Detection of noncalcified pulmonary nodules on low-dose MDCT: comparison of the sensitivity of two CAD systems by using a double reference standard.

Purpose: This study compared the sensitivity of two commercial computer-aided detection (CAD) systems in identifying noncalcified pulmonary nodules on low-dose multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scans by using a double reference standard.

Materials And Methods: Three chest low-dose MDCT scans of patients who had undergone lung cancer screening were retrospectively analysed using two distinct commercial CAD systems: LungCAD VC10A, Siemens Medical Solutions (CAD1) and LungVCAR, GE Healthcare (CAD2). The exact location of each finding suggested by each system was recorded by an independent reader according to spatial coordinates (x, y, z).

Quantitative analysis of elastography images in the detection of breast cancer.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop a quantitative method for breast cancer diagnosis based on elastosonography images in order to reduce whenever possible unnecessary biopsies. The proposed method was validated by correlating the results of quantitative analysis with the diagnosis assessed by histopathologic exam.

Material And Methods: 109 images of breast lesions (50 benign and 59 malignant) were acquired with the traditional B-mode technique and with elastographic modality.

Perfusion Computed Tomography (PCT) adopting different perfusion metrics: recurrence of brain metastasis or radiation necrosis?

Objective: Different perfusion metrics were investigated to determine the accuracy of Perfusion CT (PCT) in differentiating recurrence of brain metastases from radiation necrosis in patients who previously underwent stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT).

Patients And Methods: Twenty patients previously treated with SRT underwent PCT examination of the brain. Normalized Cerebral Blood Volume (nCBV) values within the region of interest (ROI) were calculated.

Multicenter surveillance of women at high genetic breast cancer risk using mammography, ultrasonography, and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (the high breast cancer risk italian 1 study): final results.

Objectives: : To prospectively compare clinical breast examination, mammography, ultrasonography, and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a multicenter surveillance of high-risk women.

Materials And Methods: : We enrolled asymptomatic women aged ≥ 25: BRCA mutation carriers; first-degree relatives of BRCA mutation carriers, and women with strong family history of breast/ovarian cancer, including those with previous personal breast cancer.

Results: : A total of 18 centers enrolled 501 women and performed 1592 rounds (3.

Multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of the mandibular invasion by squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the oral cavity. Correlation with pathological data.

Background: To retrospectively compare the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) in the assessment of the mandibular invasion by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) having histopathological exams as standard of reference.

Materials And Methods: Institutional review board approval with a waiver of informed patient consent was obtained. Of the 147 patients selected from our database who underwent surgical excision of a tumour arising into the oral cavity, thirty-six patients (26 men, 10 women; mean age, 56 years; range, 30-75 years) with hystologically proven SCC who performed both a preoperative MRI and MDCT, composed our final study population.

Quantitative analysis of CT-perfusion parameters in the evaluation of brain gliomas and metastases.

Background: The paper reports a quantitative analysis of the perfusion maps of 22 patients, affected by gliomas or by metastasis, with the aim of characterizing the malignant tissue with respect to the normal tissue. The gold standard was obtained by histological exam or nuclear medicine techniques. The perfusion scan provided 11 parametric maps, including Cerebral Blood Volume (CBV), Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF), Average Perfusion (Pmean) and Permeability-surface area product (PS).

Color Doppler quantitative measures to predict outcome of biopsies in prostate cancer.

Purpose: The aim was to correlate the color Doppler flow activity pre- and postradiotherapy, using transrectal color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) and the 2 year positive biopsy rate after radiotherapy in patients with prostate cancer.

Methods And Materials: Analysis was carried out in 69 out of 160 patients who had undergone treatment with 3D-conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) to prostate and seminal vesicles. Patients were randomized to receive 80 Gy in 40 fractions in 8 weeks (arm A) and 62 Gy in 20 fractions in 5 weeks, 4 fractions per week (arm B).

Oral cavity and base of the tongue tumors. Correlation between clinical, MRI and pathological staging of primary tumor.

The diagnosis of oral cavity and oropharyngeal tumors can be obtained through clinical examination and biopsy. CT and MRI can then be used to define the extension of the disease. The aim of this study was to define the accuracy of clinical and MRI T staging of oral cavity and base of the tongue tumors and correlate the results with pathological data.

The breast dynamic contrast enhanced MRI: preliminary results of a quantitative analysis.

The objective of our study was to apply a quantitative analysis to the dynamic contrast enhanced MR imaging of the breast. Automated criteria increase the objectivity and reproducibility of the diagnostic interpretation of the imaging for differentiating benign and malignant lesions. The validation of this applied method was evaluated by analysing the time- signal intensity curves and the performance of the extracted enhancement parameters.

Early post-operative MRI: correlation with progression-free survival and overall survival time in malignant gliomas.

Forty-seven patients with Glioblastoma (42) and Anaplastic Astrocytoma (5) were studied with MR 24 hrs after surgery. In order to evaluate the role of early MR in defining the extent of surgical resection and its relation with the prognosis of malignant glioma patients, three categories of surgical resection were considered: gross total, sub-total and partial resection. The results were correlated with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (ST).

Unilateral limited laminectomy as the approach of choice for the removal of thoracolumbar neurofibromas.

Study Design: The paper reports a minimally invasive approach to the dorsolumbar spine for the removal of neurofibromas.

Objectives: Demonstrating that a limited unilateral approach is the one of choice for this kind of tumors.

Summary Of Background Data: Spinal intradural extramedullary tumors are generally removed by single-level or multilevel laminectomy with midline dural incision.

Evaluation of hepatic metastases from colorectal carcinoma with MR-superparamagnetic iron oxide.

The purpose of this study was to compare the results obtained with superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced and unenhanced Magnetic Resonance at 1.5 T with that of spiral-computed tomography (CT) in order to select those patients suitable for liver resection; the intraoperative US (IOUS) comprised the gold standard. Thirty five candidates for liver resection with known colorectal neoplasm were studied; 26 patients underwent surgery, one patient underwent RF ablation and 8 of them were submitted to follow-up.

Correlation between tumor necrosis factor-alpha and D-dimer levels in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

The present study was designed to investigate whether a correlation exists between IL-6, TNF-alpha and coagulation (Thrombin-antithrombin, TATc) or fibrinolysis (D-dimer) activation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. One hundred thirty patients with NSCLC (n=65, 53 males, mean age 65 +/- 8, adenocarcinoma n=32, squamous cancer n=33) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (n=65, 51 males, mean age 67 +/- 9) were studied. As control group 65 healthy donors (51 males, mean age 61 +/- 14) were also evaluated.

The Italian multi-centre project on evaluation of MRI and other imaging modalities in early detection of breast cancer in subjects at high genetic risk.

This report presents the preliminary results of the first phase (21 months) of a multi-centre, non-randomised, prospective study, aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray mammography (XM) and ultrasound (US) in early diagnosis of breast cancer (BC) in subjects at high genetic risk. This Italian national trial (coordinated by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome) so far recruited 105 women (mean age 46.0 years; median age 51.

Asymptomatic esophageal perforation caused by late screw migration after anterior cervical plating: report of a case and review of relevant literature.

Study Design: This report documents a case of asymptomatic esophageal perforation, secondary to a dislocated and then migrated cervical screw after anterior plating, and reviews the relevant Western literature.

Objectives: To report a rare and potentially dangerous complication and suggest mechanisms of asymptomatic esophageal perforation and healing.

Summary Of Background Data: Anterior surgical approaches to the cervical spine have become popular and safer during the past decade.

Bladder cancer within a direct inguinal hernia: CT demonstration.

We present a case of a urothelial neoplasm arising within a direct bladder hernia in the inguinal canal. Bladder hernias are rarely found preoperatively and are exceptional sites of neoplasm. Spiral computed tomography with gaseous insufflation of the bladder demonstrated the bladder hernia and the extension of the neoplasm in the inguinal canal more accurately than other computed tomographic techniques with nonopacified and iodinated urine.

Primary cancer of the urinary bladder: CT evaluation of the T parameter with different techniques.

The evaluation of mural invasion (T) in primary urinary bladder carcinoma is important in the planning of an appropriate surgical or radiochemotherapeutic strategy. Previous investigators using computed tomography (CT) have evaluated the bladder filled with urine, urine opacified with iodinated contrast material, or air insufflation. The purpose of this trial was to establish which of these three techniques was the most accurate by comparing data obtained in postoperative staging (pT).

[Renal carcinoma: effective modulation of low-dose interferon-alpha and interleukin-2 with medroxyprogesterone acetate and 13-cis retinoic acid].

We report a case history of a patient with clear renal carcinoma. After surgical treatment of primary tumor patient had been treated with medium-high doses IL-2 and alpha IFN for lung metastasis and paraaortic nodes, without significant response. Subsequently, low doses alpha IFN/IL-2 produced a response, and further response have been obtained by the combination of low-doses alpha IFN/IL-2 plus medroxyprogesterone acetate and cis-retinoic acid.

Retromolar trigone tumors: evaluation by magnetic resonance imaging and correlation with pathological data.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance (MR) images to establish both the T stage and the relationships between the tumors and the surrounding structures in retromolar trigone tumors. Twenty-two patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the retromolar trigone were examined by MR with a superconductive scanner operating at 1.5T.

[Gemcitabine in peritoneal mesothelioma: a case report].

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare tumor whose prognosis is poor. We report a case history of a 57-year old woman with large peritoneal masses and ascites refractory to several chemotherapeutic regimens. The patient benefited of a dramatic regression of disease with symptomatic improvement during chemotherapy with gemcitabine.

Peripheral nervous system involvement in a patient with large T-cell lymphoma arising from a pre-existing mycosis fungoides.

A 29-year-old man was examined for disseminated erythematous scaling patches and plaques and reddish, partially ulcerated nodules. Histological examination showed a dense, diffuse, epidermotropic infiltrate located in the entire dermis to the subcutaneous tissue, composed mainly of large pleomorphic T lymphocytes. Immunohistochemistry revealed positivity of neoplastic cells for T-cell-associated markers, negativity for CD30 antigen and for B-cell markers.

[Intracranial meningiomas in the elderly].

Background: Since the introduction of CT and then MRI in the clinical practice, the number of elderly patients with intracranial meningiomas observed in neurosurgical departments has increased to three/four times. Considering that some patients die because of their meningioma and others die with their meningioma, the neurosurgeon should not only be able to eradicate surgically the lesion, but also to decide if that benign tumor should be treated or not.

Materials And Methods: Forty-three patients with intracranial meningioma, aged over 65 were operated upon between 1989 and 1995.

[Magnetic resonance features in cerebral primary lymphomas in non-immunocompromised subjects].

In the past few years, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas have been paid increasing attention to because of their recently increasing frequency. We reviewed the MR images of 17 patients with histologically proved primary CNS lymphoma, all of them immunocompetent at diagnosis. We studied the site, number and shape of the lesions, the presence and grade of edema and possible periventricular spread.