Diagnostic performance of MRI-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB): an essential but still underused technique.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) is an increasingly requested procedure, but it implies training and experience both in its execution and in determining radiological-pathological concordance and is therefore performed in dedicated breast centers. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of MRI-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy and to determine the upgrade rate after surgery or follow-up.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated all consecutive patients with suspicious MRI findings without corresponding mammographic and ultrasonographic findings who underwent MRI-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) at our Institution from November 2020 to March 2023.

Assessing the malignancy of suspicious breast microcalcifications: the role of contrast enhanced mammography.

Purpose: To assess the role of contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) in predicting the malignancy of breast calcifications.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients with suspicious calcifications (BIRADS 4) who underwent CEM and stereotactic vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) at our institution. We assessed the sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of CEM in predicting malignancy of microcalcifications with a 95% confidence interval; we performed an overall analysis and a subgroup analysis stratified into group A-low risk (BIRADS 4a) and group B-medium/high risk (BIRADS 4b-4c).

In-bore MRI targeted biopsy.

Clinical suspicion of Prostate Cancer (PCa) is largely based on increased prostate specific antigen (PSA) level and/or abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE) and/or positive imaging and, up today, biopsy is mandatory to confirm the diagnosis. The old model consisted of Standard Biopsy (SBx), that is random sampling of the prostate gland under ultrasound guidance (TRUS), in subjects with clinical suspicion of PCa. This involves the risk of not diagnosing a high percentage of tumors (up to 30%) and of an incorrect risk stratification.

Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) reporting with the METastasis Reporting and Data System for Prostate Cancer (MET-RADS-P): inter-observer agreement between readers of different expertise levels.

Background: The METastasis Reporting and Data System for Prostate Cancer (MET-RADS-P) guidelines are designed to enable reproducible assessment in detecting and quantifying metastatic disease response using whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) in patients with advanced prostate cancer (APC). The purpose of our study was to evaluate the inter-observer agreement of WB-MRI examination reports produced by readers of different expertise when using the MET-RADS-P guidelines.

Methods: Fifty consecutive paired WB-MRI examinations, performed from December 2016 to February 2018 on 31 patients, were retrospectively examined to compare reports by a Senior Radiologist (9 years of experience in WB-MRI) and Resident Radiologist (after a 6-months training) using MET-RADS-P guidelines, for detection and for primary/dominant and secondary response assessment categories (RAC) scores assigned to metastatic disease in 14 body regions.

Association of quantitative MRI-based radiomic features with prognostic factors and recurrence rate in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Radiomics focuses on extracting a large number of quantitative imaging features and testing both their correlation with clinical characteristics and their prognostic and predictive values. We propose a radiomic approach using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to decode the tumor phenotype and local recurrence in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). The contrast-enhanced T1-weighted sequences from baseline MRI examinations of OPSCC patients treated between 2008 and 2016 were retrospectively selected.

Retrospective study 2005-2015 of all cases of fetal death occurred at ≥23 gestational weeks, in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy.

Background: Intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) is a tragic event and, despite efforts to reduce rates, its incidence remains difficult to reduce. The objective of the present study was to examine the etiological factors that contribute to the main causes and conditions associated with IUFD, over an 11-year period in a region of North-East Italy (Friuli Venezia Giulia) for which reliable data in available.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of all 278 IUFD cases occurred between 2005 and 2015 in pregnancies with gestational age ≥ 23 weeks.

Correction: Confirmatory multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging at recruitment confers prolonged stay in active surveillance and decreases the rate of upgrading at follow-up.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

The Utility of the Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation-Volume Ratio in the Assessment of Fetal Echogenic Lung Lesions: A Systematic Review.

Although relatively uncommon, the incidence of fetal echogenic lung lesions - a heterogeneous group of anomalies that includes congenital pulmonary airway malformations (CPAM) and bronchopulmonary sequestrations (BPS) - has increased recently. Two decades ago, the CPAM-volume ratio (CVR) was first described as a tool to predict the development of hydrops, with this outcome found to be unlikely in fetuses with CVRs of ≤1.6 cm2.

Confirmatory multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging at recruitment confers prolonged stay in active surveillance and decreases the rate of upgrading at follow-up.

Background: To understand the value of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and targeted biopsies at recruitment on active surveillance (AS) outcomes.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective single-center study enrolled two cohorts of 206 and 310 patients in AS. The latter group was submitted to mpMRI and targeted biopsies at recruitment.

Effect of verticalization with Erigo® in the acute rehabilitation of severe acquired brain injury.

The recovery of the orthostatism after a severe acquired brain injury (sABI) is an essential objective to pursue in order to avoid the occurrence of secondary complications resulting from prolonged immobilization to which the patient is subjected during the acute phase. This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of verticalization with the lower limb robot-assisted training system Erigo® versus conventional neurorehabilitation in 44 adult subjects affected by sequelae of sABI in the acute rehabilitation phase, related to cardiorespiratory signs and measures of impairment and activity. At the end of the study (20 treatment sessions, 5 sessions per week), in both groups of patients, there were no dropouts nor adverse events.

Inter-observer agreement on the morphology of screening-detected lung cancer: beyond pulmonary nodules and masses.

Objectives: Pulmonary nodules and masses are the typical presentations of lung cancer. However, a spectrum of focal opacities cannot be defined as either "pulmonary nodule" or "mass," despite representing cancer. We aimed to assess the morphology of screening-detected lung cancers at low-dose computed tomography LDTC and to evaluate inter-observer agreement in their classification.

Cholecystectomy during esophagectomy is safe but unnecessary.

Prophylactic cholecystectomy has been proposed as a concomitant procedure during upper gastrointestinal surgery. This study evaluates the safety and the need of concurrent cholecystectomy during esophagectomy for cancer. All consecutive esophagectomies for esophageal cancer at the Center for Esophageal Diseases in Padova (Italy) between 1992 and 2011 were included.

Time to diagnosis in esophageal cancer: a cohort study.

Background: The association between shorter time to diagnosis and favorable outcome is still unproven in esophageal cancer. This study aims to evaluate the effect of time to diagnosis on patient prognosis.

Material And Methods: Retrospective cohort study of all 3613 symptomatic patients referred for esophageal cancer to our center from 1980 to 2011.

Inferior heel pain in soccer players: a retrospective study with a proposal for guidelines of treatment.

Background: The cause of heel pain among soccer players is multifactorial and is related to repetitive microtrauma due to impact forces involving technical moves, but also the playground, the exercise mode, the recovery time, the climatic conditions and the footwear used.

Aim: To investigate the aetiology of plantar heel pain of soccer players with the objective of proposing an example of guidelines for treatment.

Methods: We investigated the prevalence and characteristics of inferior heel pain of 1473 professional, semiprofessional and amateur players.

Rehabilitation program based on sensorimotor recovery improves the static and dynamic balance and modifies the basal ganglia neurochemistry: A pilot 1H-MRS study on Parkinson's disease patients.

Rehabilitation interventions represent an alternative strategy to pharmacological treatment in order to slow or reverse some functional aspects of disability in Parkinson's disease (PD). To date, the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying rehabilitation-mediated improvement in PD patients are still poorly understood. Interestingly, growing evidence has highlighted a key role of the glutamate in neurogenesis and brain plasticity.

Effect of combined treatment with focused mechano-acoustic vibration and pharmacological therapy on bone mineral density and muscle strength in post-menopausal women.

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a systemic disease of the skeleton characterized by a reduction in bone mass and alterations in microarchitecture accompanied by increase in fracture risk, with a relevant decline in quality of life and important social, economic, and health implications, representing one of the most common causes of disability and a major financial item of health cost in many Countries. The best therapy for osteoporosis is prevention, consisting in measures to avoid or slow the onset of the disease. Treatment includes measures aimed at osteoporotic individuals, with or without previous fractures and a high risk of a first or additional fracture.

Unindicated multiphase CT scans in non-traumatic abdominal emergencies for women of reproductive age: a significant source of unnecessary exposure.

Purpose: To determine the frequency of unindicated CT phases and the resultant excess of absorbed radiation doses to the uterus and ovaries in women of reproductive age who have undergone CT for non-traumatic abdomino-pelvic emergencies.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed all abdomino-pelvic CT examinations in women of reproductive age (40 years or less), between 1 June 2012 and 31 January 2015. We evaluated the appropriateness of each CT phase on the basis of clinical indications, according to ACR appropriateness criteria and evidence-based data from the literature.

Evaluation of inter-observer variability according to RECIST 1.1 and its influence on response classification in CT measurement of liver metastases.

Objective: The aim of this study is the evaluation of inter-observer variability in the measurement of liver metastases according to RECIST and its influence on response classification.

Patients And Methods: A total of 100 radiologists measured liver target lesions, on pre- and post-chemotherapy CT scans of three patients. Each observer filled out a questionnaire about his personal and work features.

Nodal skip metastasis in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a cohort study.

Background: Nodal skip metastasis is a prognostic factor in some sites of malignancies, but its role in esophageal cancer is still unclear. The present study aimed to investigate occurrence and effect of nodal skip metastases in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods: All 578 patients undergoing esophagectomy for thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma at the Center for Esophageal Diseases located in Padova between January 1992 and December 2010 were retrospectively evaluated.

Esophageal Cancer Clinical Presentation: Trends in the Last 3 Decades in a Large Italian Series.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate trends in patients' characteristics and comorbidities in esophageal cancer (EC) patients.

Background: Identifying changing pattern is essential to understand and predict further changes and to plan surgical procedures and resource allocation.

Methods: Trends in patients' characteristics and comorbidities were evaluated in 4440 EC patients at the Center for Esophageal Diseases in Padova, Italy, during 1980 to 2011.

Could Harmonic Scalpel (Ultracision®) be considered the best device in surgical treatment of vulvar cancer of patients with implanted pace-maker? Proposal and rationale.

Vulvar cancer (VC) represents about 4% of gynecologic malignancies, its incidence increases with age and peak incidence is found between 70-79 years. In cases of locally advanced disease surgery is often required and radical vulvectomy, with or without mono-bilateral inguino-femoral lymphadenectomy, is standard management. Various devices have been implemented in gynecological surgery in an attempt to minimize or avoid frequent intra/postoperative complications linked to energy use, unfortunately the majority of these devices require monopolar or bipolar energy.

Postoperative outcome after oesophagectomy for cancer: Nutritional status is the missing ring in the current prognostic scores.

Background: Several prognostic scores were designed in order to estimate the risk of postoperative adverse events. None of them includes a component directly associated to the nutritional status. The aims of the study were the evaluation of performance of risk-adjusted models for early outcomes after oesophagectomy and to develop a score for severe complication prediction with special consideration regarding nutritional status.