Hypersensitivity reactions to iodinate contrast media in Italy: a retrospective study. Characteristics of patients and risk factors.

SUMMARY: Objective. The purpose of the study was to describe the characteristics of patients experiencing hypersensitivity reactions (HRs) to iodinated contrast media (ICM) in a large Italian population and to investigate potential risks factors in order to obtain a risk stratification, helpful in the management of these patients. Methods. Data of 407 patients investigated in 9 Italian Allergy Centers for suspected HRs to ICM were analyzed and compared with a control group of 152 subjects that tolerated one or more ICM-enhanced examinations. The univariate and multivariate logistic regression model was used to evaluate associated factors. Results. The mean age of reactive patients was 61 years and 60% were female; 67% of patients reported immediate reactions and 35% experienced the reaction, more frequently with immediate onset, at the first examination in life. Iomeprol, iopromide and iodixanol were the most frequent culprit agents and 20% of patients showed a positive skin test result. Previous adverse reactions to ICM were reported by 15.6% of patients, whereas 35% of subjects experienced the reaction, more frequently immediate, after the first ICM-enhanced examination in their life. The multivariate analysis showed that male gender and age > 65 were associated with ICM reactions as protective factors [ORadja = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.33-0.77 and ORadja = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.39-0.92 respectively]. Cardio-vascular disease [ORadja = 2.06; 95% CI: 1.22-3.50)], respiratory allergy [ORadja = 2.30; 95% CI: 1.09-4.83)] and adverse drug reactions [ORadja = 1.99; 95% CI: 1.05-3.77)] were identified as risk factors for ICM reactions. Food allergy was not significantly associated with reactions [ORadja = 1.51; 5% CI: 0.41-5.56]. Conclusions. This is the largest study on Italian patients experiencing hypersensitivity reactions to ICM. Most results are in line with other studies, showing some association with factors that could influence the incidence of hypersensitivity reactions but not allowing an easy risk stratification.

Anti-tumoral effects of somatostatin analogs: a lesson from the CLARINET study.

Octreotide and lanreotide, the first-generation somatostatin analogs, successfully control hormone hyperproduction, and related syndromes, in patients with acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumors. However, their anti-tumor effect, rather evident in large number of pituitary adenomas in acromegalic patients, has been hypothesized for a long time in patients with neuroendocrine tumors as well, although a significant tumor shrinkage has rarely been observed. However, the recent publication of the CLARINET study has strengthened the evidence, already emerged with the PROMID trial, that the long-term treatment with the first-generation long-acting somatostatin analogs may exert an anti-tumor activity on G1 and G2 enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, as well. After the publication, majority of international guidelines have updated their algorithms in line with these results and this class of drugs obtained the indication as anti-tumor agents in the majority of patients with neuroendocrine tumors.

Ultrasound findings in dual kidney transplantation.

PURPOSE: This study was done to analyse colour Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) findings in patients with dual kidney transplantation (DKT) and to compare renal volume and resistive index (RI) values between DKT and single kidney transplantation (SKT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the clinical and imaging findings [30 CDUS, five magnetic resonance (MR) and one computed tomography (CT) examination] in 30 patients with DKT (23 men and seven women; median age 65 years; range 55-82). Three patients had clinical signs of graft malfunction. Renal volumes and RI were compared with those of 14 SKT patients and comparable levels of renal function. RESULTS: Three patients had graft dysfunction: one had chronic rejection and two had pathologies involving one kidney only (one encrusted pyeloureteritis of a left graft and one occluded main artery of a left graft). Asymptomatic unilateral pathologies were seen in six cases. In asymptomatic DKT patients, no significant differences in length, volume, cortical echogenicity and RI between the two kidneys were observed; DKTs were smaller (median volume 116.7 vs. 171.6 cc) and had higher RIs (0.76 vs. 0.68) (p<0.01) than SKTs. CONCLUSIONS: CDUS provides useful information in patients with DKT, allowing detection of clinically unsuspected unilateral diseases. At comparable levels of renal function, DKT patients had higher RI and lower volumes than SKT patients.

Is magnetic resonance imaging useful in early evaluation of women on neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in staging cervical tumors after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). METHODS: 26 women, affected by locally advanced cervical cancer and triaged for surgery after NACT, were submitted to three cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. All patients were submitted to MRI before and after NACT. We evaluated the MRI sensitivity and specificity in staging cervical tumors after chemotherapy, relating MRI findings after NACT with the pathological findings as the gold standard. RESULTS: In our series, MRI sensitivity was 58.8% and specificity was 66.7%. CONCLUSIONS: In our study MRI accuracy after NACT was lower than that of MRI used to stage patients with early cervical cancer scheduled for primary surgery, reported by the literature. MRI false negative cases are the major problem because of the delay in application of an effective therapy in non responders to NACT.

Trans-catheter arterial chemoembolisation for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with viral cirrhosis: role of combined staging systems, Cancer Liver Italian Program (CLIP) and Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD), in predicting outcome after treatment.

BACKGROUND: Trans-catheter arterial chemoembolisation (TACE) is the most common palliative treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The therapeutic options depend both on the characteristics of the tumour and on functional staging of the cirrhosis. AIM: To evaluate the effects of TACE on the survival of cirrhotic patients with HCC according to different staging systems [Okuda score, Cancer Liver Italian Program (CLIP) score, Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score] and in relation to the side-effects of TACE. METHODS: Fifty cirrhotic patients, 36 CTP class A and 14 class B, underwent 106 TACE treatments with mitoxantrone. Survival at 12, 24, and 36 months was evaluated. RESULTS: MELD at 12 months and CLIP at 24 months were identified as significant variables associated with survival. Combined cut-offs of CLIP and of MELD identified four subgroups of patients with different survivals, at 12, 24 and 36 months, respectively: CLIP >or= 2 and MELD >or= 10 (63%, 20% and 0%), CLIP < 2 and MELD >or= 10 (73%, 40% and 22%), CLIP >or= 2 and MELD < 10 (73%, 40% and 22%) and CLIP < 2 and MELD < 10 (100%, 63% and 50%). Post-TACE side-effects proved to have no influence on survival. CONCLUSION: In patients with poor probability of survival (CLIP >or= 2 and MELD >or= 10), TACE must be planned with a great deal of caution, while in patients with possibly good outcomes (CLIP < 2 and MELD < 10), more 'aggressive' therapy should be taken into consideration.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the penis: normal anatomy.

This study was undertaken to investigate the magnetic resonance anatomy of the normal penis, by means of the use of a new designed surface coil specific for the study of male external genital organs. The combined evaluation of T1- and T2-weighted images obtained by choosing different repetition and echo time values together with an appropriate selection of scanning planes oriented according to various angles of incidence strongly contributed to perform a complete morphological analysis of the penis and constantly revealed fine anatomical details of diagnostic and clinical significance. Among these, the magnetic resonance examination (data referred to a 0.5 T apparatus) allowed a precise morphological differentiation of the penile covering tissues, such as outer skin, dartos tunica and hypodermal connective; the vascular characterization of cavernous tissue, belonging to corpora cavernosa and spongiosum urethrae, of deep arteries and superficial dorsal vein(s); the resolution of the albuginea and the identification of the urethral lumen. Such a capability of magnetic resonance imaging in providing accurate demonstration of penile structures without technical artifacts and use of ionizing radiations makes the actual technology able to cooperate efficaciously with computerized tomography and diagnostic sonography for an efficient clinical assessment of penis diseases.

Case report: imaging of a bilobed gallbladder.

Imaging of the gallbladder demonstrates a wide range of anatomical variants, including anomalies in location, number and shape. Duplication anomalies are quite rare and are characterized by a large variety of configurations depending on the size and degree of fusion of the two lobes, and on the number and disposition of the cystic ducts. We present a case of a deeply cleft, bilobed gallbladder imaged by computed tomography (CT), ultrasonography (US) and oral cholecystography (OCG). The anomaly consisted of complete duplication of the body and fundus into two distinct and separated lobes both of which entered a single infundibulum. Awareness of congenital gallbladder variants may help in recognizing and correctly classifying gallbladder abnormalities, thus preventing misdiagnoses.

Imaging of patients with pancreaticobiliary diversion for obesity: post-operative anatomy and findings in small bowel obstruction.

Pancreaticobiliary diversion is a surgical procedure undertaken for obesity. It consists of a distal gastrectomy with a long Roux-en-Y reconstruction, the enteroenterostomy being placed 200 cm distal to the gastroenterostomy and 50 cm proximal to the ileocaecal valve. Three intestinal limbs are recognized: (a) the alimentary loop from the gastroenterostomy to the enteroenterostomy; (b) common loop from the enteroenterostomy to the ileocaecal valve and (c) pancreaticobiliary loop from the duodenum to the enteroenterostomy. The radiological findings in 15 pancreaticobiliary diversion patients with small bowel obstruction were reviewed (15 plain abdominal radiographs, 13 ultrasound (US), 8 CT) and compared with 20 plain abdominal radiographs, 10 US, and 10 CT studies performed for other causes in patients with pancreaticobiliary diversion and 15 CT scans from non-operated patients. After pancreaticobiliary diversion the pancreaticobiliary loop was completely air-free. In the patients operated on more than 1 year previously, alimentary and common loops were significantly larger than the pancreaticobiliary loop and small bowel loops of non-operated subjects. Obstruction of the pancreaticobiliary loop arrests only the flow of pancreaticobiliary secretions with non-specific clinical findings. Plain abdominal radiographs were not diagnostic in all but two cases with radiographically detectable dilated fluid filled loops. Air-fluid levels were never apparent. US and CT showed markedly dilatated intestinal loops and duodenum. Obstruction of the alimentary and common loops presented with symptoms, clinical signs, and radiological findings more typical for bowel obstruction in intact subjects.

Pseudotumor of the liver: a challenging diagnosis.

Inflammatory pseudotumors of the liver are rare, and their natural history is mostly unknown. Making the diagnosis is often difficult, and these masses are often confused with other lesions, generally either primary or secondary neoplasms. The case of a patient who had an exhaustive preoperative work-up, including ultrasonography, CT scan and MRI, is herein presented. The characteristics of each exam, particularly those of the MRI, in which the pattern is poorly described in the literature, are reported. A fine needle biopsy was not contributive, as it was performed too centrally within the nodule. Only a high degree of suspicion and the existence of this tumor might lead to a preoperative diagnosis, thus avoiding major surgery. However, as is evident from the experiences of most authors and from our own, doubt may persist even after an exhaustive work-up. Since the morbidity and mortality of liver resection of noncirrhotic livers is low, surgery should be considered the treatment of choice.

[Postoperative evaluation of vascular bifurcation prostheses by means of helical CT]. / Valutazione postoperatoria delle protesi vascolari biforcate mediante TC spiroidea.

The dilatation of the vascular grafts is a well known phenomenon. It is usually evaluated by means of ultrasounds or, in selected cases, by CT scans or MRI; nevertheless its characteristics are far beyond to be fully recognized. Following our promising preliminary experience with helical CT as sole preoperative imaging for AAA, we have evaluated its reliability in the postoperative follow-up. We have studied 12 patients with aorto-iliac and 11 with aorto-femoral bypass for AAA, with a follow-up ranging between 1 and 3 years. A helical CT acquisition was performed during a single breath-holding with a 5-mm slice thickness, thus resulting in a 30 cm z-axis coverage. Axial images were reconstructed at 2-mm increments and used to generate high quality multiplanar reformatted (MPR) and three-dimensional (3D) surface rendered images. For each patient we evaluated the characteristics of the graft, the maximal diameters and the wall modifications. The average expansion was 28% at 1 year, stable at 2 years and then increased up to 44% at 3 years. Considering the different types of Dacron grafts, the dilatation was ranging between 22% and 46% (21 cases). The mean expansion was 31.3% and 29.5% for the trunk and for the branches of the graft respectively. No perigraft seroma nor anastomotic aneurysms were detected. A peculiar observation, both with and without contrast medium injection, was that all the grafts made on Dacron were not anymore depictable from the aortic wall after 1 year; the contrary was observed for the ePTFE grafts.

[Preoperative imaging of aneurysms of the abdominal aorta. Role of CT scan]. / Imaging preoperatorio degli aneurismi dell'aorta addominale. Ruolo della TC spiroidea.

The reliability of helical CT as sole preoperative diagnostic technique for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and its accuracy in detecting vascular anomalies in the abdominal region was evaluated retrospectively in 42 patients with asymptomatic AAA > 40 mm. A single breath-holding helical scan was performed with 5 mm slice thickness, during a single injection of contrast medium, resulting in a 20 cm z-axis coverage. Axial images were reconstructed and used to generate high quality multiplanar reformatted images. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed in the first 18 patients and then in case of associated peripheral vascular disease (6 patients). Helical CT exactly showed, in all cases, the proximal and distal extent of the AAA. The visceral vessels as well as the inferior vena cava and renal veins were always clearly depicted, showing anatomical variants or pathological involvement in 19 patients. DSA gave sufficient details on the distal run-off but did not allow a reliable visualization of the visceral branches, venous anomalies and true extent of AAA. In our experience helical CT should be considered as the sole method for preoperative imaging of AAA. It allows a complete and precise evaluation; it is fast, with low doses of radiations and does not require hospitalization.

[Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms in the general population. Preliminary results]. / Screening per gli aneurismi dell'aorta addominale nella popolazione generale. Risultati preliminari.

Between March 1991 and April 1993, 1188 subjects aged 65-75 years, out of 2734 invited, underwent abdominal ultrasound for screening of asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). For each patient the maximal anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the suprarenal and infrarenal aorta were measured. According to the literature data an AAA is defined as an aortic dilatation > 29 mm. AAA < 40 mm are followed by ultrasound every 6 months and the AAA > 39 mm are considered for surgical repair after complete clinical work-up. In addition any aortic dilatation ranging 26-29 mm is followed too, using the same criteria. The aorta was normal in 1112 patients (95.12%), an infrarenal aortic dilatation was found in 21 patients (1.79%), an AAA < 40 mm in 15 patients (1.28%) and an AAA > 39 mm in 21 patients (1.79%). The global prevalence of AAA > 29 mm was 3.07% (0.3% for the females and 6.8% for the males), similar to that reported by other authors. The statistically significant (p < 0.01) risk factors were: smoking, alcohol consumption, coronary disease and chronic lung obstruction. Hypertension and dyslipidaemia were not significant (but HDL-cholesterol and Apo-B), according to a different etiology of the aneurysms. In addition 38.5% of the patients had total cholesterol > 240 mg/dl but only 34.9% of these was under medical treatment and/or on a diet. Our preliminary data confirm the results of similar studies in other countries: screening for AAA is worthwhile on the general population and, looking to a better cost-benefit rate, it might be focused only on males.

[Spiral computed tomography in the diagnosis and staging of bronchopulmonary carcinoma]. / La tomografia computerizzata spiroidea nella diagnosi e stadiazione del carcinoma broncopolmonare.

Spiral or helical technology is a new computed tomographic technique based on the continuous acquisition of volumetric CT data during continuous x-ray beam rotation and continuous patient transportation at constant velocity. It has many advantages over conventional CT: the authors briefly review the basic principles of spiral CT and discuss the applications and the possible advantages in the assessment of lung cancer. The most important characteristics of spiral CT are rapid image acquisition, allowing a single-breath-hold scan of the lung, and the ability to obtain axial image reconstructions at arbitrary and overlapping intervals, thus allowing the detection of small lesions that otherwise would be inconspicuous because of respiratory misregistration or partial volume averaging. This leads to better identification of small pulmonary nodules and to high quality multiplanar reconstructions that can be useful in the study of mediastinal lymph nodes and the vascular and tracheobronchial spreading of lung cancer. Many of the spiral CT scanners allow for 40 sec extended spiral acquisition during a single-breath-hold, permitting the evaluation of the thorax and the upper abdomen. This usually includes the adrenals and the whole liver, thus allowing a rapid staging of thoracic neoplasms, with an accuracy higher than that of conventional CT.

Radiological assessment of clinical staging of lung cancer.

Technical details of volumetric spiral CT and high resolution CT are presented. The role of CT scan in lung cancer is discussed: confirmation of a suspected lesion, identification of an unknown one, clinical staging, planning bioptic procedures and follow-up. In clinical staging, CT scan measures tumor diameter and relationship with surrounding structures (T factor) as well as investigates about nodal status (N factor) at the hilum or in the mediastinum but the limitation is due to the difficulty of distinguish between nodal inflammatory enlargement and metastatic involvement. Moreover, CT can be extended to the upper abdomen aimed of assessing adrenals, kidneys and liver (M factor).

[Intrahepatic dilation of the bile ducts. Particularity of a clinical case]. / Dilatazione intraepatica delle vie biliari. Particolarità su un caso clinico.

We report the case of a 71 years old male patient with a "simple" form of Caroli's syndrome. The "simple" form is less common than the form associated with congenital hepatic fibrosis. In this case the intrahepatic bile duct dilatation was confined to the segments V and VI, and intrahepatic lithiasis and cholelithiasis were associated. Usually, Caroli's syndrome remains asymptomatic for the first 20 years of the patient's life, sometimes longer, and in few cases for the patient's whole life. "Simple" asymptomatic Caroli's syndrome is generally unrecognized and in our own case it was an intraoperative finding. Patient's age, the presence of a hepatitis C and the absence of malignant changes discouraged us from performing a right hepatectomy and then a Roux-en-Y intrahepatic bile duct jejunal anastomosis was done. One year after the operation the patient is leading a normal life, and he is symptom-free.

[Renal hemangiopericytoma. Anatomo-pathologic and clinico-therapeutic considerations. A case report]. / L'emangiopericitoma renale. Considerazioni anatomo-patologiche e clinico-terapeutiche. Descrizione di un caso.

The Authors report a case of renal hemangiopericytoma, whose interest is related to the extreme rarity (24 cases reported until today), its insidious growth, the late in diagnosis, its uncertain clinical-biological evolution, not always predictable. Considering chemotherapy and radiotherapy ineffectiveness, an adequate treatment for such a neoplasm requires the surgical therapy, which must be followed by a careful follow-up.

Systemic vascular inflammation in abdominal aortic aneurysm patients: a contrast-enhanced PET/CT study.

AIM: The aim of this paper was to investigate the presence of systemic vascular inflammation and its relationship with risk factors and biomarkers of systemic inflammation related to atherosclerosis in asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients. METHODS: Thirty AAA patients and 30 age-matched controls underwent contrast-enhanced 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) PET/CT. C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white blood cell count and differential, serum fibrinogen, D-dimer and full lipid panel were also evaluated. Region of interest analyses were performed to obtain target-to-background (TBR) metabolism of aorta, subclavian, carotid, iliac arteries and AAA. CT-based arterial calcium load (CL) was evaluated. Arterial Metabolism and CL intergroup differences were tested (unpaired t-test). Linear regression analysis was performed only between blood biomarkers on one side and both TBR and ACL of the arterial districts that resulted significantly different between patients and controls on the other. In all the analyses P values <0.05 were considered significant. RESULT: FDG-uptake was higher with respect to controls in aorta, carotid and iliac arteries (P<0.01, P<0.007, P<0.04 respectively). AAA and aorta metabolism showed an inverse correlation with HDL-chol (P<0.02 and P<0.01, respectively) while only aorta showed a direct correlation with lymphocytes' count (P<0.02). Carotid metabolism was directly correlated with monocytes' count and C-reactive protein concentration (P<0.02 and P<0.004, respectively). CONCLUSION: The present findings support the relevance of systemic vascular inflammation in all phases of atherosclerosis-related disorders. Moreover they confirm the concept that acute ischemic syndromes might represent the local result of a systemic inflammation rather than the focal involvement of a single arterial lesion.