Anal Fistulas in Severe Perineal Crohn's Disease: Mri Assessment in the Determination of Long-Term Healing Rates.

Background & Aims: The European Crohn's and Colitis Organization recommends magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of anal fistulas to decide on the drug/surgery strategy. No evidence is available on the long-term impact of MRI features on fistula healing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of combined drug/surgery strategies for the treatment of perianal Crohn's fistulas based on MRI factors at referral. Methods: The clinical event (anal abscess, new fistula tract, cellulitis), therapeutic intervention (introduction/optimization of immunosuppressant/biologics, anal surgery, intestinal resection, stoma), and MRI data were prospectively recorded for patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and anal fistulas. Healing was defined by fulfilment of all the following conditions: no discharge or pain, closure of the external opening of the fistula, no visible internal opening, no abscess, and no subsequent draining seton or drainage procedure performed during at least 1 year of follow-up. Results: Seventy CD patients with anal fistulas and MRI evaluations were followed for 70 months. The cumulative rates of fistula healing were 25%, 40%, 50%, and 70% at 12, 24, 36, and 72 months, respectively. Severe, complex, branched, and high fistulas were associated with a less favorable outcome. Surgical closure of the tract improved the healing rates better than treatment with biologics or thiopurines. Male sex, A1 luminal phenotype, and anal ulceration at referral were independently associated with a higher healing rate. Conclusions: Therapeutic strategies for perianal fistulizing CD require robust anatomical and healing evaluations. Combined strategies using biologics to improve both drainage and secondary closure of the fistula tracts merit further study.

MRI assessment of tissue effects after 180-W XPS greenlight laser vaporization of the prostate.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) is an alternative to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in the surgical management of Benign Prostate Obtruction (BPO), with a better hemostatic effect due to a coagulation depth of several millimeters. The objective of this study was to prospectively assess the tissue effects of PVP by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From December to February 2014, ten patients were included in a prospective study and underwent PVP performed by a single surgeon with the Greenlight™ laser 180-W XPS. A multiparametric MRI of the prostate (Siemens 3T Verio) was achieved the day before the procedure and post-operatively (2 days, 7 days, 3 and 6 months after the procedure). The prostate volume after tissue removal was determined. The depth of necrosis in the prostatic and peri-prostatic tissues were assessed at six different locations. RESULTS: The median age and pre-operative prostate volume were 70 years (64-76) and 48.1 ml (19-74.4), respectively. Median prostate volume significantly decreased post-operatively (P < 0.001): At 6 months, median prostate volume reduction was 44.2% (38.7-49.5) (P = 0.001) compared to pre-operative setting. Two and 7 days after the procedure, mean depths of necrosis were 2.5 mm (0-3) and 1.3 mm (0-2.4), respectively. No necrosis was reported 3 and 6 months after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: PVP with Greenlight™ XPS 180-W is associated with a significant reduction of prostate volume. The depth of necrosis is low and homogeneous, resulting in a limited risk of peri-operative complications. Lasers Surg. Med. 49:577-581, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Haralick textural features on T2 -weighted MRI are associated with biochemical recurrence following radiotherapy for peripheral zone prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: To explore the association between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including Haralick textural features, and biochemical recurrence following prostate cancer radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In all, 74 patients with peripheral zone localized prostate adenocarcinoma underwent pretreatment 3.0T MRI before external beam radiotherapy. Median follow-up of 47 months revealed 11 patients with biochemical recurrence. Prostate tumors were segmented on T2 -weighted sequences (T2 -w) and contours were propagated onto the coregistered apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) images. We extracted 140 image features from normalized T2 -w and ADC images corresponding to first-order (n = 6), gradient-based (n = 4), and second-order Haralick textural features (n = 130). Four geometrical features (tumor diameter, perimeter, area, and volume) were also computed. Correlations between Gleason score and MRI features were assessed. Cox regression analysis and random survival forests (RSF) were performed to assess the association between MRI features and biochemical recurrence. RESULTS: Three T2 -w and one ADC Haralick textural features were significantly correlated with Gleason score (P < 0.05). Twenty-eight T2 -w Haralick features and all four geometrical features were significantly associated with biochemical recurrence (P < 0.05). The most relevant features were Haralick features T2 -w contrast, T2 -w difference variance, ADC median, along with tumor volume and tumor area (C-index from 0.76 to 0.82; P < 0.05). By combining these most powerful features in an RSF model, the obtained C-index was 0.90. CONCLUSION: T2 -w Haralick features appear to be strongly associated with biochemical recurrence following prostate cancer radiotherapy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;45:103-117.

High impact of macroaggregated albumin-based tumour dose on response and overall survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with 90 Y-loaded glass microsphere radioembolization.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Efficacy of radioembolization is derived from radioinduced damage, whereas tumour dosimetry is not considered as yet in prospective clinical trials. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the impact of tumour dose (TD), based on 99m Tc macroaggregated albumin (MAA) quantification, on response and overall survival (OS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We consecutively included 85 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with 90 Y-loaded glass microspheres. TD was calculated using a quantitative analysis of the MAA SPECT/CT. Responses were assessed after 3 months using the European Association for the Study of the Liver criteria. OS was assessed using Kaplan-Meier tests. RESULTS: Response rate was 80.3% on lesion-based analysis (n=132), and 77.5% on patient-based analysis. The response rate was only 9.1% for patients with TD <205 Gy against 89.7% for those with TD ≥205 Gy (P<10-7 ). Non-portal vein thrombosis (PVT) patients exhibited a median OS of 11.75 m (95% CI: 3-30.7 m) for TD <205 Gy, and 25 m (95% CI: 15-34.7 m) for TD ≥205 Gy (P=.0391). PVT patients exhibited a 4.35 m median OS (95% CI: 2-8 m) for TD<205 Gy, and 15.7 m (95% CI: 9.5-25.5 m) for TD ≥205 Gy, (P=.0004), with HR of 6.99. PVT patients exhibited a median OS of 3.6 m (95% CI: 2-8 m) when PVT MAA targeting was poor or with TD <205 Gy (poor candidate), vs 17.5 m (95% CI: 11-26.5 m) for the others identified as good candidates (P<.0001), with HR of 12.85. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the highly predictive value of MAA-based TD evaluation for response and OS. TD evaluation and PVT MAA targeting should be further evaluated in ongoing trials, whereas personalized dosimetry should be implemented in new trial designs.

Occupational radiation exposure of medical staff performing 9°Y-loaded microsphere radioembolization.

PURPOSE: Radioembolization of liver cancer with (90)Y-loaded microspheres is increasingly used but data regarding hospital staff exposure are scarce. We evaluated the radiation exposure of medical staff while preparing and injecting (90)Y-loaded glass and resin microspheres especially in view of the increasing use of these products. METHODS: Exposure of the chest and finger of the radiopharmacist, nuclear medicine physician and interventional radiologist during preparation and injection of 78 glass microsphere preparations and 16 resin microsphere preparations was monitored. Electronic dosimeters were used to measure chest exposure and ring dosimeters were used to measure finger exposure. RESULTS: Chest exposure was very low for both products used (<10 µSv from preparation and injection). In our experience, finger exposure was significantly lower than the annual limit of 500 mSv for both products. With glass microspheres, the mean finger exposure was 13.7 ± 5.2 µSv/GBq for the radiopharmacist, and initially 17.9 ± 5.4 µSv/GBq for the nuclear medicine physician reducing to 13.97 ± 7.9 µSv/GBq with increasing experience. With resin microspheres, finger exposure was more significant: mean finger exposure for the radiopharmacist was 295.1 ± 271.9 µSv/GBq but with a reduction with increasing experience to 97.5 ± 35.2 µSv/GBq for the six most recent dose preparations. For administration of resin microspheres, the greatest mean finger exposure for the nuclear medicine physician (the most exposed operator) was 235.5 ± 156 µSv/GBq. CONCLUSION: Medical staff performing (90)Y-loaded microsphere radioembolization procedures are exposed to safe levels of radiation. Exposure is lower than that from treatments using (131)I-lipiodol. The lowest finger exposure is from glass microspheres. With resin microspheres finger exposure is acceptable but could be optimized in accordance with the ALARA principle, and especially in view of the increasing use of radioembolization.

Selective internal radiation therapy compared with sorafenib for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein thrombosis.

PURPOSE: Tumoural portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a major prognostic factor in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The efficacy of sorafenib, the only treatment approved at an advanced stage, is limited. Based on previous data, selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT), or (90)Y radioembolization, seems an interesting option. We aimed to compare both treatments in this population. METHODS: We retrospectively compared patients treated in two centres for HCC with tumoural PVT. We compared overall survival (OS) between patients treated with SIRT and patients treated with sorafenib. Analyses were performed before and after 1:1 matching with a propensity score for controlling indication bias, using a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: A total of 151 patients were analysed, 34 patients treated with SIRT and 117 patients treated with sorafenib only. In the whole population, SIRT was associated with a higher median OS as compared with sorafenib: 18.8 vs 6.5 months (log-rank p < 0.001). There was an imbalance of baseline characteristics between patients treated by SIRT and sorafenib, which justified patient matching with use of a propensity score: 24 patients treated with SIRT could be matched with 24 patients treated with sorafenib. OS was estimated with a median of 26.2 vs 8.7 months in patients treated with SIRT vs sorafenib, respectively (log-rank p = 0.054). Before and after patient matching, the adjusted hazard ratio related to treatment by SIRT was estimated at 0.62 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.39-0.97] (p = 0.037) and 0.40 (95 % CI 0.19-0.82) (p = 0.013), respectively. CONCLUSION: SIRT seems more effective than sorafenib in patients presenting with HCC and tumoural PVT. This hypothesis is being tested in prospective randomized trials.

Glass Microspheres 90Y Selective Internal Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy as First-Line Treatment of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma.

PURPOSE OF THE REPORT: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma's incidence is increasing. We studied the efficacy of Y selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) as first-line treatment, with chemotherapy, and compared with the results of chemotherapy alone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied data from patients treated at our institution with glass microspheres SIRT for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma as part of first-line treatment in combination with chemotherapy. We compared results with those of similar patients treated in the ABC-02 study (a study in advanced biliary tract cancer that defined the current standard chemotherapy), assessed as not progressing after the first evaluation. We assessed progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Twenty-four patients were treated with SIRT. Chemotherapy was given concomitantly in 10 (42%), as induction before SIRT in 13 (54%) or after SIRT in 1 (4%). Grade 3 adverse events were reported in 1 (4%). Median PFS after SIRT was 10.3 months. Longer PFS was observed when chemotherapy was given concomitantly than when chemotherapy was given before SIRT, with respective median of 20.0 versus 8.8 months (P = 0.001). Median OS after SIRT was not reached. Eleven patients went to surgery (46%). Thirty-three patients in ABC-02 had locally advanced nonextrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, not progressing after first evaluation. From the start of any treatment, the median PFS was 16.0 months in our cohort versus 11.3 months in ABC-02 (P = 0.25), whereas the median OS was significantly higher in our cohort, not reached versus 17.9 months, respectively (P = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS: Selective internal radiation therapy combined with concomitant chemotherapy seems a promising strategy as first-line treatment for unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Personalized dosimetry with intensification using 90Y-loaded glass microsphere radioembolization induces prolonged overall survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal vein thrombosis.

UNLABELLED: The objective of this study was to evaluate the response rate and survival of hepatocellular carcinoma portal vein thrombosis (PVT) patients treated with (90)Y-loaded glass microspheres using a personalized dosimetry and intensification concept. METHODS: The microspheres were administered to 41 hepatocellular carcinoma PVT patients (main = 12; lobar/segmental = 29). (99m)Tc-macroaggregated albumin SPECT/CT quantitative analysis was used to calculate the tumor dose (TD), healthy injected liver dose (HILD), and injected liver dose (ILD). Response was evaluated at 3 mo using the criteria of the European Association for the Study of the Liver, with CT follow-up lasting until disease progression or death. Survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The mean injected activity was 3.1 ± 1.5 GBq, and mean ILD was 143 ± 49 Gy. When a TD threshold of 205 Gy was applied, (99m)Tc-macroaggregated albumin SPECT/CT achieved a 100% sensitivity and 90% overall accuracy (0 false-negatives; 4 false-positives) in response prediction. On the basis of TD and HILD values, 37% of patients received an intensification of the treatment (increased injected activity with the aim of achieving a TD ≥ 205 Gy and HILD < 120 Gy, applying an ILD > 150 Gy). This intensification resulted in a high response rate (85%) without increased liver toxicity of grade 3 or higher (6% vs. 12% in the patients who did not receive treatment intensification; not statistically significant). For the total 41 patients, median overall survival (OS) was 18 mo (95% confidence interval, 11-25 mo). For patients with a TD of less than 205 Gy, median OS was 4.3 mo (3.7-5 mo), versus 18.2 mo (8.5-28.7 mo) for those with a TD of 205 Gy or more (P = 0.005). Median OS was 20.9 mo for patients with a TD of 205 Gy or more and good PVT targeting (n = 36). OS was 12 mo (3 mo to ∞) for patients with main PVT, versus 21.5 mo (12-28.7 mo) for those with segmental or lobar PVT (not statistically significant). For the 5 patients with complete portal vein revascularization who underwent lobar hepatectomy, median OS was not reached yet exceeded 24.5 mo and was significantly higher than that of other patients (P = 0.0493). CONCLUSION: Using a (99m)Tc-macroaggregated albumin SPECT/CT personalized dosimetry and intensification concept with (90)Y-loaded glass microspheres induced prolonged OS for PVT patients as compared with the standard of care (sorafenib), without increasing liver toxicity. Prospective randomized studies are therefore warranted.

Magnetic resonance imaging and clinical assessments for perianal Crohn's disease: gain and limits.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of perianal Crohn's disease remains challenging. European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) recommend magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a gold standard, but both accuracy and advantages remain limited compared to systematic clinical assessment. The aim of this study was to define their actual diagnostic value. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospective database of consecutive patients with perianal Crohn's disease assessed by magnetic resonance imaging and clinical examination from 2006 to 2012. At each outpatient visit, perianal activity (Perianal Disease Activity Index) and perianal phenotype (Cardiff-Hughes classification) were noted. MRI was interpreted according to Cardiff-Hughes and Van Assche classifications. RESULTS: Overall, 122 combined evaluations were assessed in 70 patients. Radiological imaging failed to show superficial ulcerations in 20/21 patients (95%) and severe ulcerations in 13/15 patients (87%). It consistently failed to diagnose anal stenosis (n=21, 100%). For fistulising lesions, the global agreement between the two methods was 71/122 (58%) in assessing complex fistulas. Clinical assessment underestimated 44/68 (65%) of multiple or ramified fistula tracts. Clinical examination failed to diagnose half of the radiological abscesses. CONCLUSIONS: Current ECCO guidelines should be applied with some caution because of the low sensitivity of MRI for the diagnosis of non-fistulising perianal disease. Combining clinical and MRI assessments improves diagnostic accuracy.

Pancreatic head cancer in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a risk factor of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA). The discovery of a pancreatic head lesion in CP frequently leads to a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) which preceded by a multidisciplinary meeting (MM). The aim of this study was to evaluate the relevance between this indication of PD and the definitive pathological results. METHODS: Between 2000 and 2010, all patients with CP who underwent PD for suspicion of PA without any histological proof were retrospectively analyzed. The operative decision has always been made at an MM. The definitive pathological finding was retrospectively confronted with the decision made at an MM, and patients were classified in two groups according to this concordance (group 1) or not (group 2). Clinical and biological parameters were analyzed, preoperative imaging were reread, and confronted to pathological findings in order to identify predictive factors of malignant degeneration. RESULTS: During the study period, five of 18 (group 1) patients with CP had PD were histologically confirmed to have PA, and the other 13 (group 2) did not have PA. The median age was 52.5+/-8.2 years (gender ratio 3.5). The main symptoms were pain (94.4%) and weight loss (72.2%). There was no patient's death. Six (33.3%) patients had a major complication (Clavien-Dindo classification ≥ 3). There was no statistical difference in clinical and biological parameters between the two groups. The rereading of imaging data could not detect efficiently all patients with PA. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirmed the difficulty in detecting malignant transformation in patients with CP before surgery and therefore an elevated rate of unnecessary PD was found. A uniform imaging protocol is necessary to avoid PD as a less invasive treatment could be proposed.

An update on liver surgery for cholangiocarcinoma.

Cholangiocarcinoma is a malignant neoplasm that originates from biliary epithelial cells. Complete tumor resection remains the most effective treatment of intra-hepatic or perihilar cholangiocarcinomas (PHCs). The objectives of this are to update and discuss methods that are likely to increase the resectability of cholangiocarcinomas, and to define the limits beyond which the risks of the treatments outweigh their benefits. We analyzed intra-hepatic cholangiocarcinomas and PHCs separately to determine the site of origin and the resectability of the tumor. We discussed the site at which to perform hepatic optimization prior to surgery, and whether liver transplantation might affect cholangiocarcinoma treatment.

A simple system to predict perihilar cholangiocarcinoma resectability.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to retrospectively validate a new system to predict perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC) resectability. We hypothesized that when the left lateral section (segments II-III) duct confluence (LLC) is free, the left lateral section might be preserved for curative resection. When the LLC is invaded, vascular invasion is frequent and radical resection might often be impossible without complex vascular reconstruction. METHOD: Radiological files of patients operated for PHC at our institution were reviewed and PHC was classified depending on whether LLC was invaded (type X) or free (type Y). Peroperative findings and follow-up were then matched with our XY classification. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients were included, 28 (78 %) type Y and nine (22 %) type X PHCs. Hepatic artery (HA) invasion was present in 14 % of type Y and 100 % of type X PHCs (P < 0.001). Left HA was never involved in type Y and always involved in type X. Portal vein invasion was present in 25 and 78 % of type Y and type X PHC, respectively (P = 0.014). Complete resection rates without HA in type Y and X patients were 89 % (84 % R0 and 16 % R1) and 33 % (37.5 % R0 and 12.5 % R1), respectively (P = 0.01). Sensitivity, specificity, and precision of the XY classification to predict resectability were 84, 67, and 84 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: XY classification for PHCs suggests that in type Y (free LLC), the tumor is most often resectable, while in type X (LLC involved), the tumor is only resectable using complex vascular reconstructions.