18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/ computed tomography in the diagnosis of a rare mycotic aneurysm of the thoracic aorta in a patient with fever of unknown origin.

Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is a condition with high mortality that often presents a diagnostic challenge to clinicians. We present the case of a patient with FUO who was discovered to have a rare mycotic aneurysm of the thoracic aorta by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging. Mycotic aneurysm, also known as an infected aneurysm, is a highly lethal condition due to the risk of sepsis and aneurysmal rupture. While unusual to present in this manner, it is of utmost importance to promptly recognize a mycotic aneurysm as a potential diagnosis because initiation of treatment is critical in reversing the natural history of the disease.

Evaluating Novel PET-CT Functional Parameters TLG and TMTV in Differentiating Low-grade Versus Grade 3A Follicular Lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Follicular lymphoma (FL) grading, low-grade 1-2 (LG) versus grade 3A (3A), informs management. However, accurate grading is challenging owing to disease heterogeneity and inter-reader variability. The [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) parameter maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) has utility in differentiating LG from 3A FL, but the utility of novel parameters total lesion glycolysis (TLG) and total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) is unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of diagnostic pre-treatment PET-CTs of patients aged > 18 years with FL grades 1-3A from 2009-2017 was performed. PET-CT parameters SUVmax, TLG, and TMTV values were generated using manual (MW) and semi-automated workflows (SW). Poisson regression and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to compare PET-CT parameters between LG and 3A. RESULTS: A total of 49 patients with FL were identified: 38 LG and 11 3A. PET-CT parameters were significantly higher in 3A as compared with LG in both workflows. The cutoff values, sensitivities, and specificities were as follows: SUVmax: 10.4, 64%, and 74% in MW and 11.9, 73%, and 76% in SW; TLG: 543, 82%, and 74% in MW and 371, 73%, and 74% in SW; and TMTV: 141, 73%, and 76% in MW and 93, 64%, and 76% in SW. SUVmax had identical cutoff, sensitivity, and specificity across all 3 SWs, whereas TLG and TMTV had considerable variance across all 3 SWs. CONCLUSIONS: TLG and TMTV are comparable to SUVmax in differentiating LG versus 3A FL. Cutoffs, sensitivities, and specificities varied in MW versus SW. Novel PET-CT parameters serve as reproducible adjuncts but not replacements for biopsy in differentiating grades of FL.

Neuroendocrine prostate cancer or prostatitis? An unusual false positive on gallium-68 DOTA-Tyr3-octreotate positron emission tomography/computed tomography in a patient with known metastatic neuroendocrine tumor.

The importance of gallium-68 DOTA-Tyr3-octreotate (68Ga DOTATATE) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in the imaging of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) has grown substantially over the past decade and is becoming markedly more common. We present the case of a male with known metastatic NET who underwent 68Ga DOTATATE PET/CT for restaging, incidentally revealing intense uptake of the prostate with a maximum standard uptake value of 17.4. Due to the patient's medical history, this finding was concerning for neuroendocrine prostate cancer. However, core biopsies of the prostate were negative for malignancy and positive for chronic inflammation. Chronic prostatitis is a very common condition in adult males and is often asymptomatic. Inflammatory conditions, including prostatitis, are important causes of false-positive findings on 68Ga DOTATATE PET/CT and should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis, even in an asymptomatic patient.

Cervical left pulmonary artery.

We detail what we believe to be the first reported case of a congenital 'Cervical Left Pulmonary Artery' in which an aberrant left pulmonary artery courses cranially into the mid-cervical neck before descending back into the thorax to the left pulmonary hilum. Due to the location and course of the artery, we believe that this anomaly is likely due to a developmental error of the sixth pharyngeal arch. Ultimately, the use of a reconstructed 3D computed tomography image provided detailed characterization of the unique anatomical variant, aiding in a successful surgical repair of the defect.

Initial toxicity, quality-of-life outcomes, and dosimetric impact in a randomized phase 3 trial of hypofractionated versus standard fractionated proton therapy for low-risk prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: Randomized evidence for extreme hypofractionation in prostate cancer is lacking. We aimed to identify differences in toxicity and quality-of-life outcomes between standard fractionation and extreme hypofractionated radiation in a phase 3 randomized trial. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We analyzed the results of the first 75 patients in our phase 3 trial, comparing 38 Gy relative biologic effectiveness (RBE) in 5 fractions (n = 46) versus 79.2 Gy RBE in 44 fractions (n = 29). Patients received proton radiation using fiducials and daily image guidance. We evaluated American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUASI), adverse events (AEs), and Expanded Prostate Index Composite (EPIC) domains. The primary endpoint of this interim analysis was the cumulative incidence of grade 2 (G2) or higher AEs. The randomized patient allocation scheme was a 2:1 ratio favoring the 38 Gy RBE arm. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 36 months; 30% of patients reached 48-month follow-up. AUASI scores differed <5 points (4.4 vs 8.6; P = .002) at 1 year, favoring the 79.2 Gy arm. Differences in AUASI were not significant at ≥18 months. EPIC urinary symptoms favored the 79.2 Gy arm at 1 year (92.3 vs 84.5; P = .009) and 18 months (92.3 vs 85.3; P = .03); bother scores were not significant at other time points. Cumulative ≥G2 genitourinary toxicity was similar between the 79.2 Gy and 38 Gy arms (34.5% vs 30.4%; P = .80). We found no differences in the EPIC domains of bowel symptoms, sexual symptoms, or bowel ≥G2 toxicities. Bladder V80 (79.2 Gy arm; P = .04) and V39 (38 Gy arm; P = .05) were predictive for cumulative G2 genitourinary AEs. CONCLUSIONS: Low AE rates were seen in both study arms. Early temporary differences in genitourinary scores disappeared over time. Bladder constraints were associated with genitourinary AEs.

Absent Cerebellar Circulation With Intact Cerebral Blood Flow on a 99mTc Bicisate "Brain Death" Study.

A 55-year old woman presented in an obtunded state and was found to have a subarachnoid hemorrhage. After endovascular repair, her condition deteriorated, and brain death was suspected. A Tc bicisate brain blood flow study was performed, which showed a complete absence of blood flow to the cerebellum despite intact circulation to the cerebral hemispheres. These atypical findings are likely a result of a transient intracranial pressure differential and the timing of the study. A timely and accurate declaration of brain death has important psychosocial and ethical implications, particularly when organ donation is being considered.

Predictors of survival in head and neck mucosal melanoma.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate hospital-based data of head and neck mucosal melanoma patients in order to identify predictors of survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The National Cancer Data Base was used to identify 1368 patients with head and neck mucosal melanoma diagnosed between the years of 2004 and 2012. The Kaplan-Meier method was utilized to estimate overall survival, and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of covariates on survival after adjusting for confounding variables. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 55.2months. Median survival of all patients was 29.3months, and the 5-year survival was 27.4%. After adjusting for other prognostic factors in multivariate analysis, paranasal sinus location [hazard ratio (HR)=1.54, 95% Confidence Interval (CI)=1.30-1.82, P<0.001)] and the use of radiotherapy alone for definitive local treatment (HR=2.27, 95% CI=1.72-2.98, P<0.001) were associated with worse survival. Similar results were seen in the subgroup of patients with complete clinical staging information. In terms of patterns of care, the use of combined surgery and radiotherapy as the primary local treatment modality has significant increased from 2004 and 2012 (P=0.03). CONCLUSION: Outcomes in mucosal melanoma of the head and neck remain suboptimal, despite increased use of multimodality local therapy, likely due to the high risk of distant metastases. Mucosal melanomas arising from the paranasal sinuses have particularly poor prognosis. Novel therapeutic paradigms for head and neck mucosal melanoma, incorporating systemic therapies to decrease the risk of distant relapse, should be pursued in clinical trials.