CT findings in acute peritonitis: a pattern-based approach

Many inflammatory and infectious entities may acutely affect the peritoneum causing a thickening of its layers. Unfortunately, several acute peritoneal diseases can have overlapping features, both clinically and at imaging. Therefore, the awareness of the clinical context, although useful, may be sometimes insufficient to identify the underlying cause. This article provides a specific computed tomography-based approach including morphologic characteristics of peritoneal thickening (e.g., smooth, irregular, or nodular) and ancillary findings to narrow the differential diagnosis of acute peritonitis

Ultrasound imaging of the axilla

: Axilla is a pyramidal-in-shape "virtual cavity" housing multiple anatomical structures and connecting the upper limb with the trunk. To the best of our knowledge, in the pertinent literature, a detailed sonographic protocol to comprehensively assess the axillary region in daily practice is lacking. In this sense, the authors have briefly described the anatomical architecture of the axilla-also using cadaveric specimens-to propose a layer-by-layer sonographic approach to this challenging district. The most common sonographic pathological findings-for each and every anatomical compartment of the axilla-have been accurately reported and compared with the corresponding histopathological features. This ultrasound approach could be considered a ready-to-use educational guidance for the assessment of the axillary region. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Axilla is a pyramidal-in-shape "virtual cavity" housing multiple anatomical structures and connecting the upper limb with the trunk. The aim of this review article was to describe the anatomical architecture of the axilla, also using cadaveric specimens, in order to propose a layer-by-layer sonographic approach to this challenging district

DWI-MR and PET-CT Functional Imaging for Boost Tumor Volume Delineation in Neoadjuvant Rectal Cancer Treatment

BACKGROUND/AIM T2 weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is the gold standard for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) staging. The potential benefit of functional imaging, as diffusion-weighted MR (DWI) and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT), could be considered for treatment intensification strategies. Dose intensification resulted in better pathological complete response (pCR) rates. This study evaluated the inter-observer agreement between two radiation oncologists, and the difference in gross tumor volume (GTV) delineation in simulation-CT, T2-MR, DWI-MR, and PET-CT in patients with LARC. PATIENTS AND METHODS Two radiation oncologists prospectively delineated GTVs of 24 patients on simul-CT (CT$_{GTV}$), T2-weighted MR (T2$_{GTV}$), echo planar b1000 DWI (DWI$_{GTV}$) and PET-CT (PET$_{GTV}$). Observers' agreement was assessed using Dice index. Kruskal-Wallis test assessed differences between methods. RESULTS Mean CT$_{GTV}$, T2$_{GTV}$, DWI$_{GTV}$, and PET$_{GTV}$ were 41.3±26.9 cc, 25.9±15.2 cc, 21±14.8 cc, and 37.7±27.7 cc for the first observer, and 42.2±27.9 cc, 27.6±16.9 cc, 19.9±14.9cc, and 34.8±24.3 cc for the second observer, respectively. Mean Dice index was 0.85 for CT$_{GTV}$, 0.84 for T2$_{GTV}$, 0.82 for DWI$_{GTV}$, and 0.89 for PET$_{GTV}$, representative of almost perfect agreement. Kruskal-Wallis test showed a statistically significant difference between methods (p=0.009). Dunn test showed there were differences between DWI$_{GTV}$ vs. PET$_{GTV}$ (p=0.040) and DWI$_{GTV}$ vs. CT$_{GTV}$ (p=0.008). CONCLUSION DWI resulted in smaller volume delineation compared to CT, T2-MR, and PET-CT functional images. Almost perfect agreements were reported for each imaging modality between two observers. DWI-MR seems to remain the optimal strategy for boost volume delineation for dose escalation in patients with LARC

Retroperitoneal extension of massive ulcerated testicular seminoma through the inguinal canal: A case report.

Introduction: Testicular cancers represent about 5% of all urological malignancies and 1-1.5% of all male neoplasms. Most of the testicular cancers are localized (68%) at diagnosis. Bulky masses in the scrotum are rare. We present a rare case of bulky testicular cancer with retroperitoneal spread through the inguinal canal. Case report: A 44-year-old man came to the emergency department referring weakness and the presence of a scrotal mass. At physical examination, a voluminous mass was found, with necrotic phenomena within the scrotum. Abdomen was tense and sore. Abdominal CT scan revealed a bulky testicular mass spreading to the retroperitoneal space through the inguinal canal with node enlargement. Patient underwent orchiectomy with excision of infiltrated scrotum skin. Histologic diagnosis confirmed a typical form seminoma. The patient was then treated with a cisplatin-based chemotherapy, with a partial response. The patient recently relapsed and he is being treated with a new line of chemotherapy and subsequent surgery with or without radiotherapy. Conclusions: We described a rare presentation of testicular cancer. This case highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to rare testis tumour presentation and early diagnosis for testicular cancers

Predicting Overall Survival Time in Glioblastoma Patients Using Gradient Boosting Machines Algorithm and Recursive Feature Elimination Technique

Despite advances in tumor treatment, the inconsistent response is a major challenge among glioblastoma multiform (GBM) that lead to different survival time. Our aim was to integrate multimodal MRI with non-supervised and supervised machine learning methods to predict GBM patients’ survival time. To this end, we identified different compartments of the tumor and extracted their features. Next, we applied Random Forest-Recursive Feature Elimination (RF-RFE) to identify the most relevant features to feed into a GBoost machine. This study included 29 GBM patients with known survival time. RF-RFE GBoost model was evaluated to assess the survival prediction performance using optimal features. Furthermore, overall survival (OS) was analyzed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, to evaluate the effect of ROIs and their features on survival. The results showed that a RF-RFE Gboost machine was able to predict survival time with 75% accuracy. The results also revealed that the rCBV in the low perfusion area was significantly different between groups and had the greatest effect size in terms of the rate of change of the response variable (survival time). In conclusion, not only integration of multi-modality MRI but also feature selection method can enhance the classifier performance

Successful Treatment of Refractory Seizures with Rufinamide in Children with Schizencephaly: Report of 3 Cases

Schizencephaly is an uncommon malformation of cortical development. Patients with schizencephaly present with a broad range of severe neurologic symptoms including pharmacoresistant epilepsy. Rufinamide is a new antiepileptic drug approved for use as adjunctive therapy of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and it is also effective for refractory partial seizures. We report 3 cases of pediatric patients aged 7.2, 8.1, and 10.1 years, respectively, with intractable epilepsy associated with bilateral open-lip schizencephaly and septo-optic dysplasia. The follow-up ranged from 3.8 to 4.1 years. In our patients, the introduction of rufinamide as adjunctive drug led to a dramatic decline in the number of seizures and an improvement in EEG epileptic activity without side effects. Rufinamide seems to be efficacious and safe in patients with epileptic encephalopathies associated with pharmacoresistant epilepsy; further and larger clinical reports and controlled studies could confirm the usefulness of this anticonvulsant drug

Complications Subsequent to Urinary Tract Stent Placement: An Overview Focusing on the Imaging of Cancer Patients

Ureteral involvement by a tumor is common, and both partial and complete obstructions can result in symptoms that are distressing and debilitating, especially in cancer patients for whom the resection of the primary tumor is not considered an option. Maintaining ureteric patency in these patients is a challenge. In addition, in cases where a patient has undergone nephroureterectomy due to primary transitional cell cancer, it becomes necessary to decompress the urinary tract to preserve the contralateral kidney from irreversible damage. This is possibly due to ureteral stenting, both retrograde and anterograde, and percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN). Since imaging plays an important role in the routine monitoring of stents, their more and more increasing use requires radiologists to be familiar with these devices, their correct position, their potential complications, and their consequences. The aim of this review is to offer a comprehensive review of the imaging features of some urinary stents and to show the complications encountered in cancer patients as a direct consequence of an invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedure. Specifically, we focus on ureteral stents and PCN

Early detection of pleuro‐pulmonary tuberculosis by bedside lung ultrasound: A case report and review of literature

Abstract We present a case in which lung ultrasound (LUS) was relevant to reach an early diagnosis of lung tuberculosis and to manage the patient in the right setting. Moreover, ultrasound allowed to detect and treat massive pleural effusion through an ultrasound‐guided thoracentesis