RESUMO
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of intraoperative MRI/TRUS fusion procedure in cT3a prostate cancer patients treated with high-dose-rate (HDR) real-time brachytherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prostate gland, dominant intraprostatic lesions (DILs), and extracapsular extension (ECE) were delineated in the pre-brachytherapy magnetic resonance images (MRI) of 9 consecutive patients. The pre-implant P-CTVUS (prostate clinical target volume) was defined as the prostate seen in the transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) images. The CTVMR includedthe prostate with the ECE image (ECE-CTV) as defined on the MRI. Two virtual treatment plans were performed based on the MRI/TRUS fusion images, the first one prescribing 100% of the dose to the P-PTVUS, and the second prescribing to the PTVMR. The implant parameters and dose-volume histogram (DVH) related parameters of the prostate, OARs, and ECE were compared between both plans. RESULTS: Mean radial distance of ECE was 3.6 mm (SD: 1.1). No significant differences were found between prostate V100, V150, V200, and OARs DVH-related parameters between the plans. Mean values of ECE V100, V150, and V200 were 85.9% (SD: 15.1), 18.2% (SD: 17.3), and 5.85% (SD: 7) when the doses were prescribed to the PTVUS, whereas ECE V100, V150, and V200 were 99.3% (SD: 1.2), 45.8% (SD: 22.4), and 19.6% (SD: 12.6) when doses were prescribed to PTVMR (p = 0.028, p = 0.002 and p = 0.004, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: TRUS/MRI fusion provides important information for prostate brachytherapy, allowing for better coverage and higher doses to extracapsular disease in patients with clinical stage T3a.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To validate the usefulness of measuring tophi with ultrasonography (US) as an outcome measure for chronic tophaceous gout. METHODS: Patients with crystal-proven gout were included. To evaluate validity, intraarticular and articular deep tophi were evaluated with both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and US. Tophi were punctured with US guidance to evaluate face validity. Interobserver and intraobserver measurement studies were done to evaluate reliability, and to estimate the smallest detectable difference. Sensitivity to change was evaluated with a 12-month followup observational study of urate-lowering therapy. RESULTS: US detected at least one tophus in all joints where MRI found nodules considered to be tophi. There was a good correlation, but just fair agreement between measurements with US and MRI. Puncture of nodules suspected of being tophi recovered urate crystals in 83% of the procedures. Intraobserver intraclass correlation was > 0.90 for diameters and volume, while it was 0.71 to 0.83 in the interobserver study. US was found to be sensitive to change, and there was an inverse correlation between serum urate concentrations and change from baseline measurement of tophi. CONCLUSION: US measurement of tophi fulfilled the OMERACT filter for an outcome measure, although it should be tested further in randomized clinical trials.
