33 research outputs found
Ultrasonography and atypical sites of endometriosis
In the present pictorial we show the ultrasonographic appearances of endometriosis
in atypical sites. Scar endometriosis may present as a hypoechoic solid nodule with hyperechoic
spots while umbilical endometriosis may appear as solid or partially cystic areas with ill-defined
margins. In the case of endometriosis of the rectus muscle, ultrasonography usually demonstrates
a heterogeneous hypoechogenic formation with indistinct edges. Inguinal endometriosis is quite
variable in its ultrasonographic presentation showing a completely solid mass or a mixed solid
and cystic mass. The typical ultrasonographic finding associated with perineal endometriosis is
the presence of a solid lesion near to the episiotomy scar. Under ultrasonography, appendiceal
endometriosis is characterized by a solid lesion in the wall of the small bowel, usually well defined.
Superficial hepatic endometriosis is characterized by a small hypoechoic lesion interrupting the hepatic
capsula, usually hyperechoic. Ultrasound endometriosis of the pancreas is characterized by a small
hypoechoic lesion while endometriosis of the kidney is characterized by a hyperechoic small nodule.
Diaphragmatic endometriosis showed typically small hypoechoic lesions. Only peripheral nerves can
be investigated using ultrasound, with a typical solid appearance. In conclusion, ultrasonography
seems to have a fundamental role in the majority of endometriosis cases in “atypical” sites, in all the
cases where “typical” clinical findings are present
Development and Implementation of the AIDA International Registry for Patients with Non-Infectious Scleritis
Introduction This article points out the design, methods, development and deployment of the international registry promoted by the AutoInflammatory Disease Alliance (AIDA) Network with the aim to define and assess paediatric and adult patients with immune-mediated scleritis. Methods This registry collects both retrospective and prospective real-world data from patients with non-infectious scleritis through the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) tool and aims to promote knowledge and real-life evidence from patients enrolled worldwide; the registry also allows the collection of standardised data, ensuring the highest levels of security and anonymity of patients' data and flexibility to change according to scientific acquisitions over time. The communication with other similar registries has been also ensured in order to pursue the sustainability of the project with respect to the adaptation of collected data to the most diverse research projects. Results Since the launch of the registry, 99 centres have been involved from 20 countries and four continents. Forty-eight of the centres have already obtained a formal approval from their local ethics committees. At present, the platform counts 259 users (95 principal investigators, 160 site investigators, 2 lead investigators, and 2 data managers); the platform collects baseline and follow-up data using 3683 fields organised into 13 instruments, including patient's demographics, history, symptoms, trigger or risk factors, therapies and healthcare utilization. Conclusions The development of the AIDA International Registry for patients with non-infectious scleritis will allow solid research on this rare condition. Real-world evidence resulting from standardised real-life data will lead to the optimisation of routine clinical and therapeutic management, which are currently limited by the rarity of this ocular inflammatory condition
Development and Implementation of the AIDA International Registry for Patients with Non-Infectious Uveitis
Introduction: The aim of this paper is to point out the design, development and deployment of the AutoInflammatory Disease Alliance (AIDA) International Registry for paediatric and adult patients with non-infectious uveitis (NIU). Methods: This is a physician-driven, population- and electronic-based registry implemented for both retrospective and prospective collection of real-world demographics, clinical, laboratory, instrumental and socioeconomic data of patients with uveitis and other non-infectious inflammatory ocular diseases recruited through the AIDA Network. Data recruitment, based on the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) tool, is thought to collect standardised information for real-life research and has been developed to change over time according to future scientific acquisitions and potentially communicate with other similar instruments. Security, data quality and data governance are cornerstones of this platform. Results: Ninety-five centres have been involved from 19 countries and four continents from 24 March to 16 November 2021. Forty-eight out of 95 have already obtained the approval from their local ethics committees. At present, the platform counts 259 users (95 principal investigators, 160 site investigators, 2 lead investigators, and 2 data managers). The AIDA Registry collects baseline and follow-up data using 3943 fields organised into 13 instruments, including patient's demographics, history, symptoms, trigger/risk factors, therapies and healthcare utilization for patients with NIU. Conclusions: The development of the AIDA Registry for patients with NIU will facilitate the collection of standardised data leading to real-world evidence and enabling international multicentre collaborative research through inclusion of patients and their families worldwide