Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with upper motor neuron predominance: diagnostic accuracy of qualitative and quantitative susceptibility metrics in the precentral gyrus.

OBJECTIVE: The study aims at comparing the diagnostic accuracy of qualitative and quantitative assessment of the susceptibility in the precentral gyrus in detecting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with predominance of upper motor neuron (UMN) impairment. METHODS: We retrospectively collected clinical and 3T MRI data of 47 ALS patients, of whom 12 with UMN predominance (UMN-ALS). We further enrolled 23 healthy controls (HC) and 15 ALS Mimics (ALS-Mim). The Motor Cortex Susceptibility (MCS) score was qualitatively assessed on the susceptibility-weighted images (SWI) and automatic metrics were extracted from the quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) in the precentral gyrus. MCS scores and QSM-based metrics were tested for correlation, and ROC analyses. RESULTS: The correlation of MCS score and susceptibility skewness was significant (Rho = 0.55, p < 0.001). The susceptibility SD showed an AUC of 0.809 with a specificity and positive predictive value of 100% in differentiating ALS and ALS Mim versus HC, significantly higher than MCS (Z = -3.384, p-value = 0.00071). The susceptibility skewness value of -0.017 showed specificity of 92.3% and predictive positive value of 91.7% in differentiating UMN-ALS versus ALS mimics, even if the performance was not significantly better than MCS (Z = 0.81, p = 0.21). CONCLUSION: The MCS and susceptibility skewness of the precentral gyrus show high diagnostic accuracy in differentiating UMN-ALS from ALS-mimics subjects. The quantitative assessment might be preferred being an automatic measure unbiased by the reader. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: The clinical diagnostic evaluation of ALS patients might benefit from the qualitative and/or quantitative assessment of the susceptibility in the precentral gyrus as imaging marker of upper motor neuron predominance. KEY POINTS: • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnostic work-up lacks biomarkers able to identify upper motor neuron involvement. • Susceptibility-weighted imaging/quantitative susceptibility mapping-based measures showed good diagnostic accuracy in discriminating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with predominant upper motor neuron impairment from patients with suspected motor neuron disorder. • Susceptibility-weighted imaging/quantitative susceptibility mapping-based assessment of the magnetic susceptibility provides a diagnostic marker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with upper motor neuron predominance.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis phenotypes significantly differ in terms of magnetic susceptibility properties of the precentral cortex.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to investigate whether the magnetic susceptibility varies according to the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) phenotypes based on the predominance of upper motor neuron (UMN)/lower motor neuron (LMN) impairment. METHODS: We retrospectively collected imaging and clinical data of 47 ALS patients (12 with UMN predominance (UMN-ALS), 16 with LMN predominance (LMN-ALS), and 19 with no clinically defined predominance (Np-ALS)). We further enrolled 23 healthy controls (HC) and 15 ALS mimics (ALS-Mim). These participants underwent brain 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (3-T MRI) with T1-weighted and gradient-echo multi-echo sequences. Automatic segmentation and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) were performed. The skewness of the susceptibility values in the precentral cortex (SuscSKEW) was automatically computed, compared among the groups, and correlated to the clinical variables. RESULTS: The Kruskal-Wallis test showed significant differences in terms of SuscSKEW among groups (χ2(3) = 24.2, p < 0.001), and pairwise tests showed that SuscSKEW was higher in UMN-ALS compared to those in LMN-ALS (p < 0.001), HC (p < 0.001), Np-ALS (p = 0.012), and ALS-Mim (p < 0.001). SuscSKEW was highly correlated with the Penn UMN score (Spearman's rho 0.612, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the clinical ALS phenotypes based on UMN/LMN sign predominance significantly differ in terms of magnetic susceptibility properties of the precentral cortex. Combined MRI-histopathology investigations are strongly encouraged to confirm whether this evidence is due to iron overload in UMN-ALS, unlike in LMN-ALS. KEY POINTS: • Magnetic susceptibility in the precentral cortex reflects the prevalence of UMN/LMN impairment in the clinical ALS phenotypes. • The degree of UMN/LMN impairment might be well described by the automatically derived measure of SuscSKEW in the precentral cortex. • Increased SuscSKEW in the precentral cortex is more relevant in UMN-ALS patients compared to those in Np-ALS and LMN-ALS patients.

A susceptibility-weighted imaging qualitative score of the motor cortex may be a useful tool for distinguishing clinical phenotypes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: To distinguish amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and its subtypes from ALS mimics and healthy controls based on the assessment of iron-related hypointensity of the primary motor cortex in susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI). METHODS: We enrolled 64 patients who had undergone magnetic resonance imaging studies with clinical suspicions of ALS. The ALS group included 48 patients; the ALS-mimicking disorder group had 16 patients. The ALS group was divided into three subgroups according to the prevalence of upper motor neuron (UMN) or lower motor neuron (LMN) impairment, with 12 subjects in the UMN-predominant ALS group (UMN-ALS), 16 in the LMN-predominant ALS group (LMN-ALS), and 20 with no prevalent impairment (C-ALS). The Motor Cortex Susceptibility (MCS) score was defined according to the hypointensity of the primary motor cortex in the SWI sequence. Its diagnostic accuracy in differentiating groups was evaluated. RESULTS: The MCS was higher in the ALS group than in the healthy control and ALS-mimicking disorder groups (p < 0.001). Among ALS subgroups, the MCS was significantly higher in the UMN-ALS group than in the healthy control (p < 0.001), ALS-mimicking disorder (p = 0.002), and LMN-ALS groups (p = 0.002) and higher in the C-ALS group than in the healthy control group (p = 0.019). An MCS value ≥ 2 showed specificity and a positive predictive value of 100% in the detection of both UMN-ALS and C-ALS patients. CONCLUSIONS: The assessment of MCS in the SWI sequence could be a useful tool in supporting diagnosis in patients suspicious for ALS with prevalent signs of UMN impairment or with no prevalence signs of UMN or LMN impairment. KEY POINTS: • The hypointensity of the primary motor cortex in susceptibility-weighted imaging could support the diagnosis of ALS. • Our new qualitative score called MCS shows high specificity and positive predictive value in differentiating ALS patients with upper motor neuron impairment from patients with ALS-mimicking disorders and healthy controls.

Early Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Patients With Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in an Emergency Setting.

OBJECTIVE: The role of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) is controversial due to the inhomogeneity of clinical and MR protocols. The aim of this work is to relate early MR findings obtained immediately after the admission, with the clinical presentation, the audiological findings, and the outcomes of treatment. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Tertiary referral university center. PATIENTS: Forty-seven patients (22 M, 25 F; age: 54.4 ±â€Š17.5 yr) consecutively referred to the Department of Emergency for ISSHL. INTERVENTIONS: All patients underwent the diagnostic and therapeutic work-up for ISSHL, and MR imaging within 72 hours from the admission, independently of the symptoms onset. All patients received the same treatment (systemic steroid therapy, intratympanic steroid injection, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): MR patterns, clinical, and laboratory findings. RESULTS: MR imaging was positive in 25 of 47 cases (53%), with a perfect agreement between clinical and MR examinations (Cohen K = 1) upon the affected ear. Three different radiological patterns were observed: labyrinthine haemorrhage (n = 5), acute inflammatory process (n = 14), isolated blood-labyrinth barrier breakdown (n = 6). By binary logistic regression, only vertigo was associated with a positive MR imaging [B = 2.8; p = 0.011; OR = 9.5 (95% CI: 2.2-40.8)] and the latter was the only variable associated with an unfavorable outcome [(B = 2.8; p = 0.02 OR = 12.8 (95% CI: 2.9-56.7)]. CONCLUSION: Patients affected by ISSHL with associated vertigo show a higher likelihood of having a positive MR imaging, which, in turn, seems to predict an unfavorable outcome.

Computed tomography coronary angiography in patients without known coronary artery disease can demonstrate possible non-cardiovascular causes of non-acute retrosternal chest pain.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) accuracy for demonstrating possible non-cardiovascular causes of non-acute retrosternal chest pain in patients without known coronary artery disease (CAD) and to correlate CTCA results with the patient management and relief from pain. METHODS: This prospective observational study was approved by the ethical committee. Consecutive patients suffering non-acute chest pain who underwent CTCA and with not known CAD were enrolled and classified as having coronary diseases (CD) or extracardiac diseases (ECD). Association between age, sex, body mass index (BMI), cardiovascular risk factors, and type of chest pain with CD or ECD was estimated. Correlation between BMI classes and each risk factor was also calculated. RESULTS: A total of 106 patients (60 males; age 62 ± 14 years [mean ± standard deviation]; mean BMI 27) were enrolled. Hypertension was found in 71/106 (67%); smoking was significantly more frequent among males (p = 0.003) and hypercholesterolemia among females (p = 0.017); hypertension and hypercholesterolemia significantly correlated with age, and hypertension also with BMI. Pain was atypical in 70/106 (66%) patients. The kind of pain did not correlate with disease or gender. CTCA showed possible causes of chest pain in 69/106 (65%) patients; 32/69 (47%) having only CD, 23/69 (33%) only ECD, and 14/69 (20%) both CD and ECD. Prevalence was: hiatal hernia 35/106 (33%); significant CAD 24/106 (23%); myocardial bridging 22/106 (21%). At follow-up of 94/106 (89%) patients, 71/94 (76%) were pain-free, 14/17 (82%) significant CAD had been treated, and only one patient with non-significant CAD was treated after CTCA. CONCLUSION: CTCA suggested possible causes of non-acute pain in 65% of patients. MAIN MESSAGES: • CTCA can either rule in or rule out possible causes of chest pain alternative to CAD. • Clinically relevant findings were detected in 65% of patients with non-acute chest pain. • Non-cardiovascular diseases potentially explained symptoms in 35% of patients.

The role of interventional radiology in the treatment of epiphora.

Epiphora is a relatively common ophthalmologic affection representing almost 5% of clinical consultations in ophthalmology and it consists in the complete or partial obstruction of nasolacrimal duct, leading to insufficient drainage of tears. The traditional treatment is represented by surgery namely, external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). Despite the high success rate DCR has many disadvantages and limitations since it requires general anesthesia, it may arise in a permanent facial scar and it is often affected by the reobstruction of the anastomotic tract by fibrotic scars and osteogenic activity. Fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures are a therapeutic alternative to surgery for lacrimal duct system obstructions that can consist either in balloon dacryocystoplasty or in nasolacrimal stent placement. In both cases, a pre-operative imaging characterization of the occlusion is needed for a correct treatment planning. In this review, we propose to highlight the role of interventional radiology in the treatment of epiphora and the role of computed tomography dacryocystography (CTD) in depiction and the pre-interventional planning.

Percutaneous High Frequency Microwave Ablation of Uterine Fibroids: Systematic Review.

Uterine fibroids are the most common benign pelvic tumor of the female genital tract and tend to increase with age; they cause menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, pelvic pressure symptoms, back pain, and subfertility. Currently, the management is based mainly on medical or surgical approaches. The nonsurgical and minimally invasive therapies are emerging approaches that to the state of the art include uterine artery embolization (UAE), image-guided thermal ablation techniques like magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) or radiofrequency ablation (RF), and percutaneous microwave ablation (PMWA). The purpose of the present review is to describe feasibility results and safety of PMWA according to largest studies available in current literature. Moreover technical aspects of the procedure were analyzed providing important data on large scale about potential efficacy of PMWA in clinical setting. However larger studies with international registries and randomized, prospective trials are still needed to better demonstrate the expanding benefits of PMWA in the management of uterine fibroids.

The role of endovascular therapy in acute mesenteric ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular therapy, including aspiration thrombectomy and local thrombolytic therapy, often associated with angioplasty and stent placement, has been described in the literature. The purpose of this study was to review case series of patients with acute mesenteric ischemia treated with endovascular therapy and evaluate their outcomes. METHODS: An online review using PubMed was carried out to identify all English articles about this topic in the time interval from 2005 to 2016. THE FOLLOWING VARIABLES WERE EXTRACTED: number of patients, cause of occlusion, symptoms, arteries involved, number of sessions of treatment, technical success, clinical success, recurrence rate, complications, mortality rate, number of patients who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy or surgical resection of ischemic bowel. RESULTS: Eighteen papers met the inclusion criteria and were included. Among the patients with arterial mesenteric ischemia treated with endovascular approach, the technical success rate was high (up to 100%) and data regarding clinical success are encouraging, even though they are few and heterogeneous. Technical success rate and clinical success of patients with acute venous mesenteric ischemia approached with endovascular treatment was 74-100% and 87.5-100% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Current advances in endovascular therapies have made these treatments feasible for mesenteric ischemia.

Diverticular Disease of the Colon: News From Imaging.

Different scenarios embrace computed tomography imaging and diverticula, including asymptomatic (diverticulosis) and symptomatic patients (acute diverticulitis, follow-up of acute diverticulitis, chronic diverticulitis). If the role of computed tomography is validated and widely supported by evidence in case of acute diverticulitis, this is not the case of patients in their follow-up for acute diverticulitis or with symptoms related to diverticula, but without acute inflammation. In these settings, computed tomography colonography is gaining consensus as the preferred radiologic test.