Spatial Characterization of Tumor Perfusion Properties from 3D DCE-US Perfusion Maps are Early Predictors of Cancer Treatment Response.

There is a need for noninvasive repeatable biomarkers to detect early cancer treatment response and spare non-responders unnecessary morbidities and costs. Here, we introduce three-dimensional (3D) dynamic contrast enhanced ultrasound (DCE-US) perfusion map characterization as inexpensive, bedside and longitudinal indicator of tumor perfusion for prediction of vascular changes and therapy response. More specifically, we developed computational tools to generate perfusion maps in 3D of tumor blood flow, and identified repeatable quantitative features to use in machine-learning models to capture subtle multi-parametric perfusion properties, including heterogeneity. Models were developed and trained in mice data and tested in a separate mouse cohort, as well as early validation clinical data consisting of patients receiving therapy for liver metastases. Models had excellent (ROC-AUC > 0.9) prediction of response in pre-clinical data, as well as proof-of-concept clinical data. Significant correlations with histological assessments of tumor vasculature were noted (Spearman R > 0.70) in pre-clinical data. Our approach can identify responders based on early perfusion changes, using perfusion properties correlated to gold-standard vascular properties.

Fibro-osseous and giant cell lesions, including brown tumor of the mandible, maxilla, and other craniofacial bones.

Fibro-osseous, osseous, cartilaginous, and giant cell lesions of the mandible, maxilla, and other craniofacial bones share overlapping clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features that may lead to diagnostic confusion and possible misdiagnosis. The value of combined clinical-radiologic-pathologic correlation in the diagnosis of these lesions is paramount to achieving the correct diagnosis with subsequent implementation of appropriate therapeutic intervention.

Emergent endovascular treatment of a spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection with pseudoaneurysm.

PURPOSE: To report the use of a coronary stent-graft for the endovascular treatment of a spontaneous internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection complicated by a large pseudoaneurysm. CASE REPORT: A 68-year-old man presented to an outside hospital with complaints of headache, severe left-sided neck pain, fever, chills, and vomiting. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a large (3.5x3 cm) extracranial aneurysm of the left ICA. The patient was emergently transferred to our facility for endovascular treatment of the carotid aneurysm. Via a percutaneous access in the right common femoral artery, 2 Jostent coronary stent-grafts were deployed across the aneurysm with no evidence of a residual pseudoaneurysm. The patient was hemodynamically stable throughout the procedure. Duplex examination at 9 months revealed no evidence of a residual pseudoaneurysm, dissection, or endoleak. CONCLUSIONS: Covered coronary stents may have a role in the treatment of spontaneous ICA dissection with pseudoaneurysm formation.

Optimal deployment of third-generation stents: an intravascular ultrasound assessment.

Third-generation intracoronary stents allow deployment at higher pressures, possibly obviating the need for high-pressure postdilations and also possibly reducing restenosis. This study evaluated the ability of the Tristar Coronary Stent System to produce optimal stent deployment as measured by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and quantitative coronary angiography in 46 patients. Optimal stent deployment was defined as minimal luminal area > 80% of the average of the proximal and distal reference luminal areas. After initial deployment, 74.5% of stents met criteria for optimal stent deployment by IVUS, with an average stent expansion ratio of 89.6%. Ten stents (18.2%) were postdilated. Four patients (8.7%) had a major adverse cardiac event, one patient died, one patient had a myocardial infarction, and two patients had target vessel revascularization at 6 months. The Tristar stent system produces optimal deployment without the need for routine postdilation and results in optimal clinical outcomes.