Publications by authors named "Francesco DE Cobelli"

Background: For patients with small-size colorectal liver metastases, growing evidence suggests thermal ablation to be associated with fewer adverse events and faster recovery than resection while also challenging resection in terms of local control and overall survival. This study assessed the potential non-inferiority of thermal ablation compared with surgical resection in patients with small-size resectable colorectal liver metastases.

Methods: Adult patients (aged ≥18 years) from 14 centres in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Italy with ten or fewer small-size (≤3 cm) colorectal liver metastases, no extrahepatic metastases, and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2, were stratified per centre, and according to their disease burden, into low, intermediate, and high disease burden subgroups and randomly assigned 1:1 to receive either thermal ablation (experimental group) or surgical resection (control group) of all target colorectal liver metastases using the web-based module Castor electronic data capture with variable block sizes of 4, 6, and 8.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Aims: Factors predicting the need for step-up procedures after EUS-guided drainage (EUS-FCD) of peripancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) were explored in retrospective studies restricted to Walled-Off Necrosis (WON) and Lumen Apposing Metal Stents (LAMS).

Methods: All consecutive candidates for EUS-FCD between 2020-2024 were included in a Prospective Registry of Therapeutic EUS (PROTECT, NCT04813055), with prospective monthly follow-up evaluating clinical success, adverse events and recurrences. Prospectively assessed baseline clinical and morphological factors, including the Quadrant-Necrosis-Infection (QNI) classification, were included in a stepwise logistic regression model to predict the need for step-up.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background An accurate method of assessing the response of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) to neoadjuvant treatment is needed for selecting candidates for bladder-sparing strategies. Purpose To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility of neoadjuvant chemotherapy Vesical Imaging Reporting and Data System (nacVI-RADS) scores and posttreatment Vesical Imaging Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) scores when assessing MIBC response to neoadjuvant immunotherapy with multiparametric MRI (mpMRI). Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis of MRI scans was conducted in patients enrolled in the PURE-01 study (NCT02736266) from February 2017 to December 2019 who underwent pre- and postimmunotherapy mpMRI before radical cystectomy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Personalized treatment schemes are being systematically applied to ensure best treatment outcome in oncologic patients. This is true also for personalized dosimetry in transarterial radioembolization (TARE) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Precise and detailed volumetric and functional data derived from radiological and nuclear imaging methods are essential for personalized dosimetry.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

: PSMA PET radiomics is a promising tool for primary prostate cancer (PCa) characterisation. However, small single-centre studies and lack of external validation hinder definitive conclusions on the potential of PSMA PET radiomics in the initial workup of PCa. We aimed to validate a radiomics signature in a larger internal cohort and in an external cohort from a separate centre.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: The TOPAZ-1 phase III trial showed a survival benefit with durvalumab plus gemcitabine and cisplatin in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC). To understand this combination's real-world efficacy and tolerability, we conducted a retrospective analysis of its first-line treatment outcomes.

Methods: We included patients with unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic BTC treated with cisplatin, gemcitabine, plus durvalumab.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aims: To investigate possible associations of glucose patterns with outcomes of Corona Virus Disease 19 (COVID-19) using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in 43 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 mild-to-moderate pneumonia, regardless of diabetes.

Methods: Prospective observational study conducted during two pandemic waves in 2020-2021. Glucose sensor metrics of 7-day recording were obtained from blinded CGM.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: In recent years, significant progress has been made in treatment strategies for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is a highly heterogeneous patient population requiring tailored therapies based on tumor characteristics.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive review of treatment approaches for intermediate-stage HCC, highlighting the evolution of treatment options over time. While chemoembolization remains the standard therapy for many patients, it has advanced to include combinations with systemic therapies, known as combination therapy, which is becoming the new standard of care for this group.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of combining nivolumab with nab-paclitaxel as a pre-surgery treatment for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), followed by surgery and additional nivolumab therapy.
  • A total of 31 patients participated, with a significant portion experiencing severe treatment-related side effects; however, the treatment led to a notable pathologic complete response rate of 32.3% among those evaluated.
  • The findings indicate promising outcomes with an 89.8% event-free survival rate after 12 months, suggesting this combination therapy could enhance treatment options for these patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: The aim of the present study is to assess the effectiveness of indocyanine-green (ICG)-guided lymphography (ICG-Lg) in reducing the incidence of chyle leak (CL) after esophagectomy.

Background: Chylothorax may severely impact esophageal cancer surgery, and the pre-emptive ligation of the thoracic duct (TD) is the most widespread control of this complication. Intraoperative ICG-Lg has been recently embedded in minimally invasive esophagectomy to facilitate TD detection and pre-emptive ligation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Prostate-specific membrane antigen radioguided surgery (PSMA-RGS) might identify lymph node invasion (LNI) in prostate cancer (PCa) patients undergoing extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND). The optimal target-to-background (TtB) ratio to define RGS positivity is still unknown.

Materials & Methods: Ad interim analyses which focused on 30 patients with available pathological information were conducted.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Radiomics may aid in predicting prognosis in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLM). Consistent data is available on CT, yet limited data is available on MRI. This study assesses the capability of MRI-derived radiomic features (RFs) to predict local tumor progression-free survival (LTPFS) in patients with CLMs treated with microwave ablation (MWA).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (PanNENs) are characterized by a highly heterogeneous clinical and biological behavior, making their diagnosis challenging. PanNENs diagnostic work-up mainly relies on biochemical markers, pathological examination, and imaging evaluation. The latter includes radiological imaging (i.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: In absence of predictive models, preoperative estimation of the probability of completing partial (PN) relative to radical nephrectomy (RN) is invariably inaccurate and subjective. We aimed to develop an evidence-based model to assess objectively the probability of PN completion based on patients' characteristics, tumor's complexity, urologist expertise and surgical approach.

Design, Setting And Participants: 675 patients treated with PN or RN for cT cN cM renal mass by seven surgeons at one single experienced centre from 2000 to 2019.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Pancreatogenic diabetes, a consequence of pancreatic tissue loss following pancreatectomy, poses a significant challenge for patients undergoing pancreatic surgery. Islet autotransplantation (IAT) offers a promising approach to prevent or alleviate pancreatogenic diabetes, but its application has been limited to individuals with painful chronic pancreatitis.

Methods: This study presents a 15-y clinical experience with the Milan Protocol, which expands IAT after pancreatectomy to a broader spectrum of patients with malignant and nonmalignant pancreatic diseases.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: A genetic predisposition seems to be involved in biliary tract cancer, but the prevalence of germline mutations in BTC remains unclear, and the therapeutic role of the germline pathologic variants is still unknown.

Area Covered: The aim of the present work is to systematically review the data available on the hereditary predisposition of biliary tract cancer by a specific research on PubMed, in order to highlight the most important critical points and to define the current possible role of germinal testing and genetic counseling in this setting of patients.

Expert Opinion: Basing on data already available, we decided to start in our institution a specific genetic protocol focused on biliary tract cancer patients, which includes genetic counseling and, if indicated, germline test.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Hepatic resection combined with intraoperative ablation has been described as a technical solution potentially widening the resectability rate of patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). Nevertheless, the perioperative and oncological benefit provided by this combined approach remains unclear. We hypothesized that textbook outcome (TO), which is a composite measure achieved for patients for whom some desired health indicators are met, may help to refine the indications of this approach.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - Air leak syndromes, like pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum, are common complications in ARDS and are linked to worse health outcomes for patients.
  • - The Macklin effect describes how air can dissect through lung tissues after injury, potentially leading to severe complications and is visible on chest CT scans.
  • - Detecting the Macklin effect may help predict barotrauma risks and guide treatment decisions for ARDS patients, such as whether to use advanced respiratory support or intubation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Surgery for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is jeopardized by significant risk of early recurrence (≤ 6 months). The aim of the present study is to analyze the oncological benefit provided by laparoscopic over open approach for iCCA in patients with high risk of very early recurrence (VER).

Materials And Methods: A total of 532 liver resections (LR) were performed for iCCA [265 by minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and 267 with open approach, matched through a 1:1 propensity score] and stratified using the postoperative prediction model of VER.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: To assess the variation of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) positive predictive value (PPV) according to each patient's risk of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) based exclusively on clinical factors.

Methods: We evaluated 999 patients with positive mpMRI (PI-RADS ≥ 3) receiving targeted (TBx) plus systematic prostate biopsy. We built a multivariable logistic regression analysis (MVA) using clinical risk factors to calculate the individual patients' risk of harboring csPCa at TBx.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The objective of these Guidelines is to provide recommendations for the classification, indication, treatment and management of patients suffering from aneurysmal pathology of the visceral and renal arteries. The methodology applied was the GRADE-SIGN version, and followed the instructions of the AGREE quality of reporting checklist. Clinical questions, structured according to the PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome) model, were formulated, and systematic literature reviews were carried out according to them.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to determine whether lower total testosterone (tT) levels in men with COVID-19 are directly caused by the virus or related to other health conditions.
  • Researchers compared male ICU patients with confirmed COVID-19 against those with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) but without a SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • Findings showed that COVID-19 patients had significantly lower tT levels than controls, indicating a potential independent impact of the virus, although age and inflammation were linked to higher mortality risk overall.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Insulinoma is a complex disease that presents challenges in diagnosis and surgical treatment; this study evaluated patients who underwent surgery at San Raffaele Hospital between 2008 and 2022.
  • A total of 98 patients were analyzed, with a median diagnosis delay of 10 months; early referrals significantly reduced this delay, particularly for those seeking help within 6 months of symptom onset.
  • The study highlighted that various imaging tests, especially endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), are crucial for accurate diagnosis, and that parenchyma-sparing surgeries are preferred when possible to minimize complications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic accuracy and detection rates of PET/MRI with [Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 and [Ga]Ga-M2 in patients with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods: Sixty patients were enrolled in this prospective single-center phase II clinical trial from June 2020 to October 2022. Forty-four/60 completed all study examinations and were available at follow-up (median: 22.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF