Impact of the Iranian Registry of Infective Endocarditis (IRIE) and multidisciplinary team approach on patient management.

BACKGROUNDS: The last 30 years have witnessed major improvements in understanding of all aspects of infective endocarditis (IE). The Iranian Registry of Infective Endocarditis (IRIE) was formed to address epidemiological aspects of IE vis-à-vis its main pathogens and underlying heart diseases over a 12-year period. Indeed, a multidisciplinary team (MDT) for IE was developed alongside. METHODS: In a longitudinal observational study, data of adult patients with definite or possible IE based on modified Duke criteria were collected from 2007 to 2016 in our tertiary centre, Iran. From 2016 until 2019, we run a prospective observational study using formation of an IE MDT to provide better patient management and compared data before and after this. RESULTS: Totally, 645 patients with mean age of 48 ± 17 years were enrolled. Data of 445 and 200 patients were compared before and after IRIE and MDT formation, respectively. We found significantly reduced type and number of applied antibiotics (p = 0.04) and higher rate of positive blood culture (p = 0.001). Hospital length of stay increased significantly after formation of the IRIE and IE MDT (p = 0.02). The rate of heart failure, new abscess formation and cerebral emboli were significantly decreased after IRIE and IE MDT (p < 0.001) and consequently in-hospital mortality reduced significantly (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Developing national registries and MDTs has potential to enhance patient management and reduce IE burden. Our results demonstrated that establishment of the Iranian IRIE and IE MDT conferred better diagnoses, standardised treatments and significantly reduced cardiac and extra cardiac morbidity.

Computed tomography in the diagnosis and follow-up of American Burkitt's lymphoma.

CT scans of Burkitt's lymphoma in 8 American patients are presented. Computed tomography was the major diagnostic imaging modality in 4, and the abdomen was the most commonly involved site in our patients. CT was found to be the method of choice for diagnostic purposes and for assessing the size of abdominal masses. Furthermore, because of the relative effectiveness of modern chemotherapeutic agents in treatment of this type of lymphoma, CT did and can play a unique role in follow-up of these cases during therapy.

Colloid cysts with and without ventriculomegaly: role of intraoperative real-time ultrasound.

Intraoperative real-time ultrasound was used to assist localization and surgical removal of colloid cysts in patients without ventriculomegaly. In the most commonly used surgical approach for removal of colloid cysts, dilated lateral ventricles can expedite the localization of lesions because, once entered surgically, a dilated ventricle offers more space near the foramen of Monro in which to work. Additionally, the enlargement of the foramen of Monro, seen with hydrocephalus, provides greater accessibility to the colloid cyst. In patients with symptoms related to the colloid cyst. In patients with symptoms related to intermittent obstruction of cerebral fluid flow but with normal-sized ventricles, the precise localization of the foramen of Monro and colloid cyst is more difficult and may result in unnecessary exploration/resection of brain. Using intraoperative ultrasound, the colloid cyst and adjacent anatomic structures can be clearly visualized regardless of ventricular size. Intraoperative ultrasonography has a unique role in the operative treatment of patients with colloid cysts and nondilated ventricles.

Immunoproliferative small intestinal disease with duodenojejunal lymphoma: radiologic changes.

The radiologic changes in 1090 cases of lymphoma of the small bowel were analyzed and correlated with the pathologic findings. The material was collected in Iran, a high incidence area for immunoproliferative small bowel disease (IPSID). Of 100 cases of primary intestinal lymphoma associated with IPSID, 48 involved the duodenum and upper jejunum. They were associated with a characteristic spruelike radiologic pattern of the nonlymphomatous segments of the gut, the intensity of which decreased distally. However, the radiologic features of the lymphoma associated with IPSID were identical with those described in other forms of primary small intestinal lymphoma, regardless of histologic type or the presence and absence of alpha-heavy chain secretion.

Roentgenologic changes in pulmonary echinococcosis.

Radiologic changes seen in 420 cases of pulmonary echinococcosis are discussed. Criteria for early diagnosis of complicated, infected or ruptured cysts are described. The role and limitations of radiology in approaching the diagnosis of advanced stages of infected hydatid cysts of the lung are emphasized.