Comparison of 68Ga-PSMA-I/T PET-CT and Multiparametric MRI for Locoregional Staging of Prostate Cancer Patients: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The objective of this work was to assess the value of 68Ga-DOTAGA-(3-iodo-y)fk(Sub-KuE) positron emission tomography (68Ga-PSMA-I/T PET-CT) and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) for preoperative staging in prostate cancer (PCa) patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) by validating with postoperative histopathology data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively investigated 30 consecutive PCa patients who had both mp-MRI and 68Ga-PSMA-I/T PET-CT before laparoscopic RP. The seminal vesicle invasion (SVI), lymph node metastasis (LNM), bladder neck invasion (BNI), and extracapsular extension (ECE) were investigated separately. The diagnostic performances of mp-MRI and 68Ga-PSMA-I/T PET-CT were assessed using histopathological results. RESULTS: Both mp-MRI and 68Ga-PSMA-I/T PET-CT were not statistically significant in the evaluation of SVI, BNI, and ECE preoperatively but had statistically significant results in the assessment of LNM. mp-MRI had higher overall sensitivity for ECE, overall specificity for SVI, ECE, and BNI, and positive predictive value for ECE, SVI, BNI. 68Ga-PSMA-I/T PET-CT had higher overall sensitivity for BNI, and negative predictive value for BNI and LNM. CONCLUSION: mp-MRI has superior specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy for assessing ECE and SVI. Both imaging modalities had similar specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy for determining BNI. However, both imaging modalities had low diagnostic accuracy for LNM on histopathology.

Bilateral renal infarctions complicating fibromuscular dysplasia of renal arteries in a young male.

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is an uncommon disorder, accounting for less than 10% of cases of renal artery stenosis, and typically presenting with hypertension in young women. This article reports the case of a previously healthy 37-year-old man presenting with acute-onset, severe, bilateral flank pain. Initially treated for ureteral colic and urinary tract infection, he was transferred to the nephrology clinic upon recognition of a rising serum creatinine. He was found to have FMD of bilateral renal arteries with a stenotic pattern on the right side and a dissecting aneurysm on the left side with resultant infarctions in both kidneys. On the basis of negative serological markers of vasculitis, a diagnosis of FMD complicated by bilateral renal infarctions was made. A stent was placed to the right stenotic renal artery, which resulted in sufficient lumen patency. No invasive procedure was performed on the other side owing to the complexity of the lesion. After 2.5 years of follow-up, the patient remained in good condition with normal renal function and adequate blood pressure control with dual antihypertensive therapy. Renal infarction complicating FMD of renal arteries is rare in the literature, with most of the cases having causative cardiovascular risk factors including coagulopathy, ischaemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation or structural cardiac abnormalities, none of which was present in this case. In conclusion, FMD may occur in atypical asymmetric presentations causing renal infarctions in both kidneys. Radiological interventions in such cases should focus on stabilizing renal lesions and renal function.

Subtelomeric 6p monosomy and 12q trisomy in a patient with a 46,XX,der(6)t(6;12)(p25.3;q24.31) karyotype: Phenotypic overlap with Mutchinick syndrome.

We report on a patient with partial monosomy 6p and partial trisomy 12q identified by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH). She had a complex phenotype characterized by mental retardation (MR), psychomotor developmental delay, speech disorder, hypertelorism, eye anomalies, hearing loss, low-set malformed ears, thin upper lip, heart defect, clinodactyly, pes valgus, and skeletal anomalies. There is phenotypic overlap between our case and Mutchinick syndrome. This is the first report of a combined partial monosomy 6p and partial trisomy 12q due to an unbalanced translocation between subtelomeric regions of these chromosomes.

Giant arachnoid granulation in a patient with benign intracranial hypertension (2009: 1b).

We report magnetic resonance (MR), computed tomography (CT) and angiographic imaging of an unusual giant arachnoid granulation 7(GAG) in the superior sagittal sinus in a man with headache and vertigo. Intrasinus pressure measurements revealed a significant pressure gradient across the lesion. MR imaging is useful to identify GAG and dural sinus thrombosis, whereas dural sinus pressure measurement in certain cases of GAGs can be used to evaluate the lesion as the cause of the patient's symptoms.

Developmental venous anomaly (DVA) with arterial component: a rare cause of intracranial haemorrhage.

INTRODUCTION: To examine the clinical and radiologic findings of patients with developmental venous anomaly (DVA) associated with intracranial haemorrhage but unrelated to cavernoma. METHODS: Computed tomography (CT) was used to obtain intracranial images from seven patients ranging in age from 6 to 51 years. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was then performed on six patients, and two patients were further examined via CT angiography. Finally, digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed to confirm the initial diagnosis. RESULTS: CT showed intraparenchymal supratentorial haemorrhage in all patients. The combined imaging modalities eventually confirmed a diagnosis of arterialized DVA in four patients and arterialized DVA associated with arteriovenus malformation (AVM) in three. Two patients were managed symptomatically, two underwent radiosurgery, one underwent surgery, one underwent combined embolisation plus radiosurgery and the remaining patient underwent combined embolisation plus surgery. Two patients died, one as a result of re-bleeding, and the other due to radiation necrosis. The mean follow-up period was 33 months (6 months to 6 years) for the remaining five patients with favourable outcome. CONCLUSION: DVA associated with intraparenchymal haemorrhage, but not related to cavernoma, was confirmed. Though very rare, DVA may present with non-cavernoma-related haemorrhage in the form of arterialized DVA or DVA with AVM.

Spinal cord compression caused by vertebral hemangioma being symptomatic during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Hemangioma is one of the most common benign tumors of the spine, and it remains silent in the vast majority of subjects afflicted. Pregnancy is a known risk factor for symptomatic conversion of the previously silent vertebral hemangiomas. However, the occurrence is rare with only 26 cases reported in the English medical literature. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 22-year-old woman in her 36th week of gestation presented with acute onset of upper back pain and progressive paraplegia. Imaging studies revealed a T4 vertebral hemangioma, which involved the vertebral body, pedincules, transverse, and spinous process with a focal extradural extension of soft tissue component. She underwent emergent cesarean delivery and endovascular embolization, respectively. Her symptoms and neurologic deficits improved quickly. Her complaints restarted 2 years after embolization. Surgical treatment which consists of intraoperative vertebraplasty and segmental fixation was performed. The patient's postoperative recovery was excellent. CONCLUSION: According to literature review and our patient's outcome, pregnancy may induce neurologic symptoms and signs in silent spinal hemangiomas. The way of management is decided by whether the neurologic deficits depend on the deformity caused by hemangioma or some other factors including vascular insufficiency.

Effect of hormone replacement therapy on clitoral artery blood flow in healthy postmenopausal women.

INTRODUCTION: Aging and the decline of ovarian hormonal secretion during menopause may alter libido, and sexual response and functioning. The effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the genital vascular hemodynamics have been widely studied. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the effect of HRT on basal clitoral blood flow. AIM: The aims of this study were to measure clitoral artery blood flow and to determine whether HRT has a significant effect in clitoral artery blood flow in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Doppler sonography of clitoral arteries was performed in 25 postmenopausal women aged 51.3 +/- 4.5 years who had been using a continuous combined HRT (0.625 mg of conjugated equine estrogens plus 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate, in 1 tablet daily) for 2.0 +/- 1.1 years, and the clitoral artery peak systolic velocity, resistance index (RI), and pulsatility index (PI) were measured. Thirty-five postmenopausal women aged 50.0 +/- 4.2 years who had not used HRT served as a control group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Assessment of clitoral blood flow with color Doppler ultrasonography by measuring the peak systolic velocity, RI, and PI. RESULTS: Clitoral artery circulation was easily detectable by the color Doppler sonography. The clitoral artery peak systolic velocities were significantly higher in postmenopausal women taking HRT compared with the control group (11.8 +/- 5.2 cm/second vs. 15.0 +/- 5.4 cm/second, P = 0.025). CONCLUSION: HRT improves blood flow to the clitoris. A clitoral blood flow evaluation may be proposed as a potential tool to assess the impact of HRT on the genital tissues and to investigate female sexual response disorders in postmenopausal women.

A prenatally detected case of congenital hepatoblastoma.

Hepatoblastoma is a rare tumor of childhood and its incidence in the first year of life is about one in a million. Forty-two congenital hepatoblastoma cases were reported so far. Among 42 congenital hepatoblastoma patients, only seven cases have been detected in the prenatal period. Here we report a rare case diagnosed before birth and confirmed by postmortem autopsy.

Serum or plasma cartilage oligomeric matrix protein concentration as a diagnostic marker in pseudoachondroplasia: differential diagnosis of a family.

Pseudoachondroplasia (PSACH) is an autosomal-dominant osteochondrodysplasia due to mutations in the gene encoding cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP). Clinical diagnosis of PSACH is based primarily on family history, physical examination, and radiographic evaluation, and is sometimes extremely difficult, particularly in adult patients. Genetic diagnosis based on DNA sequencing, on the other hand, can be expensive, time-consuming, and intensive because COMP mutations may be scattered throughout the gene. However, there is evidence that decreased plasma COMP concentration may serve as a diagnostic marker in PSACH, particularly in adult patients. Here, we report the serum and/or plasma COMP concentration-based differential diagnosis of a family with affected adult members. The mean serum and/or plasma COMP concentrations of the three affected family members alive (0.69+/-0.15 and/or 0.81+/-0.08 microg/ml, respectively) were significantly lower than those of an age-compatible control group of 21 adults (1.52+/-0.37 and/or 1.37+/-0.36 microg/ml, respectively; P<0.0001). Bidirectional fluorescent DNA sequencing-based genetic diagnosis of these patients revealed a heterozygous mutation for the nucleotide change 1532A>G in exon 14 of the COMP gene, resulting in a substitution of amino acid 511 from aspartic acid to glycine in COMP. Thus, serum and/or plasma COMP concentration may be suggested as an additional diagnostic marker to aid clinical and radiographic findings in suspected cases of PSACH.

Callus formation of the tibial hallux sesamoid mimicking a bone tumor.

Sesamoid tumors of the hallux are rare, and their incidence and differential diagnosis have not been well described. We present a case with a bizarre callus formation of the medial sesamoid of the hallux that mimicked a bone tumor. After excision of the mass and related sesamoid, the patient remained asymptomatic during 3 years of follow-up.

Retroperitoneal approach via paramedian incision for aortoiliac occlusive disease.

Aortoiliac occlusive disease is a frequently encountered occlusive arterial disease. Different surgical approaches to the infrarenal abdominal aorta have been reported. We retrospectively studied the postoperative outcomes of patients who were treated for aortoiliac occlusive disease via a retroperitoneal versus a transperitoneal surgical approach.From January 2005 through May 2009, 47 patients underwent surgery at our hospital for the correction of aortoiliac occlusive disease: 30 via a paramedian incision and retroperitoneal approach, and 17 via a midline sternotomy and transperitoneal approach. In the retroperitoneal group, the surgical procedures involved iliofemoral bypass in 15 patients, aortofemoral bypass in 12, aortoiliac bypass in 2, and aortobifemoral bypass in 1. All 17 patients in the transperitoneal group underwent aortobifemoral bypass. The preoperative characteristics and perioperative data of the patients were analyzed. We believe that the retroperitoneal aortoiliac approach with a paramedian incision may be considered as a surgical option for aortoiliac revascularization.

Ruptured dissecting aneurysms arising from non-vertebral arteries of the posterior circulation: endovascular treatment perspective.

PURPOSE: Most intracranial dissecting aneurysms involve the posterior circulation, and the intradural segment of the vertebral artery is affected in majority of these. The aim of this report is to summarize the results of endovascular treatment in patients with ruptured dissecting aneurysms of the non-vertebral posterior circulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the past six years, the medical records of 23 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage related to dissecting aneurysm arising from non-vertebral arteries of the posterior circulation were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The locations of the aneurysms were as follows: seven in the posterior cerebral artery, five in the superior cerebellar artery, six in the basilar artery trunk, and five in the posterior inferior cerebellar artery. Two basilar artery aneurysms were treated in the chronic stage with stent-assisted coil embolization. In the remaining patients, the aneurysm was coiled with or without parent vessel occlusion in the acute stage. One patient re-bled and died 20 days after initial treatment. At follow-up, recanalization had occurred in two patients, whose aneurysms were re-embolized successfully. Overall, three patients had permanent neurological sequelae, two had transient neurological sequelae, and one patient died. CONCLUSION: Embolization with or without parent artery occlusion is feasible with an acceptable morbidity and mortality rate in the treatment of dissecting aneurysms confined to non-vertebral arteries of the posterior circulation.

Post-kidney transplantation external iliac artery stenosis due to vascular clamp: report of a case / Estenose de artéria ilíaca externa após transplante renal devido a clampe vascular: relato de um caso

We report a case of right external iliac artery stenosis after kidney transplantation surgery caused by vascular clamp application injury. The patient presented with claudication of the ipsilateral lower limb and the lesion was diagnosed angiographically. The patient was treated with endovascular stent placement...

Relatamos um caso de estenose da artéria ilíaca externa direita após cirurgia de transplante renal causada por lesão durante a colocação de um clampe vascular. O paciente apresentou claudicação do membro inferior ipsilateral e a lesão foi diagnosticada angiograficamente. O paciente foi tratado com colocação de stent endovascular...

Cerebral lateral ventricular asymmetry on CT: how much asymmetry is representing pathology?

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of asymmetric lateral ventricle (ALV) with clinical and structural pathologies and assess its clinical importance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 170 consecutive ALV cases on computed tomography (CT) and 170 control group patients with normal head CT. Patients who had apparent etiologic causes for ALV were excluded. The differential diagnosis of ALV and unilateral hydrocephalus (UH) was made by using three different ventricle-brain ratios (VBRs). The measurements of the ALV were made at the frontal horn level. Patients with asymmetry were divided into three subgroups including mild, moderate and severe groups to eloborate the grade of the ventricular asymmetry. Additional CT findings including septal deviation, diffuse enlargement, atrophy and the densities of constant sites were also recorded systematically for each patient. Clinical and handedness data were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of ALV in the study population was 6.1%. Headache was the most common reason for head CT examination and was significantly more common in the asymmetry group (61.7% in group A, 42.9% in group B, P = 0.001). Transient ischemic attack, focal neurologic findings, vertigo, ataxia, visual and hearing disturbances were similar in both groups (P > 0.5). There was no difference in smoking and alcohol habits in both patient groups. Ten (5.8%) patients in group A and 16 (9.4%) patients in group B had neuropsychiatric disorders, which did not achieve statistical significance. In group A patients, the larger ventricle was more common in the left side than in the right (left = 70.0%, right = 30.0%). Group A consisted of 57.0% mild (grade 1, n = 97), 26.5% moderate (grade II, n = 45) and 16.5% severe (grade III, n = 28) patients. There was no significant correlation between handedness and ALV. The density of different brain sites was found close similar on both sides in ALV and control group (P > 0.5). Choroidal cystic or solid neoplasm or periventricular dysplasia was detected in six ALV patients in group A (3.5%), on their additional MR examinations. CONCLUSION: The physician should not overlook an ALV finding on unenhanced CT, particularly in cases with severe degree of asymmetry or diffuse ventricular enlargement, and search for possible accompanying disorders.

Computed tomography evaluation of the normal appendix: comparison of low-dose and standard-dose unenhanced helical computed tomography.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the visualization rate of the normal appendix on low- and standard-dose unenhanced computed tomography (CT) and to evaluate the variables that may influence the identification of the appendix. METHODS: The study population was derived from the previous study, approved by the internal review board, investigating the effectiveness of low-dose CT (LDCT) in diagnosis of urolithiasis. Sixty-eight patients presenting with acute flank pain underwent 2 unenhanced dual-slice CT examinations. Standard-dose CT (SDCT) scans were obtained using 2 x 5-mm collimation, 120 kVp, and 170 effective mAs and followed by LDCT using 30 or 50 effective mAs. Two independent board-certified radiologists retrospectively recorded the visualization, outer diameter, and the wall thickness of normal appendices. The diameters, circumference, and cross-sectional area of the abdomen were measured. RESULTS: The prevalence of appendectomy was 8.8% (6 of 68 patients). The means of the 2 reviewers' sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy for visualization of normal appendix at SDCT versus LDCT respectively were 78% versus 73%, 100% versus 92%, 100% versus 99%, 31% versus 24%, and 80% versus 74% (P = 0.39-0.75). The interobserver agreement was good at both SDCT (kappa = 0.61) and LDCT (kappa = 0.74). Overall 40% to 58% of appendices at LDCT and 33% to 47% at SDCT was larger than 6 mm. There was no significant correlation in the appendix visualization neither with abdominal dimensions nor with visceral or pericecal fat at both dose sets. The calculated mean effective radiation dose at LDCT was 70% to 82% less than SDCT. CONCLUSIONS: Low- and standard-dose nonenhanced helical CT can visualize a normal appendix with high accuracy and good interobserver agreement. The diameter of normal appendix overlaps with that of appendicitis at CT. A diameter of 10.0 mm should be considered as the upper limit of normal in the absence of any other CT signs of appendicitis.

Percutaneous interventional therapy of persistent biliary fistulas.

BACKGROUND: Persistent biliary leakage is a challenging problem when conservative treatment methods fail. We present our experience with alternative percutaneous radiologic interventions to seal refractory biliary leaks. METHODS: From April 1998 to December 2005, a retrospective analysis of 23 patients with biliary leakage revealed six patients who were unresponsive to drainage were treated with use of Histoacryl (n = 5), microcoils (n = 2), or covered stent (n = 2) alone or in various combinations. RESULTS: In all patients, the biliary leakage ceased following a single procedure. Distally migration of microcoils into the abscess cavity was observed in a one coiling procedure, which was clinically insignificant. In one patient treated with covered stent, in-stent restenosis was seen in the postprocedural second year, which required another intervention. No recurrence of fistula was noted in the follow-up period (ranging from 6 to 47 months). CONCLUSIONS: Persistent biliary fistulas can be treated successfully by means of various percutaneous radiological interventions that can decrease the morbidity associated with prolonged external drainage and avert the need for surgery. We recommend superselective embolization, preferably with Histoacryl, for a safe and effective control of leakage. Although restenosis after stenting remains problematic, covered stents should be reserved as a feasible alternative for selected cases.

Orbital color Doppler imaging in Behçet's disease with or without ocular involvement.

PURPOSE: To investigate the value of color Doppler imaging (CDI) of orbital vasculature in the assessment of ocular involvement in patients with Behçet's disease (BD) without clinical ophthalmologic abnormalities. METHODS: CDI of the orbital vessels were performed on 26 eyes of 13 patients who were diagnosed as having BD with ocular involvement (group 1), 65 eyes of 33 patients who had BD without ocular involvement (group 2) and 40 eyes of 20 healthy volunteers (group 3). Peak systolic (PSV) and end-diastolic (EDV) blood flow velocities and resistivity index (RI) measurements were obtained for the ophthalmic artery (OA) and central retinal artery (CRA). The mean velocity of the central retinal vein (CRV) was also measured. RESULTS: For the OA, PSV and EDVs were significantly lower and RIs were significantly higher in group 2 than in control subjects. In group 1, only the EDVs of OA were significantly lower than in healthy subjects. For the CRA, PSV and EDVs were significantly lower, and RIs were significantly higher in both BD groups than those in group 3. When group 1 and group 2 were compared, the differences between PSV, EDV and RI measurements for the CRA and OA were statistically insignificant. There was no significant difference in blood flow velocity of the CRV between the three groups. CONCLUSION: Major hemodynamic changes were observed in the ophthalmic vasculature of Behçet's patients with or without ocular involvement by CDI. CDI may detect ocular blood flow alterations before initial clinical manifestations.