Clinical implications of non-breast cancer related findings on FDG-PET/CT scan prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Breast cancer (BC) patients undergoing FDG-PET/CT scans for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) may have additional non-BC related findings. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical implications of these findings. METHODS: We included BC patients who underwent an FDG-PET/CT scan in our institute between 2011-2020 prior to NAC. We focused on patients with an additional non-BC related finding (i.e. BC metastases were excluded) for which diagnostic work-up was performed. Information about the diagnostic work-up and the clinical consequences was retrospectively gathered. A revision of all FDG-PET/CT scans was conducted by an independent physician to assess the suspicion level of the additional findings. RESULTS: Of the 1337 patients who underwent FDG-PET/CT, 202 patients (15%) had an non-BC related additional finding for which diagnostic work-up was conducted, resulting in 318 examinations during the first year. The non-BC related findings were mostly detected in the endocrine region (26%), gastro-intestinal region (16%), or the lungs (15%). Seventeen patients (17/202: 8%, 17/1337: 1.3%) had a second primary malignancy. Only 8 patients (8/202: 4%, 8/1337: 0.6%) had a finding that was considered more prognosis-determining than their BC disease. When revising all FDG-PET/CT scans, 57 (202/57: 28%) of the patients had an additional finding categorized as low suspicious, suggesting no indication for diagnostic work-up. CONCLUSION: FDG-PET/CT scans used for dissemination imaging in BC patients detect a high number of non-BC related additional findings, often clinically irrelevant and causing a large amount of unnecessary work-up. However, in 8% of the patients undergoing diagnostic work-up for an additional finding, a second primary malignancy was detected, warranting diagnostic attention in selected patients.

Long-Term Outcomes of Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis for Acute Lower Extremity Occlusions of Native Arteries and Prosthetic Bypass Grafts.

BACKGROUND: Catheter-directed thrombolysis is a well-accepted treatment for acute lower extremity occlusions of native arteries and bypass grafts. Several variables that affect outcomes of thrombolysis have been identified. The hypothesis of this study was that the long-term outcome after catheter-directed thrombolysis would be better for acute lower extremity occlusions of native arteries compared with prosthetic bypass grafts. METHODS: This observational study retrospectively analyzed 159 consecutive patients (114 men), median age, 65 years (range 57-73 years), with 89 native artery (56%), and 70 prosthetic bypass graft (44%) occlusions of the lower extremity. All patients were treated with catheter-directed thrombolysis between 2006 and 2009 in 2 vascular referral centers in the Netherlands. The severity of ischemia was Rutherford class I (52%), class IIa (27%), class IIb (12%) and unknown (9%) in native arteries and class I (64%), class IIa (19%), class IIb (1%), and unknown (16%) in bypass grafts. Median (range) duration of symptoms before the start of thrombolysis was 3.5 (1-14) days in native arteries and 3 (1-9) days in bypass grafts. All patients were treated with a continuous dosage of urokinase (100,000 IU/h). Amputation-free survival was estimated by conduit type using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Complete (>95%) lysis was achieved in 69% of native arteries and bypass grafts (P = 1.00). Major hemorrhagic complications occurred in 12% (4% hemorrhagic strokes, of which 2% were fatal) of native arteries and in 7% (0% hemorrhagic stroke) of bypass grafts (P = 0.28). The 30-day mortality rate was 6% in native arteries and 1% in bypass grafts (P = 0.17), and the 30-day amputation rate was 10% in native arteries and 13% in bypass grafts (P = 0.45). Mean follow-up was 27 ± 19 months. Amputation-free survival at 1 year was 76% for native arteries and 78% for bypass grafts and at 5 years was 65% for native arteries and 51% for bypass grafts (P = 0.32). Multivariate analysis showed 2 negative predictors for amputation-free survival: age >65 years and cerebrovascular disease. Conduit type was not an independent predictor for amputation-free survival (P = 0.78). CONCLUSIONS: Despite initial promising results, long-term follow-up of catheter-directed thrombolysis for acute lower extremity occlusions showed a disappointing amputation-free survival. In multivariate analysis, no significant differences in amputation-free survival between native arteries and prosthetic bypass grafts were determined.

Dutch randomized trial comparing standard catheter-directed thrombolysis and ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis for arterial thromboembolic infrainguinal disease (DUET).

PURPOSE: To report the results of the Dutch randomized trial comparing standard catheter-directed and ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis (UST) for the treatment of arterial thromboembolic occlusions. METHODS: The DUET study ( controlled-trials.com ; identifier ISRCTN72676102) was designed to assess whether UST can reduce therapy time significantly compared with standard thrombolysis (ST). Sixty patients (44 men; mean age 64 years) with recently (7-49 days) thrombosed infrainguinal native arteries or bypass grafts causing acute limb ischemia (Rutherford category I or IIa) were randomized to ST (n = 32) or UST (n = 28). The primary outcome was the duration of thrombolysis needed for uninterrupted flow (> 95% thrombus lysis), with outflow through at least 1 below-the-knee artery. Continuous data are presented as means ± standard deviations. RESULTS: Thrombolysis was significantly faster in the UST group (17.7 ± 2.0 hours) than in the ST group (29.5 ± 3.2 hours, p = 0.009) and required significantly fewer units of urokinase (2.8 ± 1.6 × 10(6) IU in the ST group vs. 1.8 ± 1.0 × 10(6) IU in the UST group, p = 0.01) for uninterrupted flow. Technical success was achieved in 27 (84%) patients in the ST group vs. 21 (75%) patients in the UST group (p = 0.52). The combined 30-day death and severe adverse event rate was 19% in the ST group and 29% in the UST group (p = 0.54). The 30-day patency rate was 82% in the ST group as compared with 71% in the UST group (p = 0.35). CONCLUSION: Thrombolysis time was significantly reduced by UST as compared with ST in patients with recently thrombosed infrainguinal native arteries or bypass grafts.

A conservative and minimally invasive approach to necrotizing pancreatitis improves outcome.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Treatment of patients with necrotizing pancreatitis has become more conservative and less invasive, but there are few data from prospective studies to support the efficacy of this change. We performed a prospective multicenter study of treatment outcomes among patients with necrotizing pancreatitis. METHODS: We collected data from 639 consecutive patients with necrotizing pancreatitis, from 2004 to 2008, treated at 21 Dutch hospitals. Data were analyzed for disease severity, interventions (radiologic, endoscopic, surgical), and outcome. RESULTS: Overall mortality was 15% (n=93). Organ failure occurred in 240 patients (38%), with 35% mortality. Treatment was conservative in 397 patients (62%), with 7% mortality. An intervention was performed in 242 patients (38%), with 27% mortality; this included early emergency laparotomy in 32 patients (5%), with 78% mortality. Patients with longer times between admission and intervention had lower mortality: 0 to 14 days, 56%; 14 to 29 days, 26%; and >29 days, 15% (P<.001). A total of 208 patients (33%) received interventions for infected necrosis, with 19% mortality. Catheter drainage was most often performed as the first intervention (63% of cases), without additional necrosectomy in 35% of patients. Primary catheter drainage had fewer complications than primary necrosectomy (42% vs 64%, P=.003). Patients with pancreatic parenchymal necrosis (n=324), compared with patients with only peripancreatic necrosis (n=315), had a higher risk of organ failure (50% vs 24%, P<.001) and mortality (20% vs 9%, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 62% of patients with necrotizing pancreatitis can be treated without an intervention and with low mortality. In patients with infected necrosis, delayed intervention and catheter drainage as first treatment improves outcome.

Use of endostaples to secure migrated endografts and proximal cuffs after failed endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Distal migration of aortic abdominal endografts may lead to endoleaks and must be overcome. Revision surgery has been related to substantial morbidity and mortality. In this case report, a new endovascular technique has been described to secure migrated primary endografts and proximal extender cuffs during revision surgery after failed endovascular aneurysm repair with the use of endostaples. At 6-month follow-up, no complications were noticed in both treated patients.

Advancements in catheter-directed ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis.

PURPOSE: To review all available literature on catheter-directed ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis for peripheral artery occlusions, stroke, deep venous thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed, using MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane databases. A total of 77 reports focusing on catheter-delivered ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis were identified. RESULTS: Experimental studies show that high intensity ultrasound may induce thrombolysis, with and without the addition of plasminogen activators, mainly by acoustic cavitation and mechanical disruption, while low intensity, high frequency ultrasound waves may actually enhance plasmin-mediated thrombolysis. In a total of 340 clinical cases of various thromboembolic conditions, catheter-directed ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis was related to rapid revascularization and a reduction in treatment time, drug dosage, hospitalization time, and possibly major bleeding complications compared to standard thrombolysis. Reported complication rates, including bleeding and embolization, were low. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound enhanced thrombolysis seems to be a promising concept in the treatment of various thromboembolic conditions. The technique has shown to be safe and efficacious in vitro, in vivo, and in clinical studies. Randomized controlled trials are warranted and should be awaited before considering catheter-directed ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis as a new standard treatment.

Initial results of catheter-directed ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis for thromboembolic obstructions of the aortofemoral arteries: a feasibility study.

PURPOSE: This article reports the 30-day technical and clinical outcome of ultrasound (US)-accelerated thrombolysis in patients with aortofemoral arterial thromboembolic obstructions. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted from December 2008 to December 2009 of patients who were treated with US-accelerated thrombolysis for thromboembolic obstructions of aortofemoral arteries or bypasses. Urokinase was infused in a dosage of 100,000 IU per hour. Twice daily, a control angiography was performed. Thirty-day follow-up consisted of duplex scanning, combined with magnetic resonance angiography. RESULTS: The study included 21 consecutive patients (20 men; median age, 66 (range, 52-80) years) with 24% artery versus 76% bypass occlusions. Median duration of symptoms was 11 (range, 7-140) days. Median occlusion length was 32 (range, 6-80) cm. In 20 patients (95%), an US-accelerated thrombolysis catheter could be successfully placed. In one patient, placement of an US-accelerated thrombolysis catheter was technically not feasible, and therefore a standard catheter was placed. Median thrombolysis time was 26.5 (range, 8.5-72) hours. Complete thrombolysis (>95% lysis of thrombus) was achieved in 20 patients; in 9 patients within 24 hours. Median ankle-brachial index (ABI) increased from 0.28 (range, 0-0.85) to 0.91 (range, 0.58-1.35). One patient had a thromboembolic complication and needed surgical intervention. No hemorrhagic complications, and no deaths occurred. At 30-day follow-up, 17 of 21 patients (81%) had a patent artery or bypass. CONCLUSIONS: This feasibility study showed a high technical success rate of US-accelerated thrombolysis for aortofemoral arterial obstructions. US-accelerated thrombolysis led to complete lysis within 24 hours in almost half of patients, with a low 30-day major complication rate.

Dutch randomized trial comparing standard catheter-directed thrombolysis versus ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis for thromboembolic infrainguinal disease (DUET): design and rationale.

BACKGROUND: The use of thrombolytic therapy in the treatment of thrombosed infrainguinal native arteries and bypass grafts has increased over the years. Main limitation of this treatment modality, however, is the occurrence of bleeding complications. Low intensity ultrasound (US) has been shown to accelerate enzymatic thrombolysis, thereby reducing therapy time. So far, no randomized trials have investigated the application of US-accelerated thrombolysis in the treatment of thrombosed infra-inguinal native arteries or bypass grafts. The DUET study (Dutch randomized trial comparing standard catheter-directed thrombolysis versus Ultrasound-accElerated Thrombolysis for thrombo-embolic infrainguinal disease) is designed to assess whether US-accelerated thrombolysis will reduce therapy time significantly compared with standard catheter-directed thrombolysis. METHODS/DESIGN: Sixty adult patients with recently (between 1 and 7 weeks) thrombosed infrainguinal native arteries or bypass grafts with acute limb ischemia class I or IIa, according to the Rutherford classification for acute ischemia, will be randomly allocated to either standard thrombolysis (group A) or US-accelerated thrombolysis (group B). Patients will be recruited from 5 teaching hospitals in the Netherlands during a 2-year period. The primary endpoint is the duration of catheter-directed thrombolysis needed for uninterrupted flow in the thrombosed infrainguinal native artery or bypass graft, with outflow through at least 1 crural artery. DISCUSSION: The DUET study is a randomized controlled trial that will provide evidence of whether US-accelerated thrombolysis will significantly reduce therapy time in patients with recently thrombosed infrainguinal native arteries or bypass grafts, without an increase in complications. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN72676102.