Changes on chest HRCT in systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease after autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Objective: To evaluate extent of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and oesophageal involvement using high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in early diffuse SSc patients after autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT).

Methods: Overall chest HRCT, lung function and skin score changes were evaluated in 33 consecutive diffuse SSc patients before and after aHSCT during yearly routine follow-up visits between January 2000 and September 2016. Two independent radiologists blindly assessed the ILD extent using semi-quantitative Goh and Wells method, the widest oesophageal diameter (WOD) and the oesophageal volume (OV) on HRCT.

What is the most useful imaging parameter to explore the prognostic value of the right ventricular function at the time of multimodality cardiovascular imaging?

Background: Right ventricular (RV) function is a powerful independent predictor of adverse heart failure outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare the predictive value of main RV systolic imaging parameters for outcome.

Methods: Seventy-nine patients underwent comprehensive cardiovascular imaging modalities including transthoracic echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, and tomographic equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography (ERV) for the assessment of RV function.

Contribution and performance of multimodal imaging in the diagnosis and management of cardiac masses.

To evaluate the contribution and performance of multimodal imaging in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of cardiac masses. We carried out a monocentric retrospective study on patients referred for cardiac mass assessment between 2006 and 2019, and analyzed the respective contribution of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), cardiac computed tomography (CT), cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography coupled with CT (F-FDG PET-CT). For each test, we determined strategy before and after its completion (need for another imaging or decision-making) as well as result on benign, malignant or indeterminate nature.

Impact of aortic valve calcification severity on device success after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Aortic valvular calcium score (AVCS) can identify severe aortic stenosis (AS) and provide powerful prognostic information. In severe and symptomatic AS, patients can be referred for a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The aim of this study was to determine whether AVCS, measured on the preoperative contrast enhanced multislice computed tomography (MSCT), is associated with device success (DS), major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) and paravalvular leak (PVL) after TAVR.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with late gadolinium enhancement in acute myocarditis: Towards differentiation between immune-mediated and viral-related aetiologies.

Background: Diagnosing immune-mediated myocarditis is challenging because of non-specific clinical signs and symptoms. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) provides subepicardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in the setting of acute myocarditis, but the diagnostic value of LGE pattern for differentiating between immune-mediated and viral-related aetiologies remains unknown.

Aims: To determine the value of LGE pattern for differentiating between immune-mediated and viral-related aetiologies in patients with acute myocarditis.

Diagnostic score for the detection of cardiac amyloidosis in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy and impact on prognosis.

Background: Among diagnosis associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is a progressive disease with poor prognosis. Early noninvasive identification is of growing clinical importance. The objective of our study was to integrate clinical, biologic, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters to build a diagnostic score in patients with LVH.

Other non-surgical treatments for liver cancer.

Interventional radiology plays a major role in the modern management of liver cancers, in primary hepatic malignancies or metastases and in palliative or curative situations. Radiological treatments are divided in two categories based on their approach: endovascular treatment and direct transcapsular access. Endovascular treatments include mainly three applications: transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), transarterial radioembolization (TARE) and portal vein embolization (PVE).

Association between serum alkaline phosphatase and coronary artery calcification in a sample of primary cardiovascular prevention patients.

Background And Aims: A high level of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is associated with an increased risk of mortality and myocardial infarction. ALP hydrolyses inorganic pyrophosphate, which is a strong inhibitor of calcium phosphate deposition. The aim of this study was to determine whether ALP is associated with the coronary artery calcium score (CACS).

Prognostic impact of myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography in patients with major extracardiac findings by computed tomography for attenuation correction.

Background: Attenuation correction computed tomography (CT) contributes to an improvement in the diagnostic accuracy of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) by single photon emission tomography (SPECT). The aim of this study was to explore the prognosis of patients with major findings by CT according to the results of MPI.

Methods And Results: 1506 patients who underwent MPI by SPECT were retrospectively included.

Feasibility and accuracy of gated blood pool SPECT equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography for the assessment of left and right ventricular volumes and function in patients with left ventricular assist devices.

Background: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) require serial assessment of right and left ventricular (RV & LV) volumes and function. Because the RV is not assisted, its function is a critical determinant of the hemodynamic and contributes significantly to postoperative morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the feasibility and the accuracy of tomographic-equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography (t-ERV) for the assessment of patients with LVADs.

Pilot study for left ventricular imaging phenotype of patients over 65 years old with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction: the high prevalence of amyloid cardiomyopathy.

This study sought to phenotype patients over 65 years old with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) using clinical available comprehensive cardiovascular imaging modalities. Forty-nine patients with HFpEF and without coronary artery disease underwent clinical evaluation, electrocardiography, echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and Tc-3,3-diphosphono-1,2-propanodicarboxylic acid scintigraphy (Tc-DPD). The mean population age was 76 ± 8 years.