Brazilian Landscape of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is expected to increase in the coming years, and strategies to mitigate the burden of this disease are needed in different regions. Geographic variations in epidemiology and risk factors, such as viral hepatitis and metabolic disease, pose challenges in adopting programs for early detection programs and management of patients with HCC. Brazil, like other countries, has high economic and social inequality, with heterogeneous access to health care. Viral hepatitis is the main risk factor but there is growing awareness of fatty liver disease. Risk factor monitoring and screening programs are unmet priorities because patients are often diagnosed at later stages. Advances in the management of patients with HCC have been made in recent years, including new tools for selecting patients for liver transplantation, sophisticated surgical techniques, and new systemic agents. High-volume academic centers often achieve favorable results through the adoption and application of established treatments, but this is not a reality in most regions of Brazil, because of disparities in wealth and resources. As HCC management requires a coordinated and multidisciplinary team, the role of local referral centers in decentralizing access to treatments and promoting health education in different regions should be encouraged and supported.

Cholangiocarcinoma: classification, diagnosis, staging, imaging features, and management.

Cholangiocarcinoma is a relatively uncommon malignant neoplasm with poor prognosis. The distinction between extrahepatic and intrahepatic subtypes is important as epidemiological features, biologic and pathologic characteristics, and clinical course are different for both entities. This review study focuses on the role imaging plays in the diagnosis, classification, staging, and post-treatment assessment of cholangiocarcinoma.

MRI features of perianal fistulas: is there a difference between Crohn's and non-Crohn's patients?

PURPOSE: Though perianal fistulas are commonly seen in patients with Crohn's disease, they can also be seen in patients without inflammatory bowel disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate MR imaging differences of perianal fistulas in patients with and without Crohn's disease. METHODS: Our retrospective search from January 2012 to December 2015 of the Radiology database for perianal fistula yielded 207 patients. Only patients with dedicated MR fistula protocol studies were included, whereas patients with previous anal surgery or anastomosis, anorectal tumors, and equivocal findings that could not be definitely assessed as a fistula were excluded. The following features were assessed: anatomic type of fistula (Parks Classification), luminal origin (hour clock position), anal verge distance, signs of acute inflammation, circumference of anus involved by inflammation, presence of rectal inflammation. and abscess. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty six of 207 patients met inclusion criteria. Of these, 96 (76.2%) had Crohn's disease and 30 (23.8%) did not. The most common fistulas identified were transphincteric (38.5% of Crohn's and 50% of non-Crohn's) and intersphincteric (33.3% of Crohn's and 35.4% of non-Crohn's). An abscess was associated in 41 cases, 32 (33.3%) in the Crohn's group and 9 (30.0%) in the non-Crohn's group. Rectal inflammation was present in 29 patients with Crohn's disease (29.2%) and in 2 without Crohn's (6.7%). This finding was statistically significant (p = 0.0009). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that while both groups can have similar MR imaging features, accompanying rectal inflammation was more commonly seen in Crohn's disease.

Extranodal lymphomas of abdomen and pelvis: imaging findings and differential diagnosis.

A wide spectrum of extranodal lymphomas in the abdomen and pelvis is commonly encountered by imaging. Diagnosing these lesions generally requires a multimodality approach. This review highlights imaging appearances of extranodal lymphomas in the abdomen and pelvis with emphasis on computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography-computed tomography along with the relevant differential diagnosis.

Blood pool contrast agents for venous magnetic resonance imaging.

Imaging of the venous system plays a vital role in the diagnosis and management of a wide range of clinically significant disorders. There have been great advances in venous imaging techniques, culminating in the use of magnetic resonance venography (MRV). Although MRV has distinct advantages in anatomic and quantitative cross sectional imaging without ionizing radiation, there are well-known challenges in acquisition timing and contrast administration in patients with renal impairment. The latest advancement involves the addition of new contrast media agents, which have emerged as valuable alternatives in these difficult scenarios. In this review, we will focus on a group of specific contrast agents called blood pool agents and discuss their salient features and clinical applications.

Undergrading and understaging in patients with clinically insignificant prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy.

PURPOSE: The aim of our study is to evaluate the undergrading and understaging rates in patients with clinically localized insignificant prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 2005 and July 2008, 406 patients underwent radical prostatectomy for clinical localized prostate cancer in our hospital. Based on preoperative data, 93 of these patients fulfilled our criteria of non-significance: Gleason score < 7, stage T1c, PSA < 10 ng/mL and percentage of affected fragments less than 25%. The pathologic stage and Gleason score were compared to preoperative data to evaluate the rate of understaging and undergrading. The biochemical recurrence free survival of these operated insignificant cancers were also evaluated. RESULTS: On surgical specimen analysis 74.7% of patients had Gleason score of 6 or less and 25.3% had Gleason 7 or greater. Furthermore 8.3% of cases showed extracapsular extension. After 36 months of follow-up 3.4% had biochemical recurrence, defined by a PSA above 0.4 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limited number of cases, we have found considerable rates of undergrading and understaging in patients with prostate cancer whose current definitions classified them as candidates for active surveillance. According to our results the current definition seems inadequate as up to a third of patients had higher grade or cancer outside the prostate.

Undergrading and understaging in patients with clinically insignificant prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy

PURPOSE: The aim of our study is to evaluate the undergrading and understaging rates in patients with clinically localized insignificant prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 2005 and July 2008, 406 patients underwent radical prostatectomy for clinical localized prostate cancer in our hospital. Based on preoperative data, 93 of these patients fulfilled our criteria of non-significance: Gleason score < 7, stage T1c, PSA < 10 ng/mL and percentage of affected fragments less than 25 percent. The pathologic stage and Gleason score were compared to preoperative data to evaluate the rate of understaging and undergrading. The biochemical recurrence free survival of these operated insignificant cancers were also evaluated. RESULTS: On surgical specimen analysis 74.7 percent of patients had Gleason score of 6 or less and 25.3 percent had Gleason 7 or greater. Furthermore 8.3 percent of cases showed extracapsular extension. After 36 months of follow-up 3.4 percent had biochemical recurrence, defined by a PSA above 0.4 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limited number of cases, we have found considerable rates of undergrading and understaging in patients with prostate cancer whose current definitions classified them as candidates for active surveillance. According to our results the current definition seems inadequate as up to a third of patients had higher grade or cancer outside the prostate.