Usefulness of left ventricular speckle tracking echocardiography and novel measures of left atrial structure and function in diagnosing paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack patients.

Asymptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) is often assumed to be the cause of cryptogenic ischemic strokes (IS) and transient ischemic attacks (TIA). We examined the usefulness of measures obtained by 2D speckle tracking echocardiography and novel left atrial measurements, in the diagnosis of PAF in patients with IS and TIA. We retrospectively included 205 patients who after acute IS or TIA underwent an echocardiogram in sinus rhythm. Patients were designated as PAF-patients if they had one or more reported incidents of AF before or after their echocardiographic examination. None of the conventional echocardiographic parameters were significantly associated with PAF. Of the speckle tracking measurements, only early diastolic strain rate (0.7±0.2 s-1 vs. 0.8±0.3 s-1, p = 0.048) and global longitudinal displacement (GLD) (3.15 ± 1.40 mm vs. 3.87 ± 1.56 mm, p = 0.007) proved significantly different. Of the left atrial parameters both minimal and maximal left atrium volume divided by left ventricular length (min LAV/LVL and max LAV/LVL, respectively) were significantly impaired (min LAV/LVL: 3.7 ± 2.1 cm2 vs. 2.8 ± 1.11 cm2, p = 0.012; max LAV/LVL: 6.6 ± 3.1 cm2 vs. 5.6 ± 1.7 cm2, p = 0.012). GLD, min max LAV/LVL proved significant after adjustment for age, gender, CHA2DS2-VASc and NIHSS. By combining information regarding age, GLD, min and max LAV/LVL the diagnostic accuracy of PAF improved, resulting in a significantly increased area under the curve (p = 0.037). In patients with IS and TIA GLD, min and max LAV/LVL were independently associated with the presence of PAF.

Diagnosing Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Ischemic Strokes and Transient Ischemic Attacks Using Echocardiographic Measurements of Left Atrium Function.

Twenty-five to 35 percentage of stroke cases are cryptogenic, and it has been demonstrated that paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) is the causal agent in up to 25% of these incidents. The purpose of this study was to investigate if left atrial (LA) parameters have value for diagnosing paroxysmal AF in patients with ischemic stroke (IS) and transient ischemic attack (TIA). We retrospectively analyzed 219 patients who after acute IS or TIA underwent a transthoracic echocardiographic examination. Patients were designated as patients with paroxysmal AF if they had one or more reported incidents of AF before or after their echocardiographic examination. Patients in the paroxysmal AF group were significantly older and had higher CHA2DS2-VASc score than patients without paroxysmal AF (p <0.05 for both). None of the conventional echocardiographic parameters were significantly associated with paroxysmal AF. However, the atrial measurements evaluating LA function (min LA volume and LA emptying fraction) were significantly different (LA emptying fraction: 45% ± 10% vs 50% ± 10%, p = 0.004; minimal LA volume: 30.2 ml ± 17.3 ml vs 24 ml ± 10 ml, p = 0.035 in patients with paroxysmal AF, even after adjustment for age, gender, CHA2DS2-VASc score, and stroke severity [p <0.05 for both]). By combining the cut-off values of age, LA emptying fraction, and minimal LA volume the diagnostic accuracy of paroxysmal AF was improved, resulting in a sensitivity of 95% and negative predictive value of 97%. In conclusion, in patients with IS and TIA, LA function measurements (minimal LA volume and LA emptying fraction) are independently associated with paroxysmal AF and may improve risk stratification for paroxysmal AF presence after IS or TIA.

Goblet cell carcinoids: characteristics of a Danish cohort of 83 patients.

BACKGROUND: Appendiceal goblet cell carcinoids (GCCs) exhibit neuroendocrine and adenocarcinoma features. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Analysis of demography, pathology, prognostic markers, treatment and survival in 83 GCC patients (f/m: 56/27) diagnosed 1992-2013. RESULTS: Median age for f/m was 59/58 years, respectively, and similar for localized and disseminated disease. At diagnosis 54 patients had localized appendiceal disease (f/m: 29/25). According to TNM 24% had Stage I, 70% had Stage II and 6% had Stage III. Twenty-nine patients had disseminated disease (f/m: 27/2). Chromogranin A, synaptophysin and p53 were positive in >90%. Serotonin was positive in 70%. Median Ki67 index was 32% (6-75%) and higher in Tang group C (50%) compared to group A (30%; p<0.0001), and group B (30%; p<0.004). All patients had surgery. Sixty-three (76%) had radical resections including all patients with localized disease. Median OS was 83 months. The 1-, 5- and 10-year survival rates were 90%, 58%, and 38%, respectively. For localized disease OS was 164 months and 1-, 5- and 10-year survival rates were 100%, 80%, and 55%, respectively. For disseminated disease OS was 19 months and 1-, 5- and 10-year survival rates were 73%, 18% and 6%, respectively. The 1-, 5- and 10 year-survival rates for f/m were 87%/96%, 49%/76% and 31%/57%, respectively (p = 0.02). According to the Tang classification group A, B, and C OS was 118, 83 and 20 months, respectively (p = 0.0002). CONCLUSION: The Tang classification was found to be a significant prognostic factor, while the Ki67 index was not. Localized GCCs occurred equally in males and females, while disseminated GCCs were mostly seen in females. Median age of patients with localized disease and disseminated disease was identical. Cox regression analysis found Stage IV, focally positive synaptophysin and non-radical surgery as strongest negative prognostic factors.