Standard therapy or additionally radioactive iodine (131I) therapy; which will stop the recurrence of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM)?

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive malignant brain tumour. The average survival time for a patient diagnosed with GBM, using standard treatment methods, is several months. Authors of the article pose a direct question: Is it possible to treat GBM solely with radioactive iodine (¹³¹I) therapy without employing the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) gene? After all, NIS has been detected not only in the thyroid but also in various tumours. The main author of this article (A.C.), with the assistance of her colleagues (physicians and pharmacologists), underwent ¹³¹I therapy after prior iodine inhibition, resulting in approximately 30% reduction in tumour size as revealed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Classical therapy for GBM encompasses neurosurgery, conventional radiotherapy, and chemotherapy (e.g. temozolomide). Currently, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (imatinib, sunitinib, and sorafenib) are being used. Additionally, novel drugs such as crizotinib, entrectinib, or larotrectinib are being applied. Recently, personalised multimodal immunotherapy (IMI) based on anti-tumour vaccines derived from oncolytic viruses has been developed, concomitant with the advancement of cellular and molecular immunology. Thus, ¹³¹I therapy has been successfully employed for the first time in the case of GBM recurrence.

Bruns syndrome in a patient with intraventricular subependymoma: a case report.

Purpose: Subependymoma is a slow-growing benign brain neoplasm, classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a grade I tumor, which typically presents in middle-aged male adults. Case description: A case of Bruns syndrome and an intraventricular subependymoma in a 49-year-old patient who presented with intractable headache and vertigo is discussed in this paper. Imaging revealed a well-delimited cystic and solid mass near the lateral ventricle. Comment: Complete surgical excision of the tumor resulted in the restoration of normal cerebrospinal fluid pathway and resolution of clinical symptoms with no signs of tumor recurrence in the 4-year follow-up period.

Clinical, Biochemical, and Sonographic Factors Influencing Performance of Parathormone Washout Measurement vs. 99mTc-MIBI Scintigraphy in the Preoperative Diagnostics of Parathyroid Adenomas.

The purpose of the study was to assess the clinical, biochemical, and sonographic factors influencing the performance of parathormone washout measurement (PTHw) vs. MIBI in the preoperative localization of parathyroid adenoma (PA). The studied group consisted of 39 patients with primary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism. The measurement of PTH concentrations was performed using an electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay. Scintigraphic localization of PA was carried out using dual-tracer planar neck scintigraphy, using 74 MBq 99mTc-pertechnetate and 740 MBq of 99mTc-MIBI. MIBI was unambiguously positive in 74% of patients. Among patients with negative or inconclusive MIBI, 90% had a positive PTHw result. Among patients with negative PTHw, two out of three had a positive MIBI result. The PTHw of lesions <10 mm in their largest diameter yielded positive results in 95%, compared to 75% for MIBI. For lesions ≥10 mm in largest diameter, 88% were visualised using MIBI. In conclusion, PTHw is a highly effective, easy, quick, safe, and relatively cheap procedure which might be considered for PA localisation, especially in patients with lesions presenting typical ultrasound features and a size below 10 mm. MIBI remains a useful procedure in specialized centres, particularly for patients in whom PTHw failed, larger lesions, and in cases of the ectopic location of PA.

Distinct clinical picture of Cushing's syndrome in a patient with Morris' syndrome - first literature report.

Not required for Clinical Vignette.

Treatment of Crohn's anal fistulas guided by magnetic resonance imaging.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical evaluation of the Crohn's anal fistulas (CF) closure is inadequate to some extent due to earlier closure of cutaneous openings compared to fistulous tracts. There is a need for a more accurate method of assessment. AIM: To compare clinical signs of CF with radiological findings, before and after treatment, to follow complete closure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: It was a retrospective study of 23 patients suffering from CF admitted to a single specialist centre, who were treated with a combination of surgical and biological therapy. Fistula healing was evaluated with fistula drainage assessment classification (FDA), perianal disease activity index (PDAI), and van Assche magnetic resonance imaging score (MRI) before and 3 months after surgery and induction of the biological treatment. RESULTS: Clinical response occurred in 13 (57%) patients 3 months after induction treatment. Complete clinical response was achieved in 8 (35%) patients, whereas partial response occurred in 5 (22%) patients. Persistence of a fistula tract was visualised on MRI in 4 (50%) patients with clinical closure. CONCLUSIONS: The healing process of CF should be monitored by MRI due to the discrepancy between premature closure of external openings and fistulous tracts. Prolonged biological therapy until complete healing of anal fistulas confirmed on MRI might improve the results of treatment.

Severe unilateral orbitopathy in a patient with Hashimoto's thyroiditis - a case report.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) constitutes an immune-mediated inflammation of the orbital tissues of unclear etiopathogenesis. TAO is most prevalent in hyperthyroid patients with Graves' disease (GD); however, severe cases of orbitopathy associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) have rarely been described. CASE PRESENTATION: Herewith we report an unusual case of a middle-aged clinically and biochemically euthyroid woman with a stable HT, who developed a severe unilateral left-sided TAO. Thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAb) concentration was negative. Intraocular pressure in the left eye was mildly elevated (24 mmHg), while vision acuity was not compromised. Abnormal positioning of the eyeball suggested the extraocular muscles involvement. Unilaterally, von Graefe's, Stellwag's, Kocher's and Moebius' signs were positive. Conjunctival erythema, redness and edema of the eyelid and an enlarged, swollen lacrimal caruncle were visible. She received 4/7 points in the Clinical Activity Scale (CAS) and class IV in the NO SPECS severity scale for the left eye (I-0, II-a, III-0, IV-b, V-0, VI-0). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed thickening of the left medial rectus muscle with an increase in T2 signal intensity and prolonged T2 relaxation indicating an active form of TAO. The patient received therapy with glucocorticosteroids intravenously, followed by intramuscular injections with a cumulative dose of 3.24 g of methylprednisolone during a 9-week period with good tolerance. The applied therapy, combined with adequate L-thyroxine substitution, as well as vitamin D and selenium supplementation, resulted in a complete remission of ophthalmic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Unilateral exophthalmos in TRAb-negative patients with HT is not a typical manifestation of the disease, and requires a wider differential diagnosis with MRI of the orbits. Scheme of three iv. pulses of methylprednisolone intravenously and the continuation of treatment with im. injections seems to be an effective and safe method of treatment in this group of patients. What is more, adequate vitamin D supplementation and the maintenance of biochemical euthyroidism may help to achieve an ultimate therapeutic effect. Patients with TAO in the course of HT need a careful and continued interdisciplinary approach both ophthalmological and endocrinological. Further studies are needed to elucidate the etiopathogenesis of TAO in TRAb-negative patients.

Peripheral vascular malformations - modern imaging.

Currently the major aim in peripheral vascular malformation diagnosis, crucial for subsequent management and treatment, is to identify its haemodynamic characteristics. Other significant features that should be specified by a radiologist are the exact location of the anomaly, its size, and its morphology. Until recently the diagnostic methods available for comprehensive evaluation of malformations have been rather limited. Moreover, they were often associated with the necessity of exposing the patient to X-ray radiation and with invasive procedures, as for example in angiography. The development of imaging techniques used in the diagnosis of vascular abnormalities in recent years, especially magnetic resonance imaging, has contributed to improved diagnostic value of the tests. In this article we review the currently available imaging modalities with particular consideration of magnetic resonance imaging and its capability to distinguish between high- and low-flow malformations.

[Superselective embolization of ileo-cecal artery branch in patient with massive bleeding from lower part of gastrointestinal tract]. / Superselektywna embolizacja galezi tetnicy kretniczo-katniczej u chorego z masywnym krwawieniem z dolnego odcinka przewodu pokarmowego.

Authors have reported a case report of 79-years-old male patient who in second day after endarterectomy of left cartoid artery presented massive bleeding from lower part of gastro-intestinal tract. After diagnostic examinations intravascular embolization of pathologic artery with use of microcoil has been performed. Treatment was succesful free from complications.