Pancreatic cystosis in cystic fibrosis: Sometimes a bike ride can help you decide.

Pancreatic cystosis (PC) is an uncommon manifestation of pancreas involvement in cystic fibrosis (CF), characterized by the presence of multiple macrocysts partially or completely replacing pancreas. Only few reports are available from literature and management (surgery vs follow up) is commonly based on the presence of symptoms or complications due to local mass effect, although evidence-based recommendations are still not available. We here report the case of a young adult CF patient with PC, in which cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) provided important information to be integrated to the radiological finding of inferior vena cava compression by the multicystic pancreas complex. Through the analysis of oxygen kinetic cardiodynamic phase pattern, CPET may be helpful to safely exclude significant mass effects on blood venous return and to improve the decision-making process on whether to consider surgery or not in patients with PC.

Improvement of prostate cancer detection combining a computer-aided diagnostic system with TRUS-MRI targeted biopsy.

PURPOSE: To validate a novel consensus method, called target-in-target, combining human analysis of mpMRI with automated CAD system analysis, with the aim to increasing the prostate cancer detection rate of targeted biopsies. METHODS: A cohort of 420 patients was enrolled and 253 patients were rolled out, due to exclusion criteria. 167 patients, underwent diagnostic 3T MpMRI. Two expert radiologists evaluated the exams adopting PI-RADSv2 and CAD system. When a CAD target overlapped with a radiologic one, we performed the biopsy in the overlapping area which we defined as target-in-target. Targeted TRUS-MRI fusion biopsy was performed in 63 patients with a total of 212 targets. The MRI data of all targets were quantitatively analyzed, and diagnostic findings were compared to pathologist's biopsy reports. RESULTS: CAD system diagnostic performance exhibited sensitivity and specificity scores of 55.2% and 74.1% [AUC = 0.63 (0.54 ÷ 0.71)] , respectively. Human readers achieved an AUC value, in ROC analysis, of 0.71 (0.63 ÷ 0.79). The target-in-target method provided a detection rate per targeted biopsy core of 81.8 % vs. a detection rate per targeted biopsy core of 68.6 % for pure PI-RADS based on target definitions. The higher per-core detection rate of the target-in-target approach was achieved irrespective of the presence of technical flaws and artifacts. CONCLUSIONS: A novel consensus method combining human reader evaluation with automated CAD system analysis of mpMRI to define prostate biopsy targets was shown to improve the detection rate per biopsy core of TRUS-MRI fusion biopsies. Results suggest that the combination of CAD system analysis and human reader evaluation is a winning strategy to improve targeted biopsy efficiency.

Negative Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Prostate Cancer: What's Next?

BACKGROUND: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) of the prostate has excellent sensitivity in detecting clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa). Nevertheless, the clinical utility of negative mpMRI (nMRI) is less clear. OBJECTIVE: To assess outcomes of men with nMRI and clinical follow-up after 7 yr of activity at a reference center. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: All mpMRI performed from January 2010 to May 2015 were reviewed. We selected all patients with nMRI and divided them in group A (naïve patients) and group B (previous negative biopsy). All patients without a diagnosis of PCa had a minimum follow-up of 2 yr and at least two consecutive nMRI. Patients with positive mpMRI were also identified to assess their biopsy outcomes. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: A Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to assess both any-grade PCa and csPCa diagnosis-free survival probabilities. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were fitted to identify predictors of csPCa diagnosis. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: We identified 1545 men with nMRI, and 1255 of them satisfied the inclusion criteria; 659 belonged to group A and 596 to group B. Any-grade PCa and csPCa diagnosis-free survival probabilities after 2 yr of follow-up were 94% and 95%, respectively, in group A; in group B, they were 96%. After 48 mo of follow-up, any-grade PCa diagnosis-free survival probability was 84% in group A and 96% in group B (log rank p<0.001). Diagnosis-free survival probability for csPCa was unchanged after 48 mo of follow-up. On multivariable Cox regression analysis, increasing age (p=0.005) was an independent predictor of lower csPCa diagnosis probability, while increasing prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and PSA density (<0.001) independently predicted higher csPCa diagnosis probability. The prevalence of and positive predictive value for csPCa were 31.6% and 45.5%, respectively. Limitations include limited follow-up and the inability to calculate true csPCa prevalence in the study population. CONCLUSIONS: mpMRI is highly reliable to exclude csPCa. Nevertheless, systematic biopsy should be recommended even after nMRI, especially in younger patients with high or raising PSA levels. PATIENT SUMMARY: It is a matter of debate whether patients with negative multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) of the prostate could obviate the need to perform a systematic biopsy. In this report, we looked at the outcomes of patients with negative mpMRI and midterm clinical follow-up at a reference center. We found mpMRI to be highly reliable to exclude significant prostate cancer; nonetheless, systematic biopsy must still be recommended after negative mpMRI in patients with high clinical suspicion of prostate cancer.

Hyperaldosteronism and cardiovascular risk in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Hypertension is commonly associated with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), often discovered before the onset of renal failure, albeit the pathogenetic mechanisms are not well elucidated. Hyperaldosteronism in ADPKD may contribute to the development of insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction, and progression of cardiorenal disease. The aim of study was to evaluate the prevalence of primary aldosteronism (PA) in ADPKD patients and identify some surrogate biomarkers of cardiovascular risk.We have enrolled 27 hypertensive ADPKD patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 60 mL/min, evaluating the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), inflammatory indexes, nutritional status, homocysteine (Hcy), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), mineral metabolism, microalbuminuria, and surrogate markers of atherosclerosis [carotid intima media thickness (cIMT), ankle/brachial index (ABI), flow mediated dilation (FMD), renal resistive index (RRI) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI)]. Furthermore, we have carried out the morpho-functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with high-field 3 T Magnetom Avanto.We have divided patients into group A, with normal plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and group B with PA, present in 9 (33%) of overall ADPKD patients. Respect to group A, group B showed a significant higher mean value of LVMI, HOMA-IR and Hcy (P = 0.001, P = 0.004, P = 0.018; respectively), and a lower value of FMD and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-VitD) (P = 0.037, P = 0.019; respectively) with a higher prevalence of non-dipper pattern at Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) (65% vs 40%, P < 0.05) at an early stage of the disease.In this study, we showed a high prevalence of PA in ADPKD patients, associated to higher LVMI, HOMA-IR, Hcy, lower FMD, and 25-OH-VitD, considered as surrogate markers of atherosclerosis, compared to ADPKD patients with normal PAC values. Our results indicate a higher overall cardiovascular risk in ADPKD patients with inappropriate aldosterone secretion, and a screening for PA in all patients with ADPKD is recommended.

Role of multiparametric MRI in the diagnosis of prostate cancer: update.

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy of the male gender. The role of magnetic resonance imaging has evolved very rapidly over the years to be currently recognized as a fundamental tool in the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of prostate cancer.

Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging vs. standard care in men being evaluated for prostate cancer: a randomized study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether the proportion of men with clinically significant prostate cancer (PCa) is higher among men randomized to multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI)/biopsy vs. those randomized to transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy. METHODS: In total, 1,140 patients with symptoms highly suggestive of PCa were enrolled and divided in 2 groups of 570 patients to follow 2 different diagnostic algorithms. Group A underwent a TRUS-guided random biopsy. Group B underwent an mp-MRI and a TRUS-guided targeted+random biopsy. The accuracy of mp-MRI in the diagnosis of PCa was calculated using prostatectomy as the standard of reference. RESULTS: In group A, PCa was detected in 215 patients. The remaining 355 patients underwent an mp-MRI: the findings were positive in 208 and unremarkable in 147 patients. After the second random+targeted biopsy, PCa was detected in 186 of the 208 patients. In group B, 440 patients had positive findings on mp-MRI, and PCa was detected in 417 at first biopsy; 130 group B patients had unremarkable findings on both mp-MRI and biopsy. In the 130 group B patients with unremarkable findings on mp-MRI and biopsy, a PCa Gleason score of 6 or precancerous lesions were detected after saturation biopsy. mp-MRI showed an accuracy of 97% for the diagnosis of PCa. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of men with clinically significant PCa is higher among those randomized to mp-MRI/biopsy vs. those randomized to TRUS-guided biopsy; moreover, mp-MRI is a very reliable tool to identify patients to schedule in active surveillance.

Advanced imaging for the early diagnosis of local recurrence prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy.

Currently the diagnosis of local recurrence of prostate cancer (PCa) after radical prostatectomy (RT) is based on the onset of biochemical failure which is defined by two consecutive values of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) higher than 0.2 ng/mL. The aim of this paper was to review the current roles of advanced imaging in the detection of locoregional recurrence. A nonsystematic literature search using the Medline and Cochrane Library databases was performed up to November 2013. Bibliographies of retrieved and review articles were also examined. Only those articles reporting complete data with clinical relevance for the present review were selected. This review article is divided into two major parts: the first one considers the role of PET/CT in the restaging of PCa after RP; the second part is intended to provide the impact of multiparametric-MRI (mp-MRI) in the depiction of locoregional recurrence. Published data indicate an emerging role for mp-MRI in the depiction of locoregional recurrence, while the performance of PET/CT still remains unclear. Moreover Mp-MRI, thanks to functional techniques, allows to distinguish between residual glandular healthy tissue, scar/fibrotic tissue, granulation tissue, and tumour recurrence and it may also be able to assess the aggressiveness of nodule recurrence.