Approach to Cardiac Masses Using Multimodal Cardiac Imaging.

Incidental cardiac masses can pose diagnostic challenges given the numerous differentials, and difficulty in obtaining tissue confirmation without invasive procedures. With recent advancements in cardiac imaging technology, noninvasive efforts to diagnose the intracardiac lesions have become more surmountable. In this paper, we report a case of a patient incidentally found to have an intracardiac mass during routine evaluation. Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated a small mass attached to the tricuspid valve, which was not visualized on follow up cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Here, we review the currently available cardiac imaging modalities and discuss their values and limitations. From this, we also propose a workflow in the approach to utilizing different imaging modalities to reach a conclusive diagnosis of undifferentiated cardiac masses.

Diagnosis of Peripheral Lung Lesions via Conventional Flexible Bronchoscopy with Multiplanar CT Planning.

Background. Conventional flexible bronchoscopy has limited sensitivity in the diagnosis of peripheral lung lesions and is dependent on lesion size. However, advancement of CT imaging offers multiplanar reconstruction facilitating enhanced preprocedure planning. This study aims to report efficacy and safety while considering the impact of patient selection and multiplanar CT planning. Method. Prospective case series of patients with peripheral lung lesions suspected of having lung cancer who underwent flexible bronchoscopy (forceps biopsy and lavage). Endobronchial lesions were excluded. Patients with negative results underwent CT-guided transthoracic needle aspiration, surgical biopsy, or clinical-radiological surveillance to establish the final diagnosis. Results. 226 patients were analysed. The diagnostic yield of bronchoscopy was 80.1% (181/226) with a sensitivity of 84.2% and specificity of 100%. In patients with a positive CT-Bronchus sign, the diagnostic yield was 82.4% compared to 72.8% with negative CT-Bronchus sign (p = 0.116). Diagnostic yield was 84.9% in lesions > 20 mm and 63.0% in lesions ≤ 20 mm (p = 0.001). Six (2.7%) patients had transient hypoxia and 2 (0.9%) had pneumothorax. There were no serious adverse events. Conclusion. Flexible bronchoscopy with appropriate patient selection and preprocedure planning is more efficacious in obtaining a diagnosis in peripheral lung lesions compared to historical data. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01374542.

Clinical outcomes of elderly South-East Asian patients in primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of elderly South-East Asian patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). METHODS: From January 2009 to December 2012, 1268 patients (86.4% male, mean age of 58.4 ± 12.2 years) presented to our hospital for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and underwent PPCI. They were divided into two groups: elderly group defined as age ≥ 70 years and non-elderly group defined as age < 70 years. Data were collected retrospectively on baseline clinical characteristics, door-to-balloon (D2B) time, angiographic findings, therapeutic modality and hospital course. RESULTS: The elderly group constituted 19% of the study population with mean age 76.6 ± 5.0 years. There was a higher proportion of female gender and ethnic Chinese patients in the elderly group when compared with the non-elderly group. The former was less likely to be smokers and have a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension. The mean D2B time was significantly longer in the elderly group. They also had a significantly higher incidence of triple vessel disease and obstructive left main disease. The use of radial artery access, glycoprotein 2b/3a inhibitors and drug-eluting stents during PPCI were also significantly lower. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the elderly group. The rate of cardiogenic shock and inhospital complications were also significantly higher. CONCLUSIONS: Our registry showed that in-hospital mortality rate in elderly South-East Asian patients undergoing PPCI for STEMI was high. Further studies into the optimal STEMI management strategy for these elderly patients are warranted.