Anus Diseases/surgery , Debridement , Drainage , Fournier Gangrene/surgery , Radiography, Interventional , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Anus Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Anus Diseases/microbiology , Anus Diseases/pathology , Combined Modality Therapy , Fournier Gangrene/diagnostic imaging , Fournier Gangrene/microbiology , Fournier Gangrene/pathology , Humans , Male , Treatment Outcome , Young Adult
Historically, radiology has developed in a way that has increasingly distanced the radiologist from the patient. Currently, diagnostic imaging results are predominantly communicated through written reports. Written communication is not considered sufficient, verbal communication being essential for the performance of the modern radiologist to be considered satisfactory. However, a lack of preparation on the part of the radiologist when communicating the diagnosis, especially when it is not favorable (as is often the case in a cancer hospital), makes that conversation quite challenging. Studies conducted in other countries have demonstrated that there are a variety of opinions on the part of requesting physicians and patients regarding radiologist-patient communication, which can be explained by cultural differences. Although there is no rule regarding the best way to accomplish such communication, there are definitely incorrect ways. To bridge the gap between radiologists and patients and improve radiologist-patient communication, preparation of radiologists during their medical residency is fundamental. Therefore, it is important to address this question in Brazil. The objective of this study was to identify deeper discussions about the topic in the scientific literature. This analysis could help us map those involved and plan strategies to improve the ethical behavior of radiologists toward their patients.
A radiologia se desenvolveu, historicamente, de uma maneira que afastou cada vez mais o radiologista do paciente. Atualmente, a comunicação do diagnóstico radiológico é realizada predominantemente por laudos escritos. A comunicação escrita, porém, não pode ser considerada suficiente, sendo a comunicação verbal essencial para a boa atuação do radiologista moderno. Entretanto, a falta de preparo do radiologista na informação do diagnóstico, principalmente quando este não é favorável, como acontece frequentemente em um hospital oncológico, constitui um grande problema para esse especialista. Estudos realizados em outros países demonstraram variedade de opiniões dos médicos solicitantes e dos pacientes quanto à comunicação médico-paciente na radiologia, o que pode ser explicado por diferenças culturais. Embora não haja uma regra sobre a melhor maneira de realizar essa comunicação, há certamente maus caminhos. Para que o distanciamento entre radiologistas e pacientes diminua e a comunicação melhore, é fundamental o preparo do radiologista durante a residência médica. Deste modo, é importante levantar essa questão em nosso meio. Este estudo pretende buscar, na literatura científica, discussões mais profundas acerca do tema, pois essa análise pode nos auxiliar no mapeamento dos envolvidos e, futuramente, planejar estratégias de melhora no comportamento ético do radiologista frente ao paciente.
Abstract Historically, radiology has developed in a way that has increasingly distanced the radiologist from the patient. Currently, diagnostic imaging results are predominantly communicated through written reports. Written communication is not considered sufficient, verbal communication being essential for the performance of the modern radiologist to be considered satisfactory. However, a lack of preparation on the part of the radiologist when communicating the diagnosis, especially when it is not favorable (as is often the case in a cancer hospital), makes that conversation quite challenging. Studies conducted in other countries have demonstrated that there are a variety of opinions on the part of requesting physicians and patients regarding radiologist-patient communication, which can be explained by cultural differences. Although there is no rule regarding the best way to accomplish such communication, there are definitely incorrect ways. To bridge the gap between radiologists and patients and improve radiologist-patient communication, preparation of radiologists during their medical residency is fundamental. Therefore, it is important to address this question in Brazil. The objective of this study was to identify deeper discussions about the topic in the scientific literature. This analysis could help us map those involved and plan strategies to improve the ethical behavior of radiologists toward their patients.
Resumo A radiologia se desenvolveu, historicamente, de uma maneira que afastou cada vez mais o radiologista do paciente. Atualmente, a comunicação do diagnóstico radiológico é realizada predominantemente por laudos escritos. A comunicação escrita, porém, não pode ser considerada suficiente, sendo a comunicação verbal essencial para a boa atuação do radiologista moderno. Entretanto, a falta de preparo do radiologista na informação do diagnóstico, principalmente quando este não é favorável, como acontece frequentemente em um hospital oncológico, constitui um grande problema para esse especialista. Estudos realizados em outros países demonstraram variedade de opiniões dos médicos solicitantes e dos pacientes quanto à comunicação médico-paciente na radiologia, o que pode ser explicado por diferenças culturais. Embora não haja uma regra sobre a melhor maneira de realizar essa comunicação, há certamente maus caminhos. Para que o distanciamento entre radiologistas e pacientes diminua e a comunicação melhore, é fundamental o preparo do radiologista durante a residência médica. Deste modo, é importante levantar essa questão em nosso meio. Este estudo pretende buscar, na literatura científica, discussões mais profundas acerca do tema, pois essa análise pode nos auxiliar no mapeamento dos envolvidos e, futuramente, planejar estratégias de melhora no comportamento ético do radiologista frente ao paciente.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate radiologists' experiences with patient interactions in the era of open access of patients to radiology reports. METHODS: This prospective, nonrandom survey of staff and trainee radiologists (n = 128) at a single large academic institution was performed with approval from the institutional review board with a waiver of the requirement to obtain informed consent. A multiple-choice questionnaire with optional free-text comments was constructed with an online secure platform (REDCap) and distributed via departmental e-mail between June 1 and July 31, 2016. Participation in the survey was voluntary and anonymous, and responses were collected and aggregated via REDCap. Statistical analysis of categorical responses was performed with the χ2 test, with statistical significance defined as P < .05. RESULTS: Almost three-quarters of surveys (73.4% [94 of 128]) were completed. Staff radiologists represented 54.3% of survey respondents (51 of 94) and trainees 45.7% (43 of 94). Most respondents (78.7% [74 of 94]) found interactions with patients to be a satisfying experience. More than half of radiologists (54.3% [51 of 94]) desired more opportunities for patient interaction, with no significant difference in the proportion of staff and trainee radiologists who desired more patient interaction (56.9% [29 of 51] versus 51.2% [22 of 43], P = .58). Staff radiologists who specialized in vascular and interventional radiology and mammography were significantly more likely to desire more patient interaction compared with other specialists (77.8% [14 of 18] versus 45.5% [15 of 33], P = .03). Only 4.2% of radiologists (4 of 94) found patient interactions to be detrimental to normal workflow, with 19.1% of radiologists (18 of 94) reporting having to spend more than 15 min per patient interaction. CONCLUSIONS: Most academic staff and trainee radiologists would like to have more opportunities for patient interaction and consider patient interaction rarely detrimental to workflow.
Patient Access to Records , Physician-Patient Relations , Radiologists , Radiology Department, Hospital , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Surveys and Questionnaires
PURPOSE: To validate the use of a split-bolus pancreas CTA protocol for local staging of pancreatic cancer and to evaluate its ability to detect and characterize liver lesions. METHODS: Consecutive patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent split-bolus pancreas CTA between 12/2015 and 12/2016 were included in this IRB-approved HIPAA-compliant retrospective study. Objective evaluation of the abdominal vessels, the pancreas, the liver, and lesions, if present, was performed with attenuation measurements and tumor conspicuity and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) calculations. An abdominal radiologist with 20 years of experience performed subjective evaluation of image quality and blindly detected and characterized liver lesions. Any inconclusive findings or grading scores were evaluated in consensus with another abdominal radiologist with 7 years of experience. Liver findings were validated using a composite reference standard to assess accuracy. RESULTS: There were 82 pancreatic cancer patients with a total of 91 liver findings. Tumor conspicuity and CNR were 60.8 ± 35.1 HU and 8.0 ± 5.8 for the pancreatic lesions and 58 ± 34.7 HU and 9.7 ± 6.3 for the liver lesions, respectively. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the split-bolus protocol for the hepatic findings were correspondingly 89/91 (97.8%, 95% CI 92.3-99.4), 58/60 (96.7%, 95% CI 88.6-99.1), and 33/33 (100%, 95% CI 89.6-100). The subjective image quality ratings were optimal in more than 89% of the cases for various structures, with no non-diagnostic ratings. CONCLUSION: Split-bolus pancreas CTA protocol allows for detection and staging of pancreatic cancer, both for the primary tumor and detection and characterization of liver lesions.
Computed Tomography Angiography , Contrast Media/administration & dosage , Liver Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Liver Neoplasms/secondary , Pancreatic Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology , Aged , Female , Humans , Iohexol/administration & dosage , Male , Neoplasm Staging , Retrospective Studies , Sensitivity and Specificity
Abstract Objective To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of elastography for breast cancer identification in patients with indeterminate lesions on ultrasound. Methods This prospective, descriptive study included patients with indeterminate breast lesions in the ultrasound and with indication for percutaneous or surgical biopsy. The elastography was evaluated by qualitative analysis and by two methods for the semi quantitative analysis. Results We evaluated 125 female patients with 159 lesions, with a mean age of 47 years, and a range of 20-85 years. Ultrasound has shown to be a method with good sensitivity (98.1%), but with a lower specificity (40.6%). On the elastography qualitative analysis, the specificity and accuracy were of 80.2% and 81.8% respectively. The mean size of the lesions showed no difference in classification by elastography. For the semiquantitative elastography, the mean values of the malignant lesions were statistically higher when compared with the subcutaneous tissue or the adjacent fibroglandular tissue. The analysis of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for these two semiquantitativemethods showed that both are considered satisfactory, with an area under the curve above 0.75 and statistical significance (p < 0.0001). The best results were obtained when using the findings of combined conventional ultrasound and qualitative elastography, with 100% sensitivity and 63.2% specificity. Conclusions Elastography can be a useful complementary method, increasing the specificity and diagnostic accuracy of conventional ultrasound for the diagnosis of breast cancer in patients with indeterminate breast lesions.
Resumo Objetivo Avaliar a acurácia diagnóstica da elastografia para identificação do câncer de mama em pacientes com lesões indeterminadas por ultrassom. Métodos Estudo prospectivo, descritivo, com pacientes com lesões mamárias indeterminadas no ultrassom e indicação de biópsia percutânea ou cirúrgica. A elastografia foi avaliada por análise qualitativa e dois métodos de análise semiquantitativa. Resultados Avaliamos 125 pacientes do sexo feminino com 159 lesões, com média de idade de 47 anos, variando de 20 a 85 anos. O ultrassom mostrou ser um método com boa sensibilidade (98,1%), mas com menor especificidade (40,6%). Na elastografia da análise qualitativa, a especificidade e acurácia foram de 80,2% e 81,8%, respectivamente. A dimensão média das lesões não mostrou diferença na classificação por elastografia. Para a elastografia semiquantitativa, os valores médios das lesões malignas foram estatisticamente maiores quando comparados ao tecido subcutâneo ou fibroglandular adjacente. A análise das curvas ROC para estes dois métodos semiquantitativosmostrou que ambos são considerados satisfatórios, com área abaixo da curva acima de 0,75 e significância estatística (p < 0,0001). Osmelhores resultados foram obtidos com os achados de ultrassonografia combinada convencional e elastografia qualitativa, com sensibilidade de 100% e especificidade de 63,2%. Conclusões A elastografia pode ser um método complementar útil, aumentando a especificidade e a precisão diagnósticas do ultrassom convencional para o diagnóstico de câncer de mama em pacientes com lesões mamárias indeterminadas.
Humans , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Young Adult , Breast Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Elasticity Imaging Techniques , Ultrasonography, Mammary , Prospective Studies , Reproducibility of Results
Objective To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of elastography for breast cancer identification in patients with indeterminate lesions on ultrasound. Methods This prospective, descriptive study included patients with indeterminate breast lesions in the ultrasound and with indication for percutaneous or surgical biopsy. The elastography was evaluated by qualitative analysis and by two methods for the semi quantitative analysis. Results We evaluated 125 female patients with 159 lesions, with a mean age of 47 years, and a range of 20-85 years. Ultrasound has shown to be a method with good sensitivity (98.1%), but with a lower specificity (40.6%). On the elastography qualitative analysis, the specificity and accuracy were of 80.2% and 81.8% respectively. The mean size of the lesions showed no difference in classification by elastography. For the semiquantitative elastography, the mean values ââof the malignant lesions were statistically higher when compared with the subcutaneous tissue or the adjacent fibroglandular tissue. The analysis of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for these two semiquantitative methods showed that both are considered satisfactory, with an area under the curve above 0.75 and statistical significance (p < 0.0001). The best results were obtained when using the findings of combined conventional ultrasound and qualitative elastography, with 100% sensitivity and 63.2% specificity. Conclusions Elastography can be a useful complementary method, increasing the specificity and diagnostic accuracy of conventional ultrasound for the diagnosis of breast cancer in patients with indeterminate breast lesions.
Breast Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Elasticity Imaging Techniques , Ultrasonography, Mammary , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Reproducibility of Results , Young Adult
Epidermis/pathology , Melanoma/diagnosis , Nevus/diagnosis , Skin Neoplasms/diagnosis , Tomography, Optical Coherence/methods , Biopsy, Needle , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Male , Melanoma/pathology , Neoplasm Invasiveness/pathology , Neoplasm Staging , Nevus/pathology , Pilot Projects , Sampling Studies , Sensitivity and Specificity , Skin Neoplasms/pathology
O diagnóstico precoce do carcinoma basocelular, neoplasia cutânea de alta incidência, pode trazer grandes benefícios ao paciente. Muitas vezes lesões pouco pigmentadas, lesões iniciais pequenas e lesões superficiais podem representar um desafio diagnóstico clínico e dermatoscópico por não apresentar os achados típicos dessa neoplasia. Nessa situação, a tomografia de coerência óptica, tecnologia promissora na dermatologia, é recurso auxiliar não invasivo que pode ser incorporado à prática clínica.
Early diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma-a cutaneous neoplasia with high incidence-can bring great benefits to the patient. Often, slightly pigmented lesions, small initial lesions, and superficial lesions can represent a clinical and dermoscopic diagnostic challenge for not having the typical findings of this neoplasia. In such cases, optical coherence tomography-a promising technology in dermatology-is an auxiliary, non-invasive resource that can be incorporated into the clinical practice.
CONTEXT: Low-grade astrocytomas are intracerebral lesions of relatively high frequency in the under-18 pediatric population. They often present indolent behaviour, and complete surgical resection is the choice treatment. In cases where the surgery is not possible, chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be used. Medical reports do not recommend examination of the spinal cord at diagnosis or during treatment, since the risk of dissemination of the lesion to the spine is minimal according to medical experience. We describe here four cases of children with low-grade astrocytoma with aggressive dissemination to the neuroaxis.
Astrocytoma/secondary , Brain Neoplasms/pathology , Meningeal Neoplasms/secondary , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Fatal Outcome , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Meningeal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Meningeal Neoplasms/therapy , Neoplasm Staging
CONTEXT: Low-grade astrocytomas are intracerebral lesions of relatively high frequency in the under-18 pediatric population. They often present indolent behaviour, and complete surgical resection is the choice treatment. In cases where the surgery is not possible, chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be used. Medical reports do not recommend examination of the spinal cord at diagnosis or during treatment, since the risk of dissemination of the lesion to the spine is minimal according to medical experience. We describe here four cases of children with low-grade astrocytoma with aggressive dissemination to the neuroaxis.
CONTEXTO: Gliomas de baixo grau de malignidade são lesões intracerebrais relativamente freqüentes na população pediátrica menor de 18 anos de idade. Eles freqüentemente são indolentes em seu comportamento e a ressecção cirúrgica completa é o tratmento de eleição. Nos casos em que a cirurgia não é possível, a quimioterapia e a radioterapia podem ser utilizadas. Relatos da literatura não recomendam a avaliação radiológica da coluna espinhal ao diagnóstico ou durante o tratamento, desde que o risco de disseminação destas lesões para a coluna é considerado mínimo. Descrevemos aqui quatro casos de crianças com gliomas de baixo grau de malignidade com disseminação agressiva para o neuroeixo.
Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Male , Astrocytoma/secondary , Brain Neoplasms/pathology , Meningeal Neoplasms/secondary , Fatal Outcome , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Meningeal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Meningeal Neoplasms/therapy , Neoplasm Staging
A estratégia ideal para avaliação pré-operatória de ressecção de tumores hepáticos ainda não está definida. US apresenta vantagens quanto a custos, riscos e disponibilidade e limitações, sendo pior em pacientes obesos e com infiltração gordurosa hepática (IGH). Objetivos: primário: avaliar a eficácia da US na detecção de lesões hepáticas (LHs) e no planejamento de sua ressecção. Secundários: verificar se IGH e biótipo do paciente interferem na detecção das LHs e, comparar os achados da US com os da tomografia computadorizada (TC) e da ressonância magnética (RM). ... Foram avaliadas TC (24) e RM (21) e realizadas análises paciente a paciente e nódulo a nódulo ... Resultados: US e USIO detectaram mesmo número de LHs em 52,2% e a média de LHs por paciente detectadas pela US (2,37) e pela USIO (3,37) mostrou diferença estatística (p=0,001) ... Conclusões: a US mostrou sensibilidade elevada na detecção de LHs, tendo sido útil no planejamento cirúrgico dos pacientes. IGH e biótipo não interferiram na sensibilidade da US. A sensibilidade dos exames de imagem pré-operatórios (US, TC e RM) não mostrou diferença estatisticamente significativa. A US deve voltar ao foco de estudos voltados à avaliação hepática pré-operatória por imagem do fígado, sem restrições quanto ao biótipo ou presença de IGH.
The optimal imaging strategy for preoperative malignant liver lesion resection has not yet been defined. Hepatic ultrasound (US) yields advantages as low cost, lack of risks and availability, however tends to be worse for obese or patients with fatty liver infiltration (FLI). Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of US in liver lesion (LL) detection, verify its influence on surgical plan and, as a secondary objective to verify the influence of body habitus and FLI on ultrasound LL detection. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were also compared to preoperative US. Patients and methods: Cirrhotic patients were excluded. 67 adult patients were submitted to LL resection from March/2002 to July/2007 and evaluated by US. They had colorectal cancer (51), neuroendocrine tumor (6), cholangiocarcinoma (3) and others. US results were compared to IOUS and histology (gold-standard), as well as to CT (24) and MRI (21) results. Patientby-patient and lesion-by-lesion analysis were performed. Results: in 52.2% patients US and IOUS depicted the same number of LL. The mean number of LL depicted by US (2.37) and IOUS (3.37) were statistically different (p=0.001). Curative surgery was conducted in 91.0% and surgical plan was modified after IOUS in 25.5% of patients. The sensitivity rate achieved by US (75.5%) had no statistical difference with CT (75.5%, p=0.85) or MRI (63.6%, p=0.17). The US sensitivity had no statistical difference related to overweight (71.4%) or patients with normal BMI, (84.0%) (p=0.13) nor to patients with (72.0%) or without FLI (78.1%) (p=0.49). Conclusions: The relative high sensitivity rate in LL detection by US and its contribution for LL resection associated to the fact that FLI and body habitus did not influence US sensitivity, and the lack of statistical difference for US, CT and MRI sensitivity rates; should put the method back on the focus for further studies of preoperative evaluation for LL resection candidates
Humans , Adult , Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Liver Neoplasms , Liver Neoplasms/surgery , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Ultrasonography , Patient Care Planning
PURPOSE: To evaluate Doppler Ultrasound (DUS) in oncology patients suspected of having Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) and correlate findings with their clinical characteristics and outcome. METHODS: A study was made with 96 consecutive oncology patients submitted to DUS suspected to have DVT between May 2001 and April 2002. The same radiologist examined 73 women and 23 men, with a median age of 58 years, using DUS equipment, with high frequency linear and convex probes (logic500--GE and HDI5000--Philips). RESULTS: In 42 (43.8%) patients the DUS was considered normal, in 33 (34.4%) DVT was diagnosed and 21 of them had superficial or previous deep venous thrombosis or non conclusive studies. Considering clinical evaluation (and death by PE as caused by DVT) as the gold standard, DUS sensitivity was of 95.9%. There was a statistically significant correlation between DVT and tumor stage at the time of initial diagnosis and patient's survival rate (p<0.05). There was no correlation between DVT and gender, age, type of malignancy, stage of disease at the time of DVT diagnosis and different treatment regimens. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that in cancer patients DUS has a high sensitivity for diagnosis of DVT and that DVT diagnosis in these patients correlates with a shorter overall survival. Since there are no reliable clinical predictors to identify cancer patients with DVT, DUS should be performed whenever DVT is suspected.
Neoplasms/complications , Venous Thrombosis/diagnostic imaging , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Brazil/epidemiology , Epidemiologic Methods , Female , Femoral Vein/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasms/mortality , Pulmonary Embolism/diagnostic imaging , Saphenous Vein/diagnostic imaging , Ultrasonography, Doppler/standards , Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color/standards , Venous Thrombosis/mortality
OBJETIVO: Avaliar as características clínicas e evolução dos pacientes com câncer e suspeita de TVP submetidos à USD e a sua sensibilidade. MÉTODOS: Estudamos 96 pacientes. A mediana da idade foi de 58 anos, sendo que 73 eram do sexo feminino. A USD foi realizada pelo mesmo radiologista em equipamentos digitais (logiq-500-GE e HDI5000-Phillips), com transdutores lineares de alta freqüência e, quando indicado, convexo de 3,5 mHz, utilizando-se modo B e Doppler. RESULTADOS: Sessenta e sete pacientes (69,8 por cento) evoluíram a óbito, sendo que apenas quatro (4,1 por cento) tiveram exame negativo para TVP e a causa do óbito relacionado a TEP. Quarenta e dois pacientes (43,8 por cento) não apresentavam TVP à USD, enquanto 33 (34,4 por cento) apresentaram-na, sendo que os demais (21,8 por cento) tinham TVP antiga ou trombose superficial. Considerando-se a evolução como padrão ouro e qualquer diagnóstico de TEP desses pacientes causado por TVP, a sensibilidade da USD foi de 95,9 por cento. Encontramos correlação estatisticamente significativa entre a presença de TVP e o estadiamento da neoplasia ao diagnóstico (p<0,05) e com a sobrevida dos pacientes (p<0,05). Não encontramos correlações significativas com as demais variáveis estudadas. CONCLUSÃO: A USD tem alta sensibilidade para diagnóstico de TVP em pacientes com câncer. A presença de TVP nessa população de pacientes se correlaciona com uma menor sobrevida e não há características clínicas que nos permitam isolar um subgrupo de pacientes com maior chance de TVP por USD.
PURPOSE: To evaluate Doppler Ultrasound (DUS) in oncology patients suspected of having Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) and correlate findings with their clinical characteristics and outcome. METHODS: A study was made with 96 consecutive oncology patients submitted to DUS suspected to have DVT between May 2001 and April 2002. The same radiologist examined 73 women and 23 men, with a median age of 58 years, using DUS equipment, with high frequency linear and convex probes (logic500 - GE and HDI5000 - Philips). RESULTS: In 42 (43.8 percent) patients the DUS was considered normal, in 33 (34.4 percent) DVT was diagnosed and 21 of them had superficial or previous deep venous thrombosis or non conclusive studies. Considering clinical evaluation (and death by PE as caused by DVT) as the gold standard, DUS sensitivity was of 95.9 percent. There was a statistically significant correlation between DVT and tumor stage at the time of initial diagnosis and patient's survival rate (p<0.05). There was no correlation between DVT and gender, age, type of malignancy, stage of disease at the time of DVT diagnosis and different treatment regimens. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that in cancer patients DUS has a high sensitivity for diagnosis of DVT and that DVT diagnosis in these patients correlates with a shorter overall survival. Since there are no reliable clinical predictors to identify cancer patients with DVT, DUS should be performed whenever DVT is suspected.
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Neoplasms/complications , Ultrasonography, Doppler/standards , Venous Thrombosis , Brazil/epidemiology , Epidemiologic Methods , Femoral Vein , Neoplasms/mortality , Pulmonary Embolism , Saphenous Vein , Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color/standards , Venous Thrombosis/mortality
RACIONAL: Vinte e cinco a 50 por cento dos pacientes com metástases hepáticas são potenciais candidatos à cirurgia curativa. A ultra-sonografia intra-operatória tem sido usada com grande acurácia para orientar a ressecção das lesões hepáticas. OBJETIVO: Avaliar em nosso meio a importância desse método nas cirurgias hepáticas e comparar seus achados com os dos métodos de imagem pré-operatórios. PACIENTES E MÉTODOS: Estudou-se prospectivamente 35 pacientes com metástases hepáticas e indicação cirúrgica, com os seguintes tumores primários: cólon (24), tumor neuroendócrino (3), carcinoma de células renais e melanoma (2) e outros (4). A idade mediana foi de 56 anos, sendo 20 pacientes do sexo feminino. Os pacientes foram submetidos a pelo menos um exame entre tomografia computadorizada (30), ultra-sonografia (14) e ressonância magnética (8). RESULTADOS: A ultra-sonografia intra-operatória foi útil em 23 (65,6 por cento) das 35 cirurgias, e mudou o plano cirúrgico em 9 (25,7 por cento) pacientes. Houve correlação estatisticamente significativa entre o número de nódulos identificados por ultra-sonografia percutânea do abdome, tomografia computadorizada e ressonância magnética, e a ultra-sonografia intra-operatória, sendo que a média de nódulos por paciente encontrados pela ressonância magnética (2,6) e pela ultra-sonografia intraoperatória (3,0) não mostrou diferença estatisticamente significativa. Cinqüenta e cinco nódulos foram submetidos a análise anatomopatológica, considerada padrão-ouro para o cálculo de sensibilidade da ultra-sonografia intra-operatória, sendo que 52 (94,5 por cento) foram identificados pela ultra-sonografia intra-operatória. Dos nódulos menores que 1,5 cm, a ultra-sonografia detectou 15,0 por cento, a tomografia computadorizada 33,3 por cento, a ressonância magnética 66,6 por cento e a ultra-sonografia intra-operatória 91,6 por cento. CONCLUSÕES: A ultra-sonografia intra-operatória é útil na avaliação e conduta intra-operatórias durante as ressecções de metástases hepáticas, especialmente em pacientes com nódulos pequenos.
Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Intraoperative Care/methods , Liver Neoplasms/secondary , Liver Neoplasms/surgery , Ultrasonography, Interventional , Laparotomy/methods , Liver Neoplasms , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Prospective Studies , Tomography, X-Ray Computed
BACKGROUND: Twenty-five to 50% of the patients with hepatic metastases are potential candidates for curative surgery. Intraoperative ultrasound has been employed to guide the surgery. AIM: To evaluate this method in liver surgeries and compare it to other imaging methods. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients (20 females, with median age of 56 years) with hepatic metastases were prospectively studied between February 2001 and July 2003. Patients had as primary tumors: colorectal cancer (24), neuroendocrine tumors (3), renal cell carcinoma (2), melanoma (2), others (4). Each patient was submitted to at least: computed tomography (30), ultrasonography (14) and magnetic resonance imaging (8). Intraoperative ultrasound was performed in all patients in order to detect liver nodules. The number and location of liver lesions were compared to preoperative results. RESULTS: Intraoperative ultrasound was useful in 23 (65.6%) of the 35 surgeries and changed the planned surgical strategy in 9 (25.7%). There was a statistical significant correlation between the mean number of nodules identified by ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and intraoperative ultrasound. We found no statistical difference between magnetic resonance imaging and intraoperative ultrasound in identifying hepatic nodules. Fifty-five nodules were submitted to histological evaluation, the gold standard method and 52/55 (94.5%) were identified by intraoperative ultrasound. Intraoperative ultrasound identified 91.6% of the smaller than 1.5 cm lesions, ultrasonography identified 15.0% of them, computed tomography 33.3% and magnetic resonance imaging 66.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative ultrasound is crucial in the evaluation and decision making in hepatic surgery. Intraoperative ultrasound presents the highest sensibility in the detection of hepatic nodules compared to other imaging methods, especially for small lesions.
Intraoperative Care/methods , Liver Neoplasms/secondary , Liver Neoplasms/surgery , Ultrasonography, Interventional , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Laparotomy/methods , Liver Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Tomography, X-Ray Computed
