Utility and Clinical Implications of Appendicular Skeleton Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Multiple Myeloma: A Single-Institutional 15-Year Experience.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of appendicular skeleton magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the management of multiple myeloma over 15 years. METHODS: A total of 107 appendicular MRIs were obtained from 67 patients. Variables including age, sex, diagnosis, stage, indication, transplant status, MRI result, and treatment course were analyzed. RESULTS: The most common indication was pain (76.6%). The most commonly affected bone groups were the proximal lower (54.3%) and upper extremity (47.6%). Most (83%) positive examinations demonstrated focal disease. Advanced Durie-Salmon stage was associated with increase in appendicular disease (P = 0.0056). Increasing age and prior negative positron emission tomography/computed tomography were associated with a decrease in appendicular disease (P = 0.0036 and 0.0011). When neoplasm was seen, 58.5% underwent management alteration. Advanced stage and history of relapse were associated with treatment alterations (P = 0.0096 and 0.0031). CONCLUSION: Appendicular MRIs comprised 9.6% of MRIs ordered. Appendicular MRI elucidates both neoplastic and nonneoplastic causes of pain. Most examinations with MRI positive for myeloma had subsequent skeletal disease and resulted in altered management.

Extraprostatic extension in prostate cancer: primer for radiologists.

The presence of extraprostatic extension (EPE) on multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) is an important factor in determining the management of prostate cancer. EPE is an established risk factor for biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy (RP) and patients with EPE may be considered for wider resection margins, non-nerve-sparing surgery, adjuvant radiation therapy (RT), or androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Several statistical nomograms and scoring systems have been developed to predict pathological stage at time of RP but with varying accuracies. Using the current PI-RADS v2 mpMRI staging guidelines results in high specificity but lacks in sensitivity. These findings reveal the need for more standardization and further refinement of existing MRI protocols and prostate cancer prediction tools. Current studies have looked into indirect additional imaging criteria such as index tumor volume, length of capsular contact, and apparent diffusion coefficient. Measuring for these features can improve the robustness of mpMRI in staging prostate cancer, as they have been shown to be independent predictors of EPE. MRI/ultrasound fusion-guided targeted biopsy can detect EPE not found on standard biopsy. Collectively, these measurements and imaging techniques can augment the detection of EPE and subsequent risk stratification.

Clinical, imaging, endoscopic findings, and management of patients with CMV colitis: a single-institute experience.

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical, laboratory, imaging, endoscopic findings, treatment, and outcomes of patients with CMV colitis. METHODS: The electronic medical records of 652 patients who had an impression of colitis of unspecified etiology via endoscopic findings between 2011 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 9 patients with biopsy-proven CMV colitis and associated CT imaging performed within 1 month of diagnosis. Demographic data, past medical history, symptoms, laboratory, imaging, endoscopic and biopsy findings, colitis-related adverse events, treatment, and management were recorded. RESULTS: Within the group of 9 patients (2 men; median age, 60 years), all were in an immunosuppressed state (8/9 on immunosuppressive medication regimen and 1/9 with untreated AIDS). Presenting symptoms of CMV colitis included bloody stools (9/9), abdominal pain (7/9), and diarrhea (7/9). The most common imaging findings were pericolonic stranding (9/9) and bowel wall thickening (9/9). Endoscopic evaluation noted inflammation (9/9), ulceration (9/9), and erythema (8/9) as the most prevalent impressions. As determined by both imaging and endoscopy, the sigmoid colon was most commonly affected. Patients were treated with valganciclovir alone (3/9) or ganciclovir followed by valganciclovir (6/9). Outcomes included perforated colon (1/9), persistent colitis (3/9), discharge to hospice (1/9), and resolution (4/9). CONCLUSIONS: CMV colitis is generally associated with an immunosuppressed state. Imaging and endoscopic findings can mimic inflammatory, ischemic, and infectious colitides. However, CMV colitis should be included in the differential diagnosis in immunocompromised adults who present to emergency department with bloody stools, acute abdominal pain or diarrhea, and have bowel wall thickening and pericolonic stranding on imaging.

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: A Primer for Radiologists.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to provide for radiologists an overview of the radiologic, clinical, and pathologic features of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. CONCLUSION. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a rare, life-threatening syndrome characterized by abnormal, excessive activation of the immune system. Imaging plays an important role in determining the extent of involvement of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Knowledge of this entity, including its imaging, clinical, and pathologic findings, is critical to facilitate timely diagnosis.

Imaging and clinical manifestations of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related colitis in cancer patients treated with monotherapy or combination therapy.

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency, imaging, and clinical manifestations of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-related colitis in cancer patients on monotherapy or combination therapy. METHODS: The electronic medical records of 1044 cancer patients who received ICIs were retrospectively reviewed to identify 48 patients who had a clinical diagnosis of immune-related colitis. Imaging studies were reviewed to identify patients with imaging manifestations of colitis. Demographic data, type of ICIs, symptoms, presence of other immune-related adverse events (irAEs), and management were recorded. RESULTS: There was imaging evidence of immune-related colitis in 34 patients (24 men; median age: 63.5 years). The median time to onset of colitis was 75 days (IQR 25-75, 49.5-216 days) in patients receiving monotherapy (group 1) and 78 days (IQR 25-75, 44.3-99.5 days) in patients undergoing combination therapy (group 2) following start of ICI. Symptoms included diarrhea (91.1% [31 of 34]), nausea/vomiting (52.9% [18 of 34]), and abdominal pain (52.9% [18 of 34]). The most common imaging findings were bowel wall thickening (97% [33 of 34]) and fluid-filled colon (82.3% [28 of 34]). Colitis was diffuse in 21 of 34 (61.8%) patients. Imaging manifestations did not differ between the two groups (p > 0.05). Steroids and antibiotics were used to treat colitis in 29 of 34 (85.2%) and 13 of 34 (38.2%) patients, respectively. No patients in group 1 experienced concurrent irAEs, but 5 of 18 (27.8%) of patients in group 2 had other irAEs (p = 0.046). CONCLUSION: Immune-related colitis occurred in 3.3% of patients receiving ICIs with bowel wall thickening, fluid-filled colon and pancolitis being the most common imaging manifestations. Imaging manifestations did not differ between patients receiving monotherapy or combination therapy. However, concurrent irAEs were significantly observed in patients undergoing combination therapy.

Age-related Changes in Globe Position.

PURPOSE: To longitudinally evaluate for changes in globe position as part of the natural aging process. METHODS: A Cleveland Clinic Foundation imaging database of all head imaging scans performed from 1995 to 2017 was used to identify adults with normal orbits undergoing imaging studies at least 20 years apart. A total of 100 patients (200 globes) who had CT or MRI scans were studied. Globe position was determined by measuring the distance from the anterior aspect of the cornea to the zygomaticofrontal processes baseline. Clinically significant changes in globe position were defined as changes of ≥2 mm posteriorly (enophthalmos) or anteriorly (exophthalmos). RESULTS: On average, globe projection decreased by 0.25 ± 2.3 and 0.26 ± 2.2 mm in the right and left eyes, respectively. Clinically significant enophthalmos with age was measured in 55 (27.5%) globes in 35 (35%) individuals, while clinically significant exophthalmos with age was measured in 43 (21.5%) globes in 26 (26%) individuals. The proportion of cases that developed enophthalmos, exophthalmos, or experienced no change were not significantly different from each other (p = 0.26). No patients developed clinically significant enophthalmos in one eye and exophthalmos in the other. CONCLUSIONS: Adults may develop clinically significant enophthalmos, exophthalmos, or no change in globe position over a 20-year period. This lack of uniform change in globe position with age impacts surgical considerations for treatment of the aging periocular region.