Congenital Infiltrating Lipomatosis of the Face: Multimodality Assessment through CT-Scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Congenital infiltrating lipomatosis of the face is a rare and benign condition involving a hamartomatous proliferation of mature adipose cells. The final diagnosis derives from a combination of clinical data, histology, and imaging features and affects the treatment decision. This report describes the clinical case of a young patient suffering from facial lipomatosis with particular emphasis on radiological findings detected at CT-scan and magnetic resonance imaging.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Planning with Dual-Layer Spectral CT Using Virtual Monoenergetic Image (VMI) Reconstructions and 20 mL of Contrast Media.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a less invasive alternative to surgical implantation and its implementation is progressively increasing worldwide. We routinely perform pre-procedural aortic angiography CT to assess aortic dimensions and vascular anatomy. This study aims to evaluate the image quality of CTA for TAVI planning using dual-layer spectral CT, with virtual monoenergetic image reconstructions at 40 keV. Thirty-one patients underwent a CTA protocol with the injection of 20 mL of contrast media. Image quality was assessed by measuring the mean density in Hounsfield Units (HU), the signal-to-noise ratio, and the contrast-to-noise ratio in VMI reconstructions. Additionally, a blinded subjective analysis was conducted by two observers. The results showed significant enhancement at all sampled vascular levels with a gradual decrease in HU from proximal to distal regions. Favourable subjective ratings were given for all parameters, with greater variability in the evaluation of iliac axes. A significant negative correlation (p < 0.05) was observed between BMI and CA at all vascular levels, indicating reduced contrast enhancement with increasing BMI. Spectral CT, along with reducing iodine load, allows for obtaining high-quality images without a significant increase in noise. The reduction in iodine load can have positive implications in clinical practice, improving patient safety and resource efficiency.

Prognostic value of gender and primary tumor location in metastatic colon cancer.

Sex might influence prognosis in patients affected by colorectal cancer. We retrospectively studied a cohort of patients affected by metastatic colon cancer (mCC) stratified by sex and primary tumor location. RAS mutational status was also included in the analysis. Overall, 616 patients met the eligibility criteria, 261 women and 355 men. Neither gender, nor RAS mutational status influenced overall survival (OS) in the entire population. As expected, patients with right-sided colon cancer (RCC) had a significant shorter OS compared to those with left-sided colon cancer (LCC) (21.3 vs 33.1 months, p= 0.002). When the analysis was performed stratifying for gender, RCC retained worse prognosis among men (OS 20.5 vs 33.9 months, p= 0.008), but not among women (p= 0.132). Similarly, the presence of RAS mutations had no prognostic effect in women, but was significantly associate with shorter survival in men (OS 29.5 vs 33.7 months, p= 0.046). In addition, when comparing clinical outcome of women or men according to sidedness and RAS mutational status, RCC was associated with dismal prognosis only in men with RAS mutated tumor (OS 17.2 vs 32.3 months, p= 0.008). Our study highlights the importance of gender in the outcome of patients with mCC.

Prognostic value of diabetes and metformin use in a real-life population of head and neck cancer patients.

Introduction: Head and neck carcinoma (HNC) is a disease with a poor prognosis despite currently available treatments. The management of patients with this tumor is often complicated by several comorbidities. Among these, diabetes is the second most frequent and its influence on the prognosis is not known. Methods: In this work, we collected data on progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of one hundred twenty-three patients with HNC who received biweekly cetuximab maintenance treatment after first-line chemotherapy. We then compared the survival of nondiabetic patients versus diabetics' one. Results: Surprisingly, both PFS (4 vs. 5 months, HR 2.297, p < 0.0001) and OS (7 vs. 10 months, HR 3.138, p < 0.0001) were in favor of diabetic patients, even after excluding other clinical confounding factors. In addition, we also studied survivals in patients taking metformin, a widely used oral antidiabetic drug that has demonstrated antitumor efficacy in some cancers. Indeed, diabetic patients taking metformin had better PFS and OS than those not taking it, 7 vs. 5 months (HR 0.56, p = 0.0187) and 11 vs. 8.5 months (HR 0.53, p = 0.017), respectively. Discussion: In conclusion, real-world outcomes of biweekly cetuximab maintenance remain comparable to clinical trials. The prognostic role of diabetes and metformin was confirmed to be significant in our series, but further prospective studies are needed for a definitive evaluation.

Virtual Non-Contrast Spectral CT in Renal Masses: Is It Time to Discard Conventional Unenhanced Phase?

Dual-layer Dual-Energy CT (dl-DECT) allows one to create virtual non-contrast (VNC) reconstructions from contrast-enhanced CT scans, with a consequent decrease of the radiation dose. This study aims to assess the reliability of VNC for the diagnostic evaluation of renal masses in comparison with true non-contrast (TNC) images. The study cohort included 100 renal masses in 40 patients who underwent dl-DECT between June and December 2021. Attenuation values and standard deviations were assessed through the drawing of regions of interest on TNC and VNC images reconstructed from corticomedullary and nephrographic phases. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed in order to assess equivalence of data and Spearman's Rho correlation coefficient to evaluate correlations between each parameter. The diagnostic accuracy of VNC was estimated through the performance of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Differences between attenuation values were, respectively, 74%, 18%, 5% and 3% (TNC-VNCcort), and 74%, 15%, 9% and 2% (TNC-VNCneph). The Wilcoxon signed-rank test demonstrated the equivalence of attenuation values between the TNC and VNC images. The diagnostic performance of VNC images in the depiction of kidney simple cysts remains high compared to TNC (VNCcort-AUC: 0.896; VNCneph-AUC: 0.901, TNC-AUC: 0.903). In conclusion, quantitative analysis of attenuation values showed a strong agreement between VNC and TNC images in the evaluation of renal masses.

Virtual monoenergetic dual-layer dual-energy CT images in colorectal cancer: CT diagnosis could be improved?

PURPOSE: To compare conventional CT images and virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) at dual-layer dual-energy CT (dlDECT) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) through quantitative analysis and to investigate the added value of VMI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-six consecutive patients with histologically documented CRC and available VMI reconstructions were retrospectively investigated. Subsequently, forty-two patients, without any colonic disease at colonoscopy, were selected as control group. Conventional CT images and VMI reconstructions at energy levels ranging from 40 (VMI40) to 100 keV (VMI100) in 10 keV increments, were obtained from the late arterial phase. First, signal-to-noise (SNR) and contrast-to-noise (CNR) ratios were obtained to select the best VMI reconstruction. Finally, the diagnostic accuracy of conventional CT and VMI40 in late arterial phase was evaluated. RESULTS: On quantitative analysis, SNR and CNR were higher for VMI40 (19.5 ± 7.7 and 11.8 ± 6.2, respectively) with statistically significant differences compared to conventional CT (P < 0.05) and all the other VMI reconstructions (P < 0.05), except for VMI50 (P > 0.05). The addition of VMI40 to conventional CT images significantly improved the area under the curve (AUC) for the diagnosis of CRC, increasing it from 0.875 to 0.943 for reader 1 (P < 0.05) and from 0.916 to 0.954 for reader 2 (P < 0.05). The improvement was greater in the less experienced radiologist (0.068) compared to the more experienced one (0.037). CONCLUSION: VMI40 has showed the highest quantitative image parameters. Furthermore, the use of VMI40 can lead to a significant improvement in the diagnostic performance for detecting CRC.

Colonic involvement in inflammatory bowel diseases: spotlight on the role of magnetic resonance enterography.

The large bowel can be affected by inflammatory bowel diseases, namely ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, with the latter occurring either as a unique localization or in conjunction with simultaneous ileal involvement. The differential diagnosis among these conditions is challenging and relies on clinical symptoms, laboratory tests and endoscopy with biopsy. However, as these features can overlap, a conclusive diagnosis is not always achievable, and the underlying cause remains indeterminate. Currently, endoscopy is the reference standard for colonic assessment, although its invasiveness limits its use and repetition within a short timeframe. Magnetic Resonance Enterography is a non-invasive, radiation-free technique that has been extensively and effectively employed in the intestinal evaluation of patients with Crohn's disease in recent years. Although the main goal of this technique is generally focused on evaluating small bowel loops, it can also provide important information about the large bowel if an adequate fulfillment by the oral contrast medium is achieved. The purpose of this work is, therefore, to put emphasis on the potential role of Magnetic Resonance Enterography in assessing the large bowel. In fact, this imaging modality is capable of providing valuable information for comprehensive staging and follow-up of inflammatory bowel diseases within the large bowel, thus complementing the clinical picture and the endoscopic features in the context of a differential diagnosis.

Minimal Fat Content in Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma Diagnosed with Dual-Layer Dual-Energy CT.

A 56-year-old man with a previous right nephrectomy for multiple papillary renal cell carcinomas (pRCC) underwent a follow-up CT scan. Using a dual-layer dual-energy CT (dlDECT), we demonstrated the presence of a small amount of fat in a 2.5 cm pRCC that mimicked the diagnosis of angiomyolipoma (AML). Histological examination demonstrated the absence of macroscopic intratumoral adipose tissue, showing a fair amount of enlarged foam macrophages loaded with intracytoplasmic lipids. The presence of fat density in an RCC is an extremely rare occurrence in the literature. To our knowledge, this is the first description using dlDECT of a minimal amount of fat tissue in a small RCC due to the presence of tumor-associated foam macrophages. Radiologists should be aware of this possibility when characterizing a renal mass with DECT. The option of RCCs must be considered, especially in the case of masses with an aggressive character or a positive history of RCC.

Cornerstones of CT urography: a shared document by the Italian board of urogenital radiology.

CT urography is a single term used to refer to different scanning protocols that can be applied for a number of clinical indications. If, on the one hand, this highlights the role of the radiologist in deciding the most suitable technique to perform according to the patient's needs, on the other hand, a certain confusion may arise due to the different technical and clinical variables that have to be taken into account. This has been well demonstrated by a previous work based on an online questionnaire administered to a population of Italian radiologists that brought out similarities as well as differences across the national country. Defining precise guidelines for each clinical scenario, although desirable, is a difficult task to accomplish, if not even unfeasible. According to the prementioned survey, five relevant topics concerning CT urography have been identified: definition and clinical indications, opacification of the excretory system, techniques, post-processing reconstructions, and radiation dose and utility of dual-energy CT. The aim of this work is to deepen and share knowledge about these main points in order to assist the radiology in the daily practice. Moreover, a synopsis of recommendations agreed by the Italian board of genitourinary imaging is provided.

DWI ratios: New indexes for Crohn's disease activity at magnetic resonance enterography?

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to provide radiologists and clinicians a rapid tool for assessment of intestinal inflammation in Crohn's disease (CD) patients through quantification of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) signal intensity while performing magnetic resonance enterography (MRE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A monocentric retrospective study was conducted between September 2018 and July 2021 on CD patients who underwent MRE. Two radiologists measured signal intensity on DWI scans at the highest b-value (800 s/mm2) within pathologic intestinal walls, lymph nodes, spleen and psoas muscle and calculated the relative ratios. Spearman, Mann-Whitney and Jonckheere-Terpstra tests were applied for estimating correlation among ratios, significant differences between the two patient groups and determining the trend in relation to endoscopic classes. Wilcoxon's and Cronbach's alpha tests were employed for comparison of DWI measurements and ratios between the two observers. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients were enrolled in the study. In the non-surgical group, correlation has been found among Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease (SES-CD) classes and the different ratios: bowel/spleen (p = 0.034), bowel/psoas (p = 0.008) and bowel/lymph node (p = 0.010). Within the surgical group, positive correlation was found only between bowel/lymph node ratio and bowel/psoas ratio (p = 0.014). The J-T test demonstrated an increasing monotonic trend for bowel/psoas ratio and bowel/lymph node ratio and SES-CD classes. Inter-reader evaluation demonstrated no statistical differences for DWI measurements and high degree of concordance for the final ratios. CONCLUSION: DWI ratios correlate with endoscopic classes in non-surgical patients and have inter-observer reproducibility.

An Update on the Role of Anti-EGFR in the Treatment of Older Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

Although colorectal cancer is increasingly being diagnosed in older patients, their number is largely underrepresented in phase II or III clinical trials. Consequently, guidelines and the SIOG recommendations are not sufficiently clear regarding the treatment of these patients, particularly when chemotherapy is combined with monoclonal antibodies (bevacizumab, cetuximab, and panitumumab). Targeted therapy based on the use of anti-epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs) is conditioned by the potential for increased toxicity, making it more difficult to treat an older, rat sarcoma virus (RAS) and B rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (BRAF) wild-type patient. In light of a more detailed characterization of the older population, modernly differentiable between fit, vulnerable, or frail patients on the basis of the comprehensive geriatric assessment, and of the analysis of more recent studies, this review fully collects data from the literature, differentiating the results on functional status patients.

Optimizing the Choice for Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Gastric Cancer.

Advances in the management of gastric cancer have improved patient survival in the last decade. Nonetheless, the number of patients relapsing and dying after a diagnosis of localized gastric cancer is still too high, even in early stages (10% in stage I). Adjuvant systemic chemotherapy has been proven to significantly improve outcomes. In the present article we have critically reviewed the clinical trials that guide the current clinical practice in the adjuvant treatment of patients affected by resectable gastric cancer, focusing on the different approaches worldwide, i.e., adjuvant chemotherapy, adjuvant chemoradiotherapy, and perioperative chemotherapy. We also delineate the clinical-pathological characteristics that are commonly taken into account to identify patients at a higher risk of recurrence and requiring adjuvant chemotherapy, and also describe novel biomarkers and therapeutic agents that might allow personalization of the treatment.

Portal hypertensive enteropathy: multimodality assessment through computed tomography and magnetic resonance enterography.

Portal hypertension consists in an increased portal vein pressure due to prehepatic, hepatic, or posthepatic conditions, with cirrhosis representing the most common cause. The gastrointestinal tract can be secondarily affected not only with varices formation, whose rupture is one of the most dangerous complications, but also with small and large bowel involvement which can predispose to chronic intestinal bleeding. These conditions respectively take the name of portal hypertensive enteropathy and portal colonopathy and their assessment are of almost exclusive pertinence of endoscopic techniques. Up to now, only few reports have described this condition from the radiological point of view. Nevertheless, imaging modalities are not burdened by the invasiveness of endoscopic procedures and are also capable in providing useful information about the intestinal tract as well as the surrounding tissues. This is the first case reporting a diffuse involvement of the small bowel and the right colon in a patient suffering of portal hypertension due to cirrhosis evaluated through the performance of computed tomography and magnetic resonance enterography.

Diagnosis and Management of Button Battery Ingestion Complicated by Tracheo-Esophageal and Aorto-Esophageal Fistulas.

Button battery ingestion (BBI) is common in children and its prevalence has increased in the last decades. BBI can be responsible for very severe and potentially fatal complications if not promptly detected. We describe the successful management of two cases of BBI that occurred in two previously healthy infants. Both patients presented with vague symptoms and no witness of foreign body ingestion. The prolonged time of exposure to the corrosive effects of disk batteries was responsible for the development of tracheo-esophageal fistula (TEF) and aorto-esophageal fistula (AEF). We demonstrate how prompt diagnosis and management are crucial for the infants' survival.

Unique coexistence of chronic midgut malrotation, mesenteric cyst, and pancreas divisum in a Crohn's disease patient: MR-enterography assessment.

Chronic midgut malrotation is a rare condition found in the adult age that predisposes to severe complications. It derives from an incomplete rotation of the mesentery around the superior mesenteric artery during embryogenic development. This results in intestinal loops displacement and mesenteric malfixation. Nevertheless, other congenital abnormalities can be also associated, such as mesenteric cysts and biliopancreatic malformations. Imaging modalities employed in the evaluation of chronic midgut malrotation include contrast radiography, which permits to visualize the localization of the intestinal loops, and ultrasound, that can detect a twist of superior mesenteric vessels. Computed tomography is however considered the modality of choice, owing to its wide field of view and the rapid scan times. The role of magnetic resonance imaging in this field has been barely explored. In particular, magnetic resonance enterography has a consolidated role in the assessment of intestinal loops and allows detecting extra-intestinal findings as well. Moreover, the lack of radiation exposure makes this technique suitable for nonemergency cases, especially in young patients. This is the first description of simultaneous chronic midgut malrotation, mesenteric cyst and pancreas divisum discovered in a Crohn's disease patient. The performance of magnetic resonance enterography allowed to properly interpret this multifaceted clinical picture.

Overview of the Large Bowel Assessment using Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Different Techniques for Current and Emerging Clinical Applications.

Radiological assessments of the small and large bowel are essential in daily clinical practice. Over X-ray plain films and ultrasound, cross-sectional techniques are considered the most comprehensive imaging modalities. "Cross-sectional techniques" refers to CT and MRI, as stated in the following sentence. In fact, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging take great advantage of the three-dimensional appraisal and the extensive evaluation of the abdominal cavity, allowing intestinal evaluation as well as detection of extra-intestinal findings. In this context, the chief advantage of computed tomography is the fast scan time, which is crucial for emergency cases. Nonetheless, it is undeniably impaired using ionizing radiation. As the awareness of radiation exposure is a topic of increasing importance, magnetic resonance imaging is not only becoming a mere alternative but also a primary imaging technique used in assessing intestinal diseases. Specifically, the evaluation of the large bowel through MRI can still be considered relatively uncharted territory. Although it has demonstrated superior accuracy in the assessment of some clinical entities from inflammatory bowel disease to rectal carcinoma, its role needs to be consolidated in many other conditions. Moreover, different technical methods can be applied for colonic evaluation depending on the specific disease and segment involved. This article aims to provide a thorough overview of the techniques that can be utilized in the evaluation of the large bowel and a discussion on the major findings in different colonic pathologies of primary interest.

CT-urography: a nationwide survey by the Italian Board of Urogenital Radiology.

Computed tomography-urography is currently the imaging modality of choice for the assessment of the whole urinary tract, giving the possibility to detect and characterize benign and malignant conditions. In particular, computed tomography-urography takes advantage from an improved visualization of the urinary collecting system due to acquisition of delayed scan obtained after excretion of intravenous contrast medium from the kidneys. Nevertheless, the remaining scans are of great help for identification, characterization, and staging of urological tumors. Considering the high number of diseases, urinary segment potentially involved and patients' features, scanning protocols of computed tomography-urography largely vary from one clinical case to another as well as selection and previous preparation of the patient. According to the supramentioned considerations, radiation exposure is also of particular concern. Italian radiologists were asked to express their opinions about computed tomography-urography performance and about its role in their daily practice through an online survey. This paper collects and summarizes the results.

Inter-reader agreement of the Prostate Imaging Quality (PI-QUAL) score: A bicentric study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the inter-reader agreement of the Prostate imaging quality (PI-QUAL) for multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI). METHODS: We included 66 men who underwent 1.5 T mpMRI in June 2020-July 2020 in center 1, with no exclusion criteria. mpMRI included multiplanar T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging (DCE). Two readers from center 2 (experience <1000 to >1500 examinations), blinded to clinical history but not to acquisition parameters, independently assessed PI-QUAL qualitative/anatomical items of each mpMRI sequence, final PI-QUAL score (1-5), and the Prostate imaging reporting and data system version 2.1 (PI-RADSv2.1) category of the index lesion. Cohen's kappa statistics (k) or prevalence-adjusted-bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK) were used to calculate the inter-reader agreement in assessing the PI-QUAL (1-to-5 scale and 1-2 versus 3 versus 4-5), the diagnostic quality of each mpMRI sequence, qualitative/anatomical items, and PI-RADSv2.1 category. RESULTS: The inter-reader agreement for PI-QUAL category was moderate upon 1-5 scale (k = 0.55; 95%CI 0.39-0.71) or 1-3 scale (k = 0.51; 95%CI 0.29-0.72), with 90.9% examinations categorized PI-QUAL ≥ 3 by readers. The agreement in assessing a sequence as diagnostic was higher for T2WI (k = 0.76) than DCE (PABAK = 0.61) and DWI (k = 0.46), ranging moderate-to-substantial for most of the items. Readers provided comparable PI-RADSv2.1 categorization (k = 0.88 [excellent agreement]; 95%CI 0.81-0.96), with most PI-RADSv2.1 ≥ 3 assignments found in PI-QUAL ≥ 3 examinations (43/46 by reader 1, and 47/47 by reader 2). CONCLUSIONS: The reproducibility of PI-QUAL was moderate. Higher PI-QUAL scores were associated with excellent inter-reader agreement for PI-RADSv2.1 categorization.

Pulmonary barotrauma in patient suffering from COVID-19.

Pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum are life-threatening conditions especially in critically ill patients. One of the most common situations in which they occur is prolonged invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation with high end-expiratory pressure. Probably due to the high number of patients with SARS-CoV-2 respiratory infection being treated with mechanical ventilation, increasing number of pulmonary barotrauma cases have been reported.

Mimicking conditions of intestinal Crohn's disease: magnetic resonance enterography findings.

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by a transmural involvement of intestinal walls. Its diagnosis comes from a combination of clinical data, imaging findings and, above all, endoscopy with biopsy results, which are mandatory for achieving a definitive diagnosis. Even so, endoscopy information may be unavailable, for instance due to technical impairments or patient intolerance. On the radiological side, Magnetic Resonance Enterography is currently considered the imaging technique of choice for Crohn's disease assessment, either at first diagnosis or follow-up. Nevertheless, the lack of radiation exposure as well as invasiveness has made this imaging approach suitable also for the evaluation of a number of small and large bowel diseases over recent years. However, it is important to remember that Magnetic Resonance Imaging findings are non-specific and that a wide overlap exists among Crohn's disease and other intestinal conditions. The aim of this work was to provide a series of intestinal affections evaluated through Magnetic Resonance Enterography that resemble Crohn's disease and that can be helpful in avoiding misinterpretation, especially when endoscopy data are missing.