RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Phase angle could be an alternative to subjective global assessment for the assessment of nutrition status in patients with head-and-neck cancer. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated a cohort of 75 stage iiib and iv head-and-neck patients treated at the Otolaryngology Department, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Lublin, Poland. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was performed in all patients using an analyzer that operated at 50 kHz. The phase angle was calculated as reactance divided by resistance (Xc/R) and expressed in degrees. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival. RESULTS: Median overall survival in the cohort was 32.0 months. At the time of analysis, 47 deaths had been recorded in the cohort (62.7%). The risk of shortened overall survival was significantly higher in patients whose phase angle was less than 4.733 degrees than in the remaining patients (19.6 months vs. 45 months, p = 0.0489; chi-square: 3.88; hazard ratio: 1.8856; 95% confidence interval: 1.0031 to 3.5446). CONCLUSIONS: Phase angle might be prognostic of survival in patients with advanced head-and-neck cancer. Further investigation in a larger population is required to confirm our results.
RESUMEN
Bowing of the interventricular septum (IVS) is a sign of severe pulmonary embolism(PE); however, it is affected by high interobserver variability. The aim of the study was to evaluate the application of volumetric reconstructions of the right ventricle for assessment of IVS position regarding its accuracy in identifying right ventricular dysfunction, as well as interobserver agreement in evaluating this sign.IVS bowing was evaluated with multiplanar reformations (MPR) and volumetric reconstruction (VR, volume rendering) by 2 observers. The accuracy of IVS bowing sign was better for VR-based assessment; however, it was not significantly better than the MPR-based evaluation. Interobserver agreement was found to be fair (kappa = 0.381) for the MPR-based grading of IVS position as normal orabnormal, while it was significantly better for the VR method (kappa = 0.629,p < 0.001). The VR-based method may improve utilisation of IVS bowing sign inpatients with PE.