Correlations between tumor-infiltrating and circulating lymphocyte subpopulations in advanced renal cancer patients treated with nivolumab.

Background: In clinical trials with immunotherapy, histological features such as tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are investigated as potential predictive biomarkers, with the limit of an outdated parameter for a typically dynamic element.

Methods: This explorative study compared, in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients, basal pathological data about TILs on diagnostic histological specimens with circulating lymphocyte subpopulations measured before and during therapy with nivolumab.

Results: Of 11 mRCC patients, 5 had low presence of TILs (L-TILs), 3 moderate amount (M-TILs) and 3 high number (H-TILs).

Loss of heterozygosity of key tumor suppressor genes in advanced renal cancer patients treated with nivolumab.

Aim: We studied the possible clinical significance of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at key tumor suppressor genes loci in advanced renal cancer patients treated with nivolumab.

Methods: LOH study was performed on 3p14.2 (FHIT gene); 3p21.

Imaging of congenital pulmonary malformations.

Congenital pulmonary malformations represent a broad spectrum of anomalies that may result in varied clinical and pathologic pictures, ranging from recurrent pulmonary infections and acute respiratory distress syndrome, which require timely drug therapy, up to large space-occupying lesions needing surgical treatment. This classification includes three distinct anatomical and pathological entities, represented by Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation, Bronchopulmonary Sequestration and Congenital Lobar Emphysema. The final result in terms of embryological and fetal development of these alterations is a Congenital Lung Hypoplasia.

Use of DWI in identification of small solid pancreatic focalities (≤ 2 cm).

Incidental finding of pancreatic focalities has increased thanks to a larger use of radiological examinations (Ultrasound, CT). The differential diagnosis between focal inflammatory and heteroplastic disease is frequently complicated by the wide spectrum of lesions and by the aspecificity of clinical and medical history, as well as of imaging findings. MRI is the second level choice of examination thanks to its higher intrinsic contrast resolution and parametric capability (1); furthermore, the use of Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) sequences provides additional diagnostic informations.

MRI in acute ligamentous injuries of the ankle.

Ankle sprains are the most common lower limb injuries and affect more frequently young athletes; imaging is needed for an accurate diagnosis of such traumatic injuries. The purpose of this review is to analyse the magnetic resonance (MR) findings of both normal and pathological ankle's ligaments; indeed, MRI is the gold standard for the diagnosis of acute traumatic injuries and is useful for differentiation of the causes of ankle instability as well as for pre-operative planning.