Gut wrenching: cases of missed gastrointestinal tumors and their mimics on computed tomography.

Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis is one of the most common imaging studies ordered through the emergency department (ED). Because these studies are ordered for the detection of acute abnormalities and due to the relatively low incidence in patients presenting through the ED, gastrointestinal tumors are commonly missed. Moreover, many CT findings of malignant tumors overlap with benign entities, which can present a diagnostic challenge. This review article will describe the common CT findings of gastric, small bowel, colon, and appendiceal cancer as well as some of the common benign gastrointestinal conditions with similar imaging findings.

Cost Effectiveness of External Beam Radiation Therapy versus Percutaneous Image-Guided Cryoablation for Palliation of Uncomplicated Bone Metastases.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the cost effectiveness of incorporating cryoablation in the treatment regimens for uncomplicated bone metastases using radiation therapy (RT) in single-fraction RT (SFRT) or multiple-fraction RT (MFRT) regimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Markov model was constructed using 1-month cycles over a lifetime horizon to compare the cost effectiveness of multiple strategies, including RT followed by RT (RT-RT) for recurrent pain, RT followed by cryoablation (RT-ablation), and cryoablation followed by RT (ablation-RT). RT-RT consisted of 8 Gy in 1 fraction/8 Gy in 1 fraction (SFRT-SFRT) and 30 Gy in 10 fractions/20 Gy in 5 fractions (MFRT-MFRT). Probabilities and utilities were extracted from a search of the medical literature. Costs were calculated from a payer perspective using 2017 Medicare reimbursement in an outpatient setting. Incremental cost effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated using strategies evaluated for willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). To account for model uncertainty, one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS: In the base case analysis, SFRT-ablation was cost effective relative to SFRT-SFRT at $96,387/QALY. MFRT-ablation was cost effective relative to MFRT-MFRT at $85,576/QALY. Ablation-SFRT and ablation-MFRT were not cost effective with ICERs >$100,000/QALY. In one-way sensitivity analyses, results were highly sensitive to variation in multiple model parameters, including median survival (base: 9 months), with SFRT-SFRT favored at median survival ≤8.7 months. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis examining SFRT-based regimens showed that SFRT-ablation was preferred in 36.9% of simulations at WTP of $100,000/QALY. CONCLUSIONS: Cryoablation is a potentially cost-effective alternative to reirradiation with RT for recurrent of pain following RT; however, no strategy incorporating initial cryoablation was cost effective.

Imaging for breast pain: A useful paradigm to promote breast cancer screening and reduce unnecessary breast imaging.

OBJECTIVE: Identify the proportion of patients presenting for diagnostic breast imaging with clinically insignificant breast pain who are eligible for screening mammography and analyze the impact of routing these patients to screening on resource utilization, healthcare spending and cancer detection. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 100 consecutive women ≥40 years old without a history of breast cancer who underwent diagnostic mammogram and breast ultrasound for clinically insignificant breast pain from 1/2022 to 4/2022. Patients were screen-eligible if their last bilateral mammogram was over 12 months prior to presentation. Patients with only screening views during diagnostic mammography were assumed to have a negative/benign screening mammogram. Costs were calculated using the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Physician Fee Schedule. RESULTS: 68 of 100 patients with breast pain were screen-eligible at time of diagnostic imaging. With a screen first approach, 47/68 would have had negative/benign screening mammograms, allowing for the availability of 47 diagnostic breast imaging appointments. The current workflow led to 100 diagnostic mammograms and ultrasounds, 29 follow-up ultrasounds, and 10 image-guided biopsies, with a total cost of $42,872.41. With a screen first approach, there would have been 68 screening mammograms, 53 diagnostic mammograms and ultrasounds, 10 follow-up ultrasounds, and 9 image-guided biopsies, with a total cost of $34,231.60. Two cancers were identified, both associated with suspicious mammographic findings. None would have been missed in a screen-first approach. DISCUSSION: Identifying screen-eligible patients with clinically insignificant breast pain and routing them to screening mammogram improves radiology resource allocation and decreases healthcare spending without missing any cancers.

Development and implementation of a breast imaging order panel in the electronic health record: Helping the ordering providers get it right.

Appropriate ordering of breast imaging studies is complex due to the variety of clinical indications and available imaging modalities. Incorrect ordering affects radiology resource allocation due to the different workflows and personnel requirements of screening and diagnostic breast imaging. Through the collaborative efforts of stakeholders in Primary Care, Radiology, and Information Services & Solutions, we developed and implemented a breast imaging order panel in the electronic health record with integrated clinical decision support to facilitate correct order selection for screening patients at average-risk and high-risk of breast cancer and for diagnostic breast imaging of symptomatic patients.

Demographic and Socioeconomic Risk Factors for Granulomatous Mastitis in the United States: A Case-Control Study.

OBJECTIVE: Granulomatous mastitis (GM) is a benign breast disease that can have an extended clinical course impacting quality of life and causing breast disfigurement. Granulomatous mastitis has been studied throughout the world; however, less is known about GM patients in the United States. We aim to identify demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with GM in the United States. METHODS: An IRB-approved retrospective case-control study was performed of 92 patients with biopsy-proven GM at two institutions in Los Angeles, California: a safety-net hospital and an academic institution. Age-matched controls were selected from patients presenting for diagnostic breast imaging. Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics were collected. Data were analyzed using univariable test for odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and multivariable conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: Patients with GM were more likely to prefer Spanish language (OR 6.20, 95% CI: 2.71%-14.18%), identify as Hispanic/Latina (OR 5.18, 95% CI: 2.38%-11.30%), and be born in Mexico (OR 3.85, 95% CI: 1.23%-12.02%). Cases were more likely to have no primary care provider (OR 3.76, 95% CI: 1.97%-7.14%) and use California Medicaid for undocumented adults (OR 3.65, 95% CI: 1.89%-7.08%). In the multivariable analysis, participants who preferred Spanish language had four times higher odds of GM versus those who preferred English language (OR 4.32, 95% CI: 1.38%-13.54%). CONCLUSION: Patients with GM may have barriers to health care access, such as preferring Spanish language, being an undocumented immigrant, and not having a primary care provider. Given these health care disparities, further research is needed to identify risk factors, etiologies, and treatments for this subset of GM patients.

Breast Cancer Among Transgender and Nonbinary Patients: Paradigms for Improving Data Collection and Inclusion in Breast Imaging Settings.

Breast cancer incidence among transgender and nonbinary (TGNB) individuals is not well characterized owing to the absence of robust data collection among this patient population. Consequently, breast cancer risks are largely unknown, and screening guidelines are not based on robust evidence. Additionally, TGNB patients experience barriers to access health care. A first step in improving data collection, research, and ultimately care of TGNB individuals is the identification of group members and demonstration to patients that our breast imaging centers are champions of LGBTQ+ health. At our institution, patients who present for breast imaging complete an iPad-administered breast imaging history and breast cancer risk assessment survey. Using the modified Tyrer-Cuzick model, the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is estimated, and additional key history that may impact breast care and future breast imaging is collected. Under the previous clinic workflow, patients are identified as either "male" or "female" and complete a corresponding gender-specific survey. To improve care, we revised the survey using gender-inclusive language and developed four versions to allow patients to separately self-report their sex assigned at birth and gender identity. Relevant queries relating to hormone use and gender-affirming chest/breast surgery that are concordant with six gender-identity groups were added. Long-term collection of these inclusive data by imaging centers has the potential to enhance the data set available to improve breast care and better understand breast cancer risk and outcomes among TGNB populations.

Management of Propionibacterium acnes infection after shoulder surgery.

Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is a gram-positive anaerobic bacillus commonly isolated from the flora of the face, chest, and axilla region. It has emerged as a major pathogen responsible for postoperative shoulder infections after both arthroscopy and arthroplasty procedures. Patients with P. acnes shoulder infection typically present with normal laboratory values (white blood cells (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP)) making diagnosis difficult. Several intraoperative tissue cultures should be obtained and cultured in both agar plate and broth in aerobic and anaerobic conditions for a minimum of 13 days to optimize the sensitivity and specificity to detect P. acnes. The utilization of intraoperative frozen sections to detect P. acnes infection is not reliable. Risk factors include male, cloudy synovial fluid, lucencies around the implant, and periprosthetic membrane formation. Managements include irrigation and debridement, single or two-staged revision, and intravenous antibiotics. Open biopsy prior to the final implantation (two-staged revision) may help detect persistent P. acnes infection. Penicillin and cephalosporins are effective against clinical P. acnes infection and biofilm in vitro. Combination antibiotic therapy with rifampin and daptomycin may further increase the clinical efficacy of treatment.