CT-based texture analysis potentially provides prognostic information complementary to interim fdg-pet for patients with hodgkin's and aggressive non-hodgkin's lymphomas.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of computed tomography texture analysis (CTTA) to provide additional prognostic information in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) and high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). METHODS: This retrospective, pilot-study approved by the IRB comprised 45 lymphoma patients undergoing routine 18F-FDG-PET-CT. Progression-free survival (PFS) was determined from clinical follow-up (mean-duration: 40 months; range: 10-62 months). Non-contrast-enhanced low-dose CT images were submitted to CTTA comprising image filtration to highlight features of different sizes followed by histogram-analysis using kurtosis. Prognostic value of CTTA was compared to PET FDG-uptake value, tumour-stage, tumour-bulk, lymphoma-type, treatment-regime, and interim FDG-PET (iPET) status using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Cox regression analysis determined the independence of significantly prognostic imaging and clinical features. RESULTS: A total of 27 patients had aggressive NHL and 18 had HL. Mean PFS was 48.5 months. There was no significant difference in pre-treatment CTTA between the lymphoma sub-types. Kaplan-Meier analysis found pre-treatment CTTA (medium feature scale, p=0.010) and iPET status (p<0.001) to be significant predictors of PFS. Cox analysis revealed that an interaction between pre-treatment CTTA and iPET status was the only independent predictor of PFS (HR: 25.5, 95% CI: 5.4-120, p<0.001). Specifically, pre-treatment CTTA risk stratified patients with negative iPET. CONCLUSION: CTTA can potentially provide prognostic information complementary to iPET for patients with HL and aggressive NHL. KEY POINTS: • CT texture-analysis (CTTA) provides prognostic information complementary to interim FDG-PET in Lymphoma. • Pre-treatment CTTA and interim PET status were significant predictors of progression-free survival. • Patients with negative interim PET could be further stratified by pre-treatment CTTA. • Provide precision surveillance where additional imaging reserved for patients at greatest recurrence-risk. • Assists in risk-adapted treatment strategy based on interim PET and CTTA.

The experience of mothers caring for a child with a brain tumour.

BACKGROUND: Brain tumours are the second most common form of childhood cancer, accounting for over 20% of all cases in European children. Understanding the impact of diagnosis and treatment of a brain tumour on the family is an essential pre-requisite to identifying ways to provide effective support. AIM: (1) To explore the impact of having a child with a brain tumour on the main caregiver in the family; (2) to describe mothers' experiences of coping with their child's illness, including personal barriers and strengths; and (3) to identify causes of stress and sources of support to inform improvements in care delivery. METHOD: Participants were drawn from a group of caregivers enrolled in a longitudinal study of outcome following diagnosis of a childhood brain tumour. Six caregivers took part, two from each of the high-, medium- and low-impact groups based on their Impact on Families Scale scores. Semi-structured interviews were used, with questions covering: (1) impact of the diagnosis on main caregiver and family; (2) personal barriers and strengths; and (3) causes of stress and sources of support. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded manually into five themes, which comprised 19 subthemes. FINDINGS: Coping methods and provision of help and support were major preoccupations for main caregivers from all impact groups. Caregivers in the high-impact group reported less conflict. High- and medium-impact group caregivers had experienced less 'hindrance and heartache', than those with low impact scores, suggesting that the stress associated with diagnosis and treatment of the tumour may have increased cohesion and acceptance within these families. CONCLUSION: Families of children diagnosed with a brain tumour experience considerable negative impact and may perceive themselves as struggling to cope. Provision of help and support, within and outside the extended family, including from health, education and other services, is perceived as helpful.

18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography imaging in HIV-infected patients with lymphadenopathy, with or without fever and/or splenomegaly.

We audited whether 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (18FDG PET-CT) imaging could discriminate between different diagnoses in HIV-infected patients presenting with lymphadenopathy, with or without fever and/or splenomegaly. Maximum standardised uptake (SUVmax) values were similar in lymphoma and mycobacterial and fungal infections and were lower but similar in those with human herpesvirus (HHV) 8-associated disease and HIV-associated reactive lymphadenopathy. Nodal 18FDG avidity, with SUVmax ≥10, excluded diagnoses of HHV 8-associated disease and miscellaneous conditions, and HIV-associated reactive lymphadenopathy was additionally excluded in those who had undetectable plasma HIV viral loads. This audit suggests 18FDG PET-CT imaging did not permit discrimination between specific diagnoses but has utility in identifying lymph nodes with increased avidity that could be targeted for biopsy and in ruling out significant pathology.

A comparison of the psychological burden of PET/MRI and PET/CT scans and association to initial state anxiety and previous imaging experiences.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the level of psychological burden experienced by patients undergoing positron emission tomography (PET)/MRI scanning compared with PET/CT. METHODS: 100 adult patients referred for PET/CT and underwent PET/MRI scanning were eligible. Initial state, psychological burden of PET/CT and PET/MRI, scan satisfaction and preference were assessed using a purpose-designed questionnaire, comprising 61 five-point Likert scale questions and a three-point tick box question indicating preference between PET/CT and PET/MRI. State anxiety was assessed using the state portion of the State Trait Anxiety Inventory. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests compared psychological burden experienced by participants following PET/CT and PET/MRI scan. RESULTS: A greater level of psychological burden was experienced by patients during PET/MRI than PET/CT p ≤ 0.001, consistent with patients' preference for PET/CT over PET/MRI (p = 0.013). There was a significant relationship between PET/CT psychological burden and initial state (r = 0.386, p ≤ 0.001). No significant relationship was identified between Initial state and psychological burden of PET MRI (r = -0.089; p = 217). There was a significant relationship between psychological burden of PET/CT and PET/MRI (r = 0.354; p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients' experience increased psychological burden during PET/MRI compared with PET/CT. Previous scanning experiences and patients' interactions prior to and during PET/MRI improved patient satisfaction. Interventions could be implemented to improve imaging outcome. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: This study provides evidence for the increased psychological burden of PET/MRI compared with PET/CT, and that people prefer the PET/CT procedure. We have shown that the patients who expressed a preference for PET/MRI demonstrated significantly lower psychological burden for that procedure than those that preferred PET/CT, which indicates that the benefit of reduced psychological burden could be facilitated by an appropriate intervention.

On the relationship of CSF pleocytosis to immunoglobulin levels as estimated by different techniques.

One might expect a positive correlation between the number of CSF lymphocytes and the relative amount of CSF IgG, especially in cases of local synthesis of IgG within the CNS. However, previous attempts at correlating the number of CSF lymphocytes with IgG levels have yielded varying results. Since it is known that the estimation of CSF IgG levels can vary according to the method of immunoglobulin determination used, we decided to perform the analyses by three separate methods: (1) the commonly used, immunoprecipitation technique of radial immunodiffusion; (2) physico-chemical separation on the basis of hydrated size/charge using alkaline electrophoresis through the molecular sieving effects of polyacrylamide gels, followed by densitometry of the gamma region of Coomassie Blue-stained proteins; (3) separation into constituent Ig heavy chains and light chains on the basis of unfolded chain lengths by molecular sieving using sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), followed by densitometry of heavy chains of immunoglobulins having been labelled with the fluorescent dye dansyl chloride. Our results show a correlation of white count with the latter two techniques but not the former. Possible reasons for discrepancies in the literature are discussed with regard to the peculiar physical properties of the selected CSF IgG molecules.

Cystic intracranial tumours. Cyst fluid, biochemical changes and computerised tomographic findings.

The concentrations of five biochemical substances were studied in cyst fluid from 49 cystic intracranial tumours and the findings were compared with the computerised tomographic (CT) scan and histological appearances of the tumours. The attenuation of the cyst wall on unenhanced CT was found to be related to cyst fluid alkaline phosphatase levels. Enhancement of the cyst wall with contrast medium was associated with higher levels of protein, cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, phosphohexose isomerase (PHI) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the cyst fluid. Lesions of high grade malignancy had higher levels of protein, cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, LDH and PHI than lesion of low grade malignancy and also higher levels of alkaline phosphatase, LDH and PHI than benign lesions. Oedema around a lesion was associated with increased malignancy.

Electrophoretic separation and identification of perilymph proteins in cases of acoustic neuroma.

Previous studies of perilymph proteins have emphasised the difficulty of obtaining samples free of blood or serum proteins. The present investigation has established a method of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, which enables contaminated specimens to be readily identified and therefore discarded. Analysis of uncontaminated samples has confirmed the presence of an elevated perilymph protein in cases of acoustic neurinomata. Perilymph proteins have been separated and identified and although no characteristic pattern of proteins associated with acoustic neurinomata has emerged, further work should be undertaken to establish the site of origin of perilymph proteins and the pattern of abnormalities to be expected in pathological processes.

Effect of sample preparation on cerebrospinal fluid protein patterns in polyacrylamide gels.

The method of preparing CSF and dilute serum samples for polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis has a marked effect on the pattern of the resolved proteins. The incorporation of sucrose or glycerol into the sample seriously impairs the quality of the resolution and affects the actual number of bands resolved and the relative mobility of certain proteins. The use of sucrose as an anti-convection medium in dense samples such as serum and CSF is not recommended.

Oligoclonal immunoglobulins and plasma cells in spinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis.

A new modification of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) was applied to cerebrospinal fluid proteins from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The same spinal fluids were also examined by a cytological technique. Over 90% of patients with clinically definite or early probable or latent MS showed abnormal PAGE patterns in the form of oligoclonal gammaglobulin bands. Reactive (atypical, large) lymphocytes or typical plasma cells were found in some patients. In all such cases an oligoclonal pattern was present. The findings of oligoclonal bands provides valuable supporting evidence for the diagnosis of MS in the less definite clinical categories.