Analysis of Demographic and Educational Backgrounds of Interventional Neuroradiology Fellowship Program Director Workforce in North America.

PURPOSE: To analyse the demographics, academic background, and scholarly activity of Interventional Neuroradiology (INR)/Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology (ESN) program directors (PDs) in the United States (US) and Canada. METHODS: A list of all INR/ESN fellowships was obtained from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the Committee on Advanced Subspecialty Training, maintained by Society of Neurological Surgeons, the NeuroInterventional Training list website maintained by the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery, and the Neurosurgical Fellowship Training Program Directory website maintained by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Online search was performed to identify PDs for these programs. Publicly available sources used to gather information about each PD included the program websites, the HealthGrades and Doximity websites, and Elsevier's Scopus database. Demographic and educational data including age, gender, educational background, subspecialty, appointment age, interval between residency completion and appointment as PD, additional degrees, academic rank, prior leadership positions, and metrics of scholarly activity were recorded. One-way analysis of variance was used to determine differences between the means of different groups. RESULTS: A total of 78 PDs from 72 programs were included, of which 72 (92.3%) were male with the mean age of 49.59 years (SD 7.25). Specialty division of PDs was neurosurgery (40, 51.3%), radiology (26, 33.3%), and neurology (10, 12.8%), whereas 2 PDs were dual board-certified in neurology and radiology. Twenty-five (32.1%) PDs attended an international medical school. All PDs received an MD degree or foreign equivalent, with no PD holding a DO degree. Eleven PDs received a PhD degree and 16 PDs received fellowship from a professional medical society. The mean ± SD publications, citations, and h-indexes of PDs were 111.32 ± 121.18, 2985.0 ± 1459.0 and 22.27 ± 15.45, respectively. There was no statistical difference in scholarly activity among PDs when stratified on the basis of specialty, gender, and US region. CONCLUSION: INR/ESN PDs are predominantly male, with a majority from neurosurgery background, and thirty percent having graduated from international medical schools.

Trends in Neuroradiology Fellowship Match in the United States: Analysis of the 13-Year National Resident Matching Program Data.

The neuroradiology fellowship match is conducted by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) every year. The purpose of this study is to report the trends in neuroradiology match results from 2008 to 2020 in the United States (US) using data available from the NRMP. The fellowship match data was obtained from the NRMP archives. Data specific to programs (number of programs and filled positions) were obtained. Using the NRMP's "Charting Outcomes in the Match: Specialty Matching Service'' report, a detailed analysis of applicant characteristics broken down for each specialty, was also obtained for neuroradiology for the year 2018. Neuroradiology programs in the NRMP Match increased from 71 to 77 and the number of positions increased from 158 to 270 between 2008 and 2020. The fill rate of fellowship spots has remained steady at 75.9% in 2008 and 74.4% in 2020. The proportion of US allopathic medical graduates (US MD) amongst the filled spots decreased from 79.2% (2008) to 64.2% (2020), while the proportion of international medical graduates (IMGs) increased from 11.7% to 25.4%. US MD and IMG fill trends did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.78 and P = 0.92, respectively). US MDs had a higher number of research experiences and publications (23.2 and 26, respectively) when compared to US IMGs (5 and 7) and non-US IMGs (6.8 and 14.2). To conclude, over the last 13 years, the neuroradiology fellowship programs in the US have increased in number and expanded in size, with an almost stable fill rate of around 75%.

Intractable Scapular Pain Due to Undiagnosed Osteoid Osteoma: A Case Report.

A 36-year-old female patient presented to our stroke neurology clinic for progressively worsening intractable, sharp, shooting interscapular pain radiating to the right shoulder and neck, which she had experienced for 4 years. She had previously seen an orthopedist and was referred to a neurosurgeon for surgical intervention after an MRI of the cervical spine showed the C3-C4 right vertebral artery loop protruding into the right C3-C4 neural foramen and compressing the exiting C4 nerve root. MR neurography showed a stable tortuous right vertebral artery loop, causing a mass effect on the dorsal root ganglion. A neuroforaminal decompression surgery was planned. However, the patient visited our stroke neurology clinic for a second opinion before surgery. An MRI of the thoracic spine showed an enhancing soft tissue mass at the right T4-T5 pedicles and adjacent body. A chest CT with contrast showed a 1 cm radiolucent lesion in the superior articular facet of T5, which represented a nidus. A technetium bone scan showed focal increased uptake within the right T5 pedicle, which is indicative of osteoid osteoma. The patient underwent laminectomy/resection and was pain-free at a 6-month follow-up; biopsy confirmed osteoid osteoma. This case illustrates the importance of neurolocalization during diagnostic testing.

The presence of large focal lesions is a strong independent prognostic factor in multiple myeloma.

Spatial intratumor heterogeneity is frequently seen in multiple myeloma (MM) and poses a significant challenge for risk classifiers, which rely on tumor samples from the iliac crest. Because biopsy-based assessment of multiple skeletal sites is difficult, alternative strategies for risk stratification are required. Recently, the size of focal lesions (FLs) was shown to be a surrogate marker for spatial heterogeneity, suggesting that data from medical imaging could be used to improve risk stratification approaches. Here, we investigated the prognostic value of FL size in 404 transplant-eligible, newly diagnosed MM patients. Using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging with background suppression, we identified the presence of multiple large FLs as a strong prognostic factor. Patients with at least 3 large FLs with a product of the perpendicular diameters >5 cm2 were associated with poor progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS; median, 2.3 and 3.6 years, respectively). This pattern, seen in 13.8% of patients, was independent of the Revised International Staging System (RISS), gene expression profiling (GEP)-based risk score, gain(1q), or extramedullary disease (hazard ratio, 2.7 and 2.2 for PFS and OS in multivariate analysis, respectively). The number of FLs lost its negative impact on outcome after adjusting for FL size. In conclusion, the presence of at least 3 large FL is a feature of high risk, which can be used to refine the diagnosis of this type of disease behavior and as an entry criterion for risk-stratified trials.

PRES and Epilepsy: A Potential Long-Term Consequence of a "Reversible" Syndrome.

Epilepsy is very rarely attributed to posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). We report the case of a previously healthy 21-year-old who developed epilepsy with mesial temporal sclerosis following an episode of PRES related to a complicated Cesarean delivery. Neuroimaging at the time of PRES and 3 months after revealed the development of unilateral hippocampal volume loss following resolution of acute PRES-related brain edema. We discuss the incidence and importance of "non-reversible" sequelae of PRES and their implications for patient care.

Extensive Remineralization of Large Pelvic Lytic Lesions Following Total Therapy Treatment in Patients With Multiple Myeloma.

Osteolytic bone lesions are a hallmark of multiple myeloma (MM) bone disease. Bone destruction is associated with severely imbalanced bone remodeling, secondary to increased osteoclastogenesis and significant osteoblast suppression. Lytic lesions of the pelvis are relatively common in MM patients and are known to contribute to the increased morbidity because of the high risk of fracture, which frequently demands extensive surgical intervention. After observing unexpected radiological improvement in serial large pelvic CT assessment in a patient treated in a total therapy protocol, the radiographic changes of pelvic osteolytic lesions by PET/CT scanning in patients who received Total Therapy 4 (TT4) treatment for myeloma were retrospectively analyzed. Sixty-two (62) patients with lytic pelvic lesions >1 cm in diameter were identified at baseline PET/CT scanning. Follow-up CT studies showed that 27 of 62 patients (43%) with large baseline pelvic lesions achieved significant reaccumulation of radiodense mineralization at the lytic cortical site. The average size of lytic lesions in which remineralization occurred was 4 cm (range, 1.3 to 10 cm). This study clearly demonstrates that mineral deposition in large pelvic lesions occurs in a significant proportion of MM patients treated with TT4, potentially affecting patient outcomes, quality of life, and future treatment strategies. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Characterization of Thyroid Nodules by 4-Dimensional Computed Tomography: Initial Experience.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the use of 4-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) for characterization of thyroid nodules. METHODS: Our study drew from 100 consecutive patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who underwent 4D parathyroid CT imaging for adenoma localization. Included subjects had tissue sampling of a thyroid nodule within 3 months of 4DCT. RESULTS: Twenty subjects (18 women and 2 men) had thyroid nodules that were pathologically confirmed. Precontrast nodule attenuation was significantly lower in malignant nodules when compared with benign nodules (36 vs 61 HU, P = 0.05). Arterial phase and delayed phase nodule attenuations were not significantly different in malignant and benign nodules (128 vs 144 HU, P = 0.7; 74 vs 98 HU, P = 0.3). CONCLUSIONS: Our initial experience with a small group of patients was unable to support the use of 4DCT for characterizing thyroid nodules; however, precontrast nodule attenuation was significantly lower in malignant nodules when compared with benign nodules.

Root Cause Analysis: An Examination of Odontogenic Origins of Acute Maxillary Sinusitis in Both Immunocompetent & Immunocompromised Patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Dental and periodontal diseases represent important but often overlooked causes of acute sinusitis. Our goal was to examine the prevalence of potential odontogenic sources of acute maxillary sinusitis according to immune status and their associations with sinusitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of maxillofacial computed tomography studies from 2013 to 2014 was performed. Each maxillary sinus and its ipsilateral dentition were evaluated for findings of acute sinusitis and dental/periodontal disease. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients (24 immunocompetent, 60 immunocompromised) had 171 maxillary sinuses that met inclusion criteria for acute maxillary sinusitis. Inspection of dentition revealed oroantral fistula in 1%, periapical lucencies in 16%, and projecting tooth root(s) in 71% of cases. Immunocompromised patients were more likely to have bilateral sinusitis than immunocompetent patients (67% vs 33%, P = 0.005). A paired case-control analysis in a subset of patients with unilateral maxillary sinusitis (n = 39) showed a higher prevalence of periapical lucency in association with sinuses that had an air fluid level-29% of sinuses with a fluid level had periapical lucency compared with 12% without sinus fluid (P = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Potential odontogenic sources of acute maxillary sinusitis are highly prevalent in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients, although the 2 patient populations demonstrate no difference in the prevalence of these potential odontogenic sources. Periapical lucencies were found to be associated with an ipsilateral sinus fluid level. Increased awareness of the importance of dental and periodontal diseases as key components of maxillofacial computed tomography interpretation would facilitate a more appropriate and timely treatment.

Features of infratentorial-predominant posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a neurotoxic process that typically occurs in the setting of immune dysregulation. In contrast to the characteristic pattern involving parieto-occipital and posterior frontal regions, predominant involvement of the infratentorial brain occurs in a minority of PRES patients. We examined six patients with infratentorial predominant posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (IPPRES) relative to those with typical PRES in terms of clinical factors of toxicity and outcomes. We review the current understanding of PRES pathophysiology. An institutional database of PRES patients was created through an IRB-approved search of the electronic record from 2007 to 2012. MR images were reviewed and classified by two neuro radiologists. Clinical data including laboratory data, blood pressure, and discharge outcome were collected through review of existing electronic medical records. Characteristics of the two groups were compared. Six cases among 80 PRES patients displayed an atypical distribution of signal abnormality predominantly involving the infratentorial brain. In IPPRES patients, signal abnormalities within the supratentorial brain, when present, showed a predominantly central distribution rather than the typical peripheral distribution. IPPRES patients showed higher rates of extreme hypertension, renal dysfunction, abnormal serum calcium, and abnormal serum magnesium relative to typical PRES patients. Outcomes were similar between the two groups. In our small series, IPPRES differs from typical PRES patients not only in the distribution of imaging abnormalities but also in rates of extreme hypertension and several laboratory indices. Despite these differences, clinical outcome in the IPPRES group was similar to that of typical PRES.

Lithium toxicity and PRES: a novel association.

We report two cases of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) occurring in association with supra-therapeutic serum lithium levels. Although the neurologic manifestations of lithium toxicity are well known, this is, to our knowledge, the first report describing a link between lithium toxicity and PRES. We discuss the current understanding of the pathogenesis of PRES and suggest mechanisms by which lithium may play a role in its development.

Elevation of serum lactate dehydrogenase at posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome onset in chemotherapy-treated cancer patients.

The pathophysiology of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is incompletely understood; however, an underlying state of immune dysregulation and endothelial dysfunction has been proposed. We examined alterations of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), a marker of endothelial dysfunction, relative to the development of PRES in patients receiving chemotherapy. A retrospective Institutional Review Board approved database of 88 PRES patients was examined. PRES diagnosis was confirmed by congruent clinical diagnosis and MRI. Clinical features at presentation were recorded. Serum LDH values were collected at three time points: prior to, at the time of, and following PRES diagnosis. Student's t-test was employed. LDH values were available during the course of treatment in 12 patients (nine women; mean age 57.8 years [range 33-75 years]). Chemotherapy-associated PRES patients were more likely to be normotensive (25%) versus the non-chemotherapy group (9%). LDH levels at the time of PRES diagnosis were higher than those before and after (p=0.0263), with a mean difference of 114.8 international units/L. Mean time intervals between LDH measurement prior to and following PRES diagnosis were 44.8 days and 51.4 days, respectively. Mean elapsed time between last chemotherapy administration and PRES onset was 11.1days. In conclusion, serum LDH, a marker of endothelial dysfunction, shows statistically significant elevation at the onset of PRES toxicity in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Our findings support a systemic process characterized by endothelial injury/dysfunction as a factor, if not the prime event, in the pathophysiology of PRES.

Developmental venous anomaly coexisting with a true arteriovenous malformation: a rare clinical entity.

Two patients diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in close association with a developmental venous anomaly (DVA) are reported. The first patient presented with episodes of left extremity weakness and numbness as well as chronic headaches. The second patient presented with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Cerebral angiography showed that both the AVM and the transmedullary veins of the DVA drained through the transcortical vein. The AVMs were treated by highly selective transarterial embolization with Onyx embolic agent while preserving the DVAs. It is suggested that the cause of the presentation in both patients was secondary to the association of the AVM with the delicate hemodynamic balance and less robust angioarchitecture of the DVA.

Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration in a Geographical Region With Endemic Histoplasmosis Infection.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In a geographical area with high prevalence of calcific granulomatous inflammation, calcified lymph nodes may affect the diagnostic adequacy of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). The objective of this study was to describe the diagnostic performance of EBUS-TBNA in a region endemic of histoplasmosis related granulomatous inflammation. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective review was done for all patients referred for EBUS-TBNA over a 7-month period at 2 institutions. Computed tomographic (CT) chest studies were reviewed in a blinded manner by 2 radiologists. In parallel, CT images from 100 unselected sequential control patients were reviewed. Cytologic analysis of EBUS-TBNA aspirates was compared with a reference standard of definitive pathologic tissue diagnosis or a composite of ≥6-month clinical follow-up. RESULTS: The prevalence of calcified lymph nodes in the 100 control patients was 56%. All 61 patients undergoing EBUS-TBNA were included. In total, 97 lymph nodes (mean size=13.8 mm) and 7 masses were biopsied. Definitive lymph node sampling was achieved in 51 of 61 patients (83%). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of EBUS-TBNA for malignancy (primary lung cancer staging, restaging, and reevaluation after cancer therapy, small cell lung cancer, lymphoma, and metastatic cancer) were 81%, 100%, 100%, and 84% respectively. On pre-EBUS CT chest scan, 60.6% had nodal calcification. The prevalence of cancer was not different in those with and without nodal calcification (49%). There was no difference in frequency of definitive lymph node sampling in those patients with or without nodal calcification. CONCLUSION: In a geographical area with endemic histoplasmosis-related nodal calcification, there was no evidence of nodal calcification affecting the frequency of EBUS-TBNA definitive lymph node sampling.