Diagnostic Performance of Renal Contrast Excretion on Early-Phase CT Myelography in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension.

Background And Purpose: Early opacification of the renal collecting system during CT myelography (CTM) performed for the evaluation of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) has been demonstrated in prior studies. However, these investigations often included CTMs scanned >30 minutes after intrathecal contrast injection, a longer delay than the myelographic techniques used in current practice. The purpose of this study was to determine whether renal contrast excretion (RCE) measured during this earlier time period (≤30 minutes) can discriminate patients with SIH from patients without SIH.

Noncanonical TRAIL Signaling Promotes Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell Abundance and Tumor Growth in Cholangiocarcinoma.

Background & Aims: Proapoptotic tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) signaling as a cause of cancer cell death is a well-established mechanism. However, TRAIL-receptor (TRAIL-R) agonists have had very limited anticancer activity in human beings, challenging the concept of TRAIL as a potent anticancer agent. Herein, we aimed to define mechanisms by which TRAIL cancer cells can leverage noncanonical TRAIL signaling in myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) promoting their abundance in murine cholangiocarcinoma (CCA).

Financial Impact of Imaging Examination Site of Service in the Medicare Population.

Purpose: The financial sustainability of the US healthcare system is a growing concern in an environment of declining reimbursement and rising costs. Variable Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) reimbursement and denial rates for specific imaging examinations exist across sites of service, adding complexity to financial planning for healthcare organizations. Understanding the financial implications of site of service in existing CMS reimbursement for imaging may be of strategic importance for organizations going forward.

Resisted Inspiration Improves Visualization of CSF-Venous Fistulas in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension.

Background And Purpose: CSF-venous fistulas are an important cause of spontaneous intracranial hypotension but are challenging to detect. A newly described technique known as resisted inspiration has been found to augment the CSF-venous pressure gradient and was hypothesized to be of potential use in CSF-venous fistula detection but has not yet been investigated in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether resisted inspiration results in improved visibility of CSF-venous fistulas on CT myelography in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension.