68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT Scan as a Valuable Tool for Diagnosis and Staging of the Rare Entity of Tracheal Paragangliomas.

ABSTRACT: Primary paraganglioma of the trachea is a rare differential among more common tracheal masses. Definitive diagnosis of tracheal masses is obtained via endoscopic biopsy. Utilization of 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT is valuable in the workup of these lesions as paragangliomas would have significantly higher radiotracer uptake compared with the more common squamous cell and adenoid cystic carcinomas. This is particularly important in tracheal paragangliomas, which are typically friable and hypervascular with higher risk of significant bleeding on biopsy. In addition, 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT can be used to evaluate for local invasion and metastatic disease as a 1-step imaging modality.

Tips and Tricks for Successful Percutaneous Cryoablation of Large Renal Cell Carcinomas.

Percutaneous cryoablation has proved to be safe and effective for the treatment of stage T1a renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Patients with larger-sized RCCs may not be good surgical candidates or may have tumors located in anatomically unfavorable locations, which makes partial nephrectomy more challenging. In this patient population, percutaneous cryoablation can be considered a treatment option, given its less invasive nature when compared to surgery. The ablation of larger-sized RCCs requires careful planning to ensure that the tumor volume is completely covered within the ablation zone, while minimizing the risks of non-target injury to the surrounding critical organs. In this article, we share our institutional experience in treating larger-sized RCCs (> 4 cm) using percutaneous cryoablation alone. We discuss strategies to maximize the volume of the ablation zone through the precise placement of the probes. We also shed light on different techniques to protect the surrounding structures during cryoablation.

Would the Addition of Immunotherapy Impact the Prognosis of Patients With Malignant Pericardial Effusion?

Pericardial effusion is a common finding in advanced-stage lung cancer. The presence of malignant cells or drainage of exudate effusion in the pericardial space may cause symptoms of dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, and syncope. In addition to the difficulty physicians face in the detection and diagnosis of malignant pericardial effusion, treatment may be challenging considering the cancer prognosis and cardiovascular stability of the patient. Despite the availability of several treatment modalities for malignant pericardial effusion, including chemotherapy and surgery, patients with lung cancer historically present with poor prognoses. In addition to lung adenocarcinoma with malignant pericardial effusion, this case was complicated by COVID-19 and malignancy-associated obstructive pneumonia. We present a case of a 64-year-old woman with advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) with malignant pericardial effusion who, despite testing positive for COVID-19 and having obstructive pneumonia, had favorable outcomes following systemic therapy with combined chemo-immunotherapy.

The Role of Serial Liquid Biopsy in the Management of Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Surgery remains the best option to treat lung cancer when feasible. However, many cases are diagnosed beyond the initial stages. There has been tremendous progress in the treatment of lung cancer over the last few years. Studies have shown that biomarker-driven targeted therapies lead to better outcomes. Due to the technical difficulties and significant procedural risk associated with repeated tissue biopsies, analysis of tumor constituents circulating in the blood, such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and various proteins, is becoming more widely recognized as an alternative method of tumor sampling, i.e., liquid biopsy. Liquid biopsy is superior to tissue biopsy, as it is minimally invasive and easily repeatable. Given the recent data on changes in mutations as the disease progresses or responds to treatment, liquid biopsies can help monitor the changes and guide us in giving targeted drugs. Here we present a case of advanced NSCLC who was initially started on Alectinib based on positivity for ALK gene rearrangement found in the FISH study. At the time of progression, molecular profiling liquid biopsy was obtained, which revealed KRAS-p.G12C mutation. Thus, the patient's therapy was later on changed to sotorasib after the FDA approved a KRAS-p.G12C mutation inhibitor.

Primary Extra-Pleura Leiomyoma: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Leiomyomas are a common type of benign soft tissue tumor arising from smooth muscle, most often occurring within females' genitourinary and gastrointestinal tract. However, primary leiomyomas of the chest wall residing in the extra-pleural space are an extremely rare subset of leiomyomatous lesion presentation. We present a case of a fifty-two-year-old male who initially presented complaining of dyspnea worsening with exertion. Computed tomography imaging was performed showing an extra-pleural mass residing under the left sixth rib. Subsequent core needle biopsy and immunohistochemical staining were performed, and the definitive diagnosis of primary leiomyoma of the posterior mediastinal chest wall. Although extremely rare, this neoplastic condition should be included in your differential diagnosis when diagnostic imaging reveals a benign mass residing in the extra-pleural space, and subsequent biopsy specimens consist of smooth muscle fibers.

Endobronchial lipoma.

Endobronchial lipomas are rare benign lung tumors that can cause bronchial obstruction and parenchymal damage. While an uncommon etiology, they are often misdiagnosed due to a clinical presentation similar to obstructive pulmonary pathologies such as COPD and asthma. Upon review of English-language literature, under 50 cases of endobronchial lipomas were documented in the prior 10 years (2011-2021). There are no clear guidelines regarding the management of this particular entity, but typically interventional debulking is the treatment of choice. Here we present another unique case of endobronchial lipoma along with our diagnostic and therapeutic methodology. The patient underwent bronchoscopic debulking via a cryotherapy probe. Based on the histopathologic analysis, a diagnosis of endobronchial lipoma was made. Endobronchial lipomas must remain in any clinician's differential when a patient presents with dyspnea. We report the unique location of this lipoma based on our literature review and the importance of investigating endobronchial lesions due to a possible diagnosis of endobronchial lipoma.

Recurrent Metastatic Chordoma to the Liver: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Chordoma is a rare malignant neoplasm derived from notochordal tissue that primarily affects the axial skeleton. Almost 40% of patients have non-cranial chordoma metastases. The most common metastatic sites are the lungs, bones, lymph nodes, and subcutaneous tissue. We present a 52-year female with a history of sacral chordoma presenting with abdominal fullness, early satiety, and a palpable abdominal mass. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an isolated, highly vascularized, and multilobed liver mass in the left lateral segment. The mass was surgically removed using a clean surgical margin. A histological examination and immunohistochemical staining were consistent with a metastatic chordoma. Two years later, follow-up imaging studies showed a 6.5 × 4.0 × 2.0 cm right liver lesion with multiple lungs, chest wall, pleural, and diaphragmatic lesions. Microscopic- and immunohistochemical staining revealed a recurrent metastatic chordoma. Herein, we present a unique case of metastatic recurrent chordoma in the liver with the involvement of other sites. To the best of our knowledge, no other case of recurrent liver metastasis has been reported.

The Unusual Presentation of a Single Case of Synchronous Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma to the Gallbladder: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma, accounts for approximately 70% of all adult renal tumors. This disease is well known for its high metastatic potential, with estimates of 25-50% of patients reporting metastasis to distant structures. However, there have only been several reported cases in medical literature describing hematogenous spread to the gallbladder, with the majority occurring metachronously, in males, and with multiple metastases. This case report follows an extremely unique presentation in a 60-year-old female. Although the patient did not exhibit the usual signs and symptoms or meet the typical demographics seen with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, it should find a place on the differential diagnosis list when a gallbladder lesion is detected on imaging during the initial staging and/or restaging in patients with renal-cell carcinoma.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency Causing a Diagnostic Conundrum on Tc-99m Bone Scan Done for Osteosarcoma Surveillance: Awareness is the Key!

Bone scans are the most commonly used imaging technique to rule out local recurrence or metastasis during surveillance of malignant bone tumors after treatment. Although bone scans are very sensitive in detecting recurrence or metastasis, they are less specific. There are many nonmalignant conditions which can mimic either recurrence or metastasis on a Tc-99m bone scan. Therefore, physicians must be aware of such conditions to avoid unnecessary workup and invasive procedures. We present such an interesting case where chronic venous insufficiency mimicked either osteomyelitis or regional metastasis on a Tc-99m bone scan done for osteosarcoma surveillance.

Giant vertebral hemangioma masquerading as aggressive tumor: Tc-99m tagged RBC scan can help to solve the diagnostic conundrum!

Hemangiomas are the most common benign lesions involving the spine. Metastasis is the most common malignant condition. The diagnosis of typical hemangiomas on conventional CT and MRI imaging is straightforward. However, when the hemangiomas are very large they may have atypical features making their diagnosis on these conventional imaging modalities inconclusive. In such cases nuclear medicine techniques such as Tc-99m RBC may aid in resolving the diagnostic conundrum. Awareness and use of proper diagnostic modality can prevent unnecessary biopsy. In this case report we try to highlight the added value of Tc-99m RBC scan to conventional imaging techniques in differentiating giant vertebral hemangioma from more aggressive malignant tumors.

Ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenoma localized with four-dimensional CT: a case report.

We present a case of an ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenoma in a 58-year-old male patient. We show how different imaging modalities were successfully used to reach a diagnosis. We particularly focus on the role of four-dimensional CT scan in preoperative localization of ectopic adenomas and discuss how diverse imaging modalities can be integrated in the workup of ectopic parathyroid adenomas.

Endobronchial lipoma

ABSTRACT Endobronchial lipomas are rare benign lung tumors that can cause bronchial obstruction and parenchymal damage. While an uncommon etiology, they are often misdiagnosed due to a clinical presentation similar to obstructive pulmonary pathologies such as COPD and asthma. Upon review of English-language literature, under 50 cases of endobronchial lipomas were documented in the prior 10 years (2011-2021). There are no clear guidelines regarding the management of this particular entity, but typically interventional debulking is the treatment of choice. Here we present another unique case of endobronchial lipoma along with our diagnostic and therapeutic methodology. The patient underwent bronchoscopic debulking via a cryotherapy probe. Based on the histopathologic analysis, a diagnosis of endobronchial lipoma was made. Endobronchial lipomas must remain in any clinician's differential when a patient presents with dyspnea. We report the unique location of this lipoma based on our literature review and the importance of investigating endobronchial lesions due to a possible diagnosis of endobronchial lipoma.