Influence of clinical suspicion on CT accuracy of acute mesenteric ischemia: Retrospective study of 362 patients.

PURPOSE: Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) may be underdiagnosed when not clinically suspected before CT is performed. We assessed the influence of a clinical suspicion of AMI on the CT accuracy. METHOD: This retrospective single-centre study included patients who underwent CT in 2014-2019 and had clinically suspected AMI and/or confirmed AMI. CT protocols were adapted based on each patient's presentation and on findings from unenhanced images. The CT protocol was considered optimal for AMI when it included arterial and portal venous phases. CT protocols, accuracy of reports, and outcomes were compared between the groups with and without suspected AMI before CT. RESULTS: Of the 375 events, 337 (90 %) were suspected AMI and 66 (18 %) were AMI, including 28 (42 %) with and 38 without suspected AMI. These two groups did not differ significantly regarding the medical history, clinical presentation, or laboratory tests. The CT protocol was more often optimal for AMI in the group with suspected AMI (26/28 [93 %] vs. 28/38 [74 %], p = 0.046). Diagnostic accuracy was not different between groups with and without suspected AMI (26/28 [93 %] vs. 34/38 [90 %], p = 1.00). However, it was lower in the group without suspicion of AMI when the CT protocol was not optimal for AMI (27/28 [96 %] vs 7/10 [70 %], p = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: The negative influence of not clinically suspecting AMI can be mitigated by using a tailored CT protocol.

[Salvage cryotherapy of prostate cancer after failed external radiotherapy and brachytherapy: Morbidity and mid-term oncological results]. / Cryothérapie prostatique de rattrapage après échec de radiothérapie externe ou curiethérapie : morbidité et résultats oncologiques à moyen terme.

OBJECTIVE: To study the oncologic and functional results of salvage cryotherapy after failure of external radiotherapy and brachytherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients treated by total salvage cryotherapy (3rd generation) in 2 centers (Groupe Hospitalier Saint-Joseph in Paris and Clinique Jule-Verne Nantes) in between January 2008 and April 2016 were included. The biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS) was calculated using the Phoenix criteria (PSA>nadir+2ng/mL). The functional results were assessed clinically. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients with an average follow up of 39.4months were evaluated retrospectively. The 5-year biochemical recurrence-free survival (5y-BRFS) among all patients was 58.1% (IC à 95% [45.9-68.5]). Low and intermediate risk patients (d'Amico classification) were less prone to biochemical recurrence than high risk (81.05% (IC à 95% [64.1-90.5]) 5y-BRFS as opposed to 35.09% (IC à 95% [20.1-50.4]) respectively) (P<0.0001). As were patients with a Gleason score≤7 75.35% (IC à 95% [59.7-85.6]) compared to 32.31% (IC à 95% [16.5-49.2]) for higher Gleason (>7 scores [P=0.0002]). A Gleason score>7 (OR=6.9; P=0.002), PSA nadir>1ng/mL (OR=25.8; P=0.0026) and peri-urethral invasion (OR=35.8; P<0.001) were major risk factors for local recurrence in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, only PSA nadir>1ng/mL (OR=12.9; P=0.042) and peri-urethral invasion (OR=21.6; P=0.0003) remain major risk factors for recurrence. About 13 (16.46%) patients were incontinent of which 3 (3.79%) required placement of an artificial urinary sphincter. Erectile dysfunction was present in 66 (83.5%) patients. Recto-urethral fistula was uncommon in 1 patient (1.27%). CONCLUSION: Salvage cryotherapy after failure of external radiotherapy and brachytherapy is a reliable and reproducible technique with promising oncological and functional results. Study of prognostic factors will help better select eligible patients in the future. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Ureteral calculi: diagnostic efficacy of helical CT and implications for treatment of patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether unenhanced helical CT of the abdomen and pelvis, supplemented as necessary with delayed enhanced CT of the pelvis, is sufficient for urologists to treat patients with acute renal colic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT scans from 99 patients were analyzed retrospectively for the presence, size, and location of ureteral calculi and the presence and severity of secondary signs of obstruction. Clinical follow-up was analyzed by reviewing charts, directly communicating with patients, and reviewing surgical reports. Clinical information was correlated with CT findings. RESULTS: The findings of 51 CT scans were positive for calculi, and the findings of 48 were negative for calculi. The findings from two CT scans were false-positive, and none of the findings were false-negative. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of helical CT were 100%, 96%, and 98%, respectively. A significant difference in stone size was found between patients who were treated conservatively (3.3 +/- 1.3 mm) and patients who underwent a urologic procedure (7 +/- 6.2 mm) (p < .01) and between patients in whom successful ureteral stent placement was the sole intervention (3.9 +/- 2.8 mm) and patients in whom initial stent placement failed and who then underwent a second urologic procedure (7.4 +/- 3 mm) (p < .05). We found no statistically significant difference between the conservatively and interventionally treated groups with respect to stone location. The presence and severity of secondary signs of obstruction were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Stone size alone was found to correlate with patient treatment. Stone location and the presence and severity of secondary signs of obstruction did not affect patient treatment. Because the degree of obstruction and relative renal function are not relevant to the initial treatment of patients with ureteral stone obstruction, CT is adequate for both diagnosis and treatment.

Imaging features of nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver mimicking hepatic metastases.

We described the sonographic, computed tomographic (CT), and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features of one atypical case of nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver. The presence of multiple hepatic nodules suggested the diagnosis of metastatic disease to the liver because of a peripheral rim of enhancement on CT obtained after intravenous administration of contrast material and a halo sign on T2-weighted spin-echo MR imaging. Examination of the pathologic specimen obtained after surgical biopsy showed that the nodules were made of hepatocytes, with a nodular arrangement surrounded by peliosis, without fibrosis or cirrhosis. These findings suggested that peliosis may cause peripheral rim of enhancement on CT and halo sign on MR imaging. In light of this case, nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hepatic metastases.

[Umbilical metastasis of an endometrial adenocarcinoma: "Sister (Mary) Joseph's nodule". Review of the literature]. / Métastase ombilicale d'un adénocarcinome de l'endomètre: "Sister (Mary) Joseph's nodule". Revue de la littèrature.

In the beginning of the XXth century, Sir Hamilton Bailey proposed the name "Sister Joseph's nodule" for the umbilical metastasis of an abdominal cancer. This unusual pathology has multiple primitive etiologies. We report here the 27th case of an umbilical metastasis of an endometrial adenocarcinoma. In case of a malignant umbilical tumor, 75% correspond to a "Sister Joseph's nodule". Their clinical manifestations are quite similar. This secondary localisation could appear before, during or after the diagnosis of the primitive tumor. Adenocarcinoma is the frequently diagnosed histological type. The endometrial origin represents only 1.4% of the cases. Multiple routes of spread exist. Prognosis remains poor. Medico-surgical treatment, in a curative target, will be aggressive and should be adapted at every case. Our case-report recalls a new patho-physiological approach. The extended follow-up of this patient, without further medical treatment, is an additional argument.