Comparative analysis of density histograms and visual scores in incremental and volumetric high-resolution computed tomography of the chest in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients.

Background: Volumetric high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest has recently replaced incremental CT in the diagnostic workup of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Concomitantly, visual and quantitative scores have been proposed for disease extent assessment to ameliorate disease management.

Purpose: To compare the performance of density histograms (mean lung attenuation, skewness, and kurtosis) and visual scores, along with lung function correlations, in IPF patients submitted to incremental or volumetric thorax HRCT.

Obstructive sleep apnoea and right ventricular function: A combined assessment by speckle tracking and three-dimensional echocardiography.

Background: Little is known on right ventricular (RV) involvement in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). This study aimed at evaluating early RV dysfunction by standard and advanced echocardiography in OSA.

Methods: Fifty-nine OSA patients without heart failure and 29 age-matched controls underwent standard, speckle tracking and real time 3D echocardiography of right ventricle.

Sarcoidosis with prevalent and severe joint localization: a case report.

Background: Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown origin, characterized by the formation of granulomas without central necrosis. Each organ and tissue can be affected by the disease, but in most cases mainly the lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes but also skin, heart, eyes and joints are involved, the latter are mainly the metacarpophalangeal joints and bone lesions are often associated with involvement of the overlying skin. The diagnosis is often of exclusion, based on clinical and radiological suspicion, and should be confirmed by biopsy, although in each case it is necessary to exclude other possible causes of granulomatosis, including infections by mycobacteria.