A radiologist's guide to treatment response criteria in oncologic imaging: anatomic imaging biomarkers.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to describe the imaging biomarkers of treatment response and provide an overview of anatomic imaging biomarkers. CONCLUSION: Imaging biomarkers of treatment response have evolved into the primary endpoint of response in most phase 2 studies. Anatomic imaging biomarkers are applied to depict change in tumor size in response to treatment and are currently the most commonly applied method of treatment response evaluation.

A radiologist's guide to treatment response criteria in oncologic imaging: functional, molecular, and disease-specific imaging biomarkers.

OBJECTIVE: This article reviews the functional, molecular, and disease-specific imaging biomarkers of treatment response. CONCLUSION: Substantial progress has been made in the evolution of drugs directed at specific targets of the tumor lifecycle. These novel agents are predominantly cytostatic, and their efficacy may be optimally evaluated by functional, molecular, and disease-specific imaging biomarkers.

Can acute appendicitis be treated by antibiotics alone?

Emergency appendectomy at presentation has been the standard of care for acute appendicitis. We examined the use of antibiotics as an alternative treatment. From September 2002 to August 2003, 170 consecutive patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis without abscess were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups: Group I (n=151) underwent emergency appendectomy and Group II (n=19) received antibiotics alone. The mode of treatment was at the attending surgeon's discretion. The overall complication rate was eight per cent for Group I and 10 per cent for Group II patients (P = 0.22). Group II patients suffered no complications during antibiotic treatment, and any complications that did occur developed after subsequent appendectomy. One Group II patient had recurrent appendicitis (5%). The length of stay was 2.61 +/- 0.21 days for Group I and 2.95 +/- 0.38 days for Group II patients (P = 0.57). Patients with acute appendicitis may be treated safely with antibiotics alone without emergency appendectomy.

Imaging the sella and parasellar region.

The anatomy of the sella and parasellar region is discussed. Pertinent ophthalmologic findings and syndromes relating to this anatomic region are described. Pathologic processes, such as pituitary adenoma, pituitary apoplexy, craniopharyngioma, Rathke's cleft cyst, lymphocytic adenohypophysitis, and other such parasellar lesions are discussed along with their ophthalmologic manifestations.