Abdominal Fat Characteristics and Mortality in Rectal Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of adipose tissue characteristics with survival in rectal cancer patients. All consecutive patients, diagnosed with stage II-IV rectal cancer between 2010-2016 using baseline unenhanced Computed Tomography (CT), were included. Baseline total, subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue areas (TAT, SAT, VAT) and densities (TATd, SATd, VATd) at third lumbar vertebra (L3) were retrospectively measured. The association of these tissues with cancer-specific and progression-free survival (CCS, PFS) was assessed by using competitive risk models adjusted by age, sex and stage. Among the 274 included patients (median age 70 years, 41.2% females), the protective effect of increasing adipose tissue area on survival could be due to random fluctuations (e.g., sub-distribution hazard ratio-SHR for one cm2 increase in SAT = 0.997; 95%confidence interval-CI = 0.994-1.000; p = 0.057, for CSS), while increasing density was associated with poorer survival (e.g., SHR for one Hounsfield Unit-HU increase in SATd = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01-1.05, p = 0.002, for CSS). In models considering each adipose tissue area and respective density, the association with CSS tended to disappear for areas, while it did not change for TATd and SATd. No association was found with PFS. In conclusion, adipose tissue density influenced survival in rectal cancer patients, raising awareness on a routinely measurable variable that requires more research efforts.

Appropriateness criteria for the use of cardiac computed tomography, SIC-SIRM part 2: acute chest pain evaluation; stent and coronary artery bypass graft patency evaluation; planning of coronary revascularization and transcatheter valve procedures; cardiomyopathies, electrophysiological applications, cardiac masses, cardio-oncology and pericardial diseases evaluation.

In the past 20 years, cardiac computed tomography (CCT) has become a pivotal technique for the noninvasive diagnostic workup of coronary and cardiac diseases. Continuous technical and methodological improvements, combined with fast growing scientific evidence, have progressively expanded the clinical role of CCT. Randomized clinical trials documented the value of CCT in increasing the cost-effectiveness of the management of patients with acute chest pain presenting in the emergency department, also during the pandemic. Beyond the evaluation of stents and surgical graft patency, the anatomical and functional coronary imaging have the potential to guide treatment decision-making and planning for complex left main and three-vessel coronary disease. Furthermore, there has been an increasing demand to use CCT for preinterventional planning in minimally invasive procedures, such as transcatheter valve implantation and mitral valve repair. Yet, the use of CCT as a roadmap for tailored electrophysiological procedures has gained increasing importance to assure maximum success. In the meantime, innovations and advanced postprocessing tools have generated new potential applications of CCT from the simple coronary anatomy to the complete assessment of structural, functional and pathophysiological biomarkers of cardiac disease. In this complex and revolutionary scenario, it is urgently needed to provide an updated guide for the appropriate use of CCT in different clinical settings. This manuscript, endorsed by the Italian Society of Cardiology (SIC) and the Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology (SIRM), represents the second of two consensus documents collecting the expert opinion of cardiologists and radiologists about current appropriate use of CCT.

SIRM-SIC appropriateness criteria for the use of Cardiac Computed Tomography. Part 1: Congenital heart diseases, primary prevention, risk assessment before surgery, suspected CAD in symptomatic patients, plaque and epicardial adipose tissue characterization, and functional assessment of stenosis.

In the past 20 years, Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT) has become a pivotal technique for the noninvasive diagnostic work-up of coronary and cardiac diseases. Continuous technical and methodological improvements, combined with fast growing scientific evidence, have progressively expanded the clinical role of CCT. Recent large multicenter randomized clinical trials documented the high prognostic value of CCT and its capability to increase the cost-effectiveness of the management of patients with suspected CAD. In the meantime, CCT, initially perceived as a simple non-invasive technique for studying coronary anatomy, has transformed into a multiparametric "one-stop-shop" approach able to investigate the heart in a comprehensive way, including functional, structural and pathophysiological biomarkers. In this complex and revolutionary scenario, it is urgently needed to provide an updated guide for the appropriate use of CCT in different clinical settings. This manuscript, endorsed by the Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology (SIRM) and by the Italian Society of Cardiology (SIC), represents the first of two consensus documents collecting the expert opinion of Radiologists and Cardiologists about current appropriate use of CCT.

The Effect of Diffuse Liver Diseases on the Occurrence of Liver Metastases in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to assess the effect of diffuse liver diseases (DLD) on the risk of synchronous (S-) or metachronous (M-) liver metastases (LMs) in patients with solid neoplasms. Relevant databases were searched for systematic reviews and cross-sectional or cohort studies published since 1990 comparing the risk of LMs in patients with and without DLD (steatosis, viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, fibrosis) in non-liver solid cancer patients. Outcomes were prevalence of S-LMs, cumulative risk of M-LMs and LM-free survival. Risk of bias (ROB) was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We report the pooled relative risks (RR) for S-LMs and hazard ratios (HR) for M-LMs. Subgroup analyses included DLD, primary site and continent. Nineteen studies were included (n = 37,591 patients), the majority on colorectal cancer. ROB appraisal results were mixed. Patients with DLD had a lower risk of S-LMs (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.34-0.76), with a higher effect for cirrhosis and a slightly higher risk of M-LMs (HR 1.11 95% CI, 1.03-1.19), despite a lower risk of M-LMs in patients with vs without viral hepatitis (HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.40-0.82). There may have been a publication bias in favor of studies reporting a lower risk for patients with DLD. DLD are protective against S-LMs and slightly protective against M-LMs for viral hepatitis only.

Feasibility and efficiency of European guidelines for NAFLD assessment in patients with type 2 diabetes: A prospective study.

AIM: We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and efficiency of a guidelines-compliant NAFLD assessment algorithm in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS: Consecutive patients aged < 75 newly diagnosed with T2D without coexisting liver disease or excessive alcohol consumption were enrolled. Patients were stratified based on liver enzymes, fatty liver index, ultrasound, fibrosis scores and liver stiffness measurement. Referral rates and positive predictive values (PPVs) for histological non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and significant fibrosis were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 171 enrolled patients (age 59 ± 10.2 years, 42.1% females), 115 (67.3%) were referred to a hepatologist due to abnormal liver enzymes (n = 60) or steatosis plus indeterminate (n = 37) or high NAFLD fibrosis score (n = 18). Liver biopsy was proposed to 30 patients (17.5%), but only 14 accepted, resulting in 12 NASH, one with significant fibrosis. The PPV of hepatological referral was 12/76 (15.8%) for NASH and 1/76 (1.3%) for NASH with significant fibrosis. The PPV of liver biopsy referral was 12/14 (85.7%) for NASH and 1/14 (7.1%) for NASH with significant fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: By applying a guidelines-compliant algorithm, many patients with T2D were referred for hepatological assessment and liver biopsy. Further studies are necessary to refine non-invasive algorithms.

Prognostic Impact of Muscle Quantity and Quality and Fat Distribution in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Patients.

Baseline CT scans of 116 patients (48% female, median 64 years) with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) were retrospectively reviewed to investigate the prognostic role of sarcopenia and fat compartment distributions on overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and early therapy termination. Skeletal muscle index (SMI), skeletal muscle density (SMD), and intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) were quantified at the level of the third lumbar vertebra (L3) and proximal thigh (PT). Low L3-SMD, but not low L3-SMI, was associated with early therapy termination (p = 0.028), shorter OS (HR = 6.29; 95% CI = 2.17-18.26; p < 0.001), and shorter PFS (HR = 2.42; 95% CI = 1.26-4.65; p = 0.008). After correction for sex, International Prognostic Index (IPI), BMI, and R-CHOP therapy (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone), low L3-SMD remained associated with poor OS (HR = 3.54; 95% CI = 1.10-11.40; p = 0.034) but not with PFS. Increased PT-IMAT was prognostic for poor OS and PFS after correction for sex, IPI, BMI, and R-CHOP therapy (HR = 1.35; CI = 1.03-1.7; p = 0.03, and HR = 1.30; CI = 1.04-1.64; p = 0.024, respectively). Reduced muscle quality (SMD) and increased intermuscular fat (IMAT), rather than low muscle quantity (SMI), are associated with poor prognosis in DLBCL, when measured at the L3 level, and particularly at the level of the proximal thigh. The proximal thigh represents a novel radiological landmark to study body composition.

Baseline liver steatosis has no impact on liver metastases and overall survival in rectal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The liver is one of the most frequent sites of metastases in rectal cancer. This study aimed to evaluate how the development of synchronous or metachronous liver metastasis and overall survival are impacted by baseline liver steatosis and chemotherapy-induced liver damage in rectal cancer patients. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with stage II to IV rectal cancer between 2010 and 2016 in our province with suitable baseline CT scan were included. Data on cancer diagnosis, staging, therapy, outcomes and liver function were collected. CT scans were retrospectively reviewed to assess baseline steatosis (liver density < 48 HU and/or liver-to-spleen ratio < 1.1). Among patients without baseline steatosis and treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, chemotherapy-induced liver damage was defined as steatosis appearance, ≥ 10% liver volume increase, or significant increase in liver function tests. RESULTS: We included 283 stage II to IV rectal cancer patients with suitable CT scan (41% females; mean age 68 ± 14 years). Steatosis was present at baseline in 90 (31.8%) patients, synchronous liver metastasis in 42 (15%) patients and metachronous liver metastasis in 26 (11%); 152 (54%) deaths were registered. The prevalence of synchronous liver metastasis was higher in patients with steatosis (19% vs 13%), while the incidence of metachronous liver metastasis was similar. After correcting for age, sex, stage, and year of diagnosis, steatosis was not associated with metachronous liver metastasis nor with overall survival. In a small analysis of 63 patients without baseline steatosis and treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, chemotherapy-induced liver damage was associated with higher incidence of metachronous liver metastasis and worse survival, results which need to be confirmed by larger studies. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that rectal cancer patients with steatosis had a similar occurrence of metastases during follow-up, even if the burden of liver metastases at diagnosis was slightly higher, compatible with chance.

Acute myocarditis as the main clinical manifestation of SARS-CoV 2 infection.

We describe a case of acute myocarditis, which was reported as the main COVID-19 clinical manifestation, with a favorabile outcome. In addition to symptoms, laboratory tests (BNP and troponin), echocardiogram and cardiac MRI contributed to diagnosis. Regardless heart biopsy was not obtained, it is likely an immunological pathogenesis of this condition which pave the way to further therapeutic implications, since there are currently no standardized treatments.

Changes in central adipose tissue after switching to integrase inhibitors.

Background: Treatment with integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) has been associated with excess weight gain, however the long-term effect of INSTI-based regimens on adipose tissue (AT) compartments remains unknown.Objectives: To evaluate the effect of switching to an INSTI on visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) AT in virologically-suppressed adults with HIV.Methods: We performed a retrospective observational cohort study of ART experienced adults referred to the metabolic Clinic of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia who had ≥2 assessments of body composition by abdominal computed tomography. An interrupted time series model with mixed-effect model incorporated was used to calculate VAT and SAT change rate, adjusting for smoking status, use of alcohol, and physical activity.Results: A total of 698 patients were included: 156 who switched to an INSTI-based regimen and 542 who did not. After switch to INSTI, mean SAT area increased approximately 3-fold (before 0.27 vs after 0.73 cm2/month; p = 0.011), and VAT area 7-fold (0.18 vs 1.30 cm2/month; p < 0.001).Conclusions: Among PLWH on ART, both SAT and VAT gain accelerated after switching to an INSTI-based regimen. The associations between INSTIs and central adiposity require further investigation.

Accuracy of imaging methods for steatohepatitis diagnosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Non-invasive tests to diagnose non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are urgently needed. This systematic review aims to evaluate imaging accuracy in diagnosing NASH among non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients, using liver biopsy as reference. METHODS: Eligible studies were systematic reviews and cross-sectional/cohort studies of NAFLD patients comparing imaging with histology, considering accuracy and/or associations. MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to April 2018. Studies were screened on title/abstract, then assessed for eligibility on full-text. Data were extracted using a predesigned form. Risk of bias was assessed using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool. RESULTS: Of the 641 studies screened, 61 were included in scoping review, 30 of which (with accuracy results) in data synthesis. Imaging techniques included: elastography (transient elastography-TE, acoustic radiation force impulse-ARFI, magnetic resonance elastography-MRE), ultrasound (US), magnetic resonance (MR), computed tomography and scintigraphy. Histological NASH definition was heterogeneous. In 28/30 studies, no prespecified threshold was used (high risk of bias). AUROCs were up to 0.82 for TE, 0.90 for ARFI, 0.93 for MRE and 0.82 for US scores. MR techniques with higher accuracy were spectroscopy (AUROC = 1 for alanine), susceptibility-weighted imaging (AUROC = 0.91), multiparametric MR (AUROC = 0.80), optical analysis (AUROC = 0.83), gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR (AUROCs = 0.85) and superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced MR (AUROC = 0.87). Results derived mostly from single studies without independent prospective validation. CONCLUSIONS: There is currently insufficient evidence to support the use of imaging to diagnose NASH. More studies are needed on US and MR elastography and non-elastographic techniques, to date the most promising methods.

Molecular Imaging of Vascular Calcification with 18F-Sodium-Fluoride in Patients Infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

18F-Sodium Fluoride (NaF) accumulates in areas of active hydroxyapatite deposition and potentially unstable atherosclerotic plaques. We assessed the presence of atherosclerotic plaques in 50 adult patients with HIV (HIV+) who had undergone two cardiac computed tomography scans to measure coronary artery calcium (CAC) progression. CAC and its progression are predictive of an unfavorable prognosis. Tracer uptake was quantified in six arterial territories: aortic arch, innominate carotid artery, right and left internal carotid arteries, left coronary (anterior descending and circumflex) and right coronary artery. Thirty-one patients showed CAC progression and 19 did not. At least one territory with high NaF uptake was observed in 150 (50%) of 300 arterial territories. High NaF uptake was detected more often in non-calcified than calcified areas (68% vs. 32%), and in patients without than in those with prior CAC progression (68% vs. 32%). There was no correlation between clinical and demographic variables and NaF uptake. In clinically stable HIV+ patients, half of the arterial territories showed a high NaF uptake, often in the absence of macroscopic calcification. NaF uptake at one time point did not correlate with prior progression of CAC. Prospective studies will demonstrate the prognostic significance of high NaF uptake in HIV+ patients.

Lung and Heart Diseases Are Better Predicted by Pack-Years than by Smoking Status or Duration of Smoking Cessation in HIV Patients.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess the relationship of pack-years smoking and time since smoking cessation with risk of lung and heart disease. METHODS: We investigated the history of lung and heart disease in 903 HIV-infected patients who had undergone thoracic computed tomography (CT) imaging stratified by smoking history. Multimorbidity lung and heart disease (MLHD) was defined as the presence of ≥ 2 clinical or subclinical lung abnormalities and at least one heart abnormality. RESULTS: Among 903 patients, 23.7% had never smoked, 28.7% were former smokers and 47.6% were current smokers. Spirometry indicated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 11.4% of patients and MLHD was present in 53.6%. Age, male sex, greater pack-years smoking history and smoking cessation less than 5 years earlier vs. more than 10 years earlier (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.27-5.29, p = 0.009) were independently associated with CT detected subclinical lung and heart disease. Pack-years smoking history was more strongly associated with MLHD than smoking status (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: MLHD is common even among HIV-infected patients who never smoked and pack- years smoking history is a stronger predictor than current smoking status of MLHD. A detailed pack-years smoking history should be routinely obtained and smoking cessation strategies implemented.

Burden of subclinical heart and lung disease detected on thoracic CT scans of HIV patients on HAART.

INTRODUCTION: The aim was to determine the prevalence of lung and heart abnormalities on thoracic CT scans in HIV-infected patients who were treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thoracic CT scans of 903 patients infected with HIV (mean age 48±7 yrs, 29% females) were reviewed by three radiologists by consensus. Patients were phenotyped according to smoking status, pack years and years since cessation for ex-smokers. Individuals known to have active lung or heart disease at the time of CT scanning were excluded. Multimorbidity lung and heart disease (MLHD) was defined by the presence of >2 lung or heart abnormalities on the CT scan. RESULTS: Prevalence of lung abnormalities were: 326 patients (36.1%) with emphysema, 271 (30.0%) with bronchiolitis, 44 (4.9%) with non-calcified lung nodules, 568 (63%) with significant bronchial wall thickening, 150 (16.7%) with bronchiectasis, 9 (1%) with interstitial lung disease. Overall, 445 patients (49.3%) had >2 lung abnormalities. Imaging findings suggestive of prior myocardial infarction (MI) were found in 1.4% (13 patients); 26.6% (240 patients) had CAC scores of 1 to 100, and 9.8% (89 patients) had CAC>100. 13.6% (123 patients) of the patients had CAC>100 and/or previous MI. MLHD was present in 484 patients (53.6%) and among 78 patients (16%) who never smoked. Table 1 describes CT findings according to pack year and stop smoking groups vs never smokers. CONCLUSIONS: MLHD is common in HIV-infected individuals even in non-smokers. Reduced CD4 count (hence severity of HIV infection) may be an important risk factor for chronic lung and heart disease. Thoracic CT scans may provide an excellent screening tool to detect MLHD in HIV-infected patients.

Predictors of emphysema progression in HIV-positive patients.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to find factors associated with emphysema progression (EP), assessed on sequential thoracic CT scans, in a large cohort of HIV-positive patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an observational, prospective study of 448 consecutive HIV-positive patients on antiretroviral therapy who underwent two sequential ECG-gated coronary artery calcium scoring CT scans. Images were reviewed by three radiologists by consensus to assess lung emphysema using a visual semi-quantitative score (0 to 4) for each of six lobes. EP was defined as an increase in emphysema score. Heavy smoking habit was defined as a self-reported number of cigarettes per day smoked greater than 10. Immune reconstitution was defined as the change in CD4 cell count between first CT scan and CD4 nadir and it was divided into tertiles. Progressors and non-progressors were compared using X2-test for categorical variables and T-test of Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables where appropriate. Factors independently associated with EP were explored using multivariable logistic regression analyses. A p-value <.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The mean age of the included patients was 47,9±7,7 years, 24,1% of them were females and 39,3% were smokers. The median interval between the two CT scans was 2,4 years (interquartile range 0,69-5,9 years). EP was significantly associated with HIV-infection duration (p=0,056), smoking (p=0,007) and in particular heavy smoking habit (p=0,015) and time interval between the two scans (p=0,021), while the highest tertile of immune reconstitution was borderline in significance (p=0,075). Age and sex were not significantly related to EP and were not included in further analyses. HIV infection duration (OR=1,01; p=0,013), time interval between the two scans (OR=1,51; p=0,032) and heavy smoking habit (OR=3,36; p=0,041) remained independently associated with EP in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In this large cohort of HIV positive patients on antiretroviral therapy, HIV infection duration, time between CT scans and continued heavy cigarette smoking were independently associated with EP.

Acute obstructive jaundice: a possible clinical manifestation of IPMT. Case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Pancreatic masses causing acute obstructive jaundice still pose diagnostic difficulties and their characterization can often be complex as there is significant overlap in their imaging features. CASE REPORT: We describe a case of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Tumor (IPMT) presenting with acute obstructive jaundice in a patient with history of recurrent mild pancreatitis. Clinical evaluation, abdominal ultrasonography (US) and CT-scan posed suspicion of adenocarcinoma with cystic degeneration of the pancreatic head or mucinous cystadenocarcinoma; magnetic resonance (MR) with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) demonstrated the communication of the mass with the main pancreatic duct, posing differential diagnosis between main-duct-IPMT and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) demonstrated the presence of a mucus-secreting lesion inside duodenum and duodenal biopsies showed no evidence of neoplastic cells. RESULTS: The patient underwent spleen preserving total pancreatectomy that led to histological diagnosis of intraductal papillary mucinous with carcinoma in situ. DISCUSSION: The international guidelines for management of IPMT, reported in 2006 and revised in 2012, establish that the resectability and the absence of an invasive carcinoma are the most important prognostic factors in IPMT. Therefore an early diagnosis and a radical resection are crucial to improve the patient survival and reduce the recurrence rate. CONCLUSION: When an IPMT is suspected, the imaging modalities are essential to pose the diagnosis, maximise the chance to select the right surgical candidate and to perform the best treatment for each patient.

MR quantitative biomarkers of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: technical evolutions and future trends.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by hepatic steatosis as the earliest manifestation and hallmark, and ranges from benign fatty liver to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Liver biopsy (LB) is considered the reference standard for NAFLD diagnosis, grading and characterization, but it is limited by its invasiveness and observer-dependence. Among imaging surrogates for the assessment of hepatic steatosis, MR is the most accurate. (1)H MR spectroscopy (MRS) provides a quantitative biomarker of liver fat content (LFC) called proton density fat fraction (PDFF), but it is time-consuming, not widely available and limited in sample size. Several MR imaging (MRI) techniques, in particular fat suppression and in-opposed phase techniques, have been used to quantify hepatic steatosis, mainly estimating LFC from water and fat signal intensities rather than proton densities. Several technical measures have been introduced to minimize the effect of confounding factors, in particular a low flip angle, a multiecho acquisition and a spectral modeling of fat with multipeak reconstruction to address respectively T1 effect, T2* effect, and the multifrequency interference effects of fat protons, allowing to use MRI to estimate LFC based on PDFF. Tang et al. evaluated MRI-estimated PDFF, obtained by applying the above-mentioned technical improvements, in the assessment of hepatic steatosis, using histopathology as the reference standard. The identification of PDFF thresholds, even though to be further explored and validated in larger and more diverse cohorts, is useful to identify steatosis categories based on MRI-based steatosis percentages. MRI, with the new refined techniques which provide a robust quantitative biomarker of hepatic steatosis (PDFF) evaluated on the whole liver parenchyma, is a promising non-invasive alternative to LB as the gold standard for steatosis diagnosis and quantification.

Preoperative predictors of successful surgical treatment in the management of parapneumonic empyema.

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and thoracotomy are the main surgical options for treating parapneumonic empyema. The choice of either operation depends on many preoperative features, including the patient's condition, clinical and radiologic findings, and pleural fluid characteristics. The identification of the combination of those preoperative findings that will allow surgeons to select the appropriate approach for a successful operation (VATS or thoracotomy) could be of great interest in clinical settings. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a series of 97 patients who had undergone successful VATS or thoracotomy for parapneumonic empyema; in all cases, the operation had begun through VATS and was changed to a thoracotomy if a complete decortication was needed. Preoperative clinical, radiologic, and laboratory features were compared between the two groups to search for differences that might serve as predictive factors for either operation. Perioperative findings were also analyzed. RESULTS: The operation was accomplished by VATS in 40 patients (41%), and conversion to thoracotomy was necessary in 57 (59%). Significant predictive factors for conversion were a prolonged delay from diagnosis to operation, the presence of fever and of pleural thickness on computed tomography (CT) images. The 25 patients who presented with these three features were cured by thoracotomy. The operative time and postoperative complication rate were significantly higher for the thoracotomy patients. CONCLUSIONS: Some preoperative features can help the surgeon to better select patients for the appropriate operation. Delayed operation, fever, and pleural thickness can be used to predict the likelihood of conversion to thoracotomy.

Role of blebs and bullae detected by high-resolution computed tomography and recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax.

BACKGROUND: The prevention of recurrence after a first episode of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) remains a debated issue. The likelihood of recurrence based on the presence of blebs and bullae detected on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) imaging is controversial. METHODS: We evaluated patients conservatively treated for PSP who underwent chest HRCT scan in a single-institution retrospective longitudinal study. Absolute risk values and positive and negative predictive values of recurrence based on HRCT findings were the primary end points. RESULTS: We analyzed 176 patients. Ipsilateral and contralateral recurrence developed in 44.8% and 12% of patients, respectively. The risk of recurrence was significantly related to the presence of blebs or bullae, or both, at HRCT. The risk of ipsilateral recurrence for patients with or without blebs and bullae was 68.1% and 6.1%, respectively (positive predictive value, 68.1%; negative predictive value, 93.9%). The risk of contralateral pneumothorax for patients with or without blebs and bullae was 19% and 0%, respectively (positive predictive value, 19%; negative predictive value, 100%). The risk of ipsilateral recurrence was directly related to the dystrophic severity score: recurrence risk increased by up to 75% in patients with bilateral multiple lesions. Multivariate analysis showed that a positive HRCT was significantly related to ipsilateral recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of blebs and bullae at HRCT after a first episode of PSP is significantly related to the development of an ipsilateral recurrence or a contralateral episode of pneumothorax. Further studies are needed to validate the dystrophic severity score in the selection of patients for early surgical referral.

Magnetic resonance for quantitative assessment of liver steatosis: a new potential tool to monitor antiretroviral-drug-related toxicities.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing need for new diagnostic tools to monitor antiretroviral drug-related toxicities. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and MR spectroscopy are non-invasive diagnostic methods used in the detection and quantification of liver fat. The aim of this study was to compare sensitivity and specificity of different MR techniques in the quantitative assessment of liver steatosis, using liver biopsy as the reference standard, in patients with and without HIV infection. METHODS: Sequentially evaluated patients with suspected steatosis who were referred for liver biopsy at our tertiary care site were eligible. MR liver fat content (LFC) was estimated by T2-weighted and fat-suppressed T2-weighted spin-echo, dual-phase T1-weighted gradient-echo, multiecho gradient-echo and (1)H spectroscopy. Association between LFC and histological steatosis percentage was calculated by using univariate linear regressions and Pearson's coefficient. Respective receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare specificity and sensitivity of MR methods in diagnosis (cutoff 5%) and in quantitative evaluation (cutoff 33%) of steatosis. RESULTS: A total of 28 patients were identified: 12 refused or had contraindications for liver biopsy and 16 had biopsies plus MR. LFC and histological steatosis percentage were strongly associated (fat-suppressed r=0.86 [P<0.001], dual-phase r=0.88 [P<0.001], multiecho r=0.95 [P<0,001] and spectroscopy r=0.84 [P=0.01]). MR techniques had high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis and quantitative assessment of steatosis (areas under ROC curves ranging from 0.88 to 0.98). CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study confirms that MR may be a sensitive non-invasive alternative to biopsy for the quantitative assessment of liver fat and a potential end point to monitor antiretroviral-drug-related toxicities.