Adrenal morphology and cortical function in patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis: response to antituberculosis treatment

ABSTRACT Objective: Enlargement of the adrenal glands and variable adrenocortical function have been reported in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and, in a few studies, in patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). However, none of the studies have evaluated the course of the adrenal morphology in these patients. Subjects and methods: Prospective study including 37 patients with EPTB and 37 healthy age- and sex-matched controls. The adrenal function was evaluated by measurement of cortisol levels at baseline and after stimulation with ACTH (Acton Prolongatum) before and 6 months after antituberculosis treatment. The size of both adrenal glands was evaluated using 64-slice computed tomography (CT) scanning before and 6 months after treatment. The findings were compared with those in a group of healthy matched controls. Results: Clinical and biochemical parameters were comparable between groups. The mean baseline serum cortisol level was significantly lower in the EPTB group (397.1 ± 184.9 nmol/L) compared with the control group (696.3 ± 101.8 nmol/L). Compared with controls, patients with EPTB had significantly lower mean cortisol levels at baseline and 1 hour after ACTH, both before (397 ± 184.9 nmol/L and 750.7 ± 176.8 nmol/L, respectively) and after (529.7 ± 100.4 nmol/L and 1017.2 ± 119.7 nmol/L, respectively) antituberculosis treatment. Both the length and thickness of the right and left adrenal glands were greater in patients with EPTB than in controls but became comparable to those in controls after treatment completion. Conclusions: Patients with EPTB have an enlarged adrenal size and low baseline and stimulated serum cortisol levels. After treatment completion, cortisol levels increased significantly, and the adrenal size normalized in these patients.

Pre-polycystic ovary syndrome and polymenorrhoea as new facets of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Evidences from a single centre data set.

OBJECTIVE: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex disorder with diverse metabolic implications. Diagnosis typically relies on oligo-amenorrhoea (OA), hyperandrogenism (HA), and polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM). However, the role of polymenorrhoea in PCOS remains understudied. Additionally, limited information exists regarding metabolic disturbances in women with partial PCOS phenotypes that do not meet diagnostic criteria. This extensive database aims to provide substantial evidence on the metabolic implications of polymenorrhoea and partial PCOS phenotypes. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS: In this single-centre study, 6463 women with PCOS-like characteristics and 3142 age-matched healthy women were included. The study compared clinical (anthropometry, modified Ferriman Gallwey [mFG] score), hormonal (serum testosterone), and metabolic (plasma glucose, serum lipids, insulin) characteristics between women diagnosed with PCOS, those with partial PCOS phenotypes, and the healthy control group RESULTS: In all, 5174 women met Rotterdam criteria for PCOS diagnosis, while 737 were classified as Pre-PCOS, including HA (n = 538), OA (n = 121), or PCOM (n = 78). Common clinical features included oligomenorrhoea (75.5%), hirsutism (82.9%), obesity (27.2%), hypertension (1.6%), metabolic syndrome (19.6%), and diabetes mellitus (5.6%). Women diagnosed with PCOS, HA only, and OA only exhibited higher average body mass index, plasma glucose levels (both fasting and 2 h after the oral glucose tolerance test), and lipid fractions in comparison to those with PCOM and the healthy controls. However, indices of insulin resistance were similar among women with PCOS, HA, PCOM, and OA, albeit higher than in the healthy controls. The polymenorrhoea subgroup (5.9%) had lower BMI and serum testosterone, but similar mFG score, plasma glucose, insulin, and lipid levels as the oligomenorrhoea subgroup. CONCLUSION: The metabolic disturbances observed in Pre-PCOS women highlight the need to reassess diagnostic criteria. Including the polymenorrhoea subcategory in PCOS criteria is recommended due to similar metabolic dysfunctions as the oligomenorrhoea group.

Pneumothorax after CT-Guided Lung Biopsy: What Next?

Background Pneumothorax is the most common complication of computed tomography (CT)-guided lung biopsy. The asymptomatic rate ranges from 17.5 to 72%. The symptomatic rate requiring chest tube insertion is 6 to 18%. Aims This article studies the role of management of postbiopsy pneumothoraces by needle aspiration and pigtail catheter insertion. Methods This was a prospective observational study conducted over 2 years. Postbiopsy and prior to withdrawing the coaxial cannula a CT data set was obtained to detect and quantify pneumothoraces as mild, moderate, and severe. In all asymptomatic cases of mild pneumothorax simple observation was done. In all asymptomatic cases of moderate pneumothorax, immediate needle aspiration was performed. In all symptomatic cases, cases with severe pneumothorax, and cases with progressively enlarging pneumothorax small caliber 6 to 8F pigtail catheters were inserted. Results Ninety-one cases had mild pneumothorax, 42 had moderate pneumothorax, and 18 had severe pneumothorax. In the 91 patients of mild pneumothorax only 1 (1%) patient showed increase in size of pneumothorax on follow-up requiring catheter insertion. In the 42 cases of moderate pneumothorax, which were managed by simple aspiration of pneumothorax, 4 (9.5%) cases showed increase in size of pneumothorax on follow-up. A total 23 cases required pigtail catheter insertion in our study. These constituted 15.2% of pneumothorax cases. The mean duration of catheterization in our study was 3.74 ± 1.09 days. Conclusion Majority of pneumothoraces are benign and do not require any intervention, just observation. Manual aspiration is an effective way of treating moderate pneumothoraces with success rate of 90%, thereby reducing the number of cases requiring catheter insertion; however, close observation is required as few cases may progress to severe pneumothorax and require pigtail insertion. Only a small percentage of biopsy cases (6.4%) require catheter insertion which is a safe and effective treatment.

Clinical Profile, Management, and Outcome of Visceral Artery Pseudoaneurysms: 5-Year Experience in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Visceral artery pseudoaneurysms are potentially lethal lesions and tend to rupture in a high proportion of cases, thereby warranting an immediate and active intervention. We present our experience of splanchnic visceral artery pseudoaneurysms in a university hospital over a 5-year time interval with emphasis on etiology, clinical presentation, management (endovascular/surgical), and final outcome. This was a retrospective study in which we searched our image database for pseudoaneurysms of visceral arteries over a period of 5 years. The clinical and operative details were retrieved from the medical record section of our hospital. The lesions were analyzed for the vessel of origin, size, etiology, clinical features, mode of treatment, and outcome. Twenty-seven patients with pseudoaneurysms were encountered. Pancreatitis (8) was the most common cause, followed by previous surgery (7) and trauma (6). Fifteen were managed by the interventional radiology (IR) team, 6 by surgery, and in 6 no intervention was done. Technical and clinical success was achieved in all patients in the IR group with few minor complications. Surgery and no intervention carry a high mortality in such a setting (66 and 50%, respectively). Visceral pseudoaneurysms are potentially fatal lesions, commonly encountered after trauma, pancreatitis, surgeries, and interventional procedures. These lesions are easily salvageable by minimally invasive interventional techniques (endovascular embolotherapy), and surgeries carry a lot of morbidity and mortality in such cases and a prolonged hospital stay.

Clinicopathological Profile of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer and the Changing Trends in Its Histopathology: Experience From a Tertiary Care Cancer Center in Kashmir, India.

Background The overall frequency and incidence of different cancers across the globe, including lung cancer, are marked by ethnic and geographical variations. Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide that inflicts most of the cancer deaths. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitutes most lung cancer cases. The aim of this study was to find the frequency and clinicopathological characteristics of NSCLC in high incidence zone of Kashmir, an ethnically and geographically distinct area in Northern India. Material and methods The study was conducted to evaluate the clinicopathological profile of NSCLC at a tertiary care cancer center, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS). The patients and case records were analyzed for clinical presentation and demographic features, smoking status, radiological features, histopathological type, and stage of their disease at presentation. Results The study included 1557 NSCLC patients registered over a period of seven years, i.e., 2008-2014. Most of the patients belonged to rural areas (70%). The median age of the whole cohort was 58.0 years (ranges 22-95 years), and the male-to-female ratio was 3.7:1 (male = 1231 and female = 326). Smokers comprised 77.39% of cases, and Hookah was the most common form of smoking (65.06%). The ratio of squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma was 3.7:1 (67.5% vs. 24.9%). Stage III and IV disease accounted for 93% of cases (30.6% and 62.7%, respectively). Squamous cell carcinoma histopathology was dominant in smokers (74.3%) compared to adenocarcinoma (19%), while squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma histopathology ran parallel in nonsmokers (45.1% and 44%, respectively). Most of the patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status between 1 and 2 (79%).  Conclusion We conclude Kashmir region is a very high-risk area for lung cancer, with NSCLC showing a high incidence. Most of our patients present in advanced stages, and the frequency of adenocarcinoma is showing an increasing trend over the years from 2008-2014.

High prevalence of coronary artery calcification and increased risk for coronary artery disease in patients with Sheehan syndrome-A case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with Sheehan syndrome (SS) are predisposed to coronary artery disease (CAD) due to risk factors like abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia and chronic inflammation. In addition to estimate CAD risk enhancers like high sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP), apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and lipoprotein A [Lp(a)], this study applies Framingham risk score (FRS) and coronary artery calcium (CAC) score to compute a 10-year probability of cardiovascular (CV) events in SS patients. DESIGN: Case-control study Sixty-three SS patients, on a stable hormonal replacement treatment except for growth hormone and 65 age, body mass index and parity-matched controls. MEASUREMENTS: Measurement of serum hsCRP, ApoB and Lp(a) and estimation of CAC with 16-row multislice computed tomography scanner. RESULTS: The concentrations of hsCRP, ApoB and Lp(a) were significantly higher in SS patients than in controls (p < .01). After calculating FRS, 95.2% of SS patients were classified as low risk, 4.8% as intermediate risk and all controls were classified as low risk for probable CV events. CAC was detected in 50.7% SS patients and 7.6% controls (p = .006). According to the CAC score, 26.9% SS patients were classified as at risk (CAC > 10) for incident CV events as against 1.6% controls. The mean Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) score was significantly higher in patients with SS than controls. CAC corelated significantly with fasting blood glucose (r = .316), ApoB (r = .549), LP(a) (r = .310) and FRS (r = .294). CONCLUSION: Significant number of asymptomatic SS patients have high coronary artery calcium score and are classified at risk for CAD.

Diagnostic implication of a circulating serum-based three-microRNA signature in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Owing to the diagnostic dilemma, the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains impoverished, contributing to the globally high mortality rate. Currently, HCC diagnosis depends on the combination of imaging modalities and the measurement of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels. Nevertheless, these conventional modalities exhibit poor performance in detecting HCC at early stages. Thus, there is a pressing need to identify novel circulating biomarkers to promote diagnostic accuracy and surveillance. Circulating miRNAs are emerging as promising diagnostic tools in screening various cancers, including HCC. However, because of heterogenous and, at times, contradictory reports, the universality of miRNAs in clinical settings remains elusive. Consequently, we proposed to explore the diagnostic potential of ten miRNAs selected on a candidate-based approach in HCC diagnosis. The expression of ten candidate miRNAs (Let-7a, miR-15a, miR-26a, miR-124, miR-126, miR-155, miR-219, miR-221, miR-222, and miR-340) was investigated in serum and tissue of 66 subjects, including 33 HCC patients and 33 healthy controls (HC), by rt-PCR. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was used to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the prospective serum miRNA panel. To anticipate the potential biological roles of a three-miRNA signature, the target genes were evaluated using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) signaling pathway. The serum and tissue expression of miRNAs (Let-7a, miR-26a, miR-124, miR-155, miR-221, miR-222, and miR-340) were differentially expressed in HCC patients (p < 0.05). The ROC analysis revealed promising diagnostic performance of Let-7a (AUC = 0.801), miR-221 (AUC = 0.786), and miR-2 (AUC = 0.758) in discriminating HCC from HC. Furthermore, in a logistic regression equation, we identified a three-miRNA panel (Let-7a, miR-221, and miR-222; AUC = 0.932) with improved diagnostic efficiency in differentiating HCC from HC. Remarkably, the combination of AFP and a three-miRNA panel offered a higher accuracy of HCC diagnosis (AUC = 0.961) than AFP alone. The functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that target genes may contribute to pathways associated with HCC and cell-cycle regulation, indicating possible crosstalk of miRNAs with HCC development. To conclude, the combined classifier of a three-miRNA panel and AFP could be indispensable circulating biomarkers for HCC diagnosis. Furthermore, targeting predicted genes may provide new therapeutic clues for the treatment of aggressive HCC.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Cardiac Amyloidosis: Unraveling the Stealth Entity.

Amyloidosis is a systemic disease involving many organs. Cardiac involvement is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients. Diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis is based on endomyocardial biopsy which however is invasive and associated with complications. Noninvasive methods of diagnosis include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with various methods and sequences involved. Our study aims at describing MRI features of cardiac amyloidosis including new imaging sequences and to prognosticate the patients based on imaging features. We included 35 patients with suspected cardiac amyloidosis who underwent MRI at our center over 4 years. All images were retrieved from our archive and assessed by an experienced radiologist. Common morphological features in our patients included increased wall thickness of left ventricle (LV) (16. 1 ± 4.1 mm), right ventricle (RV) (6.3 ± 1.1 mm), and interatrial septum (6.2 ± 0.8 mm). Global late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) ( n = 21 [65%]) including subendocardial or transmural was the most common pattern followed by patchy enhancement. Global transmural LGE was associated with worse prognosis. Four types of myocardial nulling patterns were observed on postcontrast time to invert (TI) scout imaging: normal nulling pattern (myocardium nulls after blood and coincident with spleen) and abnormal nulling pattern (ANP) which is further divided into three types: Type 1-myocardium nulls before blood pool but coincident with spleen, Type 2-myocardium nulling coincident with blood but not coincident with spleen, and Type 3-features of both Type 1 and Type 2. Type 3 ANP was the most common ( n = 23) nulling pattern in our patients. Cardiac MRI is an essential in noninvasive diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis. Transmural global LGE serves as a poor prognosticator in these patients. "Three-tier" TI scout imaging is essential to avoid false-negative enhancement results. Type 3 ANP is the most specific nulling pattern in cardiac amyloidosis.

The effectiveness of image-guided percutaneous catheter drainage in the management of acute pancreatitis-associated pancreatic collections.

PURPOSE: Acute pancreatitis is commonly complicated by the development of pancreatic collections (PCs). Symptomatic PCs warrant drainage, and the available options include percutaneous, endoscopic, and open surgical approaches. The study aimed to assess the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of image guided percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) in the management of acute pancreatitis related PCs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a single-centre prospective study covering a 4-year study period. Acute pancreatitisrelated PCs complicated by secondary infection or those producing symptoms due to pressure effect on surrounding structures were enrolled and underwent ultrasound or computed tomography (CT)-guided PCD. The patients were followed to assess the success of PCD (defined as clinical, radiological improvement, and the avoidance of surgery) and any PCD-related complications. RESULTS: The study included 60 patients (60% males) with a mean age of 43.1 ± 21.2 years. PCD recorded a success rate of 80% (16/20) for acute peripancreatic fluid collections (APFC) and pancreatic pseudocysts (PPs), 75% (12/16) for walled-off necrosis (WON), and 50% (12/24) for acute necrotic collections (ANCs). Post-PCD surgery (necrosectomy ± distal pancreatectomy) was needed in 50% of ANC and 25% of WON. Only 20% of APFCs/PPs patients required surgical/endoscopic treatment post-PCD. Minor procedure-related complications were seen in 4 (6.6%) patients. CONCLUSION: PCD is an effective, safe, and minimally invasive therapeutic modality with a good success rate in the management of infected/symptomatic PCs.

Diffusion-Weighted Imaging: An Exciting and Problem-Solving Tool in Patients with Hepatic Metastases.

Background The diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is based on the random Brownian motion of water molecules that influences image contrast depending on different pathological conditions. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of various magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences including diffusion-weighted and gadobenate-enhanced MRI in the detection and characterization of liver lesions in a patient of known primary malignancy and to compare MRI with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and ultrasonography (USG) in the detection of liver metastases. Methods All patients underwent a multiphase MRI. The final diagnosis was established by histopathological examination. Results A total of 43 patients of known primary malignancy were enrolled. MRI gave a provisional diagnosis of liver metastases in 21 patients and benign disease in 22 patients with histopathological correlation revealing two false-negative and one false-positive result. In the detection of lesions, DWI outscored other sequences (92.9 vs. 83.5% in hepatobiliary phase vs. 55.0% in T 2 -weighted sequences) with a statistically significant difference noted only in comparison with T 2 -weighted sequences ( p < 0.001). In 16 patients, MRI added new lesions that were not detected by CECT/USG. The sensitivity and specificity of MRI for detecting metastases were 90.9%/95.2% and 97.9%/96.8% for per-patient and per-lesion basis, respectively. Conclusion Multiphase MRI improved both the detection and characterization of liver metastases. Adding DWI to the routine MR sequences helped in detecting small liver metastases (<10 mm) not detected by other sequences.

The spectrum of imaging findings in pulmonary hydatid disease and the additive value of T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in its diagnosis.

PURPOSE: To describe the spectrum of imaging findings in pulmonary echinococcosis and to study the additive value of T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the characterisation of pulmonary hydatid disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a descriptive, prospective study conducted for a period of 3 years from December 2016 to November 2019. Patients suspected of having pulmonary echinococcosis (n = 110) on preliminary chest radiography were examined with chest computed tomography (CT). Among them 41 cases were additionally examined with T2-weighted MRI of thorax. Final diagnosis was based on surgery or histopathology. RESULTS: Of the 110 patients enrolled for the study 15 were lost to attrition, and among the final cohort of 95 patients CT correctly diagnosed 68/84 (80.9%) as hydatid cyst, whereas 16/84 (19.1%) received an erroneous alternate diagnosis on CT. Based on the classical findings of hyperintense pulmonary cystic lesion with T2-weighted hypointense rim or detached internal T2-weighted hypointense membrane, a correct diagnosis of hydatid cyst was possible in 30 patients whereas a correct alternate diagnosis was made in 8 cases. T2-weighted MRI was found to have sensitivity of 96.7%, specificity of 80%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 93.7% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 88.9% with an overall diagnostic accuracy of 92.6%. Using the McNemar test, MRI was found to be diagnostically superior to CT (p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the pulmonary hydatid cysts can be diagnosed on CT; however, sometimes the findings may be indeterminate or atypical, leading to a diagnostic dilemma. MRI, owing to its ability to demonstrate hypointense endocyst, can act as a useful adjunct to correctly diagnose hydatid cyst or suggest an alternative diagnosis.

Prolactinoma Outcome After Pregnancy and Lactation: A Cohort Study.

Context: Prolactinoma is the most frequent pituitary tumor among women of childbearing age. Fewer studies have addressed the outcome of prolactinomas after gestation. Objective: The aim was to study the spontaneous remission rate and change in tumor size after pregnancy and/or lactation in women with prolactinomas. Patients and Methods: Retrospective study conducted at a tertiary care center of north India. Records of 25 women with 31 pregnancies (20 microprolactinomas and 11 macroprolactinomas), who conceived on dopamine agonist (cabergoline) were studied. Cabergoline was stopped at conception in 24 pregnancies and continued in 7. Serum prolactin was noted 3 months after delivery and/or lactation. Magnetic resonance imaging available at last visit after delivery and/or lactation was also noted. Remission was defined as normal serum prolactin after pregnancy and/or lactation without use of cabergoline. Results: Among patients in whom cabergoline was stopped during pregnancy (n = 24), 41.6% (n = 10) had prolactin in normal range (achieved remission) after pregnancy and/or lactation. In 25% (n = 6) of women, adenoma size decreased by more than 50%, in 33%(n = 8), there was no change in adenoma size, and in 42% (n = 10), decrease in adenoma size was less than 50% after pregnancy and/or lactation. The median duration of cabergoline treatment before pregnancy among patients who achieved remission was 60 months against 24 months in those who did not achieve remission. The median pre-pregnancy adenoma size was 5.5 mm in women with remission against 8 mm in women who did not achieve remission. Conclusion: Pregnancy-induced remission of hyperprolactinemia was seen in 41.6% prolactinomas. Longer duration of dopamine agonist treatment before pregnancy, small pre-pregnancy adenoma size, and lower baseline prolactin were associated with high likelihood of remission, though not statistically significant.

Preoperative Staging of Gastric Cancer Using Computed Tomography and Its Correlation with Histopathology with Emphasis on Multi-planar Reformations and Virtual Gastroscopy.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world. Preoperative staging of gastric cancer has assumed pivotal role in deciding appropriate management of gastric cancer with multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) using hydro- and gaseous distension of stomach superseding endoscopic ultrasound in tumor (T) and nodal (N) staging. We undertook this study to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of MDCT in the T and N staging of gastric cancer with an attempt to differentiate between early and advanced gastric carcinomas. METHODS: A total of 160 patients with endoscopically diagnosed and biopsy-proven gastric cancer were subjected to MDCT after adequate gaseous and hydro-distention of stomach. Multi-planar reformatted (MPR) as well as virtual gastroscopy images were also obtained. Gastric lesions were categorized into T1 to T4 stages with N staging from N0 to N3. Preoperative CT findings were correlated with histopathological findings. RESULTS: Overall diagnostic accuracy of T staging in our study was 82.5% (132/160) with an accuracy of 75% (120/160) for N staging. The diagnostic accuracy of CT for early gastric carcinoma in our study was 93.75% with high specificity of 96% but low sensitivity of 66.7%. CONCLUSION: MDCT using gaseous and hydro-distension of stomach is an excellent modality for near accurate preoperative T staging of gastric cancer. However, CT has a limited role in the N staging of gastric cancer. This study also suggested that the combined use of virtual gastroscopy and MPR images helps in better detection of early gastric cancers.

Modality of Radiotherapy and Overall Survival in Pediatric Diffuse Brainstem Gliomas: Implications for Resource-Constrained Settings.

BACKGROUND: Childhood diffuse brainstem glioma (dBSG) is a rare tumor with a poor prognosis. Any tumor-directed surgical intervention is difficult. Magnetic resonance imaging forms the mainstay of diagnosis and radiation therapy has remained the backbone of therapy. In this study, we compare the outcomes of conformal radiotherapy with conventional therapy in the context of resource-constrained settings. METHODS: In this retrospective analysis, conducted between 2010 and 2019, all pediatric patients with a diagnosis of dBSG were analyzed. The survival data were calculated in months from the date of diagnosis. Survival differences between variables were compared using the Log-rank test and the risk of death was calculated using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients (11 males, 55%) with a diagnosis of dBSG were included. Median age at diagnosis was 6.5 years. No surgical resection or biopsy was done in any patient. Fifteen (75%) patients received radiotherapy and only 4 (20%) patients received additional chemotherapy. Five (25%) patients did not receive any form of anti-cancer therapy. Median overall survival (OS) was 8 months (95% CI 5.2-10.8). Females were at a higher risk of death than males. Children treated with radiotherapy had a longer OS than untreated children; however, the modality of radiotherapy employed or the addition of chemotherapy did not affect the OS. CONCLUSION: Radiotherapy, irrespective of the modality, increases the survival of children with dBSG in resource-poor settings. Additionally, socioeconomic concerns need to be addressed in the management of these tumors, especially in the case of female children. Lay summaryChildhood diffuse brainstem glioma (dBSG) is a rare tumor with a poor prognosis. Any tumor-directed surgical intervention is difficult. Magnetic resonance imaging forms the mainstay of diagnosis and radiation therapy has remained the backbone of therapy. In this 10-year retrospective study, we compare the outcomes of conformal radiotherapy with conventional therapy in the context of resource-constrained settings. A total of 20 patients with a diagnosis of dBSG were included with a median age at diagnosis of 6.5 years (5.25-8.75). No surgical resection or biopsy was done in any patient. Fifteen (75%) patients received radiotherapy and only 4 (20%) patients received additional chemotherapy. Five (25%) patients did not receive any form of anti-cancer therapy. Median overall survival (OS) was 8 months (95% CI 5.2-10.8). Females were at a 3.4-fold (95% CI 1.0-12.1) higher risk of death than males. Children treated with radiotherapy had a longer OS than untreated children; however, the modality of radiotherapy employed or the addition of chemotherapy did not affect the OS. Radiotherapy, irrespective of the modality, increases the survival of children with dBSG in resource-poor settings. Additionally, socioeconomic concerns need to be addressed in the management of these tumors, especially in the case of female children.

Coadministration of metformin or spironolactone enhances efficacy of rosiglitazone in management of PCOS.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of adding metformin or spironolactone to rosiglitazone in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This is a prospective non-randomized study in a tertiary care with at in a tertiary care endocrine clinic. Women (n = 138) diagnosed with PCOS on the basis of Rotterdam criteria 2003 were categorized into three groups on the basis of drug intake as - rosiglitazone (R), rosiglitazone with spironolactone (R + S), and rosiglitazone with metformin (R + M). Clinical, biochemical, hormonal, and insulin sensitivity parameters were assessed at baseline and after six months of follow up. There was a significant improvement in number of menstrual cycles per year and Ferriman Gallwey (FG) score in all three groups after 6 months. Plasma insulin (0, 2 h), HOMA-IR and serum total testosterone levels decreased after six months in all the three groups. The inter group comparison showed higher efficacy of R + S in improving hyperandrogenism whereas R + M was most effective in decreasing body weight and plasma insulin levels compared to R and R + S (p<.05). Treatment of women with PCOS using rosiglitazone alone and in combination with spironolactone or metformin is safe and efficacious with limited adverse events however randomized trials with longer duration of follow up are warranted.

Comparison between peak systolic velocity of the inferior thyroid artery and technetium-99m pertechnetate thyroid uptake in differentiating Graves' disease from thyroiditis

ABSTRACT Objectives The differentiation between the various etiologies of thyrotoxicosis, including those with hyperthyroidism (especially Graves' disease [GD], the most common cause of hyperthyroidism) and without hyperthyroidism (like thyroiditis), is an important step in planning specific therapy. Technetium-99m (99mTc) pertechnetate thyroid scanning is the gold standard in differentiating GD from thyroiditis. However, this technique has limited availability, is contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation, and is not helpful in cases with history of recent exposure to excess iodine. The aim of this study was to identify the diagnostic value of the peak systolic velocity of the inferior thyroid artery (PSV-ITA) assessed by color-flow Doppler ultrasound (CFDU) and compare the sensitivity and specificity of this method versus 99mTc pertechnetate thyroid uptake. Subjects and methods We prospectively analyzed 65 patients (46 with GD and 19 with thyroiditis). All patients were evaluated with clinical history and physical examination and underwent 99mTc pertechnetate scanning and measurement of TRAb levels and PSV-ITA values by CFDU. The diagnosis was based on findings from signs and symptoms, physical examination, and 99mTc pertechnetate uptake. Results Patients with GD had significantly higher mean PSV-ITA values than those with thyroiditis. At a mean PSV-ITA cutoff value of 30 cm/sec, PSV-ITA discriminated GD from thyroiditis with a sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 89%. Conclusion Measurement of PSV-ITA by CFDU is a good diagnostic approach to discriminate between GD and thyroiditis, with sensitivity and specificity values comparable to those of 99mTc pertechnetate thyroid uptake.

Evaluation of various patient-, lesion-, and procedure-related factors on the occurrence of pneumothorax as a complication of CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy.

PURPOSE: To assess the influence of various patient-, lesion-, and procedure-related variables on the occurrence of pneumothorax as a complication of CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a total of 208 patients, 215 lung/mediastinal lesions (seven patients were biopsied twice) were sampled under CT guidance using coaxial biopsy set via percutaneous transthoracic approach. Incidence of post procedure pneumothorax was seen and the influence of various patient-, lesion-, and procedure-related variables on the frequency of pneumothorax with special emphasis on procedural factors like dwell time and needle-pleural angle was analysed. RESULTS: Pneumothorax occurred in 25.12% (54/215) of patients. Increased incidence of pneumothorax had a statistically significant correlation with age of the patient (p = 0.0020), size (p = 0.0044) and depth (p = 0.0001) of the lesion, and needle-pleural angle (p = 0.0200). Gender of the patient (p = 0.7761), emphysema (p = 0.2724), site of the lesion (p = 0.9320), needle gauge (p = 0.7250), patient position (p = 0.9839), and dwell time (p = 0.9330) had no significant impact on the pneumothorax rate. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated a significant effect of the age of the patient, size and depth of the lesion, and needle-pleural angle on the incidence of post-procedural pneumothorax. Emphysema as such had no effect on pneumothorax rate, but once pneumothorax occurred, emphysematous patients were more likely to be symptomatic, necessitating chest tube placement. Gender of the patient, site of the lesion, patient position during the procedure, and dwell time had no statistically significant relation with the frequency of post-procedural pneumothorax. Surprisingly, needle gauge had no significant effect on pneumothorax frequency, but due to the small sample size, non-randomisation, and bias in needle size selection as per lesion size, further studies are required to fully elucidate the causal relationship between needle size and post-procedural pneumothorax rate. The needle should be as perpendicular as possible to the pleura (needle-pleural angle close to 90°), to minimise the possibility of pneumothorax after percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy.

Brunn's cyst: A rare cause of lower urinary tract symptoms.

Brunn's cyst in the region of the bladder neck is a rare cause of lower urinary tract obstruction. This case describes the ultrasonographic and intra-venous urographic findings of Brunn's cyst in a 53-year-old male presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms.