Differential Diagnosis of Behavioral Variant and Semantic Variant of Frontotemporal Dementia Using Visual Rating Scales.

Background: Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) represents the second most frequent early onset of dementia in people younger than 65 years. The main syndromes encompassed by the term FTD are behavioral variant of Frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), non-fluent variant primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA) and semantic variant (SD).

Aims: To assess the bvFTD and SD, which represent the most common subtypes of FTD, using visual rating scales.

Correlation Between Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound Characteristics (Qualitative and Quantitative) and Pathological Prognostic Factors in Breast Cancer.

Background/aim: Little is known about the correlation between contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) characteristics and pathological prognostic factors in breast cancer. The aim of this study was to explore the correlation between CEUS characteristics and pathological prognostic factors.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective study with 34 malignant breast lesions was conducted.

The Role of Virtual Cystoscopy, after Multidetector Computed Tomography Imaging Reconstruction without the Use of Contrast Medium, in the Diagnosis and Evaluations of Bladder Tumors: Preliminary Study.

Introduction. Although conventional cystoscopy is considered to be the gold standard for diagnosis and follow-up of bladder tumors, it remains an invasive and costly procedure. With the advent of the multidetector CT (MDCT) scanners supported by specialized software virtual cystoscopy (VC) is possible.

Radiation induced pneumonitis following whole breast radiotherapy treatment in early breast cancer patients treated with breast conserving surgery: a single institution study.

Background: Hypofractionated Radiotherapy (RT) regimens for breast cancer, although reduce cost and time for patients and health care systems, could have a negative impact on normal underlying lung tissue. We studied and compared lung function and the post-RT radiological changes using High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) in early breast cancer patients, treated with 3-Dimentional conformal whole breast radiotherapy (WBRT) using either conventional or hypofractionated regime.

Patients And Methods: Between 2008 and 2009, 61 early breast cancer patients (T1-2N0M0) were randomised into two groups .

Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients unfit for resection, ablation, or chemotherapy: a retrospective study.

Purpose: The purpose is to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, and the toxicity of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) in patients with advanced hepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC) and inferior vena cava tumor thrombosis (IVCTT).

Methods: Between 2007 and 2012, in a retrospective way, 9 patients (median age 69 years) with advanced HCC and IVCTT unfit for surgery, radiofrequency ablation, embolization, or chemotherapy were treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT). The radiotherapy volume included both primary tumor and IVTT.

The influence of distressing symptoms to levels of depression in cancer patients.

Purpose: Our objectives were to identify the depression and the distressing symptoms in younger and elderly advanced cancer patients.

Methods: : The instruments that have been used were the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for younger patients, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) for geriatric patients and the M. D.

Suggestion for a new grading scale for radiation induced pneumonitis based on radiological findings of computerized tomography: correlation with clinical and radiotherapeutic parameters in lung cancer patients.

Background: The objective of this research is the computed axial tomography (CT) imaging grading of radiation induced pneumonitis (RP) and its correlation with clinical and radiotherapeutic parameters.

Materials And Methods: The chest CT films of 20 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who have undergone three- dimensional conformal radiation therapy were reviewed. The proposed CT grading of RP is supported on solely radiological diagnosis criteria and distinguishes five grades.

Super-selective hepatic arterial infusions as established technique ('ARETAIEION' Protocol) of [177Lu]DOTA-TATE in inoperable neuroendocrine liver metastases of gastro-entero-pancreatic (GEP) tumors.

Aim: Aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of non-carrier added (n. c. a.

Differences in levels of self-efficacy and anxiety between cancer and chronically-ill patients attending a Palliative Care Unit.

Purpose: To investigate the differences in anxiety and self-efficacy beliefs as well as the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, between cancer and chronically-ill patients.

Methods: A total of 175 patients from a pain relief and palliative care unit participated in this study. Patient sociode-mographic and clinical characteristics were recorded.

Radionuclide therapy of painful bone metastases--a comparative study between consecutive radionuclide infusions, combination with chemotherapy, and radionuclide infusions alone: an in vivo comparison of their effectiveness.

Radionuclides have been long used for the palliation of skeletal-related metastatic pain. They are almost invariably used as the last resource for pain palliation. Their use as single agents with dose escalations, in combination with biphosphonates or chemotherapy is well known in the peer-reviewed literature; however, little is known about the combination between different agents.

Caregivers' anxiety and self-efficacy in palliative care.

This study examined the relationship between caregivers' anxiety supporting a patient with advanced cancer and self-efficacy and their socio-demographic characteristics, and then whether these variables could influence their self-efficacy. One hundred and seven caregivers of advanced cancer patients participated in the study and completed the Greek versions of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the General Perceived Self-efficacy Scale (GSE). Significant comparisons were found between State anxiety and female gender (P= 0.

Geriatric depression in advanced cancer patients: the effect of cognitive and physical functioning.

Aim: The aims of the current study were to evaluate geriatric depression and its risk factors in advanced cancer patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a palliative care unit in Greece. Patients completed the Geriatric Depression Scale, the M.

Activities of daily living in Greek cancer patients treated in a palliative care unit.

Goals Of Work: To assess the psychometric properties of the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale on a Greek sample of advanced cancer patients.

Patients And Methods: The scale was translated with the forward-backward procedure to Greek. The ADL scale was administered to 136 advanced cancer patients.

Relationship of general self-efficacy with anxiety, symptom severity and quality of life in cancer patients before and after radiotherapy treatment.

Purpose: Treatment-related symptoms can increase psychological and physical distress and alter the patient's quality of life. The present study evaluates prospectively treatment-related symptoms, general self-efficacy, anxiety and quality of life (QoL) in patients with different types of cancer undergoing external beam radiotherapy (RT) and the relationship of patients' general self-efficacy with the assessed measures, at the baseline and their absolute change 1 month after the end of the treatment.

Methods: The sample consisted of 90 cancer patients.

Posttraumatic stress disorder and preparatory grief in advanced cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to investigate the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its association with sociodemographic variables and preparatory grief in patients with advanced cancer.

Methods: 195 advanced cancer patients participated in the study. Out of them, 170 had PTSD and 25 had other anxiety disorders.

Well-differentiated hand liposarcoma with bone metastases treated successfully with zoledronic Acid.

Background: Well-differentiated liposarcomas of the upper extremities, such as the hand or forearm, are extremely rare and are commonly misdiagnosed and considered benign. They are frequently reported as having low metastatic potential.

Case Report: We report the case of a 58-year-old man with well-differentiated hand liposarcoma and diffuse bone metastases.

Quantitative discomanometry: correlation of intradiscal pressure values to pain reduction in patients with intervertebral disc herniation treated with percutaneous, minimally invasive, image-guided techniques.

Purpose: To illustrate quantitative discomanometry's (QD) diagnostic efficacy and predictive value in discogenic-pain evaluation in a prospective study correlating intradiscal pressure values with pain reduction after percutaneous image-guided technique (i.e., percutaneous decompression, PD).

Conventional versus virtual simulation for radiation treatment planning of prostate cancer: final results.

Purpose: Radiotherapy is widely used to treat patients with prostate cancer. Using conventional x-ray simulation is often difficult to accurately localize the extent of the tumor, to cover exactly the lymph nodes at risk and shield the organs at risk. We report on the results of a study comparing target localization with conventional and virtual simulation.

Recurrent vertebral hydatid disease: spectrum of MR imaging features.

Introduction: This study aimed to describe a spectrum of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings in a case series of four patients with recurrent vertebral hydatid disease (HD).

Methods: Four patients with recurrent spinal HD, who were studied with MR imaging at 1.5T or 0.

A test of the psychometric properties of the cancer locus of control scale in Greek patients with advanced cancer.

Objective: The study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Cancer Locus of Control (CLOC) scale on a Greek sample of advanced cancer patients.

Methods: The scale was translated with the forward-backward procedure to Greek. The CLOC scale was administered to 140 advanced cancer patients.

Transcatheter arterial embolization as therapy of renal angiomyolipomas: the evolution in 15 years of experience.

Objective: This study aims at presenting the evolution of the embolization technique in treating renal angiomyolipomas (AMLs) either diagnosed in patients with acute bleeding or discovered accidentally.

Methods: Ten patients with renal AMLs have been through thirteen selective transcatheter arterial embolizations for 15 years. Two patients had tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) with bilateral tumors and were embolized twice.

Fentanyl nasal spray for the treatment of cancer pain.

Introduction: Breakthrough pain, a transitory flare of pain in patients with otherwise controlled chronic pain, has been well characterized in cancer patients but despite medical awareness, sometimes remains underdiagnosed and therefore undertreated.

Areas Covered: Oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC) and fentanyl buccal tablets are the first medications developed specifically for the treatment of breakthrough pain in opioid-tolerant patients. Since oral administration of fentanyl is not an option for many cancer patients, the development of intranasal fentanyl spray (INFS) emerged as a more effective method of administration.

Social factors influencing hospital arrival time in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Introduction: This is a multi-center, hospital-based study aiming to estimate social factors influencing pre-hospital times of arrival in acute ischemic stroke, with a perspective of finding ways to reduce arrival time and to augment the number of patients eligible for intra-arterial thrombolysis.

Methods: Acute ischemic stroke patients who presented at the emergency units of four major general public hospitals were registered. We assessed information concerning demographics, time of presentation, clinical situation, imaging, treatment, and socioeconomic factors.

Extensive tumoral calcinosis in a patient with systemic sclerosis.

Tumoral calcinosis, a rare disease manifesting with periarticular, calcified masses in soft tissues, can be either primary or secondary to a disease, such as systemic sclerosis. In the case reported here, a patient diagnosed with systemic sclerosis presented with hard calcified masses that involved the shoulders and hips.

Degenerative endplate changes of the lumbosacral spine: dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI profiles related to age, sex, and spinal level.

Purpose: To investigate differences in perfusion profiles between degenerative endplate marrow changes and normal vertebral marrow in relation to spinal level, age, and sex with dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE MRI).

Materials And Methods: Ninety-two consecutive patients referred for evaluation of low back pain or sciatica, without history of malignant or chronic disease, underwent conventional and DCE MRI of the lumbosacral spine. Fifty-two of them demonstrated degenerative endplate marrow changes.