Imaging of Peritoneal Carcinomatosis in Advanced Ovarian Cancer: CT, MRI, Radiomic Features and Resectability Criteria.

PC represents the most striking picture of the loco-regional spread of ovarian cancer, configuring stage III. In the last few years, many papers have evaluated the role of imaging and therapeutic management in patients with ovarian cancer and PC. This paper summed up the literature on traditional approaches to the imaging of peritoneal carcinomatosis in advanced ovarian cancer, presenting classification systems, most frequent patterns, routes of spread and sites that are difficult to identify. The role of imaging in diagnosis was investigated, with particular attention to the reported sensitivity and specificity data-computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography-CT (PET-CT)-and to the peritoneal cancer index (PCI). In addition, we explored the therapeutic possibilities and radiomics applications that can impact management of patients with ovarian cancer. Careful staging is mandatory, and patient selection is one of the most important factors influencing complete cytoreduction (CCR) outcome: an accurate pre-operative imaging may allow selection of patients that may benefit most from primary cytoreductive surgery.

A Treat-to-Target Strategy Guided by Pan-Enteric Evaluation in Children With Crohn's Disease Improves Outcomes at 2 Years.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: It is uncertain whether a treat-to-target approach could be an effective strategy for improving outcomes in children with Crohn's disease (CD). Previously, we reported mucosal healing (MH) and deep remission rates throughout the intestinal tract by performing 3 pan-enteric capsule assessments and using a treat-to-target strategy over 52 weeks in children with CD. This report describes the outcomes of this approach at 104 weeks. METHODS: Children with known CD who completed the 52-week protocol repeated pan-enteric capsule endoscopy (PCE) at 104 weeks. Results at weeks 52 and 104 were compared, and long-term outcomes between patients, with and without MH, were calculated using an intention-to-treat analysis of clinical relapse, need for steroids, treatment escalation, hospitalization, and surgery. RESULTS: Of the previous study cohort of 48 patients, 46 (96%) were available for this extension study (28 [61%] of 46 with MH and 18 [39%] of 46 without MH at 52 weeks). When evaluated at 104 weeks, MH was maintained in 93% of patients with MH at 52 weeks. In the intention-to-treat analysis, complete MH at 52 weeks was associated with reduced risk of steroid use (log-rank P < .0001), treatment escalation (log-rank P < .0001), hospitalization (log-rank P < .0001), and clinical relapse (log-rank P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: When a PCE-based, treat-to-target strategy is employed, MH is sustainable (93%) over a 1-year period and is correlated with improved patient outcomes, including reduced need for steroids, treatment escalation, hospitalization, and clinical relapses at 104 weeks.ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT03161886.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Gastrointestinal Tract: Current Role, Recent Advancements and Future Prospectives.

This review focuses on the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract (GI MRI), analyzing the major technical advances achieved in this field, such as diffusion-weighted imaging, molecular imaging, motility studies, and artificial intelligence. Today, MRI performed with the more advanced imaging techniques allows accurate assessment of many bowel diseases, particularly inflammatory bowel disease and rectal cancer; in most of these diseases, MRI is invaluable for diagnosis, staging, and disease monitoring under treatment. Several MRI parameters are currently considered activity biomarkers for inflammation and neoplastic disease. Furthermore, in younger patients with acute or chronic GI disease, MRI can be safely used for short-term follow-up studies in many critical clinical situations because it is radiation-free. MRI assessment of functional gastro-esophageal and small bowel disorders is still in its infancy but very promising, while it is well established and widely used for dynamic assessment of anorectal and pelvic floor dysfunction; MRI motility biomarkers have also been described. There are still some limitations to GI MRI related to high cost and limited accessibility. However, technical advances are expected, such as faster sequences, more specific intestinal contrast agents, AI analysis of MRI data, and possibly increased accessibility to GI MRI studies. Clinical interest in the evaluation of bowel disease using MRI is already very high, but is expected to increase significantly in the coming years.

Whole body MRI with Diffusion Weighted Imaging versus 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-PET/CT in the staging of lymphomas.

PURPOSE: To assess the diagnostic performance of Whole Body (WB)-MRI in comparison with 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose-PET/CT (18F-FDG-PET/CT) in lymphoma staging and to assess whether quantitative metabolic parameters from 18F-FDG-PET/CT and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) values are related. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively enrolled patients with a histologically proven primary nodal lymphoma to  undergo 18F-FDG-PET/CT and WB-MRI, both performed within 15 days one from the other, either before starting treatment (baseline) or during treatment (interim). Positive and negative predictive values of WB-MRI for the identification of nodal and extra-nodal disease were measured. The agreement between WB-MRI and 18F-FDG-PET/CT for the identification of lesions and staging was assessed through Cohen's coefficient k and observed agreement. Quantitative parameters of nodal lesions derived from 18F-FDG-PET/CT and WB-MRI (ADC) were measured and the Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between them. The specified level of significance was p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Among the 91 identified patients, 8 refused to participate and 22 met exclusion criteria, thus images from 61 patients (37 men, mean age 30.7 years) were evaluated. The agreement between 18F-FDG-PET/CT and WB-MRI for the identification of nodal and extra-nodal lesions was 0.95 (95% CI 0.92 to 0.98) and 1.00 (95% CI NA), respectively; for staging it was 1.00 (95% CI NA). A strong negative correlation was found between ADCmean and SUVmean of nodal lesions in patients evaluated at baseline (Spearman coefficient rs = - 0.61, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: WB-MRI has a good diagnostic performance for staging of patients with lymphoma in comparison with 18F-FDG-PET/CT and is a promising technique for the quantitative assessment of disease burden in these patients.

Multi-parametric MRI in the diagnosis and scoring of gastrointestinal acute graft-versus-host disease.

OBJECTIVES: Acute gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease (GI-aGVHD) is a severe complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Diagnosis relies on clinical, endoscopic, and pathological investigations. Our purpose is to assess the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis, staging, and prediction of GI-aGVHD-related mortality. METHODS: Twenty-one hematological patients who underwent MRI for clinical suspicion of acute GI-GVHD were retrospectively selected. Three independent radiologists, blinded to the clinical findings, reanalyzed MRI images. The GI tract was evaluated from stomach to rectum by analyzing fifteen MRI signs suggestive of intestinal and peritoneal inflammation. All selected patients underwent colonoscopy with biopsies. Disease severity was determined on the basis of clinical criteria, identifying 4 stages of increasing severity. Disease-related mortality was also assessed. RESULTS: The diagnosis of GI-aGVHD was histologically confirmed with biopsy in 13 patients (61.9%). Using 6 major signs (diagnostic score), MRI showed 84.6% sensitivity and 100% specificity in identifying GI-aGVHD (AUC = 0.962; 95% confidence interval 0.891-1). The proximal, middle, and distal ileum were the segments most frequently affected by the disease (84.6%). Using all 15 signs of inflammation (severity score), MRI showed 100% sensitivity and 90% specificity for 1-month related mortality. No correlation with the clinical score was found. CONCLUSION: MRI has proved to be an effective tool for diagnosing and scoring GI-aGVHD, with a high prognostic value. If larger studies will confirm these results, MRI could partly replace endoscopy, thus becoming the primary diagnostic tool for GI-aGVHD, being more complete, less invasive, and more easily repeatable. KEY POINTS: • We have developed a new promising MRI diagnostic score for GI-aGVHD with a sensitivity of 84.6% and specificity of 100%; results are to be confirmed by larger multicentric studies. • This MRI diagnostic score is based on the six MRI signs most frequently associated with GI-aGVHD: small-bowel inflammatory involvement, bowel wall stratification on T2-w images, wall stratification on post-contrast T1-w images, ascites, and edema of retroperitoneal fat and declivous soft tissues. • A broader MRI severity score based on 15 MRI signs showed no correlation with clinical staging but high prognostic value (100% sensitivity, 90% specificity for 1-month related mortality); these results also need to be confirmed by larger studies.

Diffusion Weighted Imaging in Neuro-Oncology: Diagnosis, Post-Treatment Changes, and Advanced Sequences-An Updated Review.

DWI is an imaging technique commonly used for the assessment of acute ischemia, inflammatory disorders, and CNS neoplasia. It has several benefits since it is a quick, easily replicable sequence that is widely used on many standard scanners. In addition to its normal clinical purpose, DWI offers crucial functional and physiological information regarding brain neoplasia and the surrounding milieu. A narrative review of the literature was conducted based on the PubMed database with the purpose of investigating the potential role of DWI in the neuro-oncology field. A total of 179 articles were included in the study.

An Ulcerated Large Colic Lipoma Causing Rectorrhagia Treated With Endoscopic Loop-Assisted Resection.

Colonic lipomatous polyps are often an incidental finding during colonoscopy. Generally, these types of polyps can cause gastrointestinal bleeding when they are larger than 4 cm in size. Some case reports have documented the occurrence of overlying adenomatous formations in the apical portion, as well as ulcerated mucosa. There is currently no standardized endoscopic removal technique for their treatment. In this report, we present a case of a large and ulcerated lipoma causing rectorrhagia, which was successfully treated with endoscopic en-bloc resection and endoloop placement.

Candida Albicans Lung Abscess in an Illicit Drugs User With Hepatitis C Virus Chronic Infection.

Illicit substances are widely used all over the world. Among them, crack cocaine results to be the most used drug for the fact that it can be taken in different ways, such as inhaled or intravenous. Pulmonary complications are well known in people snorting it, mostly due to contamination with other substances contained in the objects able to infuse the drug. Herein, we present a case of lung candida abscess related to nasal insufflation of cocaine in an abuser patient suffering from hepatitis C virus (HCV) and not immunocompromised.

Involvement of the exocrine pancreas during COVID-19 infection and possible pathogenetic hypothesis: a concise review.

The gastrointestinal system may be affected by COVID-19 infection with an incidence variable from 3% up to 79%. Several works show that the pancreas, both in its exocrine and endocrine function, can be affected by this viral infection, although this organ has been poorly analyzed in this current epidemic context. This mini-review aims to provide a summary of available studies on exocrine pancreas involvement during COVID-19 infection. A search through MEDLINE/PubMed was conducted on the topic in hand. With regard to exocrine function, some studies highlight the presence of an associated hyperenzymemia (hyperamylasemia, hyperlipasemia), while others describe isolated and rare cases of acute pancreatitis. More attention should be paid to pancreatic impairment in subjects with COVID-19, as this may prove to be one of the elements aggravating its clinical course. Indeed, acute pancreatitis, especially when presenting in severe forms with hyperstimulation of the pro-inflammatory response, may represent a crucial factor in the progression of COVID-19, entailing both an increase in hospitalization days and in mortality rate.

MRI reveals different Crohn's disease phenotypes in children and adults.

OBJECTIVES: To identify differences between two cohorts of adult and pediatric patients affected by Crohn's disease (CD), with regard to lesion location in the small intestine and colon-rectum, lesion activity, and prevalence of perianal disease (PD), using MRI as the main diagnostic tool. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 350 consecutive MRI examinations performed between 2013 and 2016 in outpatients or inpatients with histologically proven CD, monitored by the Gastroenterology and Pediatric Units of our Hospital. The magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) protocol for adult and pediatric CD patients routinely includes evaluation of nine different intestinal segments (from jejunum to rectum) and of the anal canal. Intestinal activity was also calculated using a validated score. Perianal disease (PD) was staged. Fisher's exact test was used and the odds ratio (OR) was calculated. RESULTS: Two hundred and nineteen out of 350 MRI studies (118 adults and 101 children) were included. The prevalence of PD was 34.6% in children and 16.1% in adults (OR = 2.8; p = 0.0017). Pediatric patients showed more frequent rectal involvement (29.7% vs 13.5%, OR = 2.7; p = 0.0045) and higher risk of PD in the presence of rectal disease (p = 0.043; OR = 4.5). In pediatric patients with severe colorectal disease, the prevalence of PD was twofold (86.7% vs 40%; p = 0.072). Using the clinical Montreal classification for lesion location, no significant differences emerged between the two patient populations. CONCLUSIONS: MRI showed a significantly higher prevalence of rectal involvement and perianal disease in the pediatric population. These results may have a relevant clinical impact and deserve further investigation. KEY POINTS: • To our knowledge, this is the largest morphological comparative study available in the literature using MRI as the main diagnostic tool to compare adult patients and children with Crohn's disease. • Our study showed significant differences between adults and children: a higher prevalence of rectal and perianal fistulous disease (PD) in pediatric patients and an increased prevalence of PD in the presence of severe colon-rectum involvement. • The association of rectal and perianal disease implies a poorer clinical prognosis and a higher risk of disabling complications in pediatric patients.

A Treat to Target Strategy Using Panenteric Capsule Endoscopy in Pediatric Patients With Crohn's Disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Pan-enteric capsule endoscopy (PCE) is effective for assessment of small intestinal and colonic Crohn's disease (CD) in pediatric patients. We aimed to determine whether PCE can be used to monitor mucosal healing and deep remission, in a treat to target strategy for pediatric patients with CD. METHODS: We performed a prospective study of 48 children with a diagnosis of CD at a tertiary care pediatric gastroenterology unit; 46 patients were included in the final analysis. Biomarker, imaging, and PCE analyses were performed at baseline and after 24 and 52 weeks. Small bowel and colonic mucosal healing were defined by Lewis scores <135 and simple endoscopic score for CD ≤1, respectively. Clinical remission was defined as defined as a pediatric CD activity index score <10 and biomarker-based remission based on normal levels of biomarkers; deep remission was defined as a combination of clinical remission, biomarker-based remission, and mucosal healing. Treatments were adjusted based on findings from PCE (imaging was considered only for patients with negative findings from PCE). Therapies were introduced, optimized, switched, or combined at the discretion of treating clinicians. The primary outcome was the ability of PCE to assess mucosal healing and deep remission at 3 timepoints and to guide a treat to target strategy. RESULTS: PCE detected inflammation in 34 patients (71%) at baseline, 22 patients (46%) at week 24, and 18 patients (39%) at week 52 (P for comparison among timepoints <.05). Findings from PCE led to a change in therapy for 34 patients (71%) at baseline and 11 patients (23%) at 24 weeks, whereas only 2 patients with negative results from PCE (4%) changed therapies based on findings from imaging. When the treat to target strategy was applied, proportions of patients with mucosal healing and deep remission increased from 21% at baseline, to 54% at week 24, to 58% at week 52 (P for comparison among timepoints <.05); 2 patients (4%) did not respond to treatment. CONCLUSION: In a prospective study of 48 children with CD, we found a treat to target strategy, based on findings from PCE, to significantly increase the proportions of patients with mucosal healing and deep remission. CLINICAL TRIAL: gov no: NCT03161886.

Hybrid imaging in Crohn's disease: from SPECT/CT to PET/MR and new image interpretation criteria.

Crohn's disease is a chronic relapsing disease characterized by mucosal inflammation, lymphocytes infiltration and fibrotic strictures. Usually, the assessment of location, extension, inflammatory activity and severity of intestinal lesions is complex and invasive with endoscopic methods or histological and biochemical investigations. Thus, the diagnosis remains a challenge for the management of patients. Nuclear medicine techniques, in particular hybrid and molecular imaging, might offer a valid option for the evaluation and determination of the prognosis of the disease. Indeed, imaging methods provide a non-invasive, reproducible and quantitative analysis. An overview of the currently available multimodality imaging techniques in Crohn's disease are reviewed, with particular regard to positron-emission tomography/magnetic resonance and the choice of the best evaluation Score, explaining advantages and disadvantages of each one, with particular regard to their potential role for the assessment of disease activity and extent of inflammation in order to improve the diagnosis. We propose new interpretation criteria for PET/MR images.

Highlights on MRI of the fetal body.

Fetal MRI is a level III diagnostic tool performed subsequently a level II prenatal ultrasound (US), in cases of inconclusive ultrasonographic diagnosis or when a further investigation is required to confirm or improve the diagnosis, to plan an appropriate pregnancy management. Fetal MRI plays an increasingly important role in the prenatal diagnosis of fetal neck, chest and abdominal malformations, even if its role has been amply demonstrated, especially, in the field of fetal CNS anomalies. Due to its multiparametricity and multiplanarity, MRI provides a detailed evaluation of the whole fetal respiratory, gastrointestinal and genitourinary systems, especially on T2-weighted (W) images, with a good tissue contrast resolution. In the evaluation of the digestive tract, T1-W sequences are very important in relation to the typical hyperintensity of the large intestine, due to the presence of meconium. The objective of this review is to focus on the application of fetal MRI in neck, chest and abdominal diseases.

Magnetic resonance imaging of pelvic floor dysfunction - joint recommendations of the ESUR and ESGAR Pelvic Floor Working Group.

OBJECTIVE: To develop recommendations that can be used as guidance for standardized approach regarding indications, patient preparation, sequences acquisition, interpretation and reporting of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diagnosis and grading of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD). METHODS: The technique included critical literature between 1993 and 2013 and expert consensus about MRI protocols by the pelvic floor-imaging working group of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) and the European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR) from one Egyptian and seven European institutions. Data collection and analysis were achieved in 5 consecutive steps. Eighty-two items were scored to be eligible for further analysis and scaling. Agreement of at least 80 % was defined as consensus finding. RESULTS: Consensus was reached for 88 % of 82 items. Recommended reporting template should include two main sections for measurements and grading. The pubococcygeal line (PCL) is recommended as the reference line to measure pelvic organ prolapse. The recommended grading scheme is the "Rule of three" for Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP), while a rectocele and ARJ descent each has its specific grading system. CONCLUSION: This literature review and expert consensus recommendations can be used as guidance for MR imaging and reporting of PFD. KEY POINTS: • These recommendations highlight the most important prerequisites to obtain a diagnostic PFD-MRI. • Static, dynamic and evacuation sequences should be generally performed for PFD evaluation. • The recommendations were constructed through consensus among 13 radiologists from 8 institutions.

Pulmonary fungal infections in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia: is it the time to revise the radiological diagnostic criteria?

The definition of pulmonary fungal infections (PFI) according to the EORTC-MSG criteria may lack diagnostic sensitivity due to the possible presentation of PFI with different radiological pictures. We evaluated the hypothesis to apply less restrictive radiological criteria to define PFI in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) submitted to chemotherapy. Overall, 73 consecutive episodes of pulmonary infiltrates associated to positive serum galactomannan test or fungal isolation or galactomannan detection from respiratory specimens were considered. CT scans acquired at the onset of symptoms (time-0) and within 4 weeks (time-1) were analysed to identify specific (group A) or aspecific radiological signs (group B). Pulmonary infiltrates fulfilled the EORTC-MSG criteria in 49 patients (group A), whereas in 24 patients (group B) they did not reach the criteria due to aspecific CT findings at time-0. Eleven of 21 (52.4%) patients of the group B evaluable for the evolution of the radiological findings fulfilled EORTC-MSG criteria at time-1. All the analysed clinical and mycological characteristics, response to antifungal therapy and survival were comparable in the two groups. Our study seems to confirm the possibility to extend the radiological suspicion of PFI to less restrictive chest CT findings when supported by microbiological criteria in high-risk haematological patients.

Prospective Comparison between two different magnetic resonance defecography techniques for evaluating pelvic floor disorders: air-balloon versus gel for rectal filling.

PURPOSE: to prospectively compare two rectal filling techniques for dynamic MRI of pelvic floor disorders (PFD). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty-six patients with PFD underwent the two techniques during the same procedure, one based on rectal placement of a balloon-catheter filled with saline and air insufflation (air-balloon technique or AB); another based on rectal filling with 180 cc of gel (gel-filling technique or GF). The examinations were compared for assessment and staging of PFD, including rectal-descent, rectocele, cystocele, colpocele, enterocele, rectal invagination. Surgery and clinical examinations were the gold standard. RESULTS: AB showed sensitivity of 96 % for rectal descent, 100 % for both rectocele and colpocele, 86 % for rectal invagination and 100 % for enterocele; understaged 11 % of rectal descents and 19 % of rectoceles. GF showed sensitivity of 100 % for rectal descent, 91 % for rectocele, 83 % for colpocele, 100 % for rectal invagination and 73 % for enterocele; understaged 3.8 % of rectal descent and 11.5 % of rectoceles. Both techniques showed 100 % of specificity. Agreement between air-balloon and gel filling was 84 % for rectal descent, 69 % for rectocele, 88 % for rectal invagination, 84 % for enterocele, 88 % for cystocele and 92 % for colpocele. CONCLUSION: Both techniques allowed a satisfactory evaluation of PFD. The gel filling was superior for rectal invagination, the air-balloon for rectocele and anterior/middle compartment disorders. KEY POINTS: • A standardized MRI technique for assessing pelvic floor disorders is not yet established. • This study compares two MRI techniques based on different rectal filling: air-balloon versus gel. • Both MRI techniques proved to be valuable in assessing PFD, with good agreement. • Air-balloon technique is more hygienic and better tolerated than the gel-filling technique. • Gel was superior for rectal invagination, air-balloon for rectocele and uro-genital prolapses.

Role of magnetic resonance imaging in the detection and characterization of solid pancreatic nodules: An update.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the pancreas. The remaining pancreatic tumors are a diverse group of pancreatic neoplasms that comprises cystic pancreatic neoplasms, endocrine tumors and other uncommon pancreatic tumors. Due to the excellent soft tissue contrast resolution, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is frequently able to readily separate cystic from noncystic tumors. Cystic tumors are often easy to diagnose with MRI; however, noncystic non-adenocarcinoma tumors may show a wide spectrum of imaging features, which can potentially mimic ductal adenocarcinoma. MRI is a reliable technique for the characterization of pancreatic lesions. The implementation of novel motion-resistant pulse sequences and respiratory gating techniques, as well as the recognized benefits of MR cholangiopancreatography, make MRI a very accurate examination for the evaluation of pancreatic masses. MRI has the distinctive ability of non-invasive assessment of the pancreatic ducts, pancreatic parenchyma, neighbouring soft tissues, and vascular network in one examination. MRI can identify different characteristics of various solid pancreatic lesions, potentially allowing the differentiation of adenocarcinoma from other benign and malignant entities. In this review we describe the MRI protocols and MRI characteristics of various solid pancreatic lesions. Recognition of these characteristics may establish the right diagnosis or at least narrow the differential diagnosis, thus avoiding unnecessary tests or procedures and permitting better management.

Use of Imaging Techniques in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases That Minimize Radiation Exposure.

The use of imaging in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has grown exponentially in the last few years. This has raised concerns about the risk of high cumulative level of radiation exposure from medical imaging in IBD patients during their lifetime, especially when the disease begins in pediatric age. Physicians caring for IBD children should be aware of the malignant potential of ionizing radiation and of the availability of alternative radiation-free techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US), in order to use them whenever possible. This review will focus on the value of US and MRI in pediatric IBD.