The current status of robotic surgery for endometrial cancer in Japan.

The da Vinci® surgical system (Intuitive Surgical Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA) was approved in 2009 by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. In gynecology, robotic surgery for hysterectomy for benign indications and early-stage endometrial cancer has been covered by National Health Insurance since 2018. In a context where the da Vinci surgical system has prevailed in urology departments in Japan, gynecological robotic surgery has spread rapidly once it was covered by insurance. Although minimally invasive gynecologic surgery (minimally invasive surgery, or MIS) in Japan has a specific context, there are several problems with its safety, surgeon education, and cost in Japan. To maximize the many advantages of robotic surgery, its effectiveness needs to be carefully evaluated and this new technology needs to be safely incorporated in practice.

The opacity of mineral ion-loaded bead (DC beads®) on low-keV monochromatic images from dual energy CT and T1-weighted gradient-echo MRI.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the opacity of DC beads® (DCB) loaded with mineral ions on low-keV monochromatic images from dual energy computed tomography (DECT) and T1-weighted gradient-echo (T1-GRE) MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fe2+ or Ca2+-loaded DCBs were prepared by mixing DCBs in 100 mM FeSO4 or CaSO4 solution and scanned by DECT from 10 min to 27 h after mixing. The Hounsfield units (HUs) of sedimented DCBs on 40-keV monochromatic images were measured. Next, we mixed DCBs in 100, 10, 5 and 1 mM FeSO4 solutions, and scanned these solutions from 15 to 120 min after mixing using a 3 T MR scanner. The signal-noise ratios (SNRs) of sedimented DCBs on T1-GRE were measured. Venous blood was scanned to compare with DCBs. RESULTS: The CT values of DCBs in FeSO4 and CaCl2 solutions gradually increased, and were 113.3 and 43.1 HU at 27 h, respectively; that of blood was 17.8 HU. The SNR of DCB in 1 mM FeSO4 solution increased and achieved equilibrium at 120 min, and was 120.5 and higher than in the other FeSO4 solutions. The SNR of blood was 49.7. CONCLUSION: Optimally Fe2+-loaded DCBs can be discriminated from venous blood on 40-keV monochromatic images from DECT and T1-GRE.

SPECT/CT Fusion in the Diagnosis of Hyperparathyroidism.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to analyze the relationship between the diagnostic ability of fused single photon emission computed tomography/ computed tomography (SPECT/CT) images in localization of parathyroid lesions and the size of adenomas or hyperplastic glands. METHODS: Five patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and 4 patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) were imaged 15 and 120 minutes after the intravenous injection of technetium99m-methoxyisobutylisonitrile ((99m)Tc-MIBI). All patients underwent surgery and 5 parathyroid adenomas and 10 hyperplastic glands were detected. Pathologic findings were correlated with imaging results. RESULTS: The SPECT/CT fusion images were able to detect all parathyroid adenomas even with the greatest axial diameter of 0.6 cm. Planar scintigraphy and SPECT imaging could not detect parathyroid adenomas with an axial diameter of 1.0 to 1.2 cm. Four out of 10 (40%) hyperplastic parathyroid glands were diagnosed, using planar and SPECT imaging and 5 out of 10 (50%) hyperplastic parathyroid glands were localized, using SPECT/CT fusion images. CONCLUSION: SPECT/CT fusion imaging is a more useful tool for localization of parathyroid lesions, particularly parathyroid adenomas, in comparison with planar and or SPECT imaging.

An unusual unilocular mesothelial cyst of the pleura: a case report.

A 79-year-old woman was found to have an abnormal shadow on chest radiography. Computed tomography demonstrated a pleural mass. The F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) was performed to determine whether the pleural mass was benign or malignant. The histologic examination of the resected mass showed a unilocular mesothelial cyst of the pleura. The FDG PET findings of a mesothelial cyst of the pleura have not yet been previously reported. The FDG PET findings of a mesothelial cyst in the pleura reflected the microscopic findings of the resected mass. The FDG PET findings, therefore, seem to be useful in the diagnosis of mesothelial cysts.

Computed tomography-based three-dimensional dosimetry of intracavitary brachytherapy for cervical cancer.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to show the results of computed tomography (CT)-based dosimetry of intracavitary brachytherapy for cervical cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 patients with cervical cancer underwent intracavitary brachytherapy with external beam radiation therapy. The prescribed dose of brachytherapy was 6 Gy per fraction to point A. In every fraction a CT scan was performed after applicator insertion and three-dimensional (3D) dosimetry was done. The tumor dose was evaluated using D90 (the minimum dose delivered to 90% of the volume), and the doses of risk organs were evaluated using D2cc (the minimum dose in the most irradiated 2 cm3 of the volume). RESULTS: The mean D90 for the clinical target volume (CTV) was 7.0 Gy (range 4.8-9.8 Gy). There was a negative correlation between the volume and the D90 for the CTV. The mean D2cc doses for the rectum and bladder were 6.0 Gy (range 3.9-9.0 Gy) and 6.5 Gy 5 Gy 2.9-9.0 Gy), respectively. CONCLUSION: CT-based 3D dosimetry of intracavitary brachytherapy for cervical cancer was useful for evaluating the doses of the CTV and the organs at risk. In cases with a large CTV, CTV D90 was often lower than the point A dose, and modulation of the prescribed dose might have to be considered.

Infusion of hypertonic saline into the lung parenchyma during radiofrequency ablation of the lungs with multitined expandable electrodes: results using a porcine model.

The present study was performed to clarify the effect of hypertonic saline infusion into the lung parenchyma on radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the lungs. A total of 20 ablation zones were created in 3 pigs. The ablation zones were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 (n=6) consisted of ablation zones created by applying smaller radiofrequency (RF) power without saline infusion; group 2 (n=5) zones were created by applying greater RF power without saline infusion;and group 3 (n=9) zones were created by applying greater RF power with saline infusion. The techniques of saline infusion included administration of hypertonic saline 1 ml before RFA, followed by continuous administration at a rate of 1 ml/min during the first 2 min after the initiation of RFA. The ablation parameters and coagulation necrosis volumes were compared among the groups. Group 3 had a tendency toward smaller mean impedance than group 1 (p=0.059) and group 2 (p=0.053). Group 3 showed significantly longer RF application time than group 2 (p=0.004) and significantly greater maximum RF power than group 1 (p=0.001) and group 2 (p=0.004). Group 3 showed significantly larger coagulation necrosis volume (mean, 1,421mm3) than group 2 (mean, 858 mm3, p=0.039) and had a tendency toward larger necrosis volume than group 1 (mean, 878 mm3, p=0.077). Although this small study had limited statistical power, hypertonic saline infusion during RFA appeared to enlarge coagulation necrosis of the lung parenchyma.

Functional evaluation of lung by Xe-133 lung ventilation scintigraphy before and after lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) in patients with pulmonary emphysema.

We evaluated the respiratory functions of patients with pulmonary emphysema who underwent lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) by the mean transit time (MTT) with Xe-133 lung ventilation scintigraphy, forced expiration volume in 1 sec (FEV1.0), residual volume (RV), distance walked in 6 min (6-min walk), and the Hugh-Jones classification (H-J classification) before and after LVRS. In 69 patients with pulmonary emphysema (62 men, 7 women; age range, 47-75 years; mean age, 65.4 years +/- 6.1, preoperative H-J classification, III (two were II)-V) who underwent LVRS, all preoperative and postoperative parameters (MTT 3 weeks after LVRS and the others 3 months after LVRS) were judged statistically by the Wilcoxon signed-ranks test and Odds ratio. Every postoperative parameter was improved with a significant difference (P < 0.05) compared to preoperative parameters. MTT at 3 weeks after LVRS was not associated with %FEV1.0 and the H-J classification at 3 months after LVRS, but was associated with RV and a 6-min walk at 3 months after LVRS. MTT was useful for the clinical evalution of aerobic capability after LVRS.

Quantitative evaluation by Tl-201 scintigraphy in the diagnosis of thyroid follicular nodules.

We examined the diagnostic capability of a quantitative evaluation by determining the optimum area for comparisons with nodule and optimum imaging time by Tl-201 scintigraphy in thyroid follicular nodules, retrospectively. Ninety-one thyroid follicular nodules, for which the pathological diagnosis had been established, were examined (60 benign, 31 malignant). After 74 MBq of Tl-201 chloride was injected intravenously, Tl-201 scintigrams were obtained at 10, 20, 30, and 120 min. For the quantitative evaluation, the area with the greatest accumulation in the nodule and a comparative region in the contralateral thyroid and the soft tissues in the cervical region were manually selected as the region of interest (ROI) referring to Tc-99m pertechnetate scintigrams and ultrasonographic findings as a guide by two radiologists, and the T/N ratio (tumor/normal tissue ratio) and T/S ratio (tumor/soft tissue ratio) were calculated. The pixel counts were determined for all ROI. A summary index of overall test performance can be calculated as the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (Area (Az)), and the likelihood ratios were also calculated. We estimated the cut-off on a fitted binormal ROC curve. Multiple regression analyses were used to investigate the relationships between the optimum quantitative evaluation and 5 independent variables. A p value below 5% was considered to be significant. The T/N ratio and T/S ratio were significantly higher in the malignant group at 10 min (0.844 and 0.702), 20 min (0.844 and 0.704), 30 min (0.841 and 0.670), and 120 min (0.887 and 0.733), respectively (p < 0.01). The Az for the T/N ratio was greatest at 120 min. The multiple regression analysis showed that only 'benign or malignant' was a significant variable in the T/N ratio at 120 min. It correlated significantly in interobserver (r = 0.80) and intraobserver (r = 0.80) studied (p < 0.001). An assessment of the cut-off value of the T/N ratio at 120 min, at the cut-off of 1.255, the likelihood ratio for positive test result was greatest at 8.56, while at the cut-off of 1.010, the likelihood ratio for negative test result was lowest at 0.165. The T/N ratio at 120 min was more useful than the other condition to distinguish between benign and malignant thyroid follicular nodules.

Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia/fibrosis completely recovered by adding cyclophosphamide to corticosteroids.

Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia/fibrosis (NSIP) was first described by Katzenstein and Fiorelli in 1994 (Am J Surg Pathol 18: 136-147). Many reports have described that corticosteroids are effective for NSIP. We describe a case of group II idiopathic NSIP in whom cyclophosphamide was administered since the initial response to corticosteroids had been insufficient. Lung biopsy was performed by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and NSIP was diagnosed pathologically, clinically and radiologically. Although the initial response to corticosteroids was insufficient, interstitial infiltrates on chest computed tomography improved dramatically after adding intravenous cyclophosphamide followed by oral cyclophosphamide. This case demonstrates that the addition of cyclophosphamide to corticosteroids might be a useful treatment for patients with NSIP.