Fully automated deep learning based auto-contouring of liver segments and spleen on contrast-enhanced CT images.

Manual delineation of liver segments on computed tomography (CT) images for primary/secondary liver cancer (LC) patients is time-intensive and prone to inter/intra-observer variability. Therefore, we developed a deep-learning-based model to auto-contour liver segments and spleen on contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) images. We trained two models using 3d patch-based attention U-Net ([Formula: see text] and 3d full resolution of nnU-Net ([Formula: see text] to determine the best architecture ([Formula: see text]. BA was used with vessels ([Formula: see text] and spleen ([Formula: see text] to assess the impact on segment contouring. Models were trained, validated, and tested on 160 ([Formula: see text]), 40 ([Formula: see text]), 33 ([Formula: see text]), 25 (CCH) and 20 (CPVE) CECT of LC patients. [Formula: see text] outperformed [Formula: see text] across all segments with median differences in Dice similarity coefficients (DSC) ranging 0.03-0.05 (p < 0.05). [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] were not statistically different (p > 0.05), however, both were slightly better than [Formula: see text] by DSC up to 0.02. The final model, [Formula: see text], showed a mean DSC of 0.89, 0.82, 0.88, 0.87, 0.96, and 0.95 for segments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5-8, and spleen, respectively on entire test sets. Qualitatively, more than 85% of cases showed a Likert score [Formula: see text] 3 on test sets. Our final model provides clinically acceptable contours of liver segments and spleen which are usable in treatment planning.

Computed tomography aspects of thoracic metastases from osteosarcoma: pictorial essay.

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumor, with a higher incidence in the second decade of life, and it often leads to pulmonary metastases. The most common pattern seen on computed tomography is one of multiple well-defined nodules in the lung parenchyma, often with calcifications. Because of the variety of presentations of pulmonary metastases in osteosarcoma, including atypical forms, knowledge of the computed tomography aspects of these lesions is important for characterizing and evaluating the extent of the disease, as well as for distinguishing metastatic disease from other benign or malignant lung diseases. This essay discusses the main tomographic findings of pulmonary metastases from osteosarcoma.

O osteossarcoma é o tumor ósseo primário mais comum, com maior incidência na segunda década de vida, sendo as metástases pulmonares achado frequente. O padrão tomográfico mais comum das metástases pulmonares de osteossarcoma é o de múltiplos nódulos bem definidos no parênquima pulmonar, frequentemente com calcificações. Em razão da multiplicidade de apresentações das metástases pulmonares do osteossarcoma, inclusive com formas atípicas, o conhecimento dos aspectos dessas lesões na tomografia computadorizada do tórax é importante para a caracterização e avaliação da extensão da doença, além de permitir a diferenciação entre doença metastática e outras doenças pulmonares benignas ou malignas. Este ensaio discute os principais achados tomográficos das metástases pulmonares de osteossarcoma.

Salvage Locoregional Therapy Following Progression After Radiotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Is Associated with Improved Outcomes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of salvage locoregional therapy (salvage-LT) on survival of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients presenting with intrahepatic tumor progression following radiotherapy. METHODS: This single-institution retrospective analysis included consecutive HCC patients having intrahepatic tumor progression following radiotherapy during 2015-2019. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from the date of intrahepatic tumor progression after initial radiotherapy by using the Kaplan-Meier method. Log-rank tests and Cox regression models were used for univariable and multivariable analyses. An inverse probability weighting was used to estimate treatment effect of salvage-LT considering confounding factors. RESULTS: A total of 123 patients (mean age ± SD, 70 years ± 10; 97 men) were evaluated. Among those, 35 patients underwent 59 sessions of salvage-LT, including transarterial embolization/chemoembolization (n = 33), ablation (n = 11), selective internal radiotherapy (n = 7), and external beam radiotherapy (n = 8). At a median follow-up of 15.1 months (range, 3.4-54.5 months), the median OS was 23.3 months in patients who received salvage-LT and 6.6 months who did not. At multivariate analysis, ECOG performance status, Child-Pugh class, albumin-bilirubin grade, extrahepatic disease, and lack of salvage-LT were independent predictors of worse OS. After inverse probability weighting, salvage-LT was associated with a survival benefit of 8.9 months (95% CI: 1.1, 16.7 months; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Salvage locoregional therapy is associated with increased survival in HCC patients suffering from intrahepatic tumor progression following initial radiotherapy.

CT features of osteosarcoma lung metastasis: a retrospective study of 127 patients.

OBJECTIVE: Osteosarcoma lung metastases have a wide variety of CT presentations, representing a challenge for radiologists. Knowledge of atypical CT patterns of lung metastasis is important to differentiate it from benign lung disease and synchronous lung cancer, as well as to determine the extent of primary disease. The objective of this study was to analyze CT features of osteosarcoma lung metastasis before and during chemotherapy. METHODS: Two radiologists independently reviewed chest CT images of 127 patients with histopathologically confirmed osteosarcoma treated between May 10, 2012 and November 13, 2020. The images were divided into two groups for analysis: images obtained before chemotherapy and images obtained during chemotherapy (initial CT examination). RESULTS: Seventy-five patients were diagnosed with synchronous or metachronous lung metastases. The most common CT findings were nodules (in 95% of the patients), distributed bilaterally (in 86%), with no predominance regarding craniocaudal distribution (in 71%). Calcification was observed in 47%. Less common findings included intravascular lesions (in 16%), cavitation (in 7%), and the halo sign (in 5%). The primary tumor size was significantly greater (i.e., > 10 cm) in patients with lung metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: On CT scans, osteosarcoma lung metastases typically appear as bilateral solid nodules. However, they can have atypical presentations, with calcification being the most common. Knowledge of the typical and atypical CT features of osteosarcoma lung metastasis could play a key role in improving image interpretation in these cases.

CT features of osteosarcoma lung metastasis: a retrospective study of 127 patients / Características tomográficas de metástase pulmonar de osteossarcoma: estudo retrospectivo com 127 pacientes

ABSTRACT Objective: Osteosarcoma lung metastases have a wide variety of CT presentations, representing a challenge for radiologists. Knowledge of atypical CT patterns of lung metastasis is important to differentiate it from benign lung disease and synchronous lung cancer, as well as to determine the extent of primary disease. The objective of this study was to analyze CT features of osteosarcoma lung metastasis before and during chemotherapy. Methods: Two radiologists independently reviewed chest CT images of 127 patients with histopathologically confirmed osteosarcoma treated between May 10, 2012 and November 13, 2020. The images were divided into two groups for analysis: images obtained before chemotherapy and images obtained during chemotherapy (initial CT examination). Results: Seventy-five patients were diagnosed with synchronous or metachronous lung metastases. The most common CT findings were nodules (in 95% of the patients), distributed bilaterally (in 86%), with no predominance regarding craniocaudal distribution (in 71%). Calcification was observed in 47%. Less common findings included intravascular lesions (in 16%), cavitation (in 7%), and the halo sign (in 5%). The primary tumor size was significantly greater (i.e., > 10 cm) in patients with lung metastasis. Conclusions: On CT scans, osteosarcoma lung metastases typically appear as bilateral solid nodules. However, they can have atypical presentations, with calcification being the most common. Knowledge of the typical and atypical CT features of osteosarcoma lung metastasis could play a key role in improving image interpretation in these cases.

RESUMO Objetivo: As metástases pulmonares do osteossarcoma têm uma grande variedade de apresentações tomográficas, o que é um desafio para os radiologistas. É importante conhecer os padrões tomográficos atípicos da metástase pulmonar para diferenciá-la de doença pulmonar benigna e câncer sincrônico de pulmão, bem como para determinar a extensão da doença primária. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar as características tomográficas da metástase pulmonar do osteossarcoma antes da quimioterapia e durante a quimioterapia. Métodos: Dois radiologistas analisaram de modo independente as imagens de TC de tórax de 127 pacientes com osteossarcoma confirmado histopatologicamente, tratados entre 10 de maio de 2012 e 13 de novembro de 2020. As imagens foram divididas em dois grupos para a análise: imagens obtidas antes da quimioterapia e imagens obtidas durante a quimioterapia (TC inicial). Resultados: Setenta e cinco pacientes receberam diagnóstico de metástase pulmonar sincrônica ou metacrônica. Os achados tomográficos mais comuns foram nódulos (em 95% dos pacientes), distribuídos bilateralmente (em 86%), sem predominância de distribuição craniocaudal (em 71%). Observou-se calcificação em 47%. Alguns dos achados menos comuns foram lesões intravasculares (em 16%), escavação (em 7%) e o sinal do halo (em 5%). O tumor primário foi significativamente maior (> 10 cm) em pacientes com metástase pulmonar. Conclusões: Em imagens de TC, as metástases pulmonares do osteossarcoma tipicamente aparecem em forma de nódulos sólidos bilaterais. No entanto, podem ter apresentações atípicas, sendo a calcificação a mais comum. Conhecer as características tomográficas típicas e atípicas da metástase pulmonar do osteossarcoma pode ser fundamental para interpretar melhor as imagens nesses casos.

Computed tomography aspects of thoracic metastases from osteosarcoma: pictorial essay / Aspectos tomográficos das metástases torácicas de osteossarcoma: ensaio iconográfico

Abstract Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumor, with a higher incidence in the second decade of life, and it often leads to pulmonary metastases. The most common pattern seen on computed tomography is one of multiple well-defined nodules in the lung parenchyma, often with calcifications. Because of the variety of presentations of pulmonary metastases in osteosarcoma, including atypical forms, knowledge of the computed tomography aspects of these lesions is important for characterizing and evaluating the extent of the disease, as well as for distinguishing metastatic disease from other benign or malignant lung diseases. This essay discusses the main tomographic findings of pulmonary metastases from osteosarcoma.

Resumo O osteossarcoma é o tumor ósseo primário mais comum, com maior incidência na segunda década de vida, sendo as metástases pulmonares achado frequente. O padrão tomográfico mais comum das metástases pulmonares de osteossarcoma é o de múltiplos nódulos bem definidos no parênquima pulmonar, frequentemente com calcificações. Em razão da multiplicidade de apresentações das metástases pulmonares do osteossarcoma, inclusive com formas atípicas, o conhecimento dos aspectos dessas lesões na tomografia computadorizada do tórax é importante para a caracterização e avaliação da extensão da doença, além de permitir a diferenciação entre doença metastática e outras doenças pulmonares benignas ou malignas. Este ensaio discute os principais achados tomográficos das metástases pulmonares de osteossarcoma.

Inflammasome genes polymorphisms may influence the development of hepatitis C in the Amazonas, Brazil.

Hepatitis C is considered a major public health problem caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Viral infections are known to induce production of IL1ß through the signaling pathway of inflammasomes. Emerging evidences suggest that Inflammasome genes may influence the immune response against HCV as the host genetic background may contribute to the balance between acute and chronic inflammation. We investigated in 151 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 206 healthy blood donors' individuals (HD). Polymorphisms in the IL1B and IL18 genes were genotyped by PCR-RFLP, while NLRP3, CARD8, CTSB and AIM2 by RT- PCR. Serum assay of IL-1ß cytokine was performed by ELISA. 84 patients presented mild fibrosis (

Immunological Dynamics Associated with Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapies in Naive and Experimented HCV Chronic-Infected Patients.

The therapeutic strategies used in the treatment of hepatitis C are essentially based on the combination of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs). This therapy has been shown to be very effective in relation to patient adherence to treatment and has shown high rates of sustained virological response (SVR). However, the immunological dynamics of patients infected with HCV is poorly understood. This fact led us to investigate the immune system of naive and experienced patients, who we followed before the therapy and three months after the end of treatment. In this study, 35 naive and experienced Brazilian patients with chronic hepatitis C and 50 healthy donors (HD group) were studied. The analysis of the soluble immunological biomarkers was performed using the flow cytometry methodology. The SVR rate was >90% among the 35 patients. Before treatment, correlations in the naive HCV group demonstrated a mix of inflammatory response occurring with moderate correlations between chemokines, inflammatory cytokines, and Th2 profile, with a strong regulation between IL-10 and IL-17A. On the other hand, experienced patients demonstrated a poor interaction between cytokines, chemokines, and cells with a strong correlation between IL-10, IL-6, CXCL-10, and CD8+ besides the interactions between IFN-γ and IL-4. Furthermore, naive and experienced patients seem to have a distinct soluble biomarker profile; therefore, a long-term follow-up is needed to evaluate patients treated with DAAs.