MRI appearance of the different meniscal ramp lesion types, with clinical and arthroscopic correlation.

BACKGROUND: Meniscal ramp lesions have been defined as longitudinal vertical peripheral tears of the medial meniscus involving the posterior meniscocapsular ligament, meniscotibial ligament, and/or the red-red zone of the posterior horn. They are heavily associated with anterior cruciate ligament injuries, and because of their potentially important biomechanical role in knee stabilization, injuries to this region may require surgical repair. However, due to their location and lack of general knowledge regarding their different types and associated appearances on magnetic resonance imaging, ramp lesions are routinely underreported. This is compounded by the fact that ramp lesions are also often overlooked during conventional anterior portal arthroscopy when direct visualization is not achieved. PURPOSE: To demonstrate MRI appearances and arthroscopic findings of the different types of meniscal ramp lesions, in the hopes of improving their detection on pre-operative imaging.

Superficial fibromatosis: MRI radiomics and T2 mapping correlate with treatment response.

BACKGROUND: Superficial fibromatosis exhibits variable MR signal intensity due to collagenous and fibroproliferative components. Quantifying this signal heterogeneity using image texture analysis and T2-mapping could have prognostic and therapeutic implications. METHODS: This IRB-approved retrospective study included 13 patients with superficial fibromatosis, managed by observation, electron beam radiotherapy (EBT), or pentoxifylline/vitamin E. Two-dimensional regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn on proton-density or T2-weighted MRI for radiomics feature analysis, and corresponding T2-maps. Comparisons were made between baseline and follow-up T2 relaxation times and radiomics features: Shannon's entropy, kurtosis, skewness, mean of positive pixels (MPP), and uniformity of distribution of positive gray-level pixel values (UPP). RESULTS: There were 19 nodules in 13 subjects. Mean patient age was 60 years; 62% (8/13) were female; mean follow-up was 9.7 months. Nodule diameter at baseline averaged 18.2 mm (std dev 16.2 mm) and decreased almost 10% to 16.6 mm (p = 0.1, paired t-test). Normalized T2 signal intensity decreased 23% from 0.71 to 0.55 (p = 0.03, paired t-test). T2 relaxation time decreased 16% from 46.5 to 39.1 ms (p < 0.001, paired t-test). Among radiomics features, skewness increased to 0.71 from 0.41 (p = 0.03, paired t-test), and entropy decreased from 8.37 to 8.03 (p = 0.05, paired t-test); differences in other radiomics features were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Radiomics analysis and T2-mapping of superficial fibromatosis is feasible; robust decreases in absolute T2 relaxation time, and changes in image textural features (increased skewness and decreased entropy) offer novel imaging biomarkers of nodule collagenization and maturation.

Vehicle-controlled, double-blind, randomized study of imiquimod 5% cream applied 3 days per week in one or two courses of treatment for actinic keratoses on the head.

BACKGROUND: A shorter dosing regimen of imiquimod for the treatment of actinic keratosis may be effective, with long-term clinical benefits. OBJECTIVE: Imiquimod in one or two shorter courses of treatment was evaluated. METHODS: Patients with actinic keratosis lesions on the head applied imiquimod or vehicle cream 3x/wk for 4 weeks (course 1). Patients with remaining lesions received another course of treatment. Complete and partial clearance rates were evaluated after course 1, after course 2 (overall), and 1 year later. RESULTS: Complete clearance rates were 26.8% (course 1) and 53.7% (overall). Partial clearance rates were 36.6% (course 1) and 61.0% (overall). One-year follow-up recurrence rates were 39% (imiquimod) and 57% (vehicle). LIMITATIONS: Blinded investigators may have been biased toward patients treated with imiquimod identified by treatment site reactions. CONCLUSION: Imiquimod 3x/wk in one or two courses of treatment appears to be effective for the treatment of actinic keratoses on the head, providing long-term clinical benefits. Some recurrences do occur, so long-term follow-up is recommended.

Developmental field defects: coming together of associations and sequences during blastogenesis.

We report on two patients with an unusual combination of multiple congenital anomalies including holoprosencephaly, encephalocele, and additional defects commonly observed in the VACTERL and schisis "associations." One of the infants had a chromosome abnormality characterized by partial duplication and deletion of chromosome 18. VACTERL association was characterized recently as a primary developmental field defect (DFD) [Martínez-Frías et al., 1998: Am J Med Genet 76:291-296]. In some cases, sequences may also represent uncomplicated DFDs. We suggest that findings in both of these cases represent abnormalities of blastogenesis involving the primary field resulting in holoprosencephaly and VACTERL and schisis anomalies, and show that similar primary DFDs are causally heterogeneous.

Imiquimod 5% cream for the treatment of actinic keratosis: results from a phase III, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, clinical trial with histology.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests imiquimod may be a safe therapeutic option for the treatment of actinic keratosis (AK). The diagnosis and assessment of most AK lesions is made clinically, without histologic confirmation. OBJECTIVE: A phase III, randomized, double-blind, parallel group, vehicle-controlled study evaluated the efficacy of imiquimod 5% cream compared with vehicle in the treatment of AK lesions on the face and balding scalp including pretreatment and posttreatment biopsy specimens. METHODS: A total of 286 patients at 18 centers in 6 European countries with histologically confirmed AK were randomized to either imiquimod 5% cream or vehicle cream. Study cream was applied once per day, 3 days per week, for 16 weeks. Clearance of AK lesions was clinically and histologically assessed at an 8-week posttreatment visit. RESULTS: The complete clearance rate for the imiquimod group was 57.1% versus 2.2% for the vehicle group (P <.001). The partial clearance rate (> or =75% reduction in baseline lesions) for the imiquimod group was 72.1% versus 4.3% for the vehicle group (P <.001). The most common side effects were erythema, scabbing/crusting, and erosions/ulceration. For the imiquimod group the incidence of severe erythema, scabbing/crusting, or erosions/ulceration was 30.6%, 29.9%, and 10.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Imiquimod 5% cream used 3 times per week for 16 weeks is an effective treatment for AK. Clinical clearance was established by both clinical observation and histologic analysis.

Topical imiquimod 5% cream as an effective treatment for external genital and perianal warts in different patient populations.

BACKGROUND: Genital infection with human papillomavirus, the cause of genital warts, is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. GOAL: The aim of this analysis was to determine whether patients' demographic variables affect the efficacy of imiquimod 5% cream versus vehicle cream for the treatment of external genital and perianal warts. STUDY DESIGN: Male and female immunocompetent patients applied imiquimod 5% cream topically to external genital warts 3 times a week until wart clearance or for up to 16 weeks. RESULTS: As previously published, the intent-to-treat (ITT) clearance rate was 50% (54/109) in the imiquimod-treated group and 11% (11/100) in the vehicle-treated group ( P< 0.0001). The ITT clearance rate in the imiquimod-treated group was higher in females (72%) than in males (33%). We have examined the clearance rates for subgroups based on variables of gender, baseline wart area, duration of current outbreak of warts, previous wart treatment, and tobacco use. For each of these subgroups, imiquimod was statistically more effective than vehicle in eradicating external genital and perianal warts. CONCLUSION: Imiquimod 5% cream is an effective treatment for external genital and perianal warts and provides a significant benefit in comparison with vehicle cream, independent of gender, initial wart size, duration of current outbreak of warts, previous wart treatment, or tobacco use.

Imiquimod 5% cream for the treatment of actinic keratosis: results from two phase III, randomized, double-blind, parallel group, vehicle-controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: The immune system plays a critical role in the development and pathogenesis of actinic keratosis (AK). Imiquimod has been shown to stimulate the cutaneous immune response and be effective for the treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancers. OBJECTIVE: Two phase III, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled studies evaluated the efficacy of imiquimod 5% cream compared with vehicle in the treatment of AK lesions on the face and balding scalp. METHODS: A total of 436 participants at 24 centers in the United States and Canada were randomized to either imiquimod 5% or vehicle cream. Study cream was applied one time per day, 2 days per week for 16 weeks. Clearance of AK lesions was clinically assessed at an 8-week posttreatment visit. RESULTS: The complete clearance rate was 45.1% for the imiquimod group and 3.2% for the vehicle group. The difference in complete clearance rates (imiquimod minus vehicle) was 41.9% with a 95% confidence interval of 34.9% to 49%. The partial (> or =75%) clearance rate was 59.1% for the imiquimod group and 11.8% for the vehicle group. The difference in partial clearance rates (imiquimod minus vehicle) was 47.3% with a 95% confidence interval of 39.5% to 55.1%. The median percent reduction in AK lesions was 83.3% for the imiquimod group and 0% for the vehicle group. Local skin reactions were common. Severe erythema was reported by 17.7% of participants who received imiquimod and 2.3% of participants who received vehicle. Overall, imiquimod was very well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Imiquimod 5% cream used 2 times per week for 16 weeks is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for AK.