Sextus chest radiograph severity score correlates to clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19: A cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT: The value of chest radiography (CXR) in detection and as an outcome predictor in the management of patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has not yet been fully understood.To validate a standardized CXR scoring system and assess its prognostic value in hospitalized patients found to have COVID-19 by imaging criteria and to compare it to computed tomography (CT).In this cross-sectional chart review study, patients aged 18-years or older who underwent chest CT at a single institution with an imaging-based diagnosis of COVID-19 between March 15, 2020 to April 15, 2020 were included. Each patient's CXR and coronal CT were analyzed for opacities in a 6-zonal assessment method and aggregated into a "Sextus score." Inter-reader variability and correlation between CXR and coronal CT images were investigated to validate this scoring system. Univariable and multiple logistic regression techniques were used to investigate relationships between CXR scores and clinical parameters in relation to patient outcomes.One hundred twenty-four patients (median [interquartile range] age 58.5 [47.5-69.0] years, 72 [58%] men, 58 [47%] Blacks, and 35 [28%] Hispanics) were included. The CXR Sextus score (range: 0-6) was reliable (inter-rater kappa = 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.69-0.83) and correlated strongly with the CT Sextus score (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.75, P < .0001). Incremental increases of CXR Sextus scores of 2 points were found to be an independent predictor of intubation (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI]: 4.49 [1.98, 10.20], P = .0003) and prolonged hospitalization (≥10 days) (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI]: 4.06 [1.98, 8.32], P = .0001).The CXR Sextus score was found to be reproducible and CXR-CT severity scores were closely correlated. Increasing Sextus scores were associated with increased risks for intubation and prolonged hospitalization for patients with COVID-19 in a predominantly Black population. The CXR Sextus score may provide insight into identifying and monitoring high-risk patients with COVID-19.

Post-lung transplantation abdominopelvic complications: the role of multimodal imaging.

Lung transplantation (LT) is an established method for treating end-stage lung disease. Although most of the post-lung transplant imaging surveillance is focused on chronic lung allograft rejection, abdominopelvic complications have been reported in 7-62% of patients. The reported wide range of post-LT abdominopelvic complications is thought to be secondary to lack of current standardized definitions. These complications encompass a heterogeneous group of disorders including upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, inflammatory conditions of solid organs, lymphoproliferative disorders, and neoplasms; each with varying pathophysiology, timing, severity, and treatment. Clinical manifestations of these complications may overlap or be masked by immunosuppression; therefore, imaging plays a paramount role in the early management and treatment.

Incidental COVID-19 in the radiology department: Radiographic findings of COVID-19 in asymptomatic patient undergoing CT staging for breast cancer.

A 59-year-old incarcerated woman who was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in 2016 was brought in for evaluation of the breast cancer. Upon evaluation of the computed tomography chest for breast cancer restaging, diffuse bilateral ground glass opacities and a reverse halo sign in the right lower lobe concerning for atypical viral pneumonia were discovered. The patient was afebrile, had an oxygen saturation of 100%, and denied chest pain as well as shortness of breath. On physical exam, she exhibited decreased breath sounds bilaterally and expiratory wheezing. She later received a COVID-19 test, which came back positive. Infection with the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, also known as COVID-19) may remain asymptomatic in the initial phase, leading to under-recognition and incidental detection on procedures for standard clinical indications. Hospitals, in particular diagnostic imaging services, should prepare accordingly in regard to health precautions while keeping in mind the potential discrepancies between clinical presentation and resultant radiologic patterns. This awareness should be heightened in patients at higher risk (ie, prisoners). Furthermore, by acting upon the incidental detection of this virus during its early stages, subsequent steps could help prevent the spread of the virus.

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band erosion with intragastric band migration: A rare but serious complication.

Although laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is considered the most minimally invasive surgical technique for the treatment of morbid obesity, the procedure has a reported overall complication rate of up to 26%. Among the various complications, gastric band erosion with intragastric band migration is the most worrisome because of the risk of subsequent obstruction, peritonitis, and sepsis. Therefore, prompt and accurate diagnosis is crucial during imaging evaluation of these patients in the late postoperative setting. In this article, we report a case of a 47-year-old woman with a gastric band that had eroded into the gastric wall with intragastric migration demonstrating classic findings on fluoroscopic and computed tomography imaging.

A Rare Case of Chronic Appendicitis Superimposed on an Incarcerated de Garengeot Hernia Prospectively Identified on Computed Tomography.

The de Garengeot hernia is an uncommon and potentially confounding pathologic process in which the appendix is contained within a femoral hernia. While typically a benign incidental finding, superimposed acute appendicitis is a rare but serious complication. Identification of this entity is crucial to patient management and ultimately outcome with imaging playing a critical role. Cross-sectional imaging, with either CT or MRI, should be performed in all cases of suspected incarcerated de Garengeot hernia to facilitate the appropriate diagnosis and surgical intervention. Herein, we present the fifth case of a prospective CT diagnosis of the de Garengeot hernia in a 61-year-old female who presented with an irreducible right femoral hernia. The patient underwent CT examination which demonstrated the appendix within the femoral hernia sac with an associated periappendiceal fluid collection. The patient was taken for emergent surgical intervention at which time the appendix was found within the hernia sac. The appendix was removed, the defect repaired, and ultimately the patient recovered well.

A Rare Case of Penile Metastases as a Harbinger of Primary Pulmonary Adenosquamous Carcinoma.

Although lung cancer has a high propensity for distant metastatic disease, penile metastases from primary lung neoplasms are considered particularly rare. A 71-year-old male presented to our hospital with a rapidly enlarging hard palpable penile mass. MR imaging demonstrated two penile masses centered in the left and right corpus cavernosa. Subsequent CT imaging revealed a spiculated pulmonary mass in the right upper lobe with PET/CT, MRI, and surgical exploration, demonstrating evidence of metastases to the left adrenal gland, right subscapularis muscle, brain, and small bowel. Tissue sampling of lesions in the small bowel, right subscapularis muscle, and penis demonstrated histopathology consistent with an adenosquamous carcinoma which in combination with the appearance of the right upper lobe mass on PET/CT imaging suggested the patient's lung cancer as the primary lesion. Prior to our case, pulmonary adenosquamous carcinoma metastasizing to the penis has only been reported once in the literature. Herein, we report a rare case of penile metastases as the presenting sign of metastatic pulmonary adenosquamous carcinoma characterized with PET/CT and MR imaging.

A Rare Multifocal Pattern of Type 2 Autoimmune Pancreatitis with Negative IgG4: A Potential Diagnostic Pitfall That May Mimic Multifocal Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is an increasingly recognized form of acute pancreatitis characterized by obstructive jaundice with a rapid and dramatic treatment response to steroid therapy. Recently, AIP has been divided into two distinct phenotypes: lymphoplasmocytic sclerosing pancreatitis AIP (type 1) and idiopathic duct-centric pancreatitis AIP (type 2); each of which have their own distinct demographics, diagnostic criteria, and histopathological features. We report, to the best of our knowledge, the first case of a multifocal pattern of type 2 AIP characterized with both CT and MR imaging. This rare imaging pattern of AIP may mimic the appearance of more worrisome malignant etiologies such as multifocal pancreatic adenocarcinoma or lymphoma, with overlapping imaging characteristics potentially complicating or delaying diagnosis. Therefore, recognition of this atypical pattern of AIP and avoidance of this potential diagnostic pitfall is crucial.