Craniocervical junction involvement in inflammatory arthritis: a single-center radiologic study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Craniocervical junction (CCJ) can be involved in inflammatory arthritis. We aimed to define types of CCJ involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritis (SpA), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and compare them with patients without inflammatory arthritides. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective analysis, cervical CT or MRIs of patients with RA, SpA, or PsA, taken for any reason between 2010 and 2020, according to ICD-10 codes, were scanned. Demographic data of the patients were recorded. CCJ involvements (atlantoaxial, vertical, or subaxial subluxation, odontoid process involvement) were reevaluated by an experienced radiologist. The control group consisted of consecutive patients without inflammatory arthritis. RESULTS: Exactly 459 patients (204 RA, 200 SpA, and 55 PsA) and 78 patients in the control group were included in the study. CCJ involvement was detected in 101 (49.5%) RA, 53 (26.5%) SpA, 10 (18.2%) PsA, and 4 patients (5.1%) in the control group (p < 0.001). The odontoid process was one of the main targets, especially in RA patients (69 (33.8%)), which was significantly higher than in the SpA, PsA, and control groups. Although vertical subluxation (VS) was numerically higher in the RA and SpA groups compared to the control group, VS-related brainstem compression was relatively uncommon: 6 (2.9%) in RA, 1 (0.5%) in AS, and none in the PsA and control groups. CONCLUSION: CCJ involvement can often be detected in patients with inflammatory arthritis, especially in RA and SpA patients. The odontoid process is the main target of inflammation

Endometrioma tedavisinde alkol ile skleroterapi sonuçlarının değerlendirilmesi

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of ethanol sclerotherapy in endometrioma treatment. Materials and Methods: From January 1st, 2015 to March 15th, 2021, the preprocedural, procedural, and postprocedural follow-up findings of 55 patients (mean age: 30 years, range: 15-40 years) whose endometrioma treated with the transabdominal or transvaginal needle- or catheter-directed ethanol sclerotherapy at Hacettepe University Department of Radiology, Non-vascular Intervention Unit were evaluated retrospectively. The study included 51 patients (68 cysts) whose postprocedural follow-up findings were available. Technical and clinical success rates, reduction rates of maximal cyst size, cyst volume, pain complaints, serum CA-125 levels and serum AMH levels, complications, hospital stays, follow-up duration, and recurrence rates were evaluated. The clinical success rates of 2 different treatment routes and 2 different treatment techniques were compared. Furthermore, the treatment results of the patients with main complaints of pain (n=40) and infertility (n=11) were evaluated separately. In addition, the effects of the presence of deep infiltrating endometriosis, localization of treated cysts in one or both ovaries, and the presence of untreated cysts in the same patient group due to cyst size were evaluated on the treatment outcomes. Results: The technical success rate was 100%. There was no minor complication. The only major complication (2%) was cavity infection observed in 1 patient. The mean length of hospital stay was 0.7 (SD, ± 0.4) days. The mean follow-up duration was 14.5 (SD, ±11.0; minimum 1.0 month; maximum 55.0 months) months. One patient with two cyst (3%) underwent a second session of ethanol sclerotherapy due to recurrence, and the clinical success rate was found to be 100%. There was a significant decrease in pain complaints, serum CA-125 levels, maximal cyst sizes, and cyst volumes in all treated patients (p0.05). The pregnancy rate was 54% in patients treated for infertility, and 100% in patients treated for pain without infertility. The study revealed that pretreatment serum AMH levels do not affect the treatment results (p>0.05). Therefore, it was concluded that there is no lower limit for serum AMH level for patient selection for ethanol sclerotherapy. The recurrence rate was 6% (n=1) in the needle-directed ethanol sclerotherapy. There was no recurrence in the catheter-directed ethanol sclerotherapy. There was more significant reduction in cysts treated with the catheter technique, the transabdominal route and the transabdominal catheter technique, and it was thought that it might be related not only to the treatment technique applied, but also to the pretreatment cyst size. The study showed that the large pretreatment cyst volumes are associated with more significant decrease in the maximal cyst size and volume (p0.05). The study revealed that the rate of decrease in the maximal cyts size and volume after treatment was less in deep infiltrative endometriosis group (p0.05). In addition, the presence of deep infiltrative endometriosis was not associated with a decrease in ovarian reserve after alcohol sclerotherapy (p>0.05). It was determined that the presence of untreated cyst could have a negative effect on ovarian reserve (p0.05). Conclusion: According to the results of our study, ethanol sclerotherapy is an effective and successful treatment method that preserves ovarian reserve with a high clinical success rate, low complication rate, low recurrence rate and short hospital stay for endometrioma treatment. Keywords: Endometriosis; Ovarian endometrioma; Ethanol sclerotherapy; Infertility; Ovarian reserveAmaç: Bu çalışmada amacımız endometrioma tedavisinde alkol ile skleroterapinin etkinliğini ve güvenilirliğini araştırmaktır. Gereç-Yöntem: 01 Ocak 2015-15 Mart 2021 tarihleri arasında Hacettepe Üniversitesi Radyoloji Anabilim Dalı Non-vasküler Girişimsel Radyoloji Ünitesi’nde ovaryan endometrioması transabdominal veya transvajinal giriş ile iğne veya kateter aracılığıyla alkol ile skleroterapi yöntemi uygulanarak tedavi edilmiş 55 hastanın (ortalama yaş 30, yaş aralığı 15-40) işlem öncesi, işlem ve işlem sonrası takip bulguları retrospektif olarak değerlendirilmiştir. İşlem sonrası takip bilgilerine ulaşılan 51 hasta (68 kist) çalışmaya dahil edilmiştir. Tedavi sonrası teknik ve klinik başarı oranları, kistlerin maksimum boyutları ve hacimlerindeki, hastaların ağrı şikayetlerindeki, serum CA-125 ve serum AMH seviyelerindeki azalma oranları, komplikasyonlar, hastanede kalış süreleri, takip süreleri ve rekürrens oranları değerlendirilmiştir. Tedavide kullanılan 2 farklı giriş yolu ve 2 farklı tekniğin klinik başarı oranları karşılaştırılmıştır. Esas şikayeti ağrı (n=40) ve infertilite (n=11) olan hastaların tedavi sonuçları ayrı ayrı değerlendirilmiştir. Ayrıca, derin infiltratif endometriozis varlığının, tedavi edilen kistlerin bir veya her iki overde yerleşiminin, aynı hasta grubunda boyutu nedeniyle tedavi edilmeden izlenen kist varlığının tedavi sonuçlarına etkisi değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular: Teknik başarı oranı %100 olarak saptanmıştır. Minör komplikasyon izlenmemiştir. Tek majör komplikasyon (%2) 1 hastada izlenen kavite enfeksiyonu idi. Hastanede ortalama kalış süresi 0.7 (SS, ± 0.4) gün olarak saptanmıştır. Ortalama takip süresi 14.5 (SS, ±11.0; minimum 1.0 ay; maksimum 55.0 ay) ay idi. Bir hastanın iki kistine (%3) rekürrens nedeniyle ikinci seans alkol ile skleroterapi yapılmıştır ve klinik başarı oranı %100 olarak saptanmıştır. Tedavi edilen tüm hastalarda kistlerin maksimum boyutları ve hacimlerinde, ağrı şikayetlerinde, serum CA-125 seviyelerinde anlamlı azalma izlenmiştir (p0.05) ve ortalama serum AMH seviyelerinde tedavi öncesine göre artış saptanmıştır. İnfertilite şikayeti ile tedavi edilen hastalarda (n=11) gebelik oranı %54, ağrı şikayeti ile tedavi edilen, infertilite sorunu olmayan ve gebelik isteği bulunan hastalarda (n=2) ise bu oran %100 olarak saptanmıştır. Tedaviden önceki serum AMH seviyelerinin tedavi sonuçlarını etkilemediği (p>0.05) ve alkol ile skleroterapi öncesi hasta seçiminde serum AMH seviyesi için bir alt sınır olmadığı ortaya konmuştur. İğne aracılığıyla tedavi tekniğinde rekürrens oranı %6 (n=2) iken kateter aracılığıyla tedavi tekniğinde rekürrens saptanmamıştır. Kateter tekniği, transabdominal giriş yolu ve transabdominal kateter aracılığıyla tedavi edilen kistlerde tedavi sonrası daha belirgin küçülme izlenmiş olup (p0.05) saptanmıştır. Tedavi sonrasında kistlerin maksimum boyutları ve hacimlerindeki azalma oranlarının derin infiltratif endometriozisi olan hasta grubunda daha az olduğu gösterilmiştir (p0.05). Ayrıca, derin infiltratif endometriozis varlığının alkol ile skleroterapi sonrasında ovaryan rezervde azalma ile ilişkili olmadığı (p>0.05) saptanmıştır. Aynı hasta grubunda boyutu nedeniyle tedavi edilmeden izlenen kist varlığının ovaryan rezerv üzerinde negatif etkisinin olabileceği saptanmıştır (p0.05). Sonuç: Çalışmamızın sonuçlarına göre, alkol ile skleroterapi endometrioma tedavisinde yüksek klinik başarı oranı, düşük komplikasyon oranı, düşük rekürrens oranı ve kısa hastanede kalış süresi ile ovaryan rezervi koruyan etkin ve başarılı bir tedavi yöntemidir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Endometriozis; Ovaryan endometrioma; Alkol ile skleroterapi; İnfertilite; Ovaryan rezer

Ten Years of VASARI Glioma Features: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Their Impact and Performance

BACKGROUND: Visually Accessible Rembrandt (Repository for Molecular Brain Neoplasia Data) Images (VASARI) features, a vocabulary to establish reproducible terminology for glioma reporting, have been applied for a decade, but a systematic performance evaluation is lacking. PURPOSE: Our aim was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the performance of the VASARI features set for glioma assessment. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched until September 26, 2023. STUDY SELECTION: Original articles predicting diagnosis, progression, and survival in patients with glioma were included. DATA ANALYSIS: The modified Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool was applied to evaluate the risk-of-bias. The meta-analysis used a random effects model and forest plot visualizations, if ≥5 comparable studies with a low or medium risk of bias were provided. DATA SYNTHESIS: Thirty-five studies (3304 patients) were included. Risk-of-bias scores were medium (n = 33) and low (n = 2). Recurring objectives were overall survival (n = 18) and isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation (IDH; n = 12) prediction. Progression-free survival was examined in 7 studies. In 4 studies (glioblastoma n = 2, grade 2/3 glioma n = 1, grade 3 glioma n = 1), a significant association was found between progression-free survival and single VASARI features. The single features predicting overall survival with the highest pooled hazard ratios were multifocality (hazard ratio = 1.80; 95%-CI, 1.21-2.67; I2 = 53%), ependymal invasion (hazard ratio = 1.73; 95% CI, 1.45-2.05; I2 = 0%), and enhancing tumor crossing the midline (hazard ratio = 2.08; 95% CI, 1.35-3.18; I2 = 52%). IDH mutation-predicting models combining VASARI features rendered a pooled area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.76-0.88) at considerable heterogeneity (I2 = 100%). Combined input models using VASARI plus clinical and/or radiomics features outperformed single data-type models in all relevant studies (n = 17). LIMITATIONS: Studies were heterogeneously designed and often with a small sample size. Several studies used The Cancer Imaging Archive database, with likely overlapping cohorts. The meta-analysis for IDH was limited due to a high study heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: Some VASARI features perform well in predicting overall survival and IDH mutation status, but combined models outperform single features. More studies with less heterogeneity are needed to increase the evidence level

Can Radiologist And Pathologist Reach The Truth Together In The Diagnosis Of Benign Fibroepithelial Lesions?

Objective Benign fibroepithelial lesions (BFL) lesions of the breast are various and predominantly benign, although a few can be locally aggressive. Definitive diagnosis of some BFL can be challenging from core needle biopsy (CNB). Radiological findings can help guide the management of the lesions. The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy rate of CNB results and evaluate the radiological findings of the most common BFL according to the final excision pathology results. The secondary aim was to assess the contribution of the imaging findings to CNB results. Materials and Methods A retrospective review was made of 266 patients diagnosed with suspicious BFL, conventional fibroadenoma, complex fibroadenoma, cellular fibroadenoma and benign phyllodes tumor (PT). The study included 132 patients who underwent surgical excision. The radiological and histopathological findings were evaluated. Results While 66 patients were diagnosed with more descriptive results on CNB, the other 66 patients were diagnosed with suspicious BFL. Agreement between CNB and excisional pathology was good, when CNB provided a definite diagnosis. While conventional and complex fibroadenoma were observed to have hypo or normal vascularity, cellular fibroadenoma and PT showed hypervascularity. Oval shaped and homogeneous internal echo pattern were significantly associated with conventional fibroadenoma. A heterogeneous internal echo pattern was seen in complex fibroadenomas and PT. Conclusion CNB often reaches the correct diagnosis alone when it gives a definite diagnosis. The radiological findings which help in the differentiation of BFL are hypervascularity, oval shape and internal heterogeneity. More accurate results can be obtained when histopathological and radiological findings are evaluated together.PubMedWo

Imaging Findings And Clinicopathological Correlation Of Breast Cancer In Women Under 40 Years Old

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical, imaging and histopathological features of breast cancer in patients aged under 40 years of age. The relationship between radiological characteristics and histopathological features was also investigated. Materials and Methods The study included 131 patients aged under 40 years, diagnosed pathologically with breast cancer. A retrospective evaluation was made of the imaging and clinicopathological findings and the relationship between pathological and imaging findings was investigated. Results Most of the cancers were detected from clinical symptoms, especially a palpable mass (76.3%). The most common histological type of tumor was invasive ductal carcinoma and 64.8% of the tumors were high grade tumors. The predominant features were irregular borders (92.4%), microlobulated-angulated contours (43.5%), hypo-homogeneous internal echogenicity (80.9%) on ultrasonography, and the presence of a mass (41.2%) and suspicious microcalcifications (40.2%) on mammography. Magnetic resonance imaging commonly showed mass enhancement (66.7%) with type 2 or 3 dynamic curve (92.6%). High-grade tumors were associated with posterior acoustic enhancement (p: 0.03) while low-grade tumors presented with spiculated margins more than high grade tumors (p: 0.04). Conclusion Breast cancer in women aged under 40 years usually presents with a self-detected palpable mass and can show different imaging findings according to the histological grade. Ultrasonography is the main modality for the diagnosis of breast cancer in young women, but mammography and magnetic resonance imaging can help in both diagnosis and evaluation of the extent of disease.PubMedWo

Brain Tumor Imaging without Gadolinium-based Contrast Agents: Feasible or Fantasy?

Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) form the cornerstone of current primary brain tumor MRI protocols at all stages of the patient journey. Though an imperfect measure of tumor grade, GBCAs are repeatedly used for diagnosis and monitoring. In practice, however, radiologists will encounter situations where GBCA injection is not needed or of doubtful benefit. Reducing GBCA administration could improve the patient burden of (repeated) imaging (especially in vulnerable patient groups, such as children), minimize risks of putative side effects, and benefit costs, logistics, and the environmental footprint. On the basis of the current literature, imaging strategies to reduce GBCA exposure for pediatric and adult patients with primary brain tumors will be reviewed. Early postoperative MRI and fixed-interval imaging of gliomas are examples of GBCA exposure with uncertain survival benefits. Half-dose GBCAs for gliomas and T2-weighted imaging alone for meningiomas are among options to reduce GBCA use. While most imaging guidelines recommend using GBCAs at all stages of diagnosis and treatment, non–contrast-enhanced sequences, such as the arterial spin labeling, have shown a great potential. Artificial intelligence methods to generate synthetic postcontrast images from decreased-dose or non-GBCA scans have shown promise to replace GBCA-dependent approaches. This review is focused on pediatric and adult gliomas and meningiomas. Special attention is paid to the quality and real-life applicability of the reviewed literature

Flow diverter stents in the treatment of recanalized intracranial aneurysms.

Abstract Background: We assessed the safety and efficacy of flow diverter stents (FDSs) in the treatment of recanalized or residual intracranial aneurysms treated endovascularly. Materials & methods: Patients whose recanalized or residual aneurysms were treated with FDSs in five tertiary hospitals were reviewed retrospectively. The patients' demographic data, aneurysm characteristics, types of previous treatment, and clinical complications, or serious adverse events associated with FDSs, as well as the results of neurological and angiographic follow-up assessments, were recorded. Results: Eighty-six patients (37 males) with 87 aneurysms were included in this study. Eighty (91.9%) aneurysms were in the anterior and seven (8.1%) in the posterior circulation. The initial treatment methods were the primary coiling or balloon remodeling technique in 69 (79.3%) and stent-assisted coiling in 18 (20.7%) aneurysms. The endovascular procedure was successful in all patients. Complications occurred in four patients, for a total complication rate of 4.6%. A technical complication developed in one patient (1.2%). An in-stent thrombosis treated with tirofiban was seen in two cases. Late in-stent stenosis exceeding 50% was treated with balloon angioplasty in one patient. The mean length of follow-up was 21.0 months. The first angiographic follow-up (3-6 months) revealed the complete occlusion of 74 aneurysms (85.1%). While 76 aneurysms (87.4%) were occluded at the last angiographic follow-up (mean: 26.0 months), 11 aneurysms (12.6%) were still filling. Morbimortality was zero. Conclusion: The drawback of endovascular treatment is aneurysmal remnants or recurrences, which is safely and durably amenable to flow diversion.PubMe

Brain Tumor Imaging without Gadolinium-based Contrast Agents: Feasible or Fantasy?

Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) form the cornerstone of current primary brain tumor MRI protocols at all stages of the patient journey. Though an imperfect measure of tumor grade, GBCAs are repeatedly used for diagnosis and monitoring. In practice, however, radiologists will encounter situations where GBCA injection is not needed or of doubtful benefit. Reducing GBCA administration could improve the patient burden of (repeated) imaging (especially in vulnerable patient groups, such as children), minimize risks of putative side effects, and benefit costs, logistics, and the environmental footprint. On the basis of the current literature, imaging strategies to reduce GBCA exposure for pediatric and adult patients with primary brain tumors will be reviewed. Early postoperative MRI and fixed-interval imaging of gliomas are examples of GBCA exposure with uncertain survival benefits. Half-dose GBCAs for gliomas and T2-weighted imaging alone for meningiomas are among options to reduce GBCA use. While most imaging guidelines recommend using GBCAs at all stages of diagnosis and treatment, non–contrast-enhanced sequences, such as the arterial spin labeling, have shown a great potential. Artificial intelligence methods to generate synthetic postcontrast images from decreased-dose or non-GBCA scans have shown promise to replace GBCA-dependent approaches. This review is focused on pediatric and adult gliomas and meningiomas. Special attention is paid to the quality and real-life applicability of the reviewed literature