Body Mass Index, Sarcopenia, and Their Variations in Predicting Outcomes for Patients Treated with Nivolumab for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) such as nivolumab has enabled outcomes for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) to be improved. However, only around 25% of patients respond to these therapies without being able to formally identify them. Data on relevant predictive markers are still lacking. The obesity paradox has been shown as a relevant prognostic marker in mRCC with better outcomes for obese patients. Nevertheless, the impact of weight variation and the presence of sarcopenia during ICI treatment is not known for now. METHODS: In a retrospective study, weight and its variations were collected at first day of ICI and at 6 weeks of treatment. Scanographic imagery was used to define the skeletal muscle index (SMI) as a reflect of sarcopenia. The impact of these parameters as predictive and prognostic factors for mRCC with nivolumab was evaluated. RESULTS: A higher body mass index (BMI) at baseline was significantly associated with response at the first scan (p = 0.036). Longer overall survival (OS) was observed for patients with a weight gain compared to the group with weight loss (p = 0.00028). Median OS for sarcopenic patients was 17.2 months and 31.6 months for the non-sarcopenic group of patients, but there was no statistical difference. CONCLUSION: This trial showed that a higher BMI and weight gain during nivolumab treatment were good predictive markers for outcomes in mRCC with nivolumab. Sarcopenia and variations in SMI could thus be of interest, but further studies are required.

Laparoscopic management of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a phase II prospective multicenter non-randomized trial (the CILOVE study).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility and safety of the laparoscopic approach after neoadjuvant chemotherapy among selected chemosensitive patients with advanced ovarian cancer. METHODS: The CILOVE study was a phase II prospective non-randomized multicenter study. It aimed to enroll 47 women with unresectable disease at the time of initial diagnosis (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IV and/or diffuse extensive carcinomatosis for advanced FIGO stage IIIC or patients unfit to withstand radical primary surgery), in response to chemotherapy and fit to undergo laparoscopy. RESULTS: Among the 48 patients enrolled in the trial, 44 (92%) patients underwent exploratory staging laparoscopy and, as a result, 41 patients were eligible for cytoreductive surgery. Among them, 32 were intended to be managed by laparoscopy and nine patients were managed by laparotomy. The conversion rate to laparotomy was 9.4% (3/32) and the reasons were multiple surgical adhesions (n=1), miliary carcinomatosis and adhesion to the intraperitoneal mesh (n=1), and poor laparoscopic evaluation of transverse colon involvement (n=1). All except one patient had optimal cytoreduction (97% complete cytoreduction, 3% incomplete cytoreduction (residual tumor <2.5 mm)). The median operative time was 267 min (range 146-415) and the median estimated blood loss was 150 mL (range 0-500). Two patients had intra-operative complications: one diaphragm rupture that was repaired during laparoscopy and one bradycardia. Six patients experienced early post-operative complications (<1 month), but there were no grade 3 and 4 complications (3 infections, 1 lymphoedema, 2 hemorrhage). After cytoreductive laparoscopy, the percentage of patients without progression at 12 months was 87.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Interval ovarian cytoreduction by a laparoscopic approach is safe and feasible for patients with a favorable response to chemotherapy. With the widespread use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the management of advanced ovarian cancer, a minimally invasive approach may be a potential option.

Spontaneous T1-Hyperintensity Within an Ovarian Lesion: Spectrum of Diagnoses.

Whenever elevated signal intensity is displayed at magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within an ovarian lesion on unenhanced T1-weighted sequences, some specific diagnoses should be considered because only 3 main components may be responsible for this T1-hyperintensity at MRI: fat, blood products, and proteinaceous or mucinous material. The associated clinical data and concomitant use of T2-weighted sequences and fat-saturation techniques is mandatory to make this tissue characterization possible. The goal of this pictorial review is to provide a simple radiologic reasoning and the differential diagnoses to consider in the presence of spontaneous elevated signal intensity on T1-weighted sequences within a cystic or solid ovarian tumour.

Aggressive silent GH pituitary tumor resistant to multiple treatments, including temozolomide.

Temozolomide (TMZ) has been proposed as a therapeutic option in aggressive pituitary tumors. Among the published cases, GH expressing tumors were rare. We describe a patient with initially benign silent GH adenoma that transformed into an aggressive GH secreting tumor resistant to usual therapy. MGMT expression was high and the MGMT promoter was unmethylated. Before this aggressive course, patient received three cycles of TMZ; no response was observed. Four cases of GH aggressive tumor treated by TMZ have been reported. Response to TMZ was observed in one of these four patients. Predictive factors of failure of TMZ remain unclear.

Pictorial essay: MRI evaluation of endometriosis-associated neoplasms.

Endometriosis is a frequent pathology mostly affecting women of young age. When typical aspects are present, the diagnosis can easily be made at imaging, especially at MRI. Transformation of benign endometriosis to endometriosis-associated neoplasms is rare. The physiopathology is complex and remains controversial. Endometrioid carcinoma and clear cell carcinoma are the main histological subtypes. Our goal was to review the main imaging characteristics that should point to an ovarian or extra-ovarian endometriosis-related tumor, especially at MRI, as it may be relevant prior to surgical management.Key points• Transformation of benign endometriosis to endometriosis-associated neoplasms is rare.• MRI is useful when displaying endometriosis lesions associated to an ovarian tumor.• Subtraction imaging should be used in the evaluation of complex endometriomas.

Mixed endometrioid and serous carcinoma developing in abdominal wall endometriosis following Cesarean section.

Abdominal wall endometriosis is unusual and mostly occurs in scars following Cesarean section. Although malignant transformation is rare, it must be recognized in order to benefit from radical resection. We report a very rare case of mixed endometrioid and serous carcinoma developing in a Cesarean section endometriosis scar and the way we managed it using surgery and chemotherapy. 18-FDG PET-CT imaging was performed to correctly stage the disease.

Ovarian metastases from ileal neuroendocrine tumour: Multimodality imaging.

We present a rare case of large bilateral ovarian tumours, secondarily revealing an ileal neuroendocrine tumour in a 71-year-old woman. Magnetic resonance examination showed bilateral ovarian, entirely solid lesions with a fibrous content and marked enhancement. Computed tomography was able to show a mesenteric retractile mass and a satellite suspicious ileal wall thickening. Gallium-68 DOTATOC confirmed the suspicion of digestive neuroendocrine tumour metastatic to the ovaries and the final diagnosis was made following radical surgery. To the best of our knowledge, the mainly fibrous aspect at imaging, resembling that of the primary tumour, is the first to be described in English literature. Therefore, we think that in the presence of atypical bilateral, solid and mainly fibrous ovarian masses, careful search for a primary lesion along the digestive tract should be conducted.

The prognostic influence of the proliferative discordance in metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma revealed by peptide receptor radionuclide therapy: Case report and review of literature.

RATIONALE: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET) are rare slowly growing tumors with a high metastatic potential. Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with radiolabeled analogues has been developed as a new tool for the management of metastatic well-differentiated (grade 1 and 2) neuroendocrine tumors expressing somatostatin receptor (SSTR2). Chemotherapy is the mainstay in the management of grade 3 (G3) unresectable pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma (pNEC). To date, no study has evaluated the efficacy of PRRT in such tumors. DIAGNOSES AND INTERVENTIONS: We describe a case of a progressive G3 pNEC with huge liver metastases successfully treated with PRRT (Lu DOTATATE). OUTCOMES: Complete remission was obtained for 3 years. Indeed, the mitotic index was low (as G2 tumors) but with a very high Ki-67 index (45%-70%). Such discordance between the proliferative markers should consider the use of PRRT before chemotherapy in unresectable metastatic G3 tumors expressing SSTR2. LESSONS: This case supports the hypotheses highlighting the heterogeneity of G3 pNEC. The latter should be subdivided into 2 distinct categories: proliferation-discordant (well differentiated) and concordant (poorly differentiated) NEC. PRRT could be suggested for the former group before the conventional chemotherapy.

Prostatosymphyseal fistula and osteomyelitis pubis following transurethral resection of the prostate: CT and MRI findings.

We present a very rare case of osteomyelitis pubis in a 75-year-old male patient due to a prostatosymphyseal fistula, which constituted a few weeks after trans-urethral resection of the prostate. The patient had a previous history of prostatic carcinoma treated by radiotherapy, which may have played a role in the development of the fistula. Computed tomography with excretory phase and magnetic resonance imaging were performed and enabled to make the final diagnosis.

Hepatic capsular retraction: spectrum of diagnosis at MRI.

Hepatic capsular retraction is an imaging feature that deserves the attention of the radiologist. Hepatic capsular retraction is associated with a number of hepatic lesions, benign or malignant, treated or untreated. The purpose of this pictorial review is to discuss the most common benign and malignant hepatic lesions associated with this feature with an emphasis on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Peribiliary cysts mistaken for a biliary dilatation in a cirrhosis patient.

Peribiliary cysts are common in patients with chronic liver disease. Ambiguous imaging features and association with cirrhosis-induced hyperbilirubinemia may lead to misdiagnose an obstructive jaundice. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) may be a useful sequence by showing small cystic structures with a specific periportal distribution on both sides of the portal veins, which do not communicate with the biliary ducts. These abnormalities may be recognized in order to avoid unnecessary endoscopic retrograde cholangiography.