Prognostic implications of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in patients with superior sulcus tumors receiving induction chemoradiation therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate a diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging to represent therapeutic response of induction chemoradiation and outcome in patients with non-small cell lung cancer of the superior sulcus. METHODS: Seventeen patients with non-small cell lung cancer of the superior sulcus (median age, 57 years; range, 44-70 years) received induction chemoradiation, followed by surgery. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the lesion using b values of 0 and 800 s/mm(2) was acquired before treatment and after induction chemoradiation. Changes in tumoral apparent diffusion coefficient were compared with clinical and histopathological response. Cumulative disease-free survival and proportion of surviving were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Survival of diffusion responders and non-responders were compared by log-rank test. RESULTS: A significant correlation was observed between changes of diffusion response after induction chemoradiation and overall survival. Using a defined threshold of percent increase in mean apparent diffusion coefficient, nine out of 17 patients (53%) were classified as diffusion responders and had a mean increase in mean apparent diffusion coefficient of 40.7 ± 11.2%, while eight diffusion non-responding patients (47%) had a mean increase of 11.0 ± 15.5% (P < 0.0001). Significant difference was found in overall survival between diffusion responders and diffusion non-responders (88.9 months versus 20.3 months, P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging represented therapeutic effect and prognosis after induction chemoradiation in patients with non-small cell lung cancer of the superior sulcus.

Multimodal approach to detect osseous involvement in meningioma: additional value of (18)F-fluoride PET/CT for conventional imaging.

PURPOSE: To compare the diagnostic performance of fluorine 18 ((18)F) fluoride positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) with that of conventional imaging (CT and magnetic resonance [MR] imaging) in evaluating the osseous involvement in meningioma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was approved by the ethics committee and institutional review board and was conducted according to the Declarations of Helsinki and Tokyo. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. A retrospective comparative study between (18)F-fluoride PET/CT and conventional imaging was conducted to detect osseous involvement in patients with a verified diagnosis of meningioma. Osseous involvement was verified by using definitive surgery (including drilling or careful sampling of the skull in all patients). The diagnostic performance, determined by calculating the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value ( PPV positive predictive value ), negative predictive value ( NPV negative predictive value ), and accuracy, was assessed. RESULTS: Data sets from a total of 78 patients with proven meningioma were compared. Osseous involvement was histopathologically confirmed in 25 patients (32%). The sensitivity, specificity, PPV positive predictive value , NPV negative predictive value , and accuracy were 92.0%, 86.8%, 76.7%, 95.8%, and 88.5% for (18)F-fluoride PET/CT and 64.0%, 83.0%, 64.0%, 83.0%, and 76.9% for conventional imaging, respectively. The receiver operating characteristic ( ROC receiver operating characteristic ) analysis revealed that the area under the ROC receiver operating characteristic curve ( Az area under the ROC curve ) value of (18)F-fluoride PET/CT was significantly greater than that of conventional imaging (0.965 ± 0.02 [standard error] vs 0.703 ± 0.066 [standard error], P < .0001). CONCLUSION: An approach using (18)F-fluoride PET/CT improves preoperative detection of osseous involvement. In those without abnormal (18)F-fluoride uptake within the skull, the patient may proceed directly to conventional surgery. However, a positive finding of osseous involvement at (18)F-fluoride PET/CT should prompt confirmation by drilling or sampling of bone.

Tumor hypoxia and microscopic diffusion capacity in brain tumors: a comparison of (62)Cu-Diacetyl-Bis (N4-Methylthiosemicarbazone) PET/CT and diffusion-weighted MR imaging.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between tumor hypoxia and microscopic diffusion capacity in primary brain tumors using (62)Cu-Diacetyl-Bis (N4-Methylthiosemicarbazone) ((62)Cu-ATSM) PET/CT and diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI). METHODS: This study was approved by the institutional human research committee and was HIPAA compliant, and informed consent was obtained from all patients. (62)Cu-ATSM PET/CT and DWI were performed in a total of 40 primary brain tumors of 34 patients with low grade glioma (LGG, n = 13), glioblastoma (GBM, n = 20), and primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL, n = 7). (62)Cu-ATSM PET/CT parameters and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) obtained by DWI were compared. RESULTS: High intensity signals by (62)Cu-ATSM PET/CT and DWI in patients with GBM and PCNSL, and low intensity signals in LGG patients were observed. An inverse correlation was found between maximum SUV (SUVmax) and minimum ADC (ADCmin) (r = -0.583, p < 0.0001), and between tumor/brain ratio (T/Bratio) and ADCmin for all tumors (r = -0.532, p < 0.0001). Both SUVmax and T/Bratio in GBM were higher than LGG (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001), and those in PCNSL were also higher than GBM (p = 0.033 and p = 0.044). The ADCmin was lower in GBM (p = 0.011) and PCNSL (p = 0.01) than in LGG, while no significant difference was found between GBM and PCNSL (p = 0.90). CONCLUSION: Tumor hypoxia assessed by (62)Cu-ATSM PET/CT correlated with microscopic diffusion capacity obtained by DWI in brain tumors. Both (62)Cu-ATSM PET/CT and DWI were considered feasible imaging methods for grading glioma. However, (62)Cu-ATSM PET/CT provided additional diagnostic information to differentiate between GBM and PCNSL.

Hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 α inactivated hepatocellular adenomas in patient with congenital absence of the portal vein: a case report.

Hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs) have been recognized recently as a heterogeneous group, and are subclassified according to genotype as well as morphological characteristics. We report a case of a 35-year-old Japanese woman who exhibited hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-1α-inactivated HCA in the background of the congenital absence of the portal vein (CAPV). On a dynamic contrast computed tomography (CT) scan, the hypovascular tumor enlarged from 1 cm to 3 cm and another tumor emerged in the course of 7 years. Because the possibility of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with multiple metastases was not excluded, partial hepatectomy was performed. On a cut section, two well-demarcated tumors were observed and one tumor had a central fibrous scar. The histological features of these tumors were similar to those of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) with a central scar and HCA; however, these tumors were diagnosed as HNF-1α-inactivated HCA by immunohistochemistry according to the criteria of the current World Health Organization (WHO) classification. In non-tumorous liver tissue, an abnormal architecture of the vessels and a vague nodular appearance of lobuli were observed, which were likely to be those of nodular regenerated hyperplasia (NRH). We discuss its pathogenesis and relationship with CAPV.

Successful Management of Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta for Hemorrhagic Shock Due to Ruptured Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

A 68-year-old man was transferred to our hospital because of sudden right costal pain with unmeasurable hypotension. Ultrasonography revealed possible hemorrhagic shock due to ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As the patient was not hemodynamically stable after primary treatment, resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) was performed, and hemodynamic stability was then achieved. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography confirmed the diagnosis. Transcatheter artery embolization with gelatin sponge particles and coils eliminated the extravasation. The patient was discharged on day 36 post-procedure. Our observations suggest that REBOA may help achieve hemodynamic stability in cases of ruptured HCC.

Mediastinal vacuum phenomenon: atypical pneumomediastinum caused by gas replacement of diminished fat.

We report a case involving an 83-year-old man with interstitial lung disease who developed atypical pneumomediastinum caused by gas replacement of diminished fat. The patient presented with a complaint of worsening symptoms of respiratory difficulty since a diagnosis of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia 5 months back. He had been under observation with no particular treatment for 5 months. Computed tomography performed on admission revealed pneumomediastinum. When the current scan was compared with that obtained 5 months ago, it was evident that the fat surrounding the mediastinum had been replaced by gas density. There was no mediastinal enlargement, pneumothorax, or pneumopericardium. Because the patient was elderly, home oxygen therapy was initiated for the interstitial pneumonia with no steroid therapy. Computed tomography performed 10 months after discharge showed the reappearance of mediastinal fat and no evidence of gas density. This case is unique because the pneumomediastinum was distinct from spontaneous pneumomediastinum caused by alveolar air leaks and resembled the vacuum phenomenon caused by intervertebral disc degeneration.