Altered White-Matter Functional Network in Children with Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The white matter (WM) functional network changes offers insights into the potential pathological mechanisms of certain diseases, the alterations of WM functional network in idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) remain unclear. We aimed to explore the topological characteristics changes of WM functional network in childhood IGE using resting-state functional Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and T1-weighted images. METHODS: A total of 84 children (42 IGE and 42 matched healthy controls) were included in this study. Functional and structural MRI data were acquired to construct a WM functional network. Group differences in the global and regional topological characteristics were assessed by graph theory and the correlations with clinical and neuropsychological scores were analyzed. A support vector machine algorithm model was employed to classify individuals with IGE using WM functional connectivity as features, and the model's accuracy was evaluated using leave-one-out cross-validation. RESULTS: In IGE group, at the network level, the WM functional network exhibited increased assortativity; at the nodal level, 17 nodes presented nodal disturbances in WM functional network, and nodal disturbances of 11 nodes were correlated with cognitive performance scores, disease duration and age of onset. The classification model achieved the 72.6% accuracy, 0.746 area under the curve, 69.1% sensitivity, 76.2% specificity. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that the WM functional network topological properties changes in childhood IGE, which were associated with cognitive function, and WM functional network may help clinical classification for childhood IGE. These findings provide novel information for understanding the pathogenesis of IGE and suggest that the WM function network might be qualified as potential biomarkers.

Rare cavitary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of lung: clinical experience and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the lung is a rare primary malignancy of the lung, accounting for only 0.9% of primary malignancies of the lung. Those associated with cavities are even rarer, with fewer than five cases reported in the English literature. Concurrently, the imaging findings of tumors are usually non-specific, resulting in insufficient understanding of the disease by clinicians, thus leading to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. CASE PRESENTATION: A 42-year-old female presented with a right lower lung mass with cavities. First identified on chest computed tomography (CT) in 2021, the mass persisted for 1 year and subsequently enlarged on chemotherapy and routine follow-up CT. Right lower lobectomy was then performed. Postoperative pathology confirmed primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma. After 10 months of follow-up, the patient was still alive and no recurrence was observed. CONCLUSIONS: This article aims to describe a rare case of cavitary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the lung and review it clinical and imaging characteristics reported in previous cases, which will be helpful for clinicians and imaging physicians in diagnosing this disease.

Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast­like giant cells of the pancreas: A case report.

Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells of the pancreas (UCOGCP) is a rare pancreatic tumor that accounts for <1% of all primary pancreatic malignant tumors. Although the tumor is considered a variant of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, there are substantial differences in the clinicopathological characteristics between UCOGCP and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Imaging examinations are useful in making a correct diagnosis, and providing a reasonable and effective surgical treatment regimen; however, the imaging characteristics of UCOGCP require further investigation. The present report describes a rare case of UCOGCP with rapid progression and poor prognosis. The patient could not undergo surgery and received chemotherapy drugs only. Chemotherapy did not markedly improve the outcome, and a follow-up 6 months after discharge showed that the patient had died. The present report describes this case and summarizes the available imaging findings to increase awareness, and to improve early diagnosis of this rare disease and therapeutic outcomes.