Gross tumour volume comparison in oropharynx carcinomas using different intelligent imaging software. A retrospective analysis.

PURPOSE: To compare gross tumour volume (GTV) in oropharynx carcinomas using different intelligent imaging software and to evaluate which method is more reliable for tumour volume definition in comparison with 3D ProSoma software. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied 32 patients with histopathologically confirmed oropharynx carcinomas on dual-source computed tomography (CT) (all patients underwent multislice CT examination after applying 75 ml iodinated non-ionic contrast media). One radiologist calculated the tumour volume - manually measuring tumour length (L), width (W), and height (H) - and then calculated the tumour volume using the formula 0.5236 × L × W × H. The other radiologist used the syngo.CT-Liver-Analysis software to calculate the tumour volumes. Both volume measuring methods were compared with the 3D ProSoma software, which is used by radiotherapists to calculate tumour volumes. Graphpad Prism software was used for statistical data. RESULTS: syngo.CT-Liver-Analysis software for gross tumour volume determination has greater reliability than the standard manual method with Syngo Plaza in comparison with the 3D ProSoma software. CONCLUSIONS: syngo.CT-Liver-Analysis software is a reliable tool for GTV calculation, with a high correlation score, like that of radiotherapeutic 3D ProSoma software.

Correlation of acute pulmonal embolism with D-dimer levels and the diameter of the pulmonary trunk in thoracic multislice computed tomography. A single-centre retrospective analysis of 100 patients.

PURPOSE: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the correlation between D-dimer levels in positive thromboembolic thoracic computed tomography (CT) with the diameter of the pulmonary trunk and to study the relation between the D-dimer and the uni- or bilateralism of the lesions and the presence of pulmonal trunk involvement. We also analysed gender-specific differences in patients with and without dilatation of the pulmonal trunk. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 100 acute care patients (50 men and 50 women) with positive thromboembolic multiple detector computed tomography of the thorax, performed on two modern CT scanners, were retrospectively studied. All thoracic CTs were evaluated by two expert radiologists, with attention paid to the diameter of the pulmonary trunk and the correlation of D-dimer level with the uni-or bilateralism of the lesions. We also analysed sex-specific correlations. All patients underwent multislice computed tomography-examination after applying 70 ml iodinated non-ionic contrast media. Graphpad Prism 8.1.1 software was used for statistical data. RESULTS: The "strongest" weak correlation resulted between D-dimer levels and the axial diameter of the pulmonal trunk. Considering the correlation between the axial diameter of the pulmonal trunk and gender-related distributions, we found that female patients had higher axial diameters than men. Another weak relationship, almost zero, was found between the D-dimer level and gender. Regarding the correlation between the uni- or bilateralism of thromboembolism and the D-dimer levels, we also found a weak correlation. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study showed that D-dimer levels, the diameter of the pulmonal trunk, the location, and gender-related distributions have almost no correlation and are not significantly predictive in imaging.

Impact of the IASLC/ATS/ERS classification in pN0 pulmonary adenocarcinomas: a study with radiological-pathological comparisons and survival analyses.

The aim of this study was: (1) to compare the new pathological findings as detected by the IASLC/ATS/ERS classification with the traditional radiological features in pulmonary pN0 adenocarcinomas, (2) to evaluate their prognostic significance on overall survival (OS). A total of 42 surgically resected pN0 pulmonary adenocarcinomas were analyzed. On CT scans, the following radiological data were recorded: sphericity, predominant margins, cavitation and bronchogram, attenuation and percentage of ground glass opacity (GGO). On pathological examination, tumors were categorized according to the IASLC/ATS/ERS classification; Sica score and grade, pathological stage, tumor major axis, pleural invasion, vascular and lymphatic invasion, peritumoral lymphoid infiltration, and cytological features were also determined. Clinical follow up was available in 37 cases (range 1-117 months). Radiologically, 31 solid and 11 semisolid tumors were found. Morphologically, 2 minimally invasive and 40 invasive adenocarcinomas were diagnosed. In radiological-pathological comparisons, (1) the acinar pattern was higher in tumors with solid attenuation and low GGO (p=0.018); (2) the lepidic pattern was more elevated in tumors with high GGO (p=0.012). In multivariate survival analyses with stage, predominant margins on CT scans (p=0.036) and Sica score (p=0.028) significantly affected OS. This study confirms the validity of the new classification of pulmonary adenocarcinomas in radiological-pathological comparisons and underlines the importance of both radiological and pathological findings in correctly identifying their prognostic features.

FDG PET/CT in malignant eccrine porocarcinoma arising in a pre-existing poroma.

In a 61-year-old man with known poroma of right lower abdomen, malignant transformation to porocarcinoma was suspected and confirmed by biopsy. PET/CT was requested for tumor staging, which revealed high FDG uptake in the known skin nodules located in the right side of abdominal and chest wall and identified further some adenopathy in the right axillary. All nodules and axillary lymph nodes were removed, and diagnosis of eccrine porocarcinoma was confirmed. The primary tumor and secondary lesions of porocarcinoma show a high glucose metabolism; thus, PET/CT could be useful for staging, follow-up, and detection of recurrence of patients with eccrine porocarcinoma.