Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment: Imaging Assessment.

At present, oncologic imaging is crucial for clinical decision-making [...].

CT angiography for the assessment of EVAR complications: a pictorial review.

Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a minimally invasive treatment proposed as an alternative to open repair in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms. EVAR consists in a stent-graft placement within the aorta in order to exclude the aneurysm from arterial circulation and reduce the risk of rupture. Knowledge of the various types of devices is mandatory because some stents/grafts are more frequently associated with complications. CT angiography is the gold standard diagnostic technique for preprocedural planning and postprocedural surveillance. EVAR needs long-term follow-up due to the high rate of complications. Complications can be divided in endograft device-related and systemic complications. The purpose of this article is to review the CT imaging findings of EVAR complications and the key features for the diagnosis.

Impact of structured report on the quality of preoperative CT staging of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: assessment of intra- and inter-reader variability.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether a structured radiology report improves the completeness of preoperative CT staging of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) compared to conventional free-text reports. METHODS: We retrospectively included 27 patients (mean age, 64 ± 11.1 years) referred for pancreatic preoperative CT scan for staging of PDA between 2015 and 2018 and in whom a diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma was ultimately confirmed. Four readers independently reported CT scans with both conventional free-text and structured reports. Differences in reported morphologic and vascular features with the two reports were assessed through McNemar Test. Intra-reader and inter-reader were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 216 reports were completed by four different readers including 108 free-text and 108 structured reports. Overall, 139 of 540 morphologic characteristics of PDA and 869 of 1188 vascular key features were only described in structured reports. Encasement of left gastric artery, gastroduodenal artery and splenic artery was described in up to 14.8% using free-text reports and in up to 29.6% using structured report, resulting in low-intra-reader agreement (k = 0.033-0.216). Inter-reader agreement improved with structured report compared to free-text one for left gastric artery (ICC = 0.844 vs. ICC = 0.493, respectively), gastroduodenal artery (ICC = 0.730 vs. ICC = 0.449, respectively), portal vein (ICC = 0.847 vs. ICC = 0.638, respectively), portal confluence (ICC = 0.848 vs. ICC = 0.422, respectively) superior mesenteric vein (ICC = 0.765 vs. ICC = 0.695, respectively), and splenic vein (ICC = 0.921 vs. ICC = 0.841, respectively). CONCLUSION: Structured reports for PDA staging significantly reduces the number of missing morphological and vascular features of PDA and improves the inter-reader agreement compared to free-text reports.

Negative Biopsy of Focal Hepatic Lesions: Decision Tree Model for Patient Management.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate patient- and procedure-related variables affecting the false-negative rate of ultrasound (US)-guided liver biopsy and to develop a standardized patient-tailored predictive model for the management of negative biopsy results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively included 389 patients (mean age ± SD, 62 ± 12 years old) who had undergone US-guided liver biopsy of 405 liver lesions between January 1, 2013, and June 30, 2015. We collected multiple patient- and procedure-related variables. By comparing pathology reports of biopsy and the reference standard (further histology or imaging follow-up), we were able to categorize the biopsy results as true-positive, true-negative, and false-negative. Diagnostic accuracy and diagnostic yield were measured. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify variables predicting false-negative results. A standardized patient-tailored predictive model of false-negative results based on a decision tree was fitted. RESULTS: Diagnostic accuracy and diagnostic yield were 93.8% (380/405) and 89.4% (362/405), respectively. The false-negative rate was 6.5% (25/387). Predictive variables of false-negative results at univariate analysis included body mass index, lesion size, sample acquisition techniques, and immediate specimen adequacy. The only independent predictors at multivariate analysis were patient age and Charlson comorbidity index. By combining lesion size and location with patient age and history of malignancy, we developed a decision tree model that predicts false-negative results with high confidence (up to 100%). CONCLUSION: False-negative results are not negligible at US-guided liver biopsy. The combination of selected lesion- and patient-specific variables may help predict when aggressive management is warranted in patients with likely false-negative results.

The role of MR imaging in the assessment of renal allograft vasculature.

Renal allograft dysfunction after transplantation is a relatively common occurrence with various potential etiologies. Vascular etiologies are of particular importance as early surgical or minimally invasive intervention can, in some cases, salvage the graft. Diagnosis of vascular pathology resulting in allograft dysfunction requires a thorough workup, of which imaging is a key component. Generally, ultrasound is the first-line imaging modality. More recently, MRI has been shown to be an effective and safe modality for diagnosis of vascular pathology after renal transplantation, particularly for diagnosis of transplant renal artery stenosis. This review will summarize imaging modalities that are most commonly used in evaluating vascular pathology after renal transplantation, with a focus on the various contrast- and non-contrast-enhanced MR techniques described in the literature and used at our institution. Of particular interest is the relatively recent utilization of the non-gadolinium containing iron-based contrast agent, ferumoxytol, in time-resolved contrast-enhanced MR angiography.

Imaging Assessment of Gastroduodenal Perforations.

Gastroduodenal perforation is an emergency situation that usually requires early recognition and well-timed surgical treatment. It can arise from different natural, iatrogenic, or traumatic causes, and it can present with various symptoms especially in the early phase. This article reviews the role of the different imaging techniques in the diagnosis of gastroduodenal perforation, focusing on the direct and indirect signs that are encountered in conventional radiography and computed tomography; our personal experience is also provided.

[Morpho-volumetric assessment of the right ventricle: a comparison between three-dimensional echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance]. / Valutazione morfo-funzionale del ventricolo destro: confronto tra ecocardiografia e risonanza magnetica cardiaca.

The morpho-volumetric assessment of the right ventricle (RV) is useful in the diagnosis and prognosis of many congenital and acquired cardiovascular diseases. The complexity of the right ventricular shape does not allow an adequate and satisfactory evaluation of the RV. Two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography is the most used tool for the assessment of RV function, as it is a noninvasive, reproducible and widespread technique, but the geometric assumptions required for measurement of RV volumes reduce its accuracy. At present, cardiac magnetic resonance is the gold standard for the evaluation of RV volumes because it does not need any assumption and is reproducible, though not always available. This imaging tool allows to follow-up patients and to monitor drug therapy. On the other hand, three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography overcomes several limitations of 2D echocardiography, in that it provides an estimation of RV volumes obtained through a real 3D data set, obtaining sections which cannot be technically achieved with 2D echocardiography. It is therefore useful to compare data on RV volumes and function obtained with 3D echocardiography versus cardiac magnetic resonance, mainly considering the lower costs and higher portability and availability of echocardiography.