Magnetic resonance mapping for the assessment of cardiomyopathies and myocardial disease.

In recent years, the use of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has grown exponentially in clinical practice. The keys for this success are represented by the possibility of tissue characterization, cardiac volumes and myocardial perfusion assessment, biventricular function evaluation, with no use of ionizing radiations and with an extremely interesting profile of reproducibility. The use of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) nearly compares a non-invasive biopsy for cardiac fibrosis quantification.

Left Ventricle Noncompaction Phenotype: Cause or Consequence?

Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is commonly described as a congenital cardiomyopathy characterized by prominent myocardial trabeculae and deep intertrabecular recesses extending in the left ventricular chamber. Clinical presentation can differ considerably from asymptomatic individuals to those presenting with heart failure and other serious complications. Diagnosis is usually made by two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography or cardiac magnetic resonance.

Vertebral and Femoral Bone Mineral Density (BMD) Assessment with Dual-Energy CT versus DXA Scan in Postmenopausal Females.

This study aimed to demonstrate the potential role of dual-energy CT in assessing bone mineral density (BMD) using hydroxyapatite-fat material pairing in postmenopausal women. A retrospective study was conducted on 51 postmenopausal female patients who underwent DXA and DECT examinations for other clinical reasons. DECT images were acquired with spectral imaging using a 256-slice system.

Oncological outcomes of whole-gland cryoablation in patients with prostate cancer and high risk of lymph node invasion.

Purpose: Prostate cryoablation has been proposed as an alternative to radical prostatectomy for men with localized prostate cancer (PCa); however, it is limited by the lack of data regarding oncological outcomes and the impossibility of performing a lymph node dissection. The aim of this study was to assess if whole-gland cryoablation is oncologically safe, especially for patients in whom pelvic lymph node dissection would be necessary.

Materials And Methods: After institutional review board approval, we identified 102 patients who underwent whole-gland prostate cryoablation between 2013 and April 2019.

Foggia Prostate Cancer Risk Calculator 2.0: A Novel Risk Calculator including MRI and Bladder Outlet Obstruction Parameters to Reduce Unnecessary Biopsies.

Risk calculator (RC) combining PSA with other clinical information can help to better select patients at risk of prostate cancer (PCa) for prostate biopsy. The present study aimed to develop a new Pca RC, including MRI and bladder outlet obstruction parameters (BOOP). The ability of these parameters in predicting PCa and clinically significant PCa (csPCa: ISUP GG ≥ 2) was assessed by binary logistic regression.

One-Day Prostate Cancer Diagnosis: Biparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Digital Pathology by Fluorescence Confocal Microscopy.

In this prospective observational study, we tested the feasibility and efficacy of a novel one-day PCa diagnosis path based on biparametric magnetic resonance (bpMRI) and digital pathology by fluorescence confocal microscopy (FCM). Patients aged 55-70 years scheduled for PBx due to increased PSA levels (3-10 ng/mL) and/or abnormal digitorectal examination were enrolled. All patients underwent bpMRI and PBx with immediate FCM evaluation of biopsy cores.

Arrhythmic myocarditis in an adolescent male: A unique presentation of multi-organ inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C).

Although children with Covid-19 generally present with mild symptoms or are often asymptomatic, there is increasing recognition of a delayed multi-organ inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) following SARS-CoV-2 infection. We report the case of MIS-C associated arrhythmic myocarditis which recovered after anti-inflammatory therapy and immunoglobulin infusion.

Asymptomatic saccular portal vein aneurysm: a case report and review of the literature.

Portal vein aneurysms are rare abnormal dilations of the portal vein and represent less than 3% of all visceral aneurysms. They may be congenital or acquired, symptomatic or asymptomatic, complicated or uncomplicated. Portal vein aneurysms may be fusiform or saccular and this last one has a low prevalence.

Bioptic prostatic inflammation correlates with false positive rates of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging in detecting clinically significant prostate cancer.

Introduction: The aim of this article was to determine the impact of bioptic prostatic inflammation (PI) on the false positive rate of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) in detecting clinically significant prostate ancer (csPCa).

Material And Methods: Our prostate biopsy database was queried to identify patients who underwent mp-MRI before PB at our institution. A dedicated uropathologist prospectively assessed bioptic PI using the Irani scores.

Intraoperative Digital Analysis of Ablation Margins (DAAM) by Fluorescent Confocal Microscopy to Improve Partial Prostate Gland Cryoablation Outcomes.

Partial gland cryoablation (PGC) aims at destroying prostate cancer (PCa) foci while sparing the unaffected prostate tissue and the functionally relevant structures around the prostate. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has boosted PGC, but available evidence suggests that ablation margins may be positive due to MRI-invisible lesions. This study aimed at determining the potential role of intraoperative digital analysis of ablation margins (DAAM) by fluoresce confocal microscopy (FCM) of biopsy cores taken during prostate PGC.

Does Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance of Prostate Outperform Risk Calculators in Predicting Prostate Cancer in Biopsy Naïve Patients?

Background: European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines recommend using risk-calculators (RCs), imaging or additional biomarkers in asymptomatic men at risk of prostate cancer (PCa).

Objectives: To compare the performance of mpMRI, a RC we recently developed and two commonly used RC not including mpMRI in predicting the risk of PCa, as well as the added value of mpMRI to each RC.

Design Setting And Participants: Single-center retrospective study evaluating 221 biopsy-naïve patients who underwent prebiopsy mpMRI.

Mini invasive approaches in the treatment of small renal masses: TC-guided renal cryoablation in elderly.

Background: Today, the goal of surgery is to achieve oncological efficacy with the lowest complication rate. Computed Tomography (CT)-guided cryoablation is proposed as a safe and effective technique. We report, our series of small renal masses treated with cryoablation in elderly (> 70 years).

Combined Use of Prostate-specific Antigen Density and Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Prostate Biopsy Decision Planning: A Retrospective Multi-institutional Study Using the Prostate Magnetic Resonance Imaging Outcome Database (PROMOD).

Background: Previous studies suggested that prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density (PSAd) combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may help avoid unnecessary prostate biopsy (PB) with a limited risk of missing clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa; Gleason grade group [GGG] >1).

Objective: To define optimal diagnostic strategies based on the combined use of PSAd and MRI in patients at risk of prostate cancer (PCa).

Design, Setting, And Participants: A retrospective analysis of the international multicenter Prostate MRI Outcome Database (PROMOD), including 2512 men having undergone PSAd and prostate MRI before PB between 2013 and 2019, was performed.

Concealed structural heart disease discovered at cardiac magnetic resonance in patients with ventricular extrasystoles from ventricular outflow tract and apparently normal hearts.

Background: Outflow tract (OT) premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are commonly found in clinical practice; in most cases, PVCs are benign and observed in structurally normal hearts, not requiring any therapeutic intervention. In this study, we therefore sought to evaluate with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) patients with PVC and apparently normal heart at echocardiographic examination, in order to identify possible substrates linked with higher prevalence of arrhythmias or structural heart disease.

Methods: Thirty-three consecutive patients with frequent PVCs originating from the ventricular OT (right and left) were enrolled in the study and assessed by echocardiography and CMR.

Mitral annular calcification: Can CMR be useful in identifying caseous necrosis?

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) can resemble an intracardiac mass and it is defined as a chronic degeneration of the mitral annulus. Often reported is caseous mitral annulus calcification (CMAC), a periannular, extensive calcification resembling a tumor. We report the case of a 68-year-old woman who had been hospitalized for palpitations and dyspnea.

Anomalous Right Coronary Artery Origin from Left Main Stem: Role of Cardio-Computed Tomography in the Diagnosis and Therapeutic Approach.

Anomalous coronary arteries (ACAs) are rare but potentially life-threatening abnormalities of coronary circulation. Most of the variants are benign; however, some may lead to myocardial ischemia and/or sudden cardiac arrest. We report the case of a 75-year-old male complaining of exertion chest discomfort.

Dual Coronary-Pulmonary Fistula Firstly Found at Routine Doppler Echocardiogram.

Congenital coronary-pulmonary fistulas (CPFs) are defined as an abnormal direct communication between one or more coronary arteries, with a cardiac or thoracic structure bypassing the capillary network. We report the case of a 73-year-old male, with a history of hypertension, asymptomatic for angina and dyspnea, who was referred for routine clinical control. Echocardiogram unexpectedly showed the presence of diastolic flow from the pulmonary trunk in parasternal short-axis view.

A Rare Case of Spontaneous Hemorrhage in a Giant Accessory Spleen in a Child.

Accessory spleen (AS) is a condition found in about 20% of patients and is most commonly located in the hilar region of the spleen. It is more often asymptomatic, single, and smaller than 2 cm. In the present study, we report the rare case of a 13-year-old boy with giant accessory spleen underwent spontaneous intrasplenic hemorrhage who presented with recurrent abdominal pain.

Tricuspid Papillary Fibroelastoma at Multimodal Imaging.

Papillary fibroelastoma is a rare benign cardiac tumor, second after cardiac myxoma as more frequent cardiac valvular tumor. The therapy is usually based on surgery according to size, mobility, symptoms, and risks of surgery. We report the case of a 67-year old female with transient ischemic attack.

Power Doppler Ultrasound Findings before and after Focused Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Achilles Tendinopathy: A Pilot Study on Pain Reduction and Neovascularization Effect.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has been found to have a positive effect in the treatment of pain in Achilles tendinopathy, although the exact mechanism is not yet completely understood. Among the mechanisms suggested to underlie ESWT effects are direct stimulation of healing, neovascularization and direct suppressive effects on nociceptors and hyperstimulation, which would block the gate-control system. The neovascularization observed in flogistic tissue is associated with stimulated nerve fibers around tendons and induces a painful condition.

Maxillary Sinus Mass as First Presentation of Silent Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Renal cell carcinoma accounts for more than 3% of all malignant diseases. Metastatic disease to the head and neck ranges from 15% to 30%. The 5-year survival rate after nephrectomy is 60% to 75%, but with multiorgan metastases the 5-year survival rate is significantly lower, 0% to 7%.