Subscapularis tendon tear detection using axial internal rotation MRI: semiquantitative and quantitative analysis.

Background: Magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the subscapularis tendon plays an important role in preoperative planning. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value and quantitative measurement of an additional internal rotation sequence in the detection of partial subscapularis tendon tears. Methods: The study included 76 patients who underwent arthroscopy and magnetic resonance (MR) shoulder between January 2018 to December 2019. Three different sets of images were evaluated in each case to determine the diagnostic value in the detection of partial subscapularis tendon tears including Set 1: standard axial fat-suppressed proton density (PD/FS) image and sagittal fat-suppressed T2 weight image (T2W/FS) images, Set 2: standard axial PD/FS and internal rotation PD/FS images, and Set 3: standard axial PD/FS, sagittal T2W/FS and axial internal rotation PD/FS images. Subscapularis tendon tear was diagnosed by arthroscopy and patients with or without tears were grouped. The coracohumoral distance (CHD), coracoglenoid angle (CGA), coracohumeral angle (CHA), CHD difference and CHD ratio were evaluated and compared between groups using univariate and multivariate analysis. The interreader agreement was assessed. The cut-off point for the prediction of subscapularis tears was calculated. Results: Twenty-nine shoulders revealed partial subscapularis tendon tears (29/76, 38.2%). Imaging Set 3 provided the highest sensitivity and accuracy {79-83% [confidence interval (CI): 0.60-0.95], 75-76% (CI: 0.63-0.85)}, compared to image Set 2 [31-58% (CI: 0.15-0.76), 67-68% (CI: 0.55-0.79)] and Set 1 [17-21% (CI: 0.06-0.40], 61-66% (CI: 0.54-0.76)], and a moderate level of interobserver agreement (Kappa =0.55). Axial CHD [odd ratio (OR) =1.48, P=0.044], internal rotate CHD (OR =0.68, P=0.02), CHD difference (OR =2.58, P<0.001), and CHD ratio (OR =1.34, P<0.001) were associated with subscapularis tears. A CHD difference and CHD ratio of more than 0.04 mm and 1.01 achieved a 90% sensitivity and 72% specificity, both. Conclusions: Internal rotation during MRI can increase diagnostic accuracy for subscapularis tendon partial tears. The CHD differences and CHD ratio are useful parameters to indicate subscapularis tears. This technique may improve preoperative management and reduce the consequences of delayed diagnosis and treatment.

Sarcopenia as a Predictive Factor for Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Following Radiofrequency Ablation.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is a skeletal muscle mass deficiency and a potential prognostic factor for the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). OBJECTIVE: To determine whether sarcopenia correlates with the recurrence rate of HCC after curative radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in early and very early HCC. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 669 HCC patients who underwent their first curative RFA at Siriraj hospital from 2011 to 2020. Fifty-six patients who were diagnosed with HCC by triple-phase CT scan and had complete response on follow-up CT were included. All patients underwent skeletal muscle index (SMI) assessment at level L3 vertebra and sarcopenia was defined by the cut-off values of 52.4 cm2/m2 for men and 38.5 cm2/m2 for women. We compared patients with and without sarcopenia. Time to recurrence was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Sarcopenia was present in 37 of 56 patients (66.1%). There was no significant difference between groups except body mass index (BMI) (P<0.001) and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (P=0.035). There was a promising result indicating the difference of time to recurrence between each group (P=0.046) and potential association of sarcopenia with HCC recurrence (HR=2.06; P=0.052). The Child-Pugh score and tumor number were independent risk factors for HCC recurrence (HR=2.04; P=0.005 and HR=2.68; P=0.017, respectively). CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia is a potential prognostic factor for recurrence of HCC in Thai patients who underwent RFA. A larger study is required to properly confirm this association.

Performance of computed tomography and its reliability for the diagnosis of transmural gastrointestional necrosis in a setting of acute ingestion of predominantly strong acid substances in adults.

OBJECTIVES: Computed tomography has become a critical component in evaluating adult patients with acute caustic ingestions and an alternative to endoscopy for detecting transmural gastrointestinal necrosis. This study assessed the performance and reliability of computed tomography findings of transmural gastrointestinal necrosis, given that the presence of the disease potentially signifies the need for surgery. METHODS: A retrospective database search was performed to identify consecutive adult patients with acute caustic ingestions who had computed tomography with endoscopy or surgery within 72 h of admission. Eight physicians reinterpreted computed tomography in two separate rounds. Diagnostic performance utilized eight rounds of radiologists' reinterpretations against reference endoscopic or surgical grades. Intra- and interobserver agreements were calculated. RESULTS: Seventeen patients (mean age, 45.6 years; 9 men; 46 esophageal and 34 gastric segments; 16 ingested strong acid substances) met the inclusion criteria. Eight patients (10 esophageal and 13 gastric segments) had transmural gastrointestinal necrosis. The highly differentiating findings between those with and without transmural gastrointestinal necrosis were esophageal wall thickening (100% vs. 42%, P = 0.001; 100% sensitive), gastric abnormal wall enhancement and fat stranding (100% vs. 57%, P = 0.006; 100% sensitive), and gastric absent wall enhancement (46% vs. 5%, P = 0.007; 100% specific). The intra- and interobserver percentage agreements were 47-100%, and 54-100%, which increased to 53-100%, and 60-100%, respectively, when considering only radiologists' reinterpretations. CONCLUSIONS: In a very small sample of adults who primarily ingested acid, contrast-enhanced computed tomography performed well when interpreted by a panel of radiologists.