New FIB-4 and NFS cutoffs to guide sequential non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis by magnetic resonance elastography in NAFLD.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Liver fibrosis is an important prognosis marker in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Biopsy has been considered the gold-standard method for measuring liver fibrosis; however, it is an invasive procedure. Non-invasive diagnostic tools have been developed, such as clinical scores and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), which is the most accurate non-invasive method to determine liver fibrosis. Thus, the aim was to determine the NAFLD Fibrosis Score (NFS) and the Fibrosis-4 Score (FIB-4) cut-off points that best identify NAFLD patients at risk for developing liver fibrosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Single-center cross-sectional study with prospective recruitment of NAFLD (training-cohort) and MAFLD (validation-cohort) patients undergoing MRE. The NFS and the FIB-4 cut-off points that best-differentiated patients with fibrosis, using the MRE as the standard method, were determined. RESULTS: Two cohorts were analyzed, a training cohort that included the initial 183 patients with NAFLD and a validation cohort that included 289 patients. In the training cohort, 60.1% had mild steatosis and 11.5% had liver fibrosis ≥ F1 by MRE. ROC curves were developed for FIB-4 and NFS, and the cut-off points chosen were 1.505 (sensitivity=85% and specificity=86%) for FIB-4 and -0.835 (sensitivity=100% and specificity=70%) for NFS, showing greater specificity than the cut-off points currently used (51% and 76%, respectively). The two cohorts exhibited similar characteristics and similar sensitivity and specificity results for the chosen cut-off points. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown cut-off points with greater specificity and excellent sensitivity to guide the indication for further liver evaluation by MRE in NAFLD patients.

Imaging findings of melanoma metastasis in the gallbladder.

We present the case of a 40-year-old male with a previous diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma in the dorsal region, with metastases in axillary and mesenteric lymph nodes and in the central nervous system. He presented focal areas of increased radiopharmaceutical uptake in the topography of the gallbladder infundibulum on a control positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), which corresponded to a nodular lesion in an abdominal ultrasound.

Calcified cavitating mesenteric lymph node syndrome: a rare complication of celiac disease.

A 47-year-old female presented with a lengthy history of dyspeptic symptoms, weight loss, and occasional diarrhea. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed several mesenteric nodular lesions, with peripheral calcifications, inversion of the fold pattern of the small intestine loops and an atrophic spleen.

Acquired Peripheral Nerve Injury Findings in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients.

We retrospectively analyzed clinical, NCS/EMG, and NMRI aspects of five COVID-19 intensive care unit inpatients that received mechanical ventilation. After awakening from sedation, they experienced peripheral neuromyopathic symptoms. Teaching Point: Acquired peripheral nerve injury has been described in COVID-19 infection and knowledge of the clinical, nerve conduction studies/electromyography (NCS/EMG) and neurographic magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI) findings are crucial.