Clinical implications of microvascular CT scan signs in COVID-19 patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation.

PURPOSE: COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by the presence of signs of microvascular involvement at the CT scan, such as the vascular tree in bud (TIB) and the vascular enlargement pattern (VEP). Recent evidence suggests that TIB could be associated with an increased duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and intensive care unit (ICU) stay. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate whether microvascular involvement signs could have a prognostic significance concerning liberation from IMV. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All the COVID-19 patients requiring IMV admitted to 16 Italian ICUs and having a lung CT scan recorded within 3 days from intubation were enrolled in this secondary analysis. Radiologic, clinical and biochemical data were collected. RESULTS: A total of 139 patients affected by COVID-19 related ARDS were enrolled. After grouping based on TIB or VEP detection, we found no differences in terms of duration of IMV and mortality. Extension of VEP and TIB was significantly correlated with ground-glass opacities (GGOs) and crazy paving pattern extension. A parenchymal extent over 50% of GGO and crazy paving pattern was more frequently observed among non-survivors, while a VEP and TIB extent involving 3 or more lobes was significantly more frequent in non-responders to prone positioning. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of early CT scan signs of microvascular involvement in COVID-19 patients does not appear to be associated with differences in duration of IMV and mortality. However, patients with a high extension of VEP and TIB may have a reduced oxygenation response to prone positioning. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04411459.

Health-related quality of life profiles, trajectories, persistent symptoms and pulmonary function one year after ICU discharge in invasively ventilated COVID-19 patients, a prospective follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impairment is often reported among COVID-19 ICU survivors, and little is known about their long-term outcomes. We evaluated the HRQoL trajectories between 3 months and 1 year after ICU discharge, the factors influencing these trajectories and the presence of clusters of HRQoL profiles in a population of COVID-19 patients who underwent invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Moreover, pathophysiological correlations of residual dyspnea were tested. METHODS: We followed up 178 survivors from 16 Italian ICUs up to one year after ICU discharge. HRQoL was investigated through the 15D instrument. Available pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and chest CT scans at 1 year were also collected. A linear mixed-effects model was adopted to identify factors associated with different HRQoL trajectories and a two-step cluster analysis was performed to identify HRQoL clusters. RESULTS: We found that HRQoL increased during the study period, especially for the significant increase of the physical dimensions, while the mental dimensions and dyspnea remained substantially unchanged. Four main 15D profiles were identified: full recovery (47.2%), bad recovery (5.1%) and two partial recovery clusters with mostly physical (9.6%) or mental (38.2%) dimensions affected. Gender, duration of IMV and number of comorbidities significantly influenced HRQoL trajectories. Persistent dyspnea was reported in 58.4% of patients, and weakly, but significantly, correlated with both DLCO and length of IMV. CONCLUSIONS: HRQoL impairment is frequent 1 year after ICU discharge, and the lowest recovery is found in the mental dimensions. Persistent dyspnea is often reported and weakly correlated with PFTs alterations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04411459.

Fatal pulmonary fibrosis complicating COVID-19 infection in preexistent emphysema.

Only a few earlier clinical radiologic reports exist describing post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis. We report a case of 74-year-old woman referred with dizziness and hypoxemic respiratory failure with chest high resolution computer tomography (HRCT) showing ground glass opacities and emphysema. The patient was tested for Sars-CoV-2 and resulted positive, she was treated with medical therapy and supported with mechanical ventilation. Despite initial clinical and radiological improvements, subsequently the respiratory failure worsened as ground glass opacities evolved, with the appearance of combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema and the patient eventually died. Development of pulmonary fibrosis after SARS-CoV-2 infection and the overlap with preexistent emphysema could be a fatal complication.

Poor Concordance between Sequential Transbronchial Lung Cryobiopsy and Surgical Lung Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Diffuse Interstitial Lung Diseases.

Rationale: The diagnostic concordance between transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC)-versus surgical lung biopsy (SLB) as the current gold standard-in interstitial lung disease (ILD) cases requiring histology remains controversial. Objectives: To assess diagnostic concordance between TBLC and SLB sequentially performed in the same patients, the diagnostic yield of both techniques, and subsequent changes in multidisciplinary assessment (MDA) decisions. Methods: A two-center prospective study included patients with ILD with a nondefinite usual interstitial pneumonia pattern (on high-resolution computed tomography scan) confirmed at a first MDA. Patients underwent TBLC immediately followed by video-assisted thoracoscopy for SLB at the same anatomical locations. After open reading of both sample types by local pathologists and final diagnosis at a second MDA (MDA2), anonymized TBLC and SLB slides were blindly assessed by an external expert pathologist (T.V.C.). Kappa-concordance coefficients and percentage agreement were computed for: TBLC versus SLB, MDA2 versus TBLC, MDA2 versus SLB, and blinded pathology versus routine pathology. Measurements and Main Results: Twenty-one patients were included. The median TBLC biopsy size (longest axis) was 7 mm (interquartile range, 5-8 mm). SLB biopsy sizes averaged 46.1 ± 13.8 mm. Concordance coefficients and percentage agreement were: TBLC versus SLB: κ = 0.22 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01-0.44), percentage agreement = 38% (95% CI, 18-62%); MDA2 versus TBLC: κ = 0.31 (95% CI, 0.06-0.56), percentage agreement = 48% (95% CI, 26-70)%; MDA2 versus SLB: κ = 0.51 (95% CI, 0.27-0.75), percentage agreement = 62% (95% CI, 38-82%); two pneumothoraces (9.5%) were recorded during TBLC. TBLC would have led to a different treatment if SLB was not performed in 11 of 21 (52%) of cases. Conclusions: Pathological results from TBLC and SLB were poorly concordant in the assessment of ILD. SLBs were more frequently concordant with the final diagnosis retained at MDA.

[Pulmonary tuberculosis in diagnostic imaging: the great mime.] / La tubercolosi polmonare nella diagnostica per immagini: il grande mimo.

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is nowadays one of the most common causes of infectious disease-related morbility and mortality worldwide. The differential diagnosis between TB and some others conditions is an emerging problem, particularly challenging when TB imaging mimicks sarcoidosis, lymphoproliferative disorders and pulmonary neoplasms. In these cases, the correct diagnoses can be made with certainty only with trans-bronchial or CT guided biopsy.

Computed tomography of solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura abutting the mediastinum: A diagnostic challenge.

BACKGROUND: Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura (SFTP) arising from the mediastinal pleura may be confused with primary mediastinal tumors. We studied the computerized tomographic (CT) findings of patients with SFTP that could suggest a diagnosis of SFTP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: At our hospital from January 1995 to June 2012, 39 patients with histologically confirmed SFTP were surgically treated; seven of them abutting the mediastinal pleura. The study group included seven patients aged between 53 and 81 years. Baseline CT scans were retrospectively reviewed to identify radiological findings suggestive of SFTP including: (1) smooth and sharply delineated contours; (2) obtuse, acute, or tapering angles between the lesion and the mediastinum depending on the size; (3) homogeneous soft-tissue attenuation; (4) "geographic pattern" due to the contemporary presence of large vessels, necrosis, and calcifications; (5) displacement of the lung parenchyma; (6) presence of a cleavage plane; and (7) absence of lymphadenopathy or pleural methastasis. RESULTS: All tumors formed acute angles with the pleura. Six out of the seven presented smoothly tapering margins, three had a "geographic pattern" of attenuation and displaced the anterior junction line; one showed an outside junction line development. Four cases had a clear pleural origin. CONCLUSIONS: The possibility of SFTP should be taken into account when a mass abuts the mediastinum projecting inside the thoracic cavity in the presence of an intense and "geographical pattern" of enhancement without lymphoadenopathy or pleural metastasis. These findings assume greater significance in the presence of discrepancy between the size of the lesion and the clinical presentation.

Structured reporting for fibrosing lung disease: a model shared by radiologist and pulmonologist.

OBJECTIVES: To apply the Delphi exercise with iterative involvement of radiologists and pulmonologists with the aim of defining a structured reporting template for high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of patients with fibrosing lung disease (FLD). METHODS: The writing committee selected the HRCT criteria-the Delphi items-for rating from both radiology panelists (RP) and pulmonology panelists (PP). The Delphi items were first rated by RPs as "essential", "optional", or "not relevant". The items rated "essential" by < 80% of the RP were selected for the PP rating. The format of reporting was rated by both RP and PP. RESULTS: A total of 42 RPs and 12 PPs participated to the survey. In both Delphi round 1 and 2, 10/27 (37.7%) items were rated "essential" by more than 80% of RP. The remaining 17/27 (63.3%) items were rated by the PP in round 3, with 2/17 items (11.7%) rated "essential" by the PP. PP proposed additional items for conclusion domain, which were rated by RPs in the fourth round. Poor consensus was observed for the format of reporting. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a template for structured report of FLD that features essential items as agreed by expert thoracic radiologists and pulmonologists.

Fat Embolism Syndrome: Lung Computed Tomography Findings in 18 Patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the lung computed tomography (CT) findings in fat embolism (FE) syndrome. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 19 CT examinations of 18 patients with FE syndrome, diagnosed clinically using the Gurd and Wilson criteria. RESULT: Fat embolism syndrome showed 3 patterns: negative examination, bilateral interstitial-alveolar involvement, and adult respiratory distress syndrome like. Frequent findings included consolidations (17 patients), mostly with gravity dependent distribution, and ground-glass opacities (17 patients), mostly with patchy distribution. Fifteen patients showed an overlapping random nodular pattern. Less common findings included lobular ground-glass opacities and lobular consolidations, smooth septal thickening, thickening of the bronchial wall, and areas of crazy paving. The extension of the consolidations correlates with the duration of assisted ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: In FE syndrome, pulmonary CT findings are ground-glass opacities and dependent consolidations, associated with other variably overlapping signs, such as lobular opacities, random nodules, septal thickening, and bronchial wall thickening.

DIPNECH: Association Between Histopathology and Clinical Presentation.

Diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH) is a rare disorder which can be an incidental finding in imaging tests performed during the investigation of another condition, or is the final diagnosis in patients evaluated for chronic obstructive complaints. To explore the possible association between specific histopathology features and the mode of clinical presentation, we retrieved the clinical, functional, radiological, and pathological data of all 13 patients diagnosed with DIPNECH at our Institution over a 14-year period (2000-2014). As compared to patients with incidental disease (6/13, 46 %), patients with symptomatic disease were younger [mean (SD): 57.7 vs. 68.7 years, p = 0.046], were more likely to have mosaic attenuation (100 vs. 0 %, p = 0.001) and small multiple nodules (100 vs. 17 %, p = 0.005) at CT, and showed a significantly higher number of foci of linear neuroendocrine proliferation [median (IQR): 28 (13-37) vs. 6 (5-13), p = 0.018] and of tumorlets [median (IQR): 10 (8-20) vs. 1 (1-1), p = 0.002] at histology. Incidental disease was found in association with pulmonary adenocarcinoma in five out of six patients (83.3 %). The results of our study provide preliminary evidence that symptomatic patients with DIPNECH represent a specific subset characterized by younger age and a higher burden of foci of neuroendocrine proliferation.

A commentary on interstitial pneumonitis induced by docetaxel: clinical cases and systematic review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary toxicity is a well-known complication observed with several anticancer drugs. Docetaxel, a taxane chemotherapy drug widely used in the treatment of many types of solid tumors including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), rarely causes infiltrative pneumonitis. The exact mechanism by which docetaxel develops this side effect is not well understood; probably it is produced by type I and IV hypersensitivity responses. Here we describe 2 cases of infiltrative pneumonitis induced by docetaxel as second-line chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two patients with advanced NSCLC were treated with weekly docetaxel as second-line chemotherapy. After 3 courses of chemotherapy, restaging computed tomography (CT) of the chest revealed bilateral diffuse ground-glass opacities with a peribronchial distribution possibly indicative of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. No evidence of pulmonary embolus or pleural effusion was found. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed normal bronchi without lymphangitis; biopsies showed interstitial fibrosis without tumor cells. Bronchial tissue laboratory tests for fungi or bacilli were negative. No malignant cells were found at bronchoalveolar lavage. The patients were given high-dose corticosteroid therapy with prednisone 0.7 mg per kilogram per day. RESULTS: After 1 month of therapy, contrast-enhanced chest CT showed complete disappearance of the pulmonary changes in both patients. Spirometry and blood gas analysis revealed complete recovery of pulmonary function. The patients continued their oncological follow-up program. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary injury is a rare adverse event during docetaxel chemotherapy. Prompt treatment with high-dose corticosteroids is needed to avoid worsening of respiratory performance.

Diffuse granulomatous lung disease: combined pathological-HRCT approach.

Granulomatous lung diseases include a large number of conditions among granulomas are the pathological hallmark. Some of these conditions are frequently encountered in clinical practice. Differentiating infectious from noninfectious forms is a priority for the different specialists approaching these diseases, given the different implications for management and treatment. However, differential diagnosis is not always straightforward and the diagnosis of granulomatous disease, considering separately the clinical, radiological and pathological aspects, is at times incomplete or uncertain and requires multidisciplinary assessment. In this paper, we propose a combined HRCT-pathological approach to assess both the topographical and morphological features of the lesions. Based on topography, we can distinguish between granulomatous lesions distributed along the lymphatic vessels, with random distribution or centred on the airways. The prototype of the disease with lymphatic granulomas is sarcoidosis. In contrast, diseases exhibiting a random distribution of granulomas are those with haematogenous spread, the most typical of which is miliary tuberculosis (TB). Many diseases have distribution along the airways including hypersensitivity pneumonia and granulomatous bronchiolitis (including infections with bronchial spread, especially mycobacteriosis). The anatomical approach is completed by the assessment of the morphological aspects of the lesions and associated signs, reflecting both the possible mechanisms of spread and the different types of pathological and/or reparative tissue related to the disease.

Histological verification of positive positron emission tomography findings in the follow-up of patients with mediastinal lymphoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Follow-ups of patients with mediastinal lymphoma are not accurate if they rely on computed tomography (CT). Positron emission tomography (PET) has been suggested to be useful in several lymphoma settings, such as initial staging, evaluation of residual masses after therapy, and assessment of response early in the course of treatment. The aim of this retrospective study was to verify the reliability of positive PET scans of the mediastinum in following up patients with mediastinal lymphoma, using histological findings as a comparison. DESIGN AND METHODS: From January 2002 to July 2005, 151 patients with mediastinal lymphoma (57 with Hodgkin's disease [HD] and 94 with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [NHL]) were followed-up after the end of front-line treatment. Patients with a positive PET scan of the mediastinum underwent CT scanning and surgical biopsy. RESULTS: In 30 (21 HD and 9 NHL) out of 151 patients (20%) a suspicion of lymphoma relapse was raised based on positive mediastinal PET scanning. Histology confirmed this suspicion in 17 (10 HD and 7 NHL) out of 30 patients (57%), whereas either benign (9 fibrosis, 3 sarcoid-like granulomatosis) or unrelated neoplastic conditions (1 thymoma) were demonstrated in the remaining 13 patients (43%). SUVmax was significantly higher among patients who had signs of relapse (17 true positive cases) than among those who stayed in remission (13 false positive cases), the median values being 5.95 (range, 3.5-26.9) and 2.90 (range, 1.4-3.3), respectively (p=0.01). INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that a positive PET scan of the mediastinum of a patient being followed-up for a mediastinal lymphoma should not be considered sufficient for diagnostic purposes in view of its lack of discrimination. Histological confirmation can safely be carried out with various biopsy techniques, the choice of which should be made on the basis of the findings of the clinical and imaging studies of the individual case.