The Double Capsule Phenomenon in a Case Series and its Relationship with the Macro-Textured Breast Implant.

BACKGROUND: Silicone breast augmentation remains one of the most common aesthetic surgery procedures, and 2022 marks the 60th anniversary of the first case. Recent studies suggest a link between double capsule (DC) formation and macro-textured devices. METHODS: Between 2010 and 2015, 268 aesthetic patients underwent bilateral mammary prosthesis exchange for indications including PIP exchange, adverse capsular contracture and ultrasonographic evidence of rupture. All surgery, in the form of implant exchange and capsulectomy, was undertaken by the senior author using standard techniques. A retrospective review was undertaken, and data analysed with descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: Of 268 patients identified, 40 (14.9%) showed some degree of capsular duplication and bilateral involvement was marginally more common (52.5%). Two macroscopic patterns of duplication were observed: complete and subtotal. Complete DCs correlated with a clinical triad of extreme firmness, mobility and minimal-to-no pain. Whilst a wide range of manufacturers was represented, macro-textured devices were associated with the highest DC prevalence (58.3% vs. 5.6%) (Fisher's exact test p < 0.00001). Patients with DC had been implanted for less than half the time, median 52 versus. 120 months (p = 0.0003) of those without. DISCUSSION: An elevated prevalence of duplicate capsules in macro-textured prostheses is reconfirmed in addition to a novel symptom constellation that may assist with clinical diagnosis. Our study reinforces the aetiopathogenic influence of the elastomer in DC formation and reports DC for the first time in non-macrotextured implants. Single-surgeon cohort of 268 consecutive patients with 532 implants Statistically significant association of macro-textured devices with DC Statistically significant reduced duration of implantation of macro-textured devices First report of DC in non-macro-textured devices LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Comparison of outcomes between intracapsular resection and pseudocapsule-based extracapsular resection for pituitary adenoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Transsphenoidal surgery is the preferred first-line therapy for most pituitary adenoma(PA), and the conventional strategy of treatment is intracapsular resection(IR). The protocol of extracapsular resection(ER), which considers the pseudocapsule as the PA boundary for surgical removal, has also been introduced gradually. In this study, the clinical efficacies and complications were explored and compared between these two procedures. METHODS: A systematic literature review was performed in the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane databases. Articles comparing between IR and ER were included. RESULTS: There were 7 studies containing 1768 cases in accordance with the inclusion criteria. Although the meta-analysis showed no significant difference in complete resection, a sensitivity analysis revealed that ER was more conducive to total PA resection than IR. Moreover, we found a significant difference in favor of ER regarding biochemical remission. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the incidence rate of certain complications, such as hormone deficiency, diabetes insipidus, intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) and postoperative CSF leakage. However, a sensitivity analysis suggested that IR decreased the risk of intraoperative CSF leakage. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis unveiled that ER contributed to biochemical remission. To some extent, our results also showed that ER played a positive role in complete resection, but that IR reduced the incidence of intraoperative CSF leakage. However, the available evidence needs to be further authenticated using well-designed prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trials.

Imaging Features of Renal Masses to Select Optimal Candidates for Tumor Enucleation Partial Nephrectomy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The goal of this paper was to critically evaluate preoperative findings that optimally select candidates for renal tumor enucleation partial nephrectomy. RECENT FINDINGS: Tumor enucleation has been widely accepted as a management option for patients with chronic kidney disease, hereditary renal cell carcinoma, or multifocal disease. Recent evidence suggests safety and efficacy in the management of routine small renal masses. With recent advances in imaging, the literature for ruling out aggressive renal cell carcinoma and selection for tumor enucleation is robust. As the incidence of renal cell carcinoma rises, partial nephrectomy continues to be the mainstay of treatment for localized renal cell carcinoma. Tumor enucleation maximizes preservation of renal parenchyma without hindering oncologic outcomes. It is important to recognize key tumor radiologic findings which urologists may use to optimize patient selection for tumor enucleation.

Postsurgical Intrauterine Adhesions after Hysteroscopic Myomectomy Using the Myoma Pseudocapsule Preservation Technique Evaluated bv Second-look Hysteroscopy: A Retrospective Comparative Study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To analyze the frequency and risk factors of postsurgical intrauterine adhesions (IUAs) using second-look hysteroscopy (SLH) in patients undergoing hysteroscopic myomectomy performed using the myoma pseudocapsule preservation technique for submucosal myoma. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: University hospital from January 2017 to December 2019. PATIENTS: A total of 124 patients underwent hysteroscopic myomectomy and SLH. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, number of enucleated myomas, volume of specimen, and postsurgical IUA evaluated by SLH. Postsurgical IUA were found in 5 of 124 cases (4.0%) at SLH. There were no cases of IUA formation in cases in which a single myomas was resected (0 of 83 cases, 0%); all cases were multiple myomas (5 of 41 cases, 12.2%), and IUA significantly occurred more frequently in cases of multiple myoma (p = .003). Univariate analyses showed that the IUA group contained a significantly larger number of enucleated uterine myoma (p <.001), required a longer operation (p = .003), and displayed an increased volume of intraoperative bleeding (p = .007), and the heavier the specimen, the greater the number of patients that had inserted an intrauterine device than the group that did not display postsurgical IUA. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of the risk factors of postsurgical IUA showed that the number of enucleated myomas was strongly associated with IUA (odds ratio, 1.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.97). CONCLUSION: The frequency of postsurgical IUA after hysteroscopic myomectomy was high in cases of multiple myoma and may be a risk factor. SLH should be actively pursued in cases where the patient desires to bear children, and an informed consent should be attained before performing surgery.

Parotid pleomorphic and non-pleomorphic adenomas: a mono-institutional series of 512 patients.

PURPOSE: Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is the most common benign parotid tumor, with a well-known propensity to recur. Many factors have been advocated as prognostic, but there is no consensus on how they affect local control. We studied how PA recurrence-free survival (RFS) may be affected by the most relevant risk factors in a time-to-event analysis, comparing them with those observed in a population of non-PA (NPA). METHODS: Patients undergoing parotidectomy for benign lesions between 2002 and 2018 in a single academic tertiary referral center were included. A description of patients, tumors, and treatment characteristics was performed, highlighting differences between PA and NPA. Analysis of PA RFS and relative risk factors was also conducted. RESULTS: Eight hundred fifty patients underwent parotidectomy for benign lesions, 455 (53.5%) for PA and 57 (6.7%) for NPA. Significant differences between PA and NPA were age at surgery, surgical procedure, and resection margins. Recurrence occurred in 3.1% of PA, with a median disease-free interval of 54 months. 2-, 5-, and 10-year RFS were 99.2, 98.5, and 93.9%, respectively. Age < 18 years (HR = 31.31, p < 0.001), intraoperative tumor spillage (HR = 6.57, p = 0.041), extensive pseudo-capsule interruption (HR = 5.85, p = 0.023), and resection margins < 1 mm (HR = 3.16, p = 0.085) were associated with RFS. CONCLUSION: Patients affected by NPA were significantly older and treated with more conservative surgical procedures compared to those with PA. In PA, younger age, major pseudo-capsule defects, and surgical margins were the most relevant factors affecting local control. These results confirm the importance of an appropriate surgical management and long-term follow-up in PA.

Intracervical intracapsular myomectomy using loop ligation: a proposed technique.

Performing laparoscopic myomectomy for an intracervical myoma, especially a single giant myoma, is challenging. Only skilled surgeons attempt this operation. Surgeons frequently encounter cases of massive intraoperative bleeding, difficulty suturing the cervical incision, risk of injuring the neighbouring tissues, haematoma formation and conversion to laparotomy or hysterectomy. We previously developed a the technique of loop ligation of the pseudocapsule and have been using it to treat sizeable intracervical myomas laparoscopically. Its advantages include less blood loss, lower risk of injuries to the neighbouring tissues, maintenance of the cervical canal and sparing of the pseudocapsule. This technique is safe and feasible, and facilitates fertility. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: The loop ligation technique is safe and feasible for laparoscopic myomectomy involving intracervical myomas.

Chronic Persisting Hematoma: Report of a Case and Literature Review.

The authors present a unique case of chronic persisting hematoma formation at the site of a remote congenital melanocytic nevus excision with tissue expander reconstruction. Similarities between chronic persisting hematoma and chronic encapsulated seroma are addressed to provide guidance on the appropriate workup and management for the plastic surgeon. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Three-Dimensional In Vitro Staphylococcus aureus Abscess Communities Display Antibiotic Tolerance and Protection from Neutrophil Clearance.

Staphylococcus aureus is a prominent human pathogen in bone and soft-tissue infections. Pathophysiology involves abscess formation, which consists of central staphylococcal abscess communities (SACs), surrounded by a fibrin pseudocapsule and infiltrating immune cells. Protection against the ingress of immune cells such as neutrophils, or tolerance to antibiotics, remains largely unknown for SACs and is limited by the lack of availability of in vitro models. We describe a three-dimensional in vitro model of SACs grown in a human plasma-supplemented collagen gel. The in vitro SACs reached their maximum size by 24 h and elaborated a fibrin pseudocapsule, as confirmed by electron and immunofluorescence microscopy. The in vitro SACs tolerated 100× the MIC of gentamicin alone and in combination with rifampin, while planktonic controls and mechanically dispersed SACs were efficiently killed. To simulate a host response, SACs were exposed to differentiated PLB-985 neutrophil-like (dPLB) cells and to primary human neutrophils at an early stage of SAC formation or after maturation at 24 h. Both cell types were unable to clear mature in vitro SACs, but dPLB cells prevented SAC growth upon early exposure before pseudocapsule maturation. Neutrophil exposure after plasmin pretreatment of the SACs resulted in a significant decrease in the number of bacteria within the SACs. The in vitro SAC model mimics key in vivo features, offers a new tool to study host-pathogen interactions and drug efficacy assessment, and has revealed the functionality of the S. aureus pseudocapsule in protecting the bacteria from host phagocytic responses and antibiotics.

Accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging to identify pseudocapsule invasion in renal tumors.

PURPOSE: To evaluate accuracy of MRI in detecting renal tumor pseudocapsule (PC) invasion and to propose a classification based on imaging of PC status in patients with renal cell carcinoma. METHODS: From January 2017 to June 2018, 58 consecutive patients with localized renal cell carcinoma were prospectively enrolled. MRI was performed preoperatively and PC was classified, according to its features, as follows: MRI-Cap 0 (absence of PC), MRI-Cap 1 (presence of a clearly identifiable PC), MRI-Cap 2 (focally interrupted PC), and MRI-Cap 3 (clearly interrupted and infiltrated PC). A 3D image reconstruction showing MRI-Cap score was provided to both surgeon and pathologist to obtain complete preoperative evaluation and to compare imaging and pathology reports. All patients underwent laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. In surgical specimens, PC was classified according to the renal tumor capsule invasion scoring system (i-Cap). RESULTS: A concordance between MRI-Cap and i-Cap was found in 50/58 (86%) cases. ρ coefficient for each MRI-cap and iCap categories was: MRI-Cap 0: 0.89 (p < 0.0001), MRI-Cap1: 0.75 (p < 0.0001), MRI-Cap 2: 0.76 (p < 0.0001), and MRI-Cap3: 0.87 (p < 0.0001). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and AUC were: MRI-Cap 0: Se 97.87% Spec 83.3%, PPV 95.8%, NPV 90.9%, and AUC 90.9; MRI-Cap 1: Se 77% Spec 95.5%, PPV 83.3%, NPV 93.5%, and AUC 0.86; MRI-Cap 2- iCap 2: Se 88% Spec 90%, PPV 79%, NPV 95%, and AUC 0.89; MRI-Cap 3: Se 94% Spec 95%, PPV 88%, NPV 97%, and AUC 0.94. CONCLUSIONS: MRI-Cap classification is accurate in evaluating renal tumor PC features. PC features can provide an imaging-guided landmark to figure out where a minimal margin could be preferable during nephron-sparing surgery.

[The Optimal Surgical Margins of Nephron-sparing Surgery for Stage T 1b Renal Tumors].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the pathological characteristics and explore the optimal surgical margins (SM) of nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) for stage T 1b renal carcinoma (4-7 cm) on preoperative imaging. METHODS: The clinical and pathological data of 245 cases of stage T 1b kidney cancer from September 2013 to December 2017 were collected and reviewed retrospectively. The radical nephrectomy (RN) was performed on 174 cases and other 71 cases accepted NSS. There were 158 males and 87 females, with a mean age of 59.6 years and mean tumor size of 5.3 cm. RESULTS: Through postoperative pathological examination, 209 (85.3%) cases were confirmed renal clear cell carcinoma and 219 (89.4%) cases were surrounded with visible peritumoralpseudocapsule (PC). 26 (10.6%) cases of cancerous cells invaded beyond peritumoral PC and into renal parenchyma. The infiltrative depth into renal parenchyma beyond PC was all limited in 3 mm and the cases of ≤1, 1-2 and 2-3 mm were 7 (26.9%), 16 (61.5%) and 3 (11.5%), respectively. Multifocal tumors were discovered in 24 (9.8%) cases. The average resection margin for partial nephrectomy was 5 mm (3-7 mm). CONCLUSION: For stage T 1b renal tumors, NSS is acceptable and a 3 mm of surgical margin is safe and suitable to avoid positive SM.

Peel-off resection of the pituitary gland for functional pituitary adenomas: pathological significance and impact on pituitary function.

PURPOSE: Functional pituitary adenomas (FPAs) lacking a well-defined pseudocapsule can invade the adjacent pituitary gland. In such situations, peel-off resection of the adjacent pituitary gland after selective adenomectomy might lead to complete tumor removal, resulting in optimal endocrinological outcomes. Here, we present the significance of peel-off resection of the pituitary gland in patients with FPA in whom complete extracapsular tumor removal cannot be achieved. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 21 patients with FPA who underwent transsphenoidal surgery (TSS). After selective adenomectomy, peel-off resection of the adjacent pituitary gland was performed in 13 patients because complete extracapsular resection could not be achieved, while peel-off resection was not performed in the remaining 8 patients because complete extracapsular resection was accomplished. The clinical outcomes of these groups were compared. The pituitary tissues obtained by peel-off resection were pathologically examined for tumor cells. RESULTS: Early postoperative biochemical remission was achieved in 20 patients (95.2%). Anterior pituitary functions were not aggravated postoperatively in any patient: however, transient diabetes insipidus (DI) occurred in 2 patients. There were no statistically significant differences in the clinical outcomes of the two groups. A pseudocapsule was pathologically detected in the adjacent anterior pituitary even in patients in whom no pseudocapsule was intraoperatively detected. Tumor cells were pathologically detected in 7 (58.3%) of 12 pituitary tissues examined. CONCLUSIONS: Peel-off resection of the pituitary gland, which can remove a small tumor cell remnant in the adjacent pituitary, might maximize the effectiveness of TSS with minimal impact on postoperative pituitary function.

Pathologic analysis of non-neoplastic parenchyma in renal cell carcinoma: a comprehensive observation in radical nephrectomy specimens.

BACKGROUND: This study provides a comprehensive examination of the histological features of non-neoplastic parenchyma in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We prospectively collected radical nephrectomy (RN) specimens, to analyze the histological changes within peritumoral and distant parenchyma. METHODS: Data of patients who underwent RN and had no known history of diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or chronic kidney disease etc., were prospectively collected. Tumor pseudo-capsule (PC), and parenchyma within 2 cm from tumor margin, were pathologically assessed. The parenchyma beyond PC or tumor margin was divided into 20 subsections of 1 mm in width. Histological changes, including chronic inflammation, glomerulosclerosis, arteriosclerosis and nephrosclerosis, were given scores of 0, 1, 2 or 3 for each subsection of each specimen, according to their severity. The 20 subsections of each specimen were further divided into four groups according to the distance from the tumor edge (group 1: 0-2 mm; group 2: 2-5 mm; group 3: 5-10 mm; group 4: 10-20 mm), to better compare the peritumoral parenchyma with the distant parenchyma. RESULTS: In total, 53 patients were involved in this study. All tumors were confirmed RCCs (clear cell vs. papillary vs. chromophobe were 83% vs. 5.7% vs. 11.3%, respectively), with a mean size of 5.6 cm. Histological changes were more severe in peritumoral parenchyma close to PC or tumor edge (0-5 mm), and less common within parenchyma more distant from the tumor (5-20 mm) (p < 0.001). chronic inflammation and nephrosclerosis were the most common changes especially in peritumoral parenchyma (0-2 mm). PC was present in 49 tumors (92.5%), and PC invasion occurred in 5 cases (10.2%). Mean PC thickness was 0.7 mm. PCs were more likely to be present in clear cell RCC or papillary RCC than in chromophobe RCC (100% vs. 100% vs. 33.3%, respectively; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Most RCCs have a well-developed PC, especially clear cell RCC. Histological changes mainly occur in peritumoral parenchyma, being rather uncommon in distant parenchyma. A compression band filled with severe histological changes was typically observed in renal parenchyma close to the tumor. Its preservation while performing an enucleation margin may not be entirely necessary.

Missense mutations in exon 2 of the MED12 gene are involved in IGF-2 overexpression in uterine leiomyoma.

Uterine leiomyoma (UL), the most common benign tumour found in females, is associated with many recurrent genetic aberrations, such as translocations, interstitial deletions and specific germline mutations. Among these, mutations affecting exon 2 of the mediator complex subunit 12 (MED12) gene are commonly detected in the majority of ULs. Mutational analysis of the MED12 gene, performed on 36 UL samples, revealed that 12 leiomyomas (33.4%) exhibited heterozygous missense mutations in codon 44 of exon 2 of the MED12 gene, four leiomyomas (11.1%) showed internal in-frame deletions, and two leiomyomas (5.5%) exhibited deletions involving intron 1-exon 2 junction, which caused a predicted loss of the splice acceptor. No mutations were detected in uterine myometrium (UM) and pseudocapsule (PC) samples, including those from women with a MED12 mutation in UL. These data showed that the PC is a healthy tissue that surrounds the UL to maintain UM integrity. Analysis of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2) and collagen type IV alpha 2 (COL4A2) mRNA expression levels in the same set of ULs revealed that only those with MED12 missense mutations expressed significantly higher levels of IGF-2 mRNA. In contrast, MED12 gene status does not appear to affect mRNA expression levels of the COL4A2 gene. On the basis of this finding, we suggest that the MED12 status stratifies the ULs into two mutually exclusive pathways of leiomyoma genesis, one with IGF-2 overexpression and the other with no IGF-2 activation. The occurrence of IGF-2 overexpression could be therapeutically targeted for the non-surgical treatment of leiomyomas.

Relationship between dermoscopic and histopathological findings of extradigital glomus tumors.

In extradigital glomus tumors, (1) noncontact and (2) contact dermoscopy show (1) a central purplish-white area corresponding to tumor nests surrounding enlarged vessels, a peripheral yellow-white area corresponding to mucin deposition, melanin granules, and fibrous tissue, and (2) white reticular and linear cord areas corresponding to pseudocapsules and collagen fibers.

The Incidences and Related CT Features of Vascular Lake Phenomenon on Angiography Before Chemoembolization.

PURPOSE: To elucidate incidence rates of vascular lake phenomenon (VLP) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), hepatic metastasis (HMT) on transarterial angiography before chemoembolization, and to identity CT features predictive for it. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive evaluation involved 665 subjects for incidence analysis, comprising 527 of HCC, 33 of ICC and 105 of HMT. VLP was characterized as intratumoral contrast material pool persisting late into venous phase. Incidences were cataloged on both super-selective and common hepatic artery angiography. For CT features analysis, a subset of 182 cases were analyzed. Enhancement ratio served as an index for comparative analysis of nodule enhancement degrees. RESULTS: In HCC, incidence of VLP ascertained via super-selective angiography was 13.5%, whereas it as 7.8% on common hepatic artery angiography. Remarkably, no incidences of VLP were recorded in either ICC or HMT cases. On pre-interventional CT, the prevalence of pseudocapsule was statistically greater in VLP group than Non-VLP group (66.6% vs. 37.6%, P = 0.015). The Houndsfield units (HU) of tumors in plain scan (P = 0.007), arterial phase (P = 0.001), venous phase (P = 0.041), arterial phase enhancement ratio (P < 0.001) were statistically higher in VLP group compared to Non-VLP group. Arterial phase enhancement ratio (P = 0.025), presence of pseudocapsule (P = 0.001), HU of tumor in plain scan (P = 0.035) serve as independent risk factors for VLP manifestation. CONCLUSION: VLP is a distinct angiography phenomenon uniquely associated with HCC. High arterial phase enhancement ratio, presence of pseudocapsule, high HU of tumor in plain scan are independent risk factors for VLP.

Pseudo-capsulated Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy Versus Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The effectiveness and safety of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) or transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for cases with single pseudo-capsuled hepatocellular carcinoma (pHCC), as well as their survival outcomes, were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 196 cases with single pHCC (diameter >5 cm) receiving initial HAIC (n = 92) and TACE (n = 104) were enrolled. The propensity score match (PSM) approach based on Cox models was employed to tune any possible imbalance in treatment assignment. The overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and partial response rate (PRR) of the subjects were investigated using the log-rank test. The independent risk factors for outcomes were investigated by univariate and multivariate analyses, and the results were analyzed using the Cox regression model. RESULTS: The median follow-up of the subjects was 22.3 months. After PSM, no significant difference was found in the OS of the HAIC and TACE groups (OS, 12.0 vs. 16.8 months; P = .267), while the median PFS of the TACE group was prolonged compared with the HAIC group (PFS, 5.7 vs. 2.8 months; P = .003). Moreover, PRR and ORR of the TACE group were prolonged compared with the HAIC group (PRR, 34.6% vs. 21.7%; P = .046; ORR, 35.6% vs. 21.7%; P = .033). The nomogram model showed high predictive accuracy and significant discrimination. CONCLUSION: TACE therapy could delay tumor progression compared with HAIC for cases with a single pHCC.

The Value of Dual-Energy Computed Tomography-Based Radiomics in the Evaluation of Interstitial Fibers of Clear Cell Renal Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the potential of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) radiomics in assessing cancer-associated fibroblasts in clear cell renal carcinoma (ccRCC). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 132 patients with ccRCC. The arterial and venous phase iodine-based material decomposition images (IMDIs), virtual non-contrast images, 70 keV, 100 keV, and 150 keV virtual monoenergetic images, and mixed energy images (MEIs) were obtained from the DECT datasets. On the Radcloud platform, radiomics feature extraction, feature selection, and model establishment were performed. Seven radiomics models were established using the support vector machine. The predictive performance was evaluated by utilizing receiver operating characteristic and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. Nomograms were constructed. RESULTS: The combined model demonstrated high efficiency in evaluating pseudocapsule thickness with AUC, specificity, and sensitivity of 0.833, 0.870, and 0.750, respectively in the validation set, surpassing those of other models. The precision, F1-score, and Youden index were also higher for the combined model. For evaluating the number of collagen fibers, the combined model exhibited the highest AUC (0.741) among all models, with a specificity of 0.830 and a sensitivity of 0.330. The AUC in the 150 kv model and IMDI model were slightly lower than those in the combined model (0.728 and 0.710, respectively), with corresponding sensitivity and specificity of 0.560/0.780 and 0.670/0.830. The nomogram exhibited that Rad-score had good prediction efficiency. CONCLUSION: DECT radiomics features have significant value in evaluating the interstitial fibers of ccRCC. The combined model of IMDI + MEI exhibits superior performance in assessing the thickness of the pseudocapsule, while the combined, 150 keV, and IMDI models demonstrate higher efficacy in evaluating collagen fiber number. Radiomics, combined with imaging features and clinical features, has excellent predictive performance. These findings offer crucial support for the clinical diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of ccRCC and provide valuable insights into the application of DECT.

Narrow-band imaging to enhance intraneural dissection in head and neck schwannoma surgery: a quantitative evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the utility of narrow-band imaging (NBI) for improving intraneural dissection during gross total resection of head and neck schwannoma. Specifically, we aimed to quantitatively evaluate whether NBI can enhance the identification of pseudocapsule and true capsule within the tumor. METHODS: Nine schwannoma surgery cases conducted between February 2018 and October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The surgical procedures followed established principles with a specific focus on utilizing NBI to distinguish between the pseudocapsule and true capsule. Intraneural dissection was performed by searching for a tumor surface with a fascicle-free window, followed by longitudinal incision of the pseudocapsule. NBI was used to distinguish between the pseudocapsule and true capsule. Surgical views were captured under both white light (WL) illumination and NBI for further analysis. The brightness and contrast of the pseudocapsule and true capsule were quantitatively measured using ImageJ and were compared. RESULTS: Under NBI, the pseudocapsule consistently appeared greenish-gray, whereas the true capsule exhibited a white appearance. Quantitative analysis revealed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.0001) in brightness between the pseudocapsule (mean grayscale value 52.1, 95%CI; 46.4-75.3) and true tumor capsule (mean grayscale value 120.8, 95%CI; 155.7-109.0) under NBI. Conversely, there was no statistically significant difference in the brightness of these structures under WL (p = 0.2067). NBI also showed significantly higher contrast between the two structures than did WL (contrast 73.6, 95%CI; 53.1-89.5 vs. 30.9, 95%CI; 1.0-47.5, p = 0.0034). Further spectral analysis revealed that the most substantial difference in brightness between the pseudocapsule and the true tumor capsule was observed in the red spectrum, with a difference in brightness of -0.6 (95%CI; -16.8-14.8) under WL and 83.5 (95%CI; 50.3-100.0) under NBI (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: NBI proved to be a valuable tool for enhancing the identification of pseudocapsule and true capsule during intraneural dissection in head and neck schwannoma surgery. The improved contrast and membrane visibility offered by NBI might have the potential to reduce postoperative neurological deficits and improve surgical outcomes. Further research is warranted to validate our findings and explore the broader applications of NBI in schwannoma surgery.

AB031. Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for functional pituitary adenoma: shifting paradigms towards pseudocapsule-based resection.

BACKGROUND: Functional pituitary adenomas (PAs) manifest as intricate clinical syndromes, and surgery emerges as the principal intervention to mitigate associated morbidity and mortality. The endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (ETS) approach stands as the preferred method for addressing PAs, with postoperative remission acting as a pivotal prognostic factor. METHODS: This study seeks to evaluate the influence of different surgical techniques and complications of ETS on functional PAs, focusing on both Acromegaly and Cushing's disease (CD). Patient records, including characteristics, perioperative assessments, postoperative complications, and follow-up data, were systematically gathered. Tumor resection methods were categorized into: (I) complete pseudocapsule resection; and (II) complete piecemeal resection. Post-surgery, daily monitoring of serum cortisol levels continued for a consecutive 3-day period until values of 2 µg/dL or less were achieved. Growth hormone levels were reassessed 12 weeks later, targeting a level of <0.14 g/L. A follow-up enhanced magnetic resonance imaging examination was conducted 3 months post-surgery to confirm the absence of residual tumors. RESULTS: The study identified 46 patients (23 with acromegaly and 13 with CD) who underwent endoscopic surgery between 2020 and 2023. Twenty-six patients underwent piecemeal resection (January 2020 to December 2022), while 10 patients underwent complete pseudocapsule removal (January to December 2023). No significant changes in surgical complications were observed between the two techniques. No instances of carotid artery injury, epistaxis, intracranial infection, or loss of olfaction were reported. In the pseudocapsule group, one patient experienced transient vision loss. Notably, 80% of patients in the pseudocapsule group achieved remission as compared to 57.7% in the piecemeal group. CONCLUSIONS: Pseudocapsule-based resection exhibited a remarkable remission rate, a low complication rate, and an absence of recurrence in functional adenoma patients. Despite the limited number of cases and our early experience, further studies are warranted to validate its effectiveness and safety.

The Prognostic Role of Volumetric MRI Evaluation in the Surgical Treatment of Glioblastoma.

Background: Glioblastoma is the most common primary brain neoplasm in adults, with a poor prognosis despite a constant effort to improve patient survival. Some neuroradiological volumetric parameters seem to play a predictive role in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of the volumetric areas of contrast-enhancing tumors and perineoplastic edema on the survival of patients treated for glioblastoma. Methods: A series of 87 patients who underwent surgery was retrospectively analyzed; OS and PFS were considered the end points of the study. For each patient, a multidisciplinary revision was conducted in collaboration with the Neuroradiology and Neuro-Oncology Board. Manual and semiautomatic measurements were adopted to perform the radiological evaluation, and the following quantitative parameters were retrospectively analyzed: contrast enhancement preoperative tumor volume (CE-PTV), contrast enhancement postoperative tumor volume (CE-RTV), edema/infiltration preoperative volume (T2/FLAIR-PV), edema/infiltration postoperative volume (T2/FLAIR-RV), necrosis volume inside the tumor (NV), and total tumor volume including necrosis (TV). Results: The median OS value was 9 months, and the median PFS value was 4 months; the mean values were 12.3 and 6.9 months, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the OS-related factors were adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (p < 0.0001), CE-PTV < 15 cm3 (p = 0.03), surgical resection > 95% (p = 0.004), and the presence of a "pseudocapsulated" radiological morphology (p = 0.04). Conclusions: Maximal safe resection is one of the most relevant predictive factors for patient survival. Semiautomatic preoperative MRI evaluation could play a key role in prognostically categorizing these tumors.