Impact of ASPECTS on computed tomography angiography source images on outcome after thrombolysis or endovascular therapy in large vessel occlusions.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Endovascular therapy (ET) is superior to intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in selected patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusions. However, it is unclear if this positive effect also applies to patients with extensive early ischaemic changes. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of the Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS) on the CT angiography source images (SI) on outcome after ET or IVT. METHODS: Using our prospectively obtained stroke database and the admission SI-ASPECTS divided into three groups (0-5, 6-7 and 8-10), primarily the rates of good outcome [modified Rankin Scale (mRS) ≤2 at discharge] after either ET (n = 255) or IVT (n = 479) were compared. RESULTS: A favorable SI-ASPECTS (8-10) was present in 501 patients, 132 patients had a moderately favorable SI-ASPECTS (6-7) and 101 patients had an unfavorable SI-ASPECTS (0-5). Irrespective of the treatment modality, no patient with an unfavorable SI-ASPECTS had a good outcome and 38% died during hospital stay. Whilst significantly more patients with a favorable SI-ASPECTS had a good outcome after ET than after IVT (51% vs. 35%, P < 0.01), there was only a non-significant trend towards a good outcome after ET than after IVT in patients with a moderately favorable ASPECTS (25% vs. 14%, P = 0.1). CONCLUSION: Patients with extensive early ischaemic changes on CT scans (SI- ASPECTS ≤5) might not profit from ET. The impact of ET on outcome in patients with moderately favorable SI-ASPECTS should be addressed in further trials.

Emergency Stenting of the Extracranial Internal Carotid Artery in Combination with Anterior Circulation Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Several small case series reported a favorable clinical outcome for emergency stent placement in the extracranial internal carotid artery combined with mechanical thrombectomy in acute stroke. The rate of postinterventional symptomatic intracranial hemorrhages was reported to be as high as 20%. Therefore, we investigated the safety and efficacy of this technique in a large multicentric cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data bases of 4 German stroke centers were screened for all patients who received emergency stent placement of the extracranial internal carotid artery in combination with mechanical thrombectomy of the anterior circulation between 2007 and 2014. The primary outcome measure was the rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage according to the European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study III criteria; secondary outcome measures included the angiographic revascularization results and clinical outcome. RESULTS: One hundred seventy patients with a median age of 64 years (range, 25-88 years) were treated. They presented after a median of 98 minutes (range, 52-160 minutes) with a median NIHSS score of 15 (range, 12-19). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhages occurred in 15/170 (9%) patients; there was no statistically significant difference among groups pertaining to age, sex, intravenous rtPA, procedural timings, and the rate of successful recanalization. In 130/170 (77%) patients, a TICI score of ≥ 2b could be achieved. The in-hospital mortality rate was 19%, and 36% of patients had a favorable outcome at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency stent placement in the extracranial internal carotid artery in combination with anterior circulation thrombectomy is effective and safe. It is not associated with a significantly higher risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage compared with published series for mechanical thrombectomy alone.

(18) F-FDG PET/CT for initial staging in breast cancer patients - Is there a relevant impact on treatment planning compared to conventional staging modalities?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of whole-body (18) F-FDG PET/CT on initial staging of breast cancer in comparison to conventional staging modalities. METHODS: This study included 102 breast cancer patients, 101 patients were eligible for evaluation. Preoperative whole-body staging with PET/CT was performed in patients with clinical stage ≥ T2 tumours or positive local lymph nodes (n = 91). Postoperative PET/CT was performed in patients without these criteria but positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (n = 10). All patients underwent PET/CT and a conventional staging algorithm, which included bone scan, chest X-ray and abdominal ultrasound. PET/CT findings were compared to conventional staging and the impact on therapeutic management was evaluated. RESULTS: PET/CT led to an upgrade of the N or M stage in overall 19 patients (19 %) and newly identified manifestation of breast cancer in two patients (2 %). PET/CT findings caused a change in treatment of 11 patients (11 %). This is within the range of recent studies, all applying conventional inclusion criteria based on the initial T and N status. CONCLUSIONS: PET/CT has a relevant impact on initial staging and treatment of breast cancer when compared to conventional modalities. Further studies should assess inclusion criteria beyond the conventional T and N status, e.g. tumour grading and receptor status. KEY POINTS: • PET/CT may be relevant in staging breast cancer patients at higher risk for metastases • PET/CT may modify the N and M stage in multiple patients • PET/CT may impact treatment planning in breast cancer patients.

DCE-MRI of the breast in a stand-alone setting outside a complementary strategy - results of the TK-study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the accuracy of MRI of the breast (DCE-MRI) in a stand-alone setting with extended indications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: According to the inclusion criteria, breast specialists were invited to refer patients to our institution for DCE-MRI. Depending on the MR findings, patients received either a follow-up or biopsy. Between 04/2006 and 12/2011 a consecutive total of 1,488 women were prospectively examined. RESULTS: Of 1,488 included patients, 393 patients were lost to follow-up, 1,095 patients were evaluated. 124 patients were diagnosed with malignancy by DCE-MRI (76 TP, 48 FP, 971 TN, 0 FN cases). Positive cases were confirmed by histology, negative cases by MR follow-ups or patient questionnaires over the next 5 years in 1,737 cases (sensitivity 100 %; specificity 95.2 %; PPV 61.3 %; NPV 100 %; accuracy 95.5 %). For invasive cancers only (DCIS excluded), the results were 63 TP; 27 FP; 971 TP and 0 FN (sensitivity 100 %; specificity 97.2 %; PPV 70 %; NPV 100 %; accuracy 97.5 %). CONCLUSION: The DCE-MRI indications tested imply that negative results in DCE-MRI reliably exclude cancer. The results were achieved in a stand-alone setting (single modality diagnosis). However, these results are strongly dependent on reader experience and adequate technical standards as prerequisites for optimal diagnoses. KEY POINTS: • DCE-MRI of the breast has a high accuracy in finding breast cancer. • The set of indications for DCE-MRI of the breast is still very limited. • DCE-MRI can achieve a high accuracy in a 'screening-like' setting. • Accuracy of breast DCE-MRI is strongly dependent on technique and reader experience. • A negative DCE-MRI effectively excludes cancer.

[Value of galactography for the diagnostic work-up of pathological nipple discharge in multimodal breast diagnostics. Part 2: a systematic review of the literature]. / Stellenwert der Galaktographie zur Abklärung pathologischer Sekretion in der komplementären Mammadiagnostik. Teil 2: Eine systematische Literaturanalyse.

BACKGROUND: The survey results of a previous study showed that galactography is now rarely used in Germany and newer methods are applied. The evidential value of galactography should be established and opposed to the evidential value of ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance mammography (MRM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search was carried out in PubMed and Cochrane involving studies written in English or German. The level of evidence was measured according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine. RESULTS: A total of 19 studies were included, 14 with results on galactography, 10 on US and 5 on MRM. Almost all studies were retrospective with an evidence assigned to level 3b or lower. The results on the diagnostic values showed a very wide range. Because of very variable numbers of cases and consideration of various pathologies, the studies are only comparable to a limited extent. CONCLUSION: Galactography, US and MRM all show a weak level of evidence and no superiority of a particular method can be derived. Therefore, galactography can no longer be considered as a mandatory standard in modern multimodal imaging of the breast. Recommendations for the diagnostic work-up of pathological nipple discharge have to be included in current guidelines and must consider these facts.

Clinical predictors to identify paroxysmal atrial fibrillation after ischaemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Detection of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF) after an ischaemic cerebrovascular event is of imminent interest, because oral anticoagulation as a highly effective secondary preventive treatment is available. Whereas permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) can be detected during routine electrocardiogram (ECG), longer detection duration will detect more pAF but might be resource consuming. The current study tried to identify clinical predictors for pAF detected during long-term Holter ECG and clinical follow-up. METHODS: Patients with acute ischaemic stroke were prospectively investigated with an intensified algorithm to detect pAF (7-day Holter ECG, follow-up investigations after 90 days and 1 year). RESULTS: Two hundred and eighty-one patients were included, 44 of whom had to be excluded since they presented with permanent AF and another 13 patients had to be excluded due to other causes leaving 224 patients (mean age 68.5 years, 58.5% male). Twenty-nine (12.9%) patients could be identified to have pAF during prolonged Holter monitoring, an additional 13 (5.8%) after follow-up investigations. Multivariate analysis identified advanced age [odds ratio (OR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.08] as well as clinical symptoms >24 h (OR 5.17, 95% CI 1.73-15.48) and a history of coronary artery disease (OR 3.14, 95% CI 1.35-7.28) to be predictive for the detection of pAF. CONCLUSIONS: In acute stroke patients with advanced age, history of coronary artery disease and clinical symptoms >24 h, a prolonged Holter ECG monitoring and follow-up is warranted to identify pAF. This could increase the detection rate of patients requiring anticoagulation and may be able to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke in the case of successful anticoagulation of these patients.

[Value of galactography for the diagnostic work-up of pathological nipple discharge in multimodal breast diagnostics : Part 1: An online survey among German breast care centers.] / Stellenwert der Galaktographie zur Abklärung pathologischer Sekretion in der komplementären Mammadiagnostik : Teil 1: Eine Onlineumfrage an den deutschen Brustzentren.

PURPOSE: Galactography has been used in cases of pathological discharge for decades. Meanwhile other methods, such as high-resolution ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance mammography (MRM) have been established for modern multimodal breast imaging. A survey among certified German breast care centers aimed to investigate to what extent galactography is currently used and whether newer techniques in multimodal imaging are preferred. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anonymous online survey was carried out nationwide and open to 342 radiology units in certified German breast care centers. RESULTS: A total of 177 units (52 %) participated in the survey of which 13 % generally do not provide galactography, 33 % conduct a maximum of 5 galactographies per year, 24 % conduct 6-10, 18 % 11-20, 8 % 21-50 and 5 % 51-100. Of the participants 53 % give first priority to US and prefer galactography to MRM in stepwise diagnosis and 32 % prefer MRM to galactography. Only 4 % use galactography initially. CONCLUSION: Currently galactography is no longer a mandatory standard and newer methods are preferred. The evidential value of galactography in comparison to other techniques should be established on the basis of the literature. The second part of this paper will deal with this question.

Axillary lymph node characterization in breast cancer patients using magnetic resonance mammography: a prospective comparative study with FDG PET-CT and healthy women.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the capability of dynamic contrast enhanced MR-mammography (MRM) for the interpretation of axillary lymph nodes (LNs) in patients with breast cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 25 patients with breast cancer preoperatively underwent both FDG positron emission computed tomography (PET-CT) and dynamic contrast enhanced MRM. The maximum signal increase (SImax) and curve shape (types I-III) of contrast enhanced LNs ≥ 0.5 cm (short-axis) were analyzed in MRM and correlated to the maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) of FDG PET-CT. 29 healthy women with MRM served as control group. Enhancement kinetics of all malignant LNs were compared to LN findings of the healthy control group. RESULTS: Overall 33 contrast enhanced LNs on preoperative MRM had a corresponding FDG uptake on PET-CT. 30 of the PET positive LNs were classified as surely malignant (mean SUVmax 7.3 (± 5.4)). The mean SImax of these LNs was not significantly different to the control group (222% vs 197%), but malignant LNs had a significantly higher rate of type III curves with rapid washout (93% vs 66%, p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: The maximum signal increase is not capable of differentiating malignant from benign axillary LNs. However, since malignant LNs showed a higher frequency of rapid washout curves (type III curves) on corresponding MRM future studies should concentrate on the analysis of this parameter. In clinical routine the curve shape still should be taken with care as there is a high overlap with benign LNs.

4D CT angiography more closely defines intracranial thrombus burden than single-phase CT angiography.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In patients with acute stroke, the location and extent of intravascular thrombi correlate with clinical and imaging outcomes and have been used to predict the success of intravenous thrombolysis. We hypothesized that 4D-CTA reconstructed from whole-brain CTP more closely outlines intracranial thrombi than conventional single-phase CTA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-seven patients with anterior circulation occlusion were retrospectively analyzed. For 4D-CTA, temporal maximum intensity projections were calculated that combine all 30 spiral scans of the CTP examination through temporal fusion. Thrombus extent was assessed by a semi-quantitative clot burden score (0-10; in which 0 = complete unilateral anterior circulation occlusion and 10 = patent vasculature). In patients with sufficient collateral flow, the length of the filling defect and corresponding hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign on NCCT were measured. RESULTS: Clot burden on temporal maximum intensity projection (median clot burden score, 7.0; interquartile range, 5.1-8.0) was significantly lower than on single-phase CT angiography (median, 6.0; interquartile range, 4.5-7.0; P < .0001). The length of the hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign (14.30 ± 5.93 mm) showed excellent correlation with the filling defect in the middle cerebral artery on temporal maximum intensity projection (13.40 ± 6.40 mm); this filling defect was larger on single-phase CT angiography (18.08 ± 6.54 mm; P = .043). CONCLUSIONS: As the result of an increased sensitivity for collateral flow, 4D-CTA temporal maximum intensity projection more closely outlines intracranial thrombi than conventional single-phase CT angiography. Our findings can be helpful when planning acute neurointervention. Further research is necessary to validate our data and assess the use of 4D-CTA in predicting response to different recanalization strategies.

Recanalization of large intracranial vessels using the penumbra system: a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The PS is an innovative mechanical device designed to recanalize large-vessel occlusions by thrombus aspiration. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and neurologic outcome of patients treated with the PS in the setting of acute ischemic stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 91 patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large-vessel occlusion were treated with the PS and were included in our retrospective study. In 14 patients, only the PS was used for treatment; in 77 patients, mechanical recanalization was combined with IA and/or IV thrombolysis. Outcome was measured by using the mRS; recanalization was assessed with the TICI score. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 62 ± 19.4 years; the average NIHSS score at hospital admission was 17. Successful recanalization was achieved in 77% of patients. Median time from arterial puncture to recanalization was 49 minutes (quartiles, 31-86 minutes). At follow-up, 36% of the patients showed an NIHSS improvement of ≥10%, and 34% of the patients with an anterior circulation occlusion had an mRS score of ≤2, whereas only 7% of the patients with a posterior occlusion had a favorable outcome at follow-up. In total, 20 patients died during hospitalization; none of these deaths were device-related. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the PS was an effective device for mechanical recanalization. Successful recanalization with the PS was associated with significant improvement of functional outcome in patients experiencing ischemic stroke secondary to anterior circulation occlusions.

Do structural changes in the tumour bed after intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) of breast cancer complicate the evaluation of mammograms in a long-term follow-up?

The purpose of the study was to assess whether postoperative changes in the tumour bed after intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) with low-energy X-rays complicate the mammographic evaluation. 54 patients receiving breast-conserving surgery and IORT were compared to a control group of 48 patients with conventional breast-conserving treatment. All patients were included in routine follow-ups (≥3 years) with mammography accompanied by ultrasound. By retrospective consensus reading the mammographic changes in the tumour bed were classified as absent, low or distinct. Using the same grading it was classified whether mammographic evaluation was complicated due to postoperative changes. Focusing the yearly follow-ups within a period of four years, distinct changes were found significantly more often after IORT (52-62% vs. 7-30%). After IORT the evaluation was significantly more often distinctly complicated in each follow-up, except for year 1 (16-21% vs. 0-8%). In the IORT group the distribution of findings was nearly stable over time. In the control group it changed over time and a distinctly complicated evaluation was no longer seen in the follow-ups of years 3 and 4. Overall, further non-routine diagnostic procedures due to unclear findings in the tumour bed became necessary in 7% (IORT) vs. 8% (control group) of the patients (p=0.86). Evaluation of mammograms is complicated after IORT. In contrast to conventionally treated patients postoperative changes and difficulties of evaluation do not decrease over time. Overall, after IORT the diagnostic uncertainty does not seem to be increased in ultrasound supported mammographic follow-ups. The topic needs further evaluation with larger study samples.

[Non-invasive imaging modalities for preoperative axillary lymph node staging in patients with breast cancer]. / Nichtinvasive bildgebende Verfahren zum präoperativen axillären Lymphknotenstaging beim Mammakarzinom.

In the last decade sentinel lymph node biopsy has become a well-established method for axillary lymph node staging in patients with breast cancer. Using preoperative imaging modalities it can be tested whether patients are suitable for sentinel node biopsy or if they should directly undergo an axillary dissection. The imaging modalities used must be mainly characterized by a high positive predictive value (PPV). For this question B-mode ultrasound is the best evaluated method and provides clear morphological signs for a high PPV (>90%) but the sensitivity barely exceeds 50%. It has not yet been proven whether other modalities such as duplex sonography, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography (CT) or scintigraphy might achieve a higher sensitivity while still maintaining a high PPV. There is only some evidence that positron emission tomography (PET) might achieve a higher sensitivity. This should be confirmed by further studies because PET or PET/CT will play an increasing role for an initial whole body staging in patients with breast cancer in the near future.

Long-term follow-up-findings in mammography and ultrasound after intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) for breast cancer.

The purpose of this study was to assess mammographic and sonographic findings in a long-term follow-up (>or=3 years) after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and IORT, either applied as boost or exclusively. Follow-up-findings of 54 patients were retrospectively evaluated and compared to a control group of 48 patients, treated with BCS and whole-breast radiotherapy. After IORT patients had a higher incidence of fat necroses manifesting as oil cysts in the late follow-up mammograms (n = 31 vs n = 8); furthermore, oil cysts were larger in the IORT group (median 4.5 vs 1.4 cm(2)). In 25 IORT patients the oil cysts arose from partially organized hematomas/seromas, which in this group were generally more frequent (n = 38 vs n = 9) and larger (median 3.6 vs 1.8 cm(2)). After IORT a decreasing incidence of hematomas/seromas was reciprocal to an increasing incidence of oil cysts, and the size of both entities correlated with each other. Liquid lesions with polypoid inner wall thickening on ultrasound, attributed to organized hematomas/seromas or fat necroses, appear more frequently after IORT (n = 15 vs n = 1). In conclusion, IORT is associated with a high incidence of large oil cysts, which arise from likewise large partially organized wound cavities. On ultrasound pronounced partial organization with polypoid inner wall thickening is a frequent finding in those cavities.

Early mammographic and sonographic findings after intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) as a boost in patients with breast cancer.

The aim of this study was to evaluate mammographic and sonographic changes at the surgical site within the first 2 years after IORT as a boost followed by whole-breast radiotherapy (WBRT), compared with a control group treated with WBRT alone. All patients had breast-conserving surgery for early-stage breast cancer. Group A: n = 27, IORT (20 Gy) followed by WBRT (46 Gy). Group B (control group): n = 27, WBRT alone (56-66 Gy). Mammography: fat necrosis in 14 group A versus four group B patients (P < 0.001); parenchymal scarring classified as unorganized at the last follow-up in 16 vs seven cases, respectively (P = 0.03). Ultrasound: overall number of patients with circumscribed findings 27 vs 18 (P < 0.001); particular hematomas/seromas in 26 vs 13 patients (P < 0.001). Synopsis of mammography and ultrasound: overall postoperative changes were significantly higher classified in group A (P = 0.01), but not judged to have a significantly higher impact on interpretation. Additional diagnostic procedures, due to unclear findings at the surgical site, were performed on four patients of both groups. Within the first 2 years after IORT as a boost, therapy-induced changes at the original tumor site are significantly more pronounced compared with a control group. There is no evidence that the interpretation of findings is complicated after IORT.

[Neoadjuvant chemotherapy of breast carcinomas: what post-therapeutic (preoperative) information is provided by quantitative dynamic MRI?]. / Neoadjuvante Chemotherapie des Mammakarzinoms : Welche posttherapeutischen (präoperativen) Informationen liefert die quantitative dynamische MRT?

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether quantitative changes in contrast enhancement (CE) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NC) are associated with histological signs of tumor regression and whether quantitative dynamic MRI (dMRI) is capable of accurately assessing preoperative tumor size compared to mammography (MG) and ultrasound (US). METHODS: Thirty-one patients with breast cancer underwent MRI before and after NC. Dynamic CE was measured using a turbo-FLASH sequence and quantified by a two-compartment model, where two parameters, k(ep) (distribution constant rate) and A (amplitude), were calculated and color mapped. RESULTS: When tumors had signs of histological regression in the operative specimen (n=17) decrease of the parameters A and k(ep) was significantly more marked compared to tumors without regression (n=12). The correlation between tumor size measured by dMRI and histopathology was 0.81 when areas of unspecific CE were included; when they were not included the correlation was 0.66 and tumor size was systematically underestimated. In 26 patients dMRI was retrospectively compared with MG (r=0.51; dMRI, r=0.80) and in 22 patients with US (r=0.60; dMRI, r=0.75). CONCLUSION: Changes in dynamic CE are associated with histological tumor regression. Quantitative dMRI enables a valid assessment of tumor residue and is superior to MG and US. Remaining unspecific CE within the original tumor site should be considered as potentially malignant.

[Correlation of MRI and histopathology of bone marrow in patients with multiple myeloma]. / Korrelation zwischen MRT und Histopathologie des Knochenmarks bei Patienten mit Multiplem Myelom.

PURPOSE: To compare MRI findings and histological plasmacellular infiltration of the bone marrow in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients with different stages of MM underwent 1.5T MRI of the pelvic bone before iliac crest punch biopsy. Precontrast T1wSE and STIR and postcontrast (Gd-DTPA) T1wSE-fatsat were acquired using axial slices. Immediately after the biopsy, T1wSE was repeated to locate the biopsy canal. The corresponding region in the examination before punch biopsy was assessed for bone marrow involvement using a three-point score (0: negative, 1: suspect, 2: definite). RESULTS: Two patients were not included because the location of the biopsy canal was unclear. Of 7 patients without histological plasmacellular infiltration, MRI was false positive in one case (suspect). Of 15 patients with histological infiltration, MRI was positive in 10 cases (4 suspect, 6 definite). The T1wSE was positive in 9 cases, STIR in 8 cases, and postcontrast T1wSE-fatsat in 7 cases. In 10 of the 15 patients, the infiltration was histologically graded as low (5 - 20 % of bone marrow). In this group, MRI was only positive in 5 cases (3 suspect, 2 definite). Of five patients with the infiltration histologically graded as high (> 20 % of bone marrow), MRI was positive in all cases (1 suspect, 4 definite). CONCLUSION: Only advanced bone marrow infiltration in MM can be reliably detected by MRI. None of the used sequences proved to be significantly superior or inferior.

[Transarterial chemoembolization of liver metastases of colorectal carcinoma using degradable starch microspheres (Spherex): personal investigations and review of the literature]. / Transarterielle Chemoembolisation von Lebermetastasen kolorektaler Karzinome mit abbaubaren Stärkepartikeln (Spherex). Eigene Beobachtungen und Literaturübersicht.

Since two decades transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) of liver metastases has been investigated in numerous studies. However, no standardized therapeutic procedure exists so far. The present study retrospectively investigated survival, response and side effects after TACE of liver metastases in 21 patients with colorectal cancer and results are compared with previous literature. A total of 68 TACE procedures were performed. A suspension of degradable starch microspheres (DSM, Spherex) and Mitomycin C was applied selectively into hepatic arteries via a transfemoral approach. DSM effect a temporary arterial occlusion. Follow-up studies were performed by contrast enhanced spiral computed tomography (CT). The median survival was 13.8 months. Therapeutic response (according to WHO) was observed only in three patients. The progression free interval was 5.8 months. Patients developed a postembolization-syndrome (abdominal pain, fever, nausea) and increased transaminases in 27-43% of all interventions. A gastric ulcer occurred after four, cholecystitis after two TACE. As already shown in most previous studies, regardless of the used agents, also this investigation underlines the moderate therapeutic effect of TACE on colorectal liver metastases. So far, no significant survival benefit has been shown in the literature and the response rates are rather limited. In general, complications of TACE seem to be rare, but should not to be underestimated. Compared to TACE with long or permanent arterial occlusion, postembolization syndrome seems to be less pronounced using DSM. As TACE is rather a palliative therapeutic approach, DSM therefore might be more suited. Further studies on TACE of liver metastases should focus on to the patients' quality of life.

[Dynamic MRI of the bone marrow for monitoring multiple myeloma during treatment with thalidomide as monotherapy or in combination with CED chemotherapy]. / Dynamische MRT des Knochenmarks zum Monitoring des Multiplen Myeloms unter Thalidomid-Monotherapie oder Kombination mit CED-Chemotherapie.

PURPOSE: To quantify changes of bone marrow microcirculation in multiple myeloma (MM) using contrast enhanced dynamic MRI (dMRI) during thalidomide as antiangiogenic monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, etoposide, dexamethasone). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study includes 63 patients with refractory or relapsed MM, who underwent dMRI with high temporal resolution (T1w-turboFLASH) of the lumbar spine before and following treatment. The contrast uptake was quantified using a two compartment model with the output parameters amplitude and k (ep) (exchange rate constant). The evaluation considered the initial dMRI finding (pathological or non-pathological) and the clinical therapeutic response (response or no response). RESULTS: During monotherapy with thalidomide (n = 38), no significant changes of the dMRI parameters were found, even when considering the initial dMRI finding (positive n = 22) and the therapeutic response (responder n = 14). The combination with chemotherapy (n = 25) had a significant reduction of k (ep) (p = 0.01) in 18 patients with positive initial dMRI finding and therapeutic response. Reduction of the amplitude was seen in most cases, but in the end without any significance (p = 0.09). CONCLUSION: dMRI can quantify significant changes of bone marrow microcirculation solely during treatment with thalidomide combined with chemotherapy, not with thalidomide alone.

Accuracy of tumor size measurement in breast cancer using MRI is influenced by histological regression induced by neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether regressive changes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer affect the accuracy of preoperative MRI measurements of tumor size. Thirty-one patients with breast cancer underwent MRI before and after neoadjuvant treatment. Besides pre- and post-contrast T1-weighted MRI, dynamic MRI with high temporal resolution (turbo-FLASH) was performed. Contrast enhancement in dynamic MRI was quantified using a pharmacokinetic two-compartment model, where two parameters, amplitude and k(ep), were calculated and color coded on transversal parameter maps. Considering the conventional MR images, tumor diameters were measured on the color maps and compared with histological tumor size. Histological regression was scored on a five-point scale regarding cytopathic effects, reactive changes, and tumor cell reduction. The correlation between tumor sizes measured by MRI and histopathology was 0.83 ( p<0.0007) in 12 tumors without regressive changes (score 0), and 0.48 ( p<0.051) in 17 tumors with regressive changes scored 1 or 2, without any tendency for systematic over- or underestimation. In two cases without residual tumor (score 4), MRI likewise showed no signs of persistent tumor. The decrease of the contrast enhancement parameters was significantly more marked in tumors with signs of histological regression than in those without. Whenever MRI is used to judge the response of breast cancer to chemotherapy, the reader must be aware that therapy-induced changes may cause significant over- or underestimation of tumor size. We saw a high precision only when there was either no response - according to histological criteria - or when the tumor had regressed completely.