The accuracy and feasibility of respiratory rate measurements in acutely ill adult patients by GPs: a mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND: Tachypnoea in acutely ill patients can be an early sign of a life-threatening condition such as sepsis. Routine measurement of the respiratory rate by GPs might improve the recognition of sepsis. AIM: To assess the accuracy and feasibility of respiratory rate measurements by GPs. DESIGN & SETTING: Observational cross-sectional mixed-methods study in the setting of out-of-hours (OOH) home visits at three GP cooperatives in The Netherlands. METHOD: GPs were observed during the assessment of acutely ill patients, and semi-structured interviews were performed. The GP-assessed respiratory rate was compared with a reference measurement. In the event that the respiratory rate was not counted, GPs were asked to estimate the rate (dichotomised as ≥22 breaths per minute or <22 breaths per minute). RESULTS: Observations of 130 acutely ill patients were included, and 14 GPs were interviewed. In 33 patients (25%), the GP counted the respiratory rate. A mean difference of 0.27 breaths per minute (95% confidence interval [CI] = -5.7 to 6.3) with the reference measurement was found. At a cut-off point of ≥22 breaths per minute, a sensitivity of 86% (95% CI = 57% to 98%) was found when the GP counted the rate, and a sensitivity of 43% (95% CI = 22% to 66%) when GPs estimated respiratory rates. GPs reported both medical and practical reasons for not routinely measuring the respiratory rate. CONCLUSION: GPs are aware of the importance of assessing the respiratory rate of acutely ill adult patients, and counted measurements are accurate. However, in most patients the respiratory rate was not counted, and the rate was often underestimated when estimated.

68Ga-PSMA Uptake in Angiolipoma.

Ga-PSMA PET/CT is an imaging technique used in staging and detection of prostate cancer. However, enhanced uptake on Ga-PSMA PET/CT scan has also been ascribed to other malignant and benign lesions. We report on a case of a 56-year-old man with treated prostate carcinoma who had a Ga-PSMA PET/CT scan for restaging. Ga-PSMA uptakes in the prostatic bed and in multiple subcutaneous lesions were seen. Histopathology of a subcutaneous lesion revealed angiolipoma. It is important to be aware of the existence of the growing amount of reports on enhanced Ga-PSMA uptake unrelated to prostate cancer.

Malignancy estimation of Lung-RADS criteria for subsolid nodules on CT: accuracy of low and high risk spectrum when using NLST nodules.

PURPOSE: Lung-RADS proposes malignancy probabilities for categories 2 (<1%) and 4B (>15%). The purpose of this study was to quantify and compare malignancy rates for Lung-RADS 2 and 4B subsolid nodules (SSNs) on a nodule base. METHODS: We identified all baseline SSNs eligible for Lung-RADS 2 and 4B in the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) database. Solid cores and nodule locations were annotated using in-house software. Malignant SSNs were identified by an experienced radiologist using NLST information. Malignancy rates and percentages of persistence were calculated. RESULTS: Of the Lung-RADS 2SSNs, 94.3% (1790/1897) could be located on chest CTs. Likewise, 95.1% (331/348) of part-solid nodules ≥6 mm in diameter could be located. Of these, 120 had a solid core ≥8 mm, corresponding to category 4B. Category 2 SSNs showed a malignancy rate of 2.5%, exceeding slightly the proposed rate of <1%. Category 4B SSNs showed a malignancy rate of 23.9%. In both categories one third of benign lesions were transient. CONCLUSION: Malignancy probabilities for Lung-RADS 2 and 4B generally match malignancy rates in SSNs. An option to include also category 2 SSNs for upgrade to 4X designed for suspicious nodules might be useful in the future. Integration of short-term follow-up to confirm persistence would prevent unnecessary invasive work-up in 4B SSNs. KEY POINTS: • Malignancy probabilities for Lung-RADS 2/4B generally match malignancy risks in SSNs. • Transient rate between low-risk Lung-RADS 2 and high-risk 4B lesions were similar. • Upgrade of highly suspicious Lung-RADS 2 SSNs to Lung-RADS 4X might be useful. • Up to one third of the benign high-risk Lung-RADS 4B lesions were transient. • Short-term follow-up confirming persistence would avoid unnecessary invasive work-up of 4B lesions.