Imaging Tips and Tricks in Management of Renal and Urothelial Malignancies.

Management of urological malignancies has evolved significantly with continually changing guidelines and treatment options which demand more centralized involvement of radiology than ever before. Radiologists play a pivotal role in interpreting complex cancer scans and guiding clinical teams toward the best management options in the light of clinical profile. Management of complex uro-oncology cases is often discussed in multidisciplinary meetings which are essential checkpoints to evaluate an overall picture and formulate optimal treatment plans. The aim of this article is to provide a radiological perspective with practical guidance to fellow radiologists participating in uro-oncology multidisciplinary meetings based on commonly encountered case scenarios, updated guidelines, and cancer pathways. Crucial imaging tips with regards to renal and urinary tract cancers, upon which therapeutic decisions are made, have been condensed in this article after reviewing several complex cases from urology multidisciplinary meetings and European Association of Urology guidelines. Outline of various diagnostic and management strategies, key staging features, surveillance guidelines, and, above all, what the onco-urologists want to know from radiologists have been succinctly discussed in this article.

Computed Tomography Images of Spontaneous Portosystemic Shunt in Liver Cirrhosis.

Spontaneous portosystemic shunt (SPSS) refers to collateral vessels that communicate between the portal vein system and systemic circulation. SPSS mainly includes esophageal varices, gastric varices, left gastric vein, recanalized paraumbilical vein, abdominal wall varices, and spontaneous splenorenal shunt. SPSS contributes to the development of hepatic encephalopathy caused by portal vein inflow bypassing and carries a higher risk of death in liver cirrhosis. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography is a major imaging approach to establish a diagnosis of SPSS and evaluate its location and feature. This review primarily describes the main contrast-enhanced CT features of SPSS in liver cirrhosis.

Indeterminate liver lesions on gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the liver: Case-based radiologic-pathologic review.

Different histopathological manifestations of focal liver lesions show varying common and uncommon imaging findings and some pathologies may show similar appearance despite of different histopathology. It is necessary to characterise focal liver lesions accurately as not only benign and malignant lesions are managed differently, but also certain benign lesions have differing management. These lesions are increasingly being detected due to rapid growth of use of cross-sectional imaging as well as improvement in image quality and new imaging techniques. Contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the gold standard technique in characterising focal liver lesions. Addition of gadoxetic acid has been shown to significantly increase diagnostic accuracy in the detection and characterization of liver abnormalities. Classic imaging characteristics of common liver lesions, including their behaviour on gadoxetic acid enhanced MRI, have been described in literature over recent years. It is important to be familiar with the typical aspects of these lesions as well as know the uncommon and overlapping imaging features to reach an accurate diagnosis. In this article, we will review the well-described characteristic imaging findings of common and rare focal liver lesions and present several challenging cases encountered in the clinical setting, namely hepatocellular adenoma, focal nodular hyperplasia, hepatic angiomyolipoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumours as well as a pleomorphic liposarcoma of the liver.

Reporting health data in waiting rooms with mobile technology: Patient expectation and confirmation.

OBJECTIVES: Hospitals and medical staff use digital devices such as mobile phones and tablets to treat patients. Prior research has examined patient-reported outcomes, and the use of medical devices to do diagnosis and prognosis of patients, but not whether patients like using, and intend to use in future, mobile devices to self-report medical data. We address this research gap by developing a theoretical model based on the expectancy confirmation model (ECM) and testing it in an empirical study of patients using mobile technology to self-report data. DESIGN: This study adopts a non-interventional cross-sectional research design. Randomly-selected patients provided data via survey and physical measurements. The target population comprises adults visiting a healthcare laboratory to get their blood drawn. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We surveyed 190 randomly-selected patients waiting for treatment in the clinic. They were surveyed at two points in time - before and after their blood was drawn - on their demographic characteristics, research variables concerning their use of mobile devices to provide medical information, and perceived clinical data (blood pressure, height and weight). The research model was tested using structural equation modeling. RESULTS: The study found strong support for the research model, with seven of eight hypotheses being supported. Both self-disclosure effort and feedback expectation positively affect both perceived feedback quality and confirmation. Contrary to expectations, perceived feedback quality was not found to affect confirmation. Perceived feedback quality, along with confirmation, was found to positively affect satisfaction, which was found to affect intention to disclose medical data through mobile technology. CONCLUSIONS: The study's findings support the proposed path from feedback expectation and self-disclosure effort to confirmation to satisfaction to disclosure intention. Although perceived feedback does not affect confirmation, it affects satisfaction. Overall, we believe the results provide novel insights to both scientific research community and practitioners about using mobile technologies for self-reporting medical data.

Impact of spontaneous splenorenal shunt on liver volume and long-term survival of liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Spontaneous splenorenal shunt (SSRS) is one of the manifestations of portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis. However, the impact of SSRS on long-term survival of cirrhotic patients remains unclear. We hypothesize that SSRS may worsen liver dysfunction and deteriorate prognosis in liver cirrhosis by decreasing hepatic perfusion. METHODS: Patients with liver cirrhosis who were admitted to our department between December 2014 and August 2019 and underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans were prospectively collected. The maximum diameters of SSRS and portal vein system vessels were retrospectively measured. Liver-to-abdominal area ratio, Child-Pugh, and model for end-stage liver disease scores were calculated. RESULTS: Overall, 122 cirrhotic patients were included. The prevalence of SSRS was 30.3% (37/122). Median diameter of SSRS was 13.5 mm. Patients with SSRS had significantly thinner diameters of right portal vein (9 mm vs 11.2 mm, P = 0.001) and main portal vein (15.3 mm vs 16.8 mm, P = 0.017) than those without SSRS. Patients with SSRS had significantly lower liver-to-abdominal area ratio score (25.39 vs 31.58, P < 0.001) and higher Child-Pugh (7 vs 6, P = 0.046) and model for end-stage liver disease (12.17 vs 9.79, P < 0.006) scores than those without SSRS. Patients with SSRS had a significantly lower cumulative survival rate than those without SSRS (P = 0.014). Cox regression analysis also showed that SSRS was a risk factor of death of cirrhotic patients (hazard ratio = 4.161, 95% confidence interval = 1.215-14.255, P = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous splenorenal shunt may narrow portal vein diameter and shrink liver volume, thereby worsening liver function and increasing mortality in liver cirrhosis.

Transient portal vein thrombosis in liver cirrhosis.

In real-world clinical practice, the acceptance of anticoagulation therapy in the management of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in patients with cirrhosis is limited by the fear of an increased bleeding risk. Additionally, accumulating evidence indicates that spontaneous recanalization of PVT may occur in the absence of antithrombotic treatment. Therefore, risk stratification based on outcomes in such patients is crucial for determining a therapeutic strategy. In this paper, we draw attention to the distinct clinical entity, "transient PVT" by introducing two cases with PVT that spontaneously recanalized in the absence of antithrombotic treatment. We reviewed the available data regarding the probability of and predictors for spontaneous recanalization of PVT. Available data suggest singling out transient thrombosis in the natural history of PVT in patients with cirrhosis because of its prognostic and management implications.

Non-cirrhotic portal hypertension: an imaging review.

Non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH) comprises a group of diseases that are characterized by increased portal pressure in the absence of cirrhosis of the liver. It may arise as a result of either primary hepatic disease or the effects of systemic disorders on liver. The natural course of NCPH is largely indolent and benign with an overall better outcome than cirrhosis, as long as the complications of portal hypertension are properly managed and regular surveillance is carried out. However, due to the numerous and variable etiological factors and lack of standardized diagnostic criteria, this entity is under-recognized clinically as well as pathologically and often gets mislabeled as cryptogenic cirrhosis. Therefore, it is imperative for radiologists to be aware of the imaging features of various entities that constitute NCPH to facilitate early recognition of this disorder. The present review shall comprehensively discuss the role of imaging in the diagnosis of obliterative portal venopathy, which is a common and one of the most poorly understood disorders leading to NCPH. The other radiologically relevant entities will also be briefly appraised.

Characterization of body composition and definition of sarcopenia in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis: A computed tomography based study.

BACKGROUND: Alterations in body composition (BC) as loss of fat and muscle mass (sarcopenia) are associated with poor outcome in alcoholic cirrhosis (ALC). Prevalence of sarcopenia depends upon the method of assessment. Computed Tomography (CT) is a gold standard tool for assessing BC. AIM: To characterize BC and define sarcopenia in ALC patients using CT. METHODS: Single slice CT images at L3 vertebrae of healthy controls (HC) - organ transplant donors and ALC patients were analysed to give cross-sectional area of five skeletal muscles normalized for height -skeletal muscle index (SMI; cm2 /m2 ), area of subcutaneous (SAT;cm2 ) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT;cm2 ). Cut-offs for defining sarcopenia was established at 2SD below the mean of HC. HC were compared with Child A-compensated (C) and Child B+C-decompensated (DC) patients. RESULTS: Cut-offs of SMI derived from HC (n = 275; M: 50%; age 32.2 ± 9.8 years; BMI 24.2 ± 3.2 Kg/m2 ) were 36.54 in males and 30.21 in females. Sarcopenia was found in 12.8% of ALC patients [n = 148; C (31.8%): DC (68.2%); M: 100%; age 46.6 ± 9.7 years; BMI 24.5 ± 4.4]. Compared to HC, compensated patients had higher adiposity and comparable muscularity; decompensated patients had significantly lower muscle and also fat mass compared to both HC and compensated patients. HC vs C vs DC: SAT (140 ± 82 vs 177.3 ± 11 vs 112 ± 8.2); VAT (96.5 ± 6.5 vs 154.9 ± 8.7 vs 87.5 ± 6.5) and SMI (52.1 ± 0.9 vs 49.6 ± 1.2 vs 46 ± 0.9). CONCLUSIONS: Compensated ALC have increased adiposity and relatively preserved muscularity but decompensation leads to loss of both muscle and fat mass. Prevalence of sarcopenia, based on derived ethnic cut-offs was 12.8%.

Relevance of the Weber effect in contemporary pharmacovigilance of oncology drugs.

BACKGROUND: Numerous reporting biases have been known to affect spontaneous reporting databases. The Weber effect, which constitutes a peak in adverse event (AE) reporting of a drug at the end of second year after regulatory approval followed by a continuous decline thereafter, has been considered an important bias for a long time. The existence of this bias in AE reporting of oncology drugs remains an underevaluated area, prompting a targeted examination. METHODS: The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) was studied for AE reporting patterns of 5 years of 15 new molecular entities (NMEs) and biologics used in oncology. This 5-year period started from the USFDA date of approval for the NMEs and biologics. The number of AEs reported for each of the drugs was plotted against time (years). The AE reporting patterns were specifically examined for the existence of the Weber effect. In addition, AE reporting rate patterns of 5 years of seven NMEs and biologics used in oncology were examined. RESULTS: A total of 50,630 AE reports were logged in to the FAERS for all 15 drugs examined for AE reporting patterns. We observed five distinct AE reporting patterns for 15 drugs; however, none of the AE patterns were identical to the Weber effect. We did not observe a consistent AE reporting rate pattern for the seven drugs examined for AE reporting rates. With the exception of one drug (cetuximab), none of the drugs exhibited a second-year peak in AE reporting rates. This peak was not followed by continuous decline in AE reporting rate thereafter. CONCLUSION: This study does not support the existence of the Weber effect in AE reporting of oncology drugs. The contemporary AE reporting of oncology drugs does not exhibit a consistent pattern.

Fluctuating drowsiness following cardiac catheterisation: artery of Percheron ischaemic stroke causing bilateral thalamic infarcts.

An 81-year-old man underwent cardiac catheterisation to investigate breathlessness and left ventricular impairment of unknown cause. He had unobstructed coronary arteries. Immediately following the procedure, he became suddenly unresponsive with vertical gaze palsy, anisocoria and bilateral upgoing plantar responses. He made a rapid recovery to his premorbid state 25 min later with no residual focal neurological signs. He then had multiple unresponsive episodes, interspaced with complete resolution of symptoms and neurological signs. MRI of the brain identified bilateral medial thalamic infarcts and midbrain infarcts, consistent with an artery of Percheron territory infarction. By the time the diagnosis was reached, the thrombolysis window had elapsed. The unresponsive episodes diminished with time and the patient was discharged to inpatient rehabilitation. At 6-month review after the episode, the patient has a degree of progressive cognitive impairment.

Percutaneous endobiliary RFA combined with balloon-sweep for re-opening occluded metallic biliary stents.

The aim of this report is to discuss the results of percutaneous endobiliary radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with balloon-sweep technique in restoring the patency of occluded self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) secondary to tumor infiltration. A total of eight patients underwent endobiliary RFA for reopening of occluded SEMS at our institute. After endobiliary RFA, all patients showed restoration of stent patency. After a median follow-up of 6.5 months, four patients had succumbed to the underlying disease at 3, 4, 6, and 7 months. Two of these required reinterventions at 2 and 5 months. One patient died of sepsis and aspiration pneumonia at 3 months. Of the remaining three patients, two required re-intervention after 2 months, while the other remained asymptomatic. The mean duration of stent patency after the first session of RFA was 4 ± 2.1 months, which was comparable to the primary patency of these stents (4.2 months). Our experience suggests that endobiliary RFA with balloon sweep is a safe and useful technique for re-establishing the patency of occluded SEMS.

Imaging and radiological interventions in extra-hepatic portal vein obstruction.

Extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO) is a primary vascular condition characterized by chronic long standing blockage and cavernous transformation of portal vein with or without additional involvement of intrahepatic branches, splenic or superior mesenteric vein. Patients generally present in childhood with multiple episodes of variceal bleed and EHPVO is the predominant cause of paediatric portal hypertension (PHT) in developing countries. It is a pre-hepatic type of PHT in which liver functions and morphology are preserved till late. Characteristic imaging findings include multiple parabiliary venous collaterals which form to bypass the obstructed portal vein with resultant changes in biliary tree termed portal biliopathy or portal cavernoma cholangiopathy. Ultrasound with Doppler, computed tomography, magnetic resonance cholangiography and magnetic resonance portovenography are non-invasive techniques which can provide a comprehensive analysis of degree and extent of EHPVO, collaterals and bile duct abnormalities. These can also be used to assess in surgical planning as well screening for shunt patency in post-operative patients. The multitude of changes and complications seen in EHPVO can be addressed by various radiological interventional procedures. The myriad of symptoms arising secondary to vascular, biliary, visceral and neurocognitive changes in EHPVO can be managed by various radiological interventions like transjugular intra-hepatic portosystemic shunt, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage, partial splenic embolization, balloon occluded retrograde obliteration of portosystemic shunt (PSS) and revision of PSS.

Cirrhosis-related musculoskeletal disease: radiological review.

Musculoskeletal problems in patients with liver disease are common; however, they are not so well described in the literature. Therefore, there is a need to collate information on these disorders, as their incidence is on a constant rise and some of these pathologies can severely debilitate the patient's quality of life. These disorders are parietal wall varices with or without bleeding, spontaneous intramuscular haematoma (e.g. rectus sheath), abdominal wall hernia, anasarca, hepatic osteodystrophy, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, necrotizing fasciitis, osseous metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma etc. While portal hypertension plays a key role in disorders, in others, dysregulation of the coagulation system or a compromised immune system are responsible. Imaging plays an essential role in the assessment of these complications and awareness of these musculoskeletal manifestations is vital for establishing a timely diagnosis and planning of appropriate therapy, as these disorders can significantly impact the morbidity and mortality and also influence candidacy for liver transplantation. We herein comprehensively appraise various musculoskeletal complications associated with chronic liver disease/liver cirrhosis especially from an imaging perspective which, to the best of our knowledge, have not been collectively described in English literature.

Paediatric brainstem: A comprehensive review of pathologies on MR imaging.

The brainstem is a midline structure formed by the midbrain, pons and medulla and is a home for various vital neurological centres of the human body. A diverse spectrum of disease entities can involve the brainstem, which includes infections, metabolic disorders, demyelination, vascular conditions, neurodegenerative disorders and tumours. Brainstem involvement can be primary or secondary, i.e., as part of systemic disorders. Due to the overlapping clinical presentation and symptomatology, imaging plays a decisive role in the detection, localisation and characterisation of brainstem pathologies. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the modality of choice and the use of advanced MR techniques such as diffusion-weighted imaging and spectroscopy can be especially helpful in providing a tenable diagnoses. This article is a compilation of the MR imaging manifestations of a spectrum of common and uncommon brainstem pathologies that can be encountered in the paediatric age group. Teaching Points • The paediatric brainstem can be afflicted by many pathologies that may overlap clinico-radiologically. • MRI is the best modality for the localisation and diagnosis of brainstem pathologies. • Diffusion-weighted imaging is useful in the diagnosis of vascular and metabolic disorders. • Occasionally, demyelination and neoplasms can be indistinguishable on imaging.

Cystic Lymphangioma of Pancreas.

Lymphangiomas are benign hamartomatous malformations which can arise either from congenitally sequestered lymphatic channels or due to acquired obstruction caused by fibrosis of lymph channels. They are common in the pediatric age group in the soft tissue of neck and the axilla. Abdominal lymphangiomas are rare; even rarer is the primary involvement of pancreas. It occurs more frequently in females and is often located in the distal pancreas. The authors report the case of cystic lymphangioma of pancreas in a 26-year old female presenting with recurrent episodes of upper abdominal pain that was treated with laparoscopic cyst excision. Although exceptionally rare, lymphangioma of the pancreas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic cystic lesions, especially in young women.

Magnetic resonance cholangiographic evaluation of intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct variations.

Biliary anatomy and its common and uncommon variations are of considerable clinical significance when performing living donor transplantation, radiological interventions in hepatobiliary system, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and liver resection (hepatectomy, segmentectomy). Because of increasing trend found in the number of liver transplant surgeries being performed, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) has become the modality of choice for noninvasive evaluation of abnormalities of the biliary tract. The purpose of this study is to describe the anatomic variations of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary tree.

Transcatheter embolization of pancreatic arteriovenous malformation associated with recurrent acute pancreatitis.

Pancreatic arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) is extremely rare; even rarer is its association with pancreatitis. The authors report a case of PAVM causing recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis in a 46-year-old male. Patient refused surgery and was treated with transcatheter arterial embolization using liquid embolic agent (mixture of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate glue and lipiodol), which resulted in a significant decrease in the size of the PAVM.