Diffuse Pulmonary Ossification on High-Resolution Computed Tomography in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Systemic Sclerosis-Related Interstitial Lung Disease, and Chronic Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: A Comparative Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence of diffuse pulmonary ossification (DPO) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related interstitial lung disease (ILD), and chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). METHODS: High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) from 71 IPF, 67 SSc-ILD, and 75 HP cases were independently evaluated by 2 thoracic radiologists blinded to patient data. Studies were assessed for the presence of DPO, HRCT scanning pattern, stigmata of granulomatous infection, and honeycombing. RESULTS: The prevalence of DPO was significantly higher in cases of IPF and SSc compared with HP, although there was no significant difference in prevalence between the IPF and SSc groups, even when accounting for the presence of prior granulomatous infection. Interobserver agreement for the presence of DPO was substantial. CONCLUSIONS: Although prevalence DPO on HRCT varies between some forms of ILD, the use of DPO to influence characterization of ILD should be considered with caution.

Clinical and Histopathologic Features of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-related Pneumonitis.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized oncology, but are associated with immune-related adverse events. Clinically, pneumonitis is a well-recognized complication, but its histopathologic features are poorly understood. Institutional archives were searched for patients having ICI therapy and subsequent lung tissue sampling. After excluding infectious cases, 9 patients (5 women, median: 59 y) were identified with clinically suspected ICI-related pneumonitis. Clinical history, imaging, and pathology slides were reviewed. Patients received pembrolizumab (6 cases), nivolumab (1), ipilimumab followed by pembrolizumab (1), or pembrolizumab followed by nivolumab (1); the latter experienced pneumonitis with both agents. Treatment duration ranged from 1 to 33 cycles (median: 8). Three patients received concurrent chemotherapy and 1 received radiation; the remainder received ICI monotherapy. Symptoms were nonspecific; 2 patients were asymptomatic. Thoracic imaging showed bilateral ground glass or nodular opacities in all cases, often with pleural effusion. Histologically, organizing pneumonia was seen in 7 patients, all with subclinical or mild disease, admixed with vague non-necrotizing airspace granulomas in 3 cases; all 6 patients with follow-up did well. One patient had acute fibrinous pneumonitis and 1 had diffuse alveolar damage; both died. All 9 cases showed foamy macrophages and pneumocyte vacuolization; 6 had rare eosinophils. ICI-related pneumonitis presents as bilateral ground-glass opacities or nodules, and usually manifests as organizing pneumonia histopathologically, often with vague non-necrotizing airspace granulomas. Foamy macrophages and pneumocyte vacuolization are characteristic and rare eosinophils are often seen. Less commonly, acute fibrinous pneumonitis or diffuse alveolar damage can occur, which may be fatal.

Testicular Vasculitis: A Sonographic and Pathologic Diagnosis.

Very little has been published about single-organ vasculitis of the testicle in the radiological literature. Consequently, it is a diagnosis that is unfamiliar to most radiologists. This case report describes the sonographic, pathologic, and laboratory findings of testicular vasculitis and reviews the available literature with regard to this subject.

Aliskiren: An orally active renin inhibitor.

Renin inhibitors are antihypertensive drugs that block the first step in the renin-angiotensin system. Their mechanism of action differs from that of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor antagonists, but like these drugs, renin inhibitors interrupt the negative feedback effects of angiotensin II on renin secretion. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) has long been recognized to play a significant role in hypertension pathophysiology. Certain agents that modify the RAAS can control blood pressure and improve cardiovascular outcomes. Optimization of this compound by Novartis led to the development of aliskiren - the only direct renin inhibitor which is clinically used as an antihypertensive drug. Aliskiren is the first of a new class of antihypertensive agents. Aliskiren is a new renin inhibitor of a novel structural class that has recently been shown to be efficacious in hypertensive patients after once-daily oral dosing. In short-term studies, it was effective in lowering blood pressure either alone or in combination with valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide, and had a low incidence of serious adverse effects. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2007 for the use as a monotherapy or in combination with other antihypertensives. Greater reductions in blood pressure have been achieved when aliskiren was used in combination with hydrochlorothiazide or an angiotensin-receptor blocker. The most common adverse effects reported in clinical trials were headache, fatigue, dizziness, diarrhea, and nasopharyngitis. Aliskiren has not been studied in patients with moderate renal dysfunction; as an RAAS-acting drug, it should be prescribed for such patients only with caution.