Assessing Osteolytic Lesion Size on Sequential CT Scans Is a Reliable Study Endpoint for Bone Remineralization in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) frequently induces persisting osteolytic manifestations despite hematologic treatment response. This study aimed to establish a biometrically valid study endpoint for bone remineralization through quantitative and qualitative analyses in sequential CT scans. Twenty patients (seven women, 58 ± 8 years) with newly diagnosed MM received standardized induction therapy comprising the anti-SLAMF7 antibody elotuzumab, carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (E-KRd). All patients underwent whole-body low-dose CT scans before and after six cycles of E-KRd. Two radiologists independently recorded osteolytic lesion sizes, as well as the presence of cortical destruction, pathologic fractures, rim and trabecular sclerosis. Bland-Altman analyses and Krippendorff's α were employed to assess inter-reader reliability, which was high for lesion size measurement (standard error 1.2 mm) and all qualitative criteria assessed (α ≥ 0.74). After six cycles of E-KRd induction, osteolytic lesion size decreased by 22% (p < 0.001). While lesion size response did not correlate with the initial lesion size at baseline imaging (Pearson's r = 0.144), logistic regression analysis revealed that the majority of responding osteolyses exhibited trabecular sclerosis (p < 0.001). The sum of osteolytic lesion sizes on sequential CT scans defines a reliable study endpoint to characterize bone remineralization. Patient level response is strongly associated with the presence of trabecular sclerosis.

Sarcomas of fat and bone: a case report.

Osteosarcomas are the most common primary malignant bone tumors and are classified by the WHO into several intramedullary and surface subtypes. One of these is the rare parosteal osteosarcoma. Liposarcomas are the second most common soft tissue sarcoma and are classified into several types ranging from intermediate to high grade tumors. In one of our recent patients we found an unusual combination of a parosteal osteosarcoma and a large fatty component, which fluorescence-in-situ-hybridization revealed as liposarcoma. Radiologists, pathologists, and surgeons should consider the possibility of bone and soft tissue malignancies consisting of different components, as this may be of paramount importance for oncologically complete resection.

Extensive intrathoracic and intraperitoneal splenosis mimicking mesothelioma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Splenosis is the heterotopic autotransplantation of splenic tissue after severe splenic trauma and/or splenectomy. The epidemiology is elusive, but splenosis is frequently misdiagnosed as malignant tumors of gastrointestinal, gynecological, or hematological origin before the correct diagnosis is ultimately found. We herein report a rare case of combined, extensive intraabdominal and intrathoracic splenosis initially presenting as pleural mesothelioma. CASE PRESENTATION: A 63-year-old Caucasian male presented with dyspnea and recurring thoracic pain. Initial X-ray and computed tomography scans showed disseminated intrathoracic and intraabdominal lesions. Consequently, thoracoabdominal mesothelioma or a polytopically metastasized cancer of unknown origin was suspected. A thorough examination of the patient's medical history and contrast-enhanced ultrasound by a skilled examiner revealed the diagnosis of extensive abdominal and thoracic splenosis as a consequence of an abdominal gunshot wound with a ruptured diaphragm several decades earlier. Timely diagnosis by noninvasive measures prevented the patient from potential complications of harmful diagnostic procedures, including nuclear imaging and biopsies. The patient is currently treated for hepatitis C and chronic obstructive lung disease, whereas no specific treatment for splenosis is required. CONCLUSIONS: We present a case of rare intrathoracic and intraperitoneal splenosis mimicking mesothelioma. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound and thorough patient history were used for diagnosis and prevented this patient from having to undergo potentially harmful diagnostics. Splenosis can occur after splenic trauma and, consequently, needs to be considered as a rare differential diagnosis to malignant tumors of various origins when a matching patient history is obtained.

Radiation-Free Thoracic Endovascular Aneurysm Repair with Fiberoptic and Electromagnetic Guidance: A Phantom Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of a radiation-free implantation of a thoracic aortic stent graft employing fiberoptic and electromagnetic tracking in an anthropomorphic phantom. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anthropomorphic phantom was manufactured based on computed tomography (CT) angiography data from a patient. An aortic stent graft application system was equipped with a fiber Bragg gratings and 3 electromagnetic sensors. The stent graft was navigated in the phantom by 3 interventionalists using the tracking data generated by both technologies. One implantation procedure was performed. The technical success of the procedure was evaluated using digital subtraction angiography and CT angiography (before and after the intervention). Tracking accuracy was determined at various anatomical landmarks based on separately acquired fluoroscopic images. The mean/maximum errors were measured for the stent graft application system and the tip/end of the stent graft. RESULTS: The procedure resulted in technical success with a mean error below 3 mm for the entire application system and <2 mm for the position of the tip of the stent graft. Navigation/implantation and handling of the device were rated sufficiently accurate and on par with comparable, routinely used stent graft application systems. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates successful stent graft implantation during a thoracic endovascular aortic repair procedure employing advanced guidance techniques and avoiding fluoroscopic imaging. This is an essential step in facilitating the implantation of stent grafts and reducing the health risks associated with ionizing radiation during endovascular procedures.

Comprehensive analysis of haemodynamics in patients with physiologically curved prostheses of the ascending aorta.

OBJECTIVES: This is a comprehensive analysis of haemodynamics after valve-sparing aortic root replacement (VSARR) with anatomically curved prosthesis (CP) compared to straight prosthesis (SP) and age-matched volunteers (VOL) using 4D flow MRI (time-resolved three-dimensional magnetic resonance phase-contrast imaging). METHODS: Nine patients with 90° CP, nine patients with SP, and twelve VOL were examined with 4D flow MRI. Analyses included various characteristic anatomical, qualitative and quantitative haemodynamic parameters. RESULTS: Grading of secondary flow patterns was lower in CP patients than in SP patients (P = 0.09) and more comparable to VOL, albeit not reaching statistical significance. However, it was easy to differentiate between VSARR patients and healthy volunteers: Patients more often had angular aortic arches (CP: 89%, SP: 100%; VOL: 17%; P ≤ 0.002), increased average curvature (CP: 0.17/cm [0.15, 0.18]; SP: 0.15/cm [0.14, 0.16]; VOL: 0.14/cm [0.13, 0.16]; P ≤ 0.007; values given as median [interquartile range]), and more secondary flow patterns (CP: 3 [2, 4] SP: 3 [2, 3] VOL: 2 [1, 2]; P < 0.01). Maximum circulation (CP: 142.7 cm2/s [116.1, 187.3]; SP: 101.8 cm2/s [77.7, 132.5]; VOL: 42.8cm2/s [39.3, 65.6]; P ≤ 0.002), maximum helicity density (CP: 9.6 m/s2 [9.3, 23.9]; SP: 9.7 m/s2 [8.6, 12.5]; VOL 4.9 m/s2 [4.2, 7.7]; P ≤ 0.007), and wall shear stress gradient (e.g., proximal ascending aorta CP: 0.97 N/m2 [0.54, 1.07]; SP: 1.08 N/m2 [0.74, 1.24]; VOL: 0.41 N/m2 [0.32, 0.60]; P ≤ 0.01) were increased in patients. One CP patient had a round aortic arch with physiological haemodynamic parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The restoration of physiological aortic configuration and haemodynamics was not fully achieved with the curved prostheses in our study cohort. However, there was a tendency towards improved haemodynamic conditions in the patients with curved prostheses overall but without statistical significance. A single patient with a CP and near-physiological configuration of the thoracic aorta underlines the importance of optimizing postoperative geometric conditions for allowing for physiological haemodynamics and cardiovascular energetics after VSARR.

Instrument localisation for endovascular aneurysm repair: Comparison of two methods based on tracking systems or using imaging.

BACKGROUND: In endovascular aneuysm repair (EVAR) procedures, medical instruments are currently navigated with a two-dimensional imaging based guidance requiring X-rays and contrast agent. METHODS: Novel approaches for obtaining the three-dimensional instrument positions are introduced. Firstly, a method based on fibre optical shape sensing, one electromagnetic sensor and a preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan is described. Secondly, an approach based on image processing using one 2D fluoroscopic image and a preoperative CT scan is introduced. RESULTS: For the tracking based method, average errors from 1.81 to 3.13 mm and maximum errors from 3.21 to 5.46 mm were measured. For the image-based approach, average errors from 3.07 to 6.02 mm and maximum errors from 8.05 to 15.75 mm were measured. CONCLUSION: The tracking based method is promising for usage in EVAR procedures. For the image-based approach are applications in smaller vessels more suitable, since its errors increase with the vessel diameter.

Acute Hemoptysis Following Cryoballoon Pulmonary Vein Isolation: A Multicenter Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess the incidence, procedural characteristics, contributing factors, and clinical outcome of cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation (CB-PVI)-related hemoptysis in a multicenter study. BACKGROUND: Hemoptysis has been described as a rare complication of CB-PVI. However, the precise mechanism and the etiology of this complication are poorly characterized. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing CB-PVI for paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation at 4 German hospitals were included in this observational analysis. RESULTS: A total of 4,331 CB-PVI procedures were performed between 2006 and 2019. Fifteen patients (9 men, mean age 68.1 ± 9.8 years) developed acute hemoptysis during or within 24 h after CB-PVI, resulting in a hemoptysis frequency of 0.35%. Hemoptysis occurred in 6 of 720 procedures using the first-generation CB (0.83%) and in 9 of 3,611 procedures using the second-, third-, or fourth-generation CB (0.25%) (p = 0.015). Bronchoscopy was performed in 8 patients and showed bleeding exclusively due to mucosal injury or due to a coagulum at a bronchus adjacent to the ablation site. Hemoptysis resolved spontaneously without any long-term sequelae in all patients, except for a 92-year-old patient who died 13 days after CB-PVI due to pneumonia. No specific endobronchial treatment was necessary. CONCLUSIONS: Acute hemoptysis after CB-PVI is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication that is usually self-limiting. Direct thermal injury of bronchi adjacent to a pulmonary vein seems to be the most likely mechanism.

Three-dimensional guidance including shape sensing of a stentgraft system for endovascular aneurysm repair.

PURPOSE: During endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) procedures, medical instruments are guided with two-dimensional (2D) fluoroscopy and conventional digital subtraction angiography. However, this requires X-ray exposure and contrast agent is used, and the depth information is missing. To overcome these drawbacks, a three-dimensional (3D) guidance approach based on tracking systems is introduced and evaluated. METHODS: A multicore fiber with fiber Bragg gratings for shape sensing and three electromagnetic (EM) sensors for locating the shape were integrated into a stentgraft system. A model for obtaining the located shape of the first 38 cm of the stentgraft system with two EM sensors is introduced and compared with a method based on three EM sensors. Both methods were evaluated with a vessel phantom containing a 3D-printed vessel made of silicone and agar-agar simulating the surrounding tissue. RESULTS: The evaluation of the guidance methods resulted in average errors from 1.35 to 2.43 mm and maximum errors from 3.04 to 6.30 mm using three EM sensors, and average errors from 1.57 to 2.64 mm and maximum errors from 2.79 to 6.27 mm using two EM sensors. Moreover, the videos made from the continuous measurements showed that a real-time guidance is possible with both approaches. CONCLUSION: The results showed that an accurate real-time guidance with two and three EM sensors is possible and that two EM sensors are already sufficient. Thus, the introduced 3D guidance method is promising to use it as navigation tool in EVAR procedures. Future work will focus on developing a method with less EM sensors and a detailed latency evaluation of the guidance method.