherapy. METHODS: Patients having received platinum-based chemo-(CHT) and PD-1/PD-L1-directed immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) combination therapy were retrospectively followed. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), cytokeratin-19 fragments (CYFRA 21-1) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) were routinely measured at NSCLC diagnosis. The marker with the highest relative elevation was defined "leading STM", its change was assessed between CHT-ICI as well as mono-ICI maintenance initiation and the respective subsequent restaging. Corresponding computed tomography evaluations were analyzed using response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST). For CHT-ICI combination and subsequent mono-ICI-maintenance therapy, leading STM and RECIST response were evaluated regarding progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in Kaplan-Meier analyses. RESULTS: Among 80 CHT-ICI patients (41% women, mean age 63 years), median PFS was 5 months (M;4,9), median OS was 15M (10,/). PFS was significantly (p=0.042) longer, when the leading STM had decreased at first restaging under CHT-ICI combination therapy (9M (5,12; n=41) vs 5M (3,6; n=16)). In the 54 (67.5%) patients who received subsequent mono-ICI maintenance therapy, STM decrease was similarly associated with significantly (p<0.001) longer PFS (16M (7,/; n=16) vs 3.5M (2,6; n=22)). Patients with radiologically stable or progressive disease and concomitant leading STM decrease had similar PFS in the CHT-ICI combination phase (4M (3,7; n=16) vs 4.5M (2,6; n=14)), but longer PFS in the mono-ICI maintenance setting (13M (7,16; n=10) vs 3M (2,4; n=17)). Median OS was not reached in most subgroups. CONCLUSION: Leading STM dynamics provide predictive biomarker information additional to radiological response evaluation patients receiving CHT-ICI combination therapy, especially in the mono-ICI maintenance setting.

Computed tomography findings as determinants of pulmonary function tests in fibrotic interstitial lung diseases-Network-analyses and multivariate models.

The aim was to evaluate the impact of multiple high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) features on pulmonary function test (PFT) biomarkers in fibrotic interstitial lung disease (FILD) patients. HRCT of subsequently ILD-board-discussed FILD patients were semi-quantitatively evaluated in a standardized approach: 18 distinct lung regions were scored for noduli, reticulation, honeycombing, consolidations, ground glass opacities (GGO), traction bronchiectasis (BRK) and emphysema. Total lung capacity (TLC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and transfer coefficient (KCO) were assessed. Interactions between each PFT biomarker and all HRCT scores were visualized by network analyses, modeled according to the Schwarz Bayesian Information Criterion and incorporated in uni- and multivariate stepwise regression analyses. Among 108 FILD patients (mean age 67 years, 77% male), BRK extent was a major significant uni- or multivariate determinant of all PFT analyzed. Besides that, diffusion-based variables DLCO and KCO showed a larger dependency on reticulation, emphysema and GGO, while forced expiratory volume-based measures FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC were more closely associated with consolidations. For TLC, the only significant multivariate determinant was reticulation. In conclusion, PFT biomarkers derived from spirometry, body plethysmography and diffusion capacity in FILD patients are differentially influenced by semi-quantified HRCT findings.

Incidental imaging findings suggesting Zinner syndrome in a young patient with pulmonary embolism: A case report.

A triad of seminal vesical cyst, ipsilateral renal agenesis and ipsilateral ejaculatory duct obstruction is known as Zinner Syndrome. First described in 1914, only about 200 cases have been reported in literature. Usually it stays undiagnosed until the second to third decade of life due to lack of symptoms or nonspecific symptoms such as lower urinary tract symptoms, dysuria or painful ejaculation. In this report we present the case of a 22-year-old patient with a Zinner syndrome as an incidental finding and underlie a review of literature to show the main clinical and imaging implications.

Early serum tumor marker dynamics predict progression-free and overall survival in single PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor treated advanced NSCLC-A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate serum tumor markers (STM) as biomarkers for treatment monitoring and prognosis in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with single-agent PD-1/PD-L1-directed immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), cytokeratin-19 fragments (CYFRA 21-1) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) were routinely measured at NSCLC diagnosis, initially elevated markers were used for follow-up. Leading STM change between ICI initiation and first subsequent restaging as well as corresponding computed tomography evaluations according to response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) were retrospectively analyzed regarding progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS). In uni- and multivariate stepwise Cox-regression analyses, STM and RECIST response were analyzed for their impact on PFS and OS together with other known prognostic patient and tumor characteristics. RESULTS: Among 84 patients (61% men, mean age 68 years), median PFS was significantly (p < 0.001) longer, when STM decreased (11 M (7,19) N = 37) than in case of increases (<2-fold: 6 M (3,8) N = 31; ≥2-fold: 2 M (1,2) N = 16). Patients with initial STM decrease had longer (p < 0.001) median OS (not reached) than with STM increase (<2-fold: 14 M (12,26); ≥2-fold: 4 M (3,7)). Patients with stable or progressive disease by RECIST and concomitant STM decrease had longer (p < 0.001) PFS and OS (8 M (4,14) and 18 M (10,n.e.) N = 24) than upon STM increase (PFS: 2 M (2,4); OS: 10 M (6,13) N = 42). Significant impact on PFS was shown for STM response (p < 0.001), RECIST response (p = 0.003) and PD-L1 status (p = 0.003). For OS, STM response (p < 0.001), presence of cerebral metastases (p = 0.036) and therapy line ≥3 (p = 0.001) were identified. CONCLUSION: Decreasing leading STM at first restaging predict longer PFS and OS and identify patients with favorable outcomes among initial radiological non-responders in ICI treated NSCLC patients.

Achondroplasia in children: correlation of ventriculomegaly, size of foramen magnum and jugular foramina, and emissary vein enlargement.

PURPOSE: Achondroplasia is a skeletal dysplasia with diminished growth of the skull base secondary to defective enchondral bone formation. This leads to narrowing of the foramen magnum and jugular foramina, which further leads to ventricular dilatation and prominence of the emissary veins. The primary goal of our study was to determine a correlation between the degree of ventricular dilatation, jugular foramina and foramen magnum narrowing, as well as emissary vein enlargement. METHODS: Conventional T2-weighted MR images were evaluated for surface area of the foramen magnum and jugular foramina, ventricular dilatation, and emissary veins enlargement in 16 achondroplasia patients and 16 age-matched controls. Ratios were calculated for the individual parameters using median values from age-matched control groups to avoid age as a confounder. RESULTS: Compared to age-matched controls, in children with achondroplasia, the surface area of the foramen magnum (median 0.50 cm(2), range 0.23-1.37 cm(2) vs. 3.14 cm(2), 1.83-6.68 cm(2), p < 0.001) and jugular foramina (median 0.02 cm(2), range 0-0.10 cm(2) vs. 0.21 cm(2), 0.03-0.61 cm(2), p < 0.001) were smaller, whereas ventricular dilatation (0.28, 0.24-0.4 vs. 0.26, 0.21-0.28, p < 0.001) and enlargement of emissary veins (6, 0-11 vs. 0, p < 0.001) were higher. Amongst the patients, Spearman correlation and multiple regression analysis did not reveal correlation for severity between the individual parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that in children with achondroplasia, (1) the variation in ventricular dilatation may be related to an unquantifiable interdependent relationship of emissary vein enlargement, venous channel narrowing, and foramen magnum compression and (2) stable ventricular size facilitated by interdependent factors likely obviates the need for ventricular shunt placement.