Entinostat in patients with relapsed or refractory abdominal neuroendocrine tumors.

BACKGROUND: Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) are rare neoplasms with an increasing annual incidence and prevalence. Many are metastatic at presentation or recur following surgical resection and require systemic therapy, for which somatostatin analogs such as octreotide or lanreotide comprise typical first-line therapies. Nonetheless, treatment options remain limited. Epigenetic processes such as histone modifications have been implicated in malignant transformation and progression. In this study, we evaluated the anti-proliferative effects of a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, entinostat, which was computationally predicted to show anti-cancer activity, as confirmed in in vitro and in vivo models of GEP-NETs. METHODS: This was a phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of entinostat in patients with relapsed or refractory abdominal NETs. The primary objective was to estimate the objective response rate to entinostat. Additionally, with each patient as his/her own control we estimated the rates of tumor growth prior to enrollment on study and while receiving entinostat. Patients received 5 mg entinostat weekly until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. The dose could be changed to 10 mg biweekly for patients who did not experience grade ≥ 2 treatment-related adverse events (AEs) in cycle 1, but was primarily administered at the starting 5 mg weekly dose. RESULTS: The study enrolled only 5 patients due to early termination by the drug sponsor. The first patient that enrolled had advanced disease and died within days of enrollment before follow-up imaging due to a grade 5 AE unrelated to study treatment and was considered non-evaluable. Best RECIST response for the remaining 4 patients was stable disease (SD) with time on study of 154+, 243, 574, and 741 days. With each patient as his/her own control, rates of tumor growth on entinostat were markedly reduced with rates 20%, 33%, 54%, and 68% of the rates prior to enrollment on study. Toxicities possibly or definitely related to entinostat included grade 2/3 neutrophil count decrease [2/4 (50%)/ 2/4 (50%)], grade 3 hypophosphatemia [1/4, (25%)], grade 1/2 fatigue [1/4 (25%)/ 2/4 (50%)], and other self-limiting grade 1/2 AEs. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of relapsed or refractory abdominal NETs, entinostat 5 mg weekly led to prolonged SD and reduced the rate of tumor growth by 32% to 80% with an acceptable safety profile (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03211988).

A Somatic BRCA2-Mutated Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma With Sustained Exceptional Response to Modified FOLFIRINOX.

Homologous recombination repair (HRR) pathway deficiency opens multiple therapeutic avenues within pancreatic cancer. Patients with HRR deficiency-associated gene mutations such as BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB2 are more susceptible to platinum-based chemotherapies and in those with somatic BRCA mutations, PARP inhibitor therapy prolongs progression-free survival. The case discussed herein illustrates the therapeutic opportunities offered through the identification of HRR deficiency in pancreatic cancer, as well as the challenges associated with treatment and prevention of central nervous system metastases in long-term survivors of pancreatic cancer.

Radiology of fibrosis. Part I: Thoracic organs.

Sustained injury from factors such as hypoxia, infection, or physical damage may provoke improper tissue repair and the anomalous deposition of connective tissue that causes fibrosis. This phenomenon may take place in any organ, ultimately leading to their dysfunction and eventual failure. Tissue fibrosis has also been found to be central in both the process of carcinogenesis and cancer progression. Thus, its prompt diagnosis and regular monitoring is necessary for implementing effective disease-modifying interventions aiming to reduce mortality and improve overall quality of life. While significant research has been conducted on these subjects, a comprehensive understanding of how their relationship manifests through modern imaging techniques remains to be established. This work intends to provide a comprehensive overview of imaging technologies relevant to the detection of fibrosis affecting thoracic organs as well as to explore potential future advancements in this field.

Radiology of fibrosis part II: abdominal organs.

Fibrosis is the aberrant process of connective tissue deposition from abnormal tissue repair in response to sustained tissue injury caused by hypoxia, infection, or physical damage. It can affect almost all organs in the body causing dysfunction and ultimate organ failure. Tissue fibrosis also plays a vital role in carcinogenesis and cancer progression. The early and accurate diagnosis of organ fibrosis along with adequate surveillance are helpful to implement early disease-modifying interventions, important to reduce mortality and improve quality of life. While extensive research has already been carried out on the topic, a thorough understanding of how this relationship reveals itself using modern imaging techniques has yet to be established. This work outlines the ways in which fibrosis shows up in abdominal organs and has listed the most relevant imaging technologies employed for its detection. New imaging technologies and developments are discussed along with their promising applications in the early detection of organ fibrosis.

Radiology of fibrosis part III: genitourinary system.

Fibrosis is a pathological process involving the abnormal deposition of connective tissue, resulting from improper tissue repair in response to sustained injury caused by hypoxia, infection, or physical damage. It can impact any organ, leading to their dysfunction and eventual failure. Additionally, tissue fibrosis plays an important role in carcinogenesis and the progression of cancer.Early and accurate diagnosis of organ fibrosis, coupled with regular surveillance, is essential for timely disease-modifying interventions, ultimately reducing mortality and enhancing quality of life. While extensive research has already been carried out on the topics of aberrant wound healing and fibrogenesis, we lack a thorough understanding of how their relationship reveals itself through modern imaging techniques.This paper focuses on fibrosis of the genito-urinary system, detailing relevant imaging technologies used for its detection and exploring future directions.

Imaging for Early Detection of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Updates and Challenges in the Implementation of Screening and Surveillance Programs.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is one of the most aggressive cancers. It has a poor 5-year survival rate of 12%, partly because most cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, precluding curative surgical resection. Early-stage PDA has significantly better prognoses due to increased potential for curative interventions, making early detection of PDA critically important to improved patient outcomes. We examine current and evolving early detection concepts, screening strategies, diagnostic yields among high-risk individuals, controversies, and limitations of standard-of-care imaging.

Pancreatic Cyst Surveillance: Who, Why, How?

Pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are widely prevalent and commonly encountered in abdominal radiology. Some PCLs can be definitively identified at imaging as benign subtypes or those with malignant potential, while others remain indeterminate. Notably, the degree of malignant potential and natural history of the most common subtype, branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, are not clearly established. In the work-up of PCLs, patients may further be identified as high-risk individuals who are at elevated risk of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma due to familial and genetic factors. This review describes current PCL surveillance and management guidelines and highlights ongoing controversies and future directions to aid radiologists in their daily practice.

Percentage of Pancreatic Cysts on MRI With a Pancreatic Carcinoma: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are frequent on MRI and are thought to be associated with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) necessitating long-term surveillance based on older studies suffering from selection bias. PURPOSE: To establish the percentage of patients with PCLs on MRI with a present or future PDAC. STUDY TYPE: Systematic review, meta-analysis. POPULATION: Adults with PCLs on MRI and a present or future diagnosis of PDAC were eligible. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus were searched to April 2022 (PROSPERO:CRD42022320502). Studies limited to PCLs not requiring surveillance, <100 patients, or those with a history/genetic risk of PDAC were excluded. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: ≥1.5 T with ≥1 T2-weighted sequence. ASSESSMENT: Two investigators extracted data, with discrepancies resolved by a third. QUADAS-2 assessed bias. PDAC was diagnosed using a composite reference standard. STATISTICAL TESTS: A meta-analysis of proportions was performed at the patient-level with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS: Eight studies with 1289 patients contributed to the percentage of patients with a present diagnosis of PDAC, and 10 studies with 3422 patients to the percentage with a future diagnosis. Of patients with PCLs on MRI, 14.8% (95% CI 2.4-34.9) had a PDAC at initial MRI, which decreased to 6.0% (2.2-11.3) for studies at low risk of bias. For patients without PDAC on initial MRI, 2.0% (1.1-3.2) developed PDAC during surveillance, similar for low risk of bias studies at 1.9% (0.7-3.6), with no clear trend of increased PDAC for longer surveillance durations. For patients without worrisome features or high-risk stigmata, 0.9% (0.1-2.2) developed PDAC during surveillance. Of 10, eight studies had a median surveillance ≥3 years (range 3-157 months). Sources of bias included retrospectively limiting PCLs to those with histopathology and inconsistent surveillance protocols. DATA CONCLUSION: A low percentage of patients with PCLs on MRI develop PDAC while on surveillance. The first MRI revealing a PCL should be scrutinized for PDAC. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

Standardization of MRI Screening and Reporting in Individuals With Elevated Risk of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Consensus Statement of the PRECEDE Consortium.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies, with a dismal survival rate. Screening the general population for early detection of PDAC is not recommended, but because early detection improves survival, high-risk individuals, defined as those meeting criteria based on a family history of PDAC and/or the presence of known pathogenic germline variant genes with PDAC risk, are recommended to undergo screening with MRI and/or endoscopic ultrasound at regular intervals. The Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection (PRECEDE) Consortium was formed in 2018 and is composed of gastroenterologists, geneticists, pancreatic surgeons, radiologists, statisticians, and researchers from 40 sites in North America, Europe, and Asia. The overarching goal of the PRECEDE Consortium is to facilitate earlier diagnosis of PDAC for high-risk individuals to increase survival of the disease. A standardized MRI protocol and reporting template are needed to enhance the quality of screening examinations, improve consistency of clinical management, and facilitate multiinstitutional research. We present a consensus statement to standardize MRI screening and reporting for individuals with elevated risk of pancreatic cancer.

Relationship Between Body Composition and Death in Patients with COVID-19 Differs Based on the Presence of Gastrointestinal Symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Patients with SARS-CoV-2 who present with gastrointestinal symptoms have a milder clinical course than those who do not. Risk factors for severe COVID-19 disease include increased adiposity and sarcopenia. AIMS: To determine whether body composition risk factors are associated with worse outcomes among patients with gastrointestinal symptoms. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who underwent abdominal CT scan for clinical indications. Abdominal body composition measures including skeletal muscle index (SMI), intramuscular adipose tissue index (IMATI), visceral adipose tissue index (VATI), subcutaneous adipose tissue index (SATI), visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio (VAT/SAT ratio), and liver and spleen attenuation were collected. The association between body composition measurements and 30-day mortality was evaluated in patients with and without gastrointestinal symptoms at the time of positive SARS-CoV-2 test. RESULTS: Abdominal CT scans of 190 patients with COVID-19 were evaluated. Gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain were present in 117 (62%). Among patients without gastrointestinal symptoms, those who died had greater IMATI (p = 0.049), less SMI (p = 0.010), and a trend toward a greater VAT/SAT ratio. Among patients with gastrointestinal symptoms, those who died had significantly greater IMATI (p = 0.025) but no differences in other measures. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with COVID-19, those without gastrointestinal symptoms showed the expected associations between mortality and low SMI, high IMATI, and trend toward higher VAT/SAT ratio, but those with gastrointestinal symptoms did not. Future studies should explore the mechanisms for the altered disease course in patients with COVID-19 who present with gastrointestinal symptoms.

Radiomics machine-learning signature for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients with indeterminate liver nodules.

PURPOSE: To enhance clinician's decision-making by diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhotic patients with indeterminate liver nodules using quantitative imaging features extracted from triphasic CT scans. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 178 cirrhotic patients from 27 institutions, with biopsy-proven liver nodules classified as indeterminate using the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) guidelines. Patients were randomly assigned to a discovery cohort (142 patients (pts.)) and a validation cohort (36 pts.). Each liver nodule was segmented on each phase of triphasic CT scans, and 13,920 quantitative imaging features (12 sets of 1160 features each reflecting the phenotype at one single phase or its change between two phases) were extracted. Using machine-learning techniques, the signature was trained and calibrated (discovery cohort), and validated (validation cohort) to classify liver nodules as HCC vs. non-HCC. Effects of segmentation and contrast enhancement quality were also evaluated. RESULTS: Patients were predominantly male (88%) and CHILD A (65%). Biopsy was positive for HCC in 77% of patients. LI-RADS scores were not different between HCC and non-HCC patients. The signature included a single radiomics feature quantifying changes between arterial and portal venous phases: DeltaV-A_DWT1_LL_Variance-2D and reached area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.70 (95%CI 0.61-0.80) and 0.66 (95%CI 0.64-0.84) in discovery and validation cohorts, respectively. The signature was influenced neither by segmentation nor by contrast enhancement. CONCLUSION: A signature using a single feature was validated in a multicenter retrospective cohort to diagnose HCC in cirrhotic patients with indeterminate liver nodules. Artificial intelligence could enhance clinicians' decision by identifying a subgroup of patients with high HCC risk. KEY POINTS: • In cirrhotic patients with visually indeterminate liver nodules, expert visual assessment using current guidelines cannot accurately differentiate HCC from differential diagnoses. Current clinical protocols do not entail biopsy due to procedural risks. Radiomics can be used to non-invasively diagnose HCC in cirrhotic patients with indeterminate liver nodules, which could be leveraged to optimize patient management. • Radiomics features contributing the most to a better characterization of visually indeterminate liver nodules include changes in nodule phenotype between arterial and portal venous phases: the "washout" pattern appraised visually using EASL and EASL guidelines. • A clinical decision algorithm using radiomics could be applied to reduce the rate of cirrhotic patients requiring liver biopsy (EASL guidelines) or wait-and-see strategy (AASLD guidelines) and therefore improve their management and outcome.

The Negative Predictive Value of a PI-RADS Version 2 Score of 1 on Prostate MRI and the Factors Associated With a False-Negative MRI Study.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to calculate the negative predictive value of a prostate MRI study with a Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2 (PI-RADSv2) score of 1 (hereafter referred to as a PI-RADS 1 MRI study) and to explore the patient characteristics and MRI-based factors associated with an MRI study with false-negative results. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A total of 542 consecutive patients with a PI-RADS 1 MRI study obtained between January 2016 and July 2019 were retrospectively identified. Patient charts were examined to identify those patients who subsequently underwent systematic prostate biopsy within 1 year of undergoing MRI or at any later date if the biopsy was negative. Patient characteristics and MRI-specific factors were recorded. Two blinded radiologists evaluated the quality of the axial T2-weighted, DWI, and apparent diffusion coefficient sequences; measured the volume of the bladder, the prostate gland, and rectal gas; and determined whether the peripheral zone was avidly enhancing and whether low signal intensity was seen in 50% or more of the peripheral zone on T2-weighted images. Interobserver agreement was tested. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were built. RESULTS. A total of 150 patients (median age, 63 years; interquartile range, 56-70 years) were included. Of these patients, 19 (13%) had prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 3 + 4 or greater, yielding a negative predictive value of 87%. Both low T2 signal intensity in the peripheral zone and the prostate-specific antigen level were associated with a false-negative PI-RADS 1 assessment (odds ratio, 4.9 [95% CI, 1.6-14.9; p = 0.006] and 1.1 [95% CI, 1.0-1.2; p = 0.03], respectively). A cutoff prostate-specific antigen level of 3.97 ng/mL resulted in sensitivity and specificity of 89% and 21%, respectively. There was moderate interobserver agreement for low T2 signal intensity in the peripheral zone (κ coefficient = 0.75). CONCLUSION. Even among select patients who undergo subsequent biopsy because of a high clinical suspicion of prostate cancer, a PI-RADS 1 prostate MRI study has a high negative predictive value. A T2-hypointense peripheral zone and an elevated prostate-specific antigen level are significantly associated with a false-negative MRI study.

The role of initial chest X-ray in triaging patients with suspected COVID-19 during the pandemic.

PURPOSE: The purpose of our research is to evaluate the usefulness of chest X-ray for triaging patients with suspected COVID-19 infection. METHODS: IRB approval was obtained to allow a retrospective review of adult patients who presented to the Emergency Department with a complaint of fever, cough, dyspnea or hypoxia and had a chest X-ray between 12 March 2020 and 26 March 2020. The initial chest X-ray was graded on a scale of 0-3 with grade 0 representing no alveolar opacities, grade 1: < 1/3 alveolar opacities of the lung, Grade 2: 1/3 to 2/3 lung with alveolar opacities and grade 3: > 2/3 alveolar opacities of the lung. Past medical history of diabetes and hypertension, initial oxygen saturation, COVID-19 testing results, intubation, and outcome were also collected. RESULTS: Four hundred ten patient chest X-rays were reviewed. Oxygen saturation and X-ray grade were both significantly associated with the length of stay in hospital, the hazard ratio (HR) of discharge was 1.05 (95% CI [1.01, 1.09], p = 0.017) and 0.61 (95% CI [0.51, 0.73], p < 0.001), respectively. In addition, oxygen saturation and X-ray grade were significant predictors of intubation (odds ratio (OR) of intubation is 0.88 (95% CI [0.81, 0.96], p = 0.004) and 3.69 (95% CI [2.25, 6.07], p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Initial chest X-ray is a useful tool for triaging those subjects who might have poor outcomes with suspected COVID-19 infection and benefit most from hospitalization.

Nonenhancing Component of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma on Computed Tomography Correlates With Tumor Necrosis and Stage and Serves as a Size-Independent Prognostic Biomarker.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to quantify nonenhancing tumor (NT) component in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and assess its association with histologically defined tumor necrosis, stage, and survival outcomes. METHODS: Among 183 patients with ccRCC, multi-institutional changes in computed tomography attenuation of tumor voxels were used to quantify percent of NT. Associations of NT with histologic tumor necrosis and tumor stage/grade were tested using Wilcoxon signed rank test and with survival outcomes using Kaplan-Meier curves/Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Nonenhancing tumor was higher in ccRCC with tumor necrosis (11% vs 7%; P = 0.040) and higher pathological stage (P = 0.042 and P < 0.001, respectively). Patients with greater NT had higher incidence of cancer recurrence after resection (P < 0.001) and cancer-specific mortality (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Nonenhancing tumor on preoperative computed tomographic scans in patients with ccRCC correlates with tumor necrosis and stage and may serve as an independent imaging prognostic biomarker for cancer recurrence and cancer-specific survival.

Exploratory Study of Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Histogram Metrics in Assessing Pancreatic Malignancy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whole-lesion 3D-histogram apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) metrics for assessment of pancreatic malignancy. METHODS: Forty-two pancreatic malignancies (36 pancreatic adenocarcinoma [PDAC], 6 pancreatic neuroendocrine [PanNET]) underwent abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffusion-weighted imaging before endoscopic ultrasound biopsy or surgical resection. Two radiologists independently placed 3D volumes of interest to derive whole-lesion histogram ADC metrics. Mann-Whitney tests and receiver operating characteristic analyses were used to assess metrics' diagnostic performance for lesion histology, T-stage, N-stage, and grade. RESULTS: Whole-lesion ADC histogram metrics lower in PDACs than PanNETs for both readers (P ≤ .026) were mean ADC (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.787-0.792), mean of the bottom 10th percentile (mean0-10) (AUC = 0.787-0.880), mean of the 10th-25th percentile (mean10-25) (AUC = 0.884-0.917) and mean of the 25th-50th percentile (mean25-50) (AUC = 0.829-0.829). For mean10-25 (metric with highest AUC for identifying PDAC), for reader 1 a threshold > 0.94 × 10-3 mm2/s achieved sensitivity 94% and specificity 83%, and for reader 2 a threshold > 0.82 achieved sensitivity 97% and specificity 67%. Metrics lower in nodal status ≥ N1 than N0 for both readers (P ≤ .043) were mean0-10 (AUC = 0.789-0.822) and mean10-25 (AUC = 0.800-0.822). For mean10-25 (metric with highest AUC for identifying N0), for reader 1 a threshold <1.17 achieved sensitivity 87% and specificity 67%, and for reader 2 a threshold <1.04 achieved sensitivity 87% and specificity 83%. No metric was associated with T-stage (P > .195) or grade (P > .215). CONCLUSION: Volumetric ADC histogram metrics may serve as non-invasive biomarkers of pancreatic malignancy. Mean10-25 outperformed standard mean for lesion histology and nodal status, supporting the role of histogram analysis.

Long-Term Surveillance and Timeline of Progression of Presumed Low-Risk Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess risk of progression and rate of growth of presumed low-risk branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms surveyed for more than 4 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A keyword search of electronic medical charts was performed for the years 2001-2013. Cystic lesions that met the criteria for clinical branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, lacked baseline high-risk or worrisome features, and had more than 4 years of surveillance were included in this study. Two radiologists performed cyst size measurements to assess interreader variability. Cyst progression was defined either as 2-mm or greater or 20% or greater increase in diameter or as development of worrisome features. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated to evaluate cyst progression time and linear mixed models to evaluate growth rates. RESULTS: The search revealed 2423 patients with cystic pancreatic lesions. Among these patients 228 had imaging follow-up for 4 or more years, and 131 met the clinical criteria for branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms. Among the 131 cysts, 73 (55.7%) progressed: 61 (46.6%) increased in size, 10 (7.6%) increased in size and developed worrisome features, and two (1.5%) developed worrisome features only. Of the 71 cysts that increased in size, 50 (70.4%) did so within the first 5 years, and 21 (29.6%) grew after 5 years. No patient had adenocarcinoma. There was no significant difference in growth rate based on cyst size within the first 50 months. After 50 months, cysts larger than 20 mm continued to increase in size (p < 0.05) and had faster growth rates. CONCLUSION: Among presumed low-risk branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, most increased in size, approximately 30% after 5 years. Cysts with baseline size larger than 20 mm continued to grow beyond 5 years at a faster rate.

Developing radiology diagnostic tools for pulmonary fibrosis using machine learning methods.

BACKGROUND: Accurate and prompt diagnosis of the different patterns for pulmonary fibrosis is essential for patient management. However, accurate diagnosis of the specific pattern is challenging due to overlapping radiographic characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review utilizing two machine learning methods, classification and regression tree and Bayesian additive regression tree, to select the most important radiographic features for diagnosing the three most common fibrosis patterns and created an online diagnostic app for convenient implementation. RESULTS: Four hundred patients (median age of 67 with inter quartile range 58-73; 200 males) were included in the study. Peripheral distribution, homogeneity, lower lobe predominance and mosaic attenuation of fibrosis are the four most important features identified. Bayesian additive regression tree demonstrates better performance than classification and regression tree in diagnosis prediction and provides the predicted probability of each diagnosis with uncertainty intervals for each combination of features. CONCLUSION: The model and app built with Bayesian additive regression tree can be used as an effective tool in assisting radiologists in the diagnostic process of pulmonary fibrosis pattern recognition.

Visceral Adiposity Independently Predicts Time to Flare in Inflammatory Bowel Disease but Body Mass Index Does Not.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Visceral adiposity may be a more meaningful measure of obesity compared with traditional measures such as body mass index (BMI). This study compared visceral adiposity vs BMI as predictors of time to IBD flare among patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. IBD patients were included if they had a colonoscopy and computed tomography (CT) scan within a 30-day window of an IBD flare. They were followed for 6 months or until their next flare. The primary exposure was the ratio of visceral adipose tissue to subcutaneous adipose tissue (VAT:SAT) obtained from CT imaging. BMI was calculated at the time of index CT scan. RESULTS: A total of 100 Crohn's disease and 100 ulcerative colitis patients were included. The median age was 43 (interquartile range, 31-58) years, 39% had disease duration of 10 years or more, and 14% had severe disease activity on endoscopic examination. Overall, 23% of the cohort flared with median time to flare 90 (interquartile range, 67-117) days. Higher VAT:SAT was associated with shorter time to IBD flare (hazard ratio of 4.8 for VAT:SAT ≥1.0 vs VAT:SAT ratio <1.0), whereas higher BMI was not associated with shorter time to flare (hazard ratio of 0.73 for BMI ≥25 kg/m2 vs BMI <25 kg/m2). The relationship between increased VAT:SAT and shorter time to flare appeared stronger for Crohn's than for ulcerative colitis. CONCLUSIONS: Visceral adiposity was associated with decreased time to IBD flare, but BMI was not. Future studies could test whether interventions that decrease visceral adiposity will improve IBD disease activity.

An increased ratio of visceral to subcutaneous adipose tissue was associated with a shorter time to flare in patients with both Crohn's and ulcerative colitis. Conversely, increased body mass index was not associated with a shorter time to flare in inflammatory bowel disease patients.

The causes of medical malpractice suits against radiologists in the United States.

PURPOSE: To determine the most frequent causes of malpractice suits as derived from credentialing data of 8401 radiologists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of New Jersey Medical School. A total of 8401 radiologists in 47 states participating in the network of One-Call Medical, a broker for computed tomographic/magnetic resonance studies in workers' compensation cases, were required to provide their malpractice history as part of their credentialing application. Of these, 2624 (31%) radiologists had at least one claim in their career. In each enrollee's credentialing file, if there was a claim against the enrollee there was a narrative regarding each malpractice case from which, in most instances, a primary allegation could be discerned. Among the 4793 cases, an alleged cause could be derived from the narrative in 4043 (84%). Statistical analysis was performed with Stata 12 (2011; Stata, College Station, Tex) software. RESULTS: The most common general cause was error in diagnosis (14.83 claims per 1000 person-years [95% confidence interval {CI}: 14.19, 15.51]). In this category, breast cancer was the most frequently missed diagnosis (3.57 claims per 1000 person-years [95% CI: 3.26, 3.91]), followed by nonspinal fractures (2.49 claims per 1000 person-years [95% CI: 2.28, 2.72]), spinal fractures (1.32 claims per 1000 person-years [95% CI: 1.16, 1.49]), lung cancer (1.26 claims per 1000 person-years [95% CI: 1.11, 1.42]), and vascular disease (1.08 claims per 1000 person-years [95% CI: 0.93, 1.24]). The category next in frequency was procedural complications (1.76 claims per 1000 person-years [95% CI: 1.58, 1.96]), followed by inadequate communication with either patient (0.40 claim per 1000 person-years [95% CI: 0.32, 0.50]) or referrer (0.71 claim per 1000 person-years [95% CI: 0.60, 0.84]). Radiologists had only a peripheral role in 0.92 claim per 1000 person-years (95% CI: 0.77, 1.10). Failure to recommend additional testing was a rare cause (0.41 claim per 1000 person-years [95% CI: 0.34, 0.50]). CONCLUSION: Errors in diagnosis are, by far, the most common generic cause of malpractice suits against radiologists. In this category, breast cancer was the most frequently missed diagnosis, followed by nonvertebral fractures and spinal fractures. Failure to communicate and failure to recommend additional testing are both uncommon reasons for initiating a suit.

The demography of medical malpractice suits against radiologists.

PURPOSE: To delimit demographic characteristics of malpractice claims against radiologists in the United States by sex and location and to note the varying percentages of favorable outcomes and award amounts to plaintiffs by state. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This HIPAA-compliant study was institutional review board-approved. All radiologists enrolled in One-Call Medical, a specialized preferred provider organization, go through an initial and recurrent credentialing process, which records state of residence, age, sex, and malpractice history. For each radiologist, a record of unfavorable outcomes and payment awards is derived from narratives provided by the National Practitioner's Data Bank. All other suits are self-reported. Rates of malpractice claims per state were calculated with a zero-inflated negative binomial regression model allowing for differences in years at risk. Poisson regression was used to calculate the incidence rate ratio (IRR) for any payment as a result of a malpractice claim compared with the average of all 36 states, adjusted for sex. To determine the association of age, sex, and state with amount of payment, we used a general linear model assuming a gamma family distribution. RESULTS: In August 2010, 8401 radiologists from 47 states composed One-Call Medical's panel. During their careers, 30.9% (2600 of 8401) had been the subject of at least one malpractice claim. Median payment awards varied by 14-fold from Maine ($350 000) to Colorado ($24 105), while mean payments varied ninefold from Oregon ($715 707) to Nebraska ($74 373). Adjusted for age and state, radiologists in Alabama had the lowest rate of malpractice suits per 100 practice-years for men (0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI]; 0.73, 1.28) and women (0.70; 95% CI: 0.52, 0.96) compared with those in New York, who had the highest rate of suits for men (5.65; 95% CI: 5.09, 6.26) and women (4.13; 95% CI: 3.54, 4.80). Overall, male radiologists had a higher rate of being sued than did their female counterparts (IRR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.20, 1.56). CONCLUSION: The likelihood of a radiologist being the defendant in at least one suit is 50% by age 60, yet the difference in frequency and average number of suits accrued varies widely by state of residence and sex. Among resolved suits, the percentage of cases in which payment was made to the plaintiff differs markedly by state, as do median and mean award amount. Men are more likely than women to be sued during the course of their careers.