Percutaneous injection of lidocaine within the carotid body area in carotid artery stenting: An "old-new" technique

Severe bradycardia is a common untoward effect during balloon angioplasty when performing carotid artery stenting. Therefore atropine injection even before dilatation and the presence of an anesthesiologist are advocated in all patients. In the surgical literature, injection of a local anesthetic agent into the carotid sinus before carotid endarterectomy was performed in an attempt to ameliorate perioperative hemodynamic instability. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that percutaneous infiltration of the carotid sinus with local anesthetic immediately before balloon dilatation reduces bradycardia and ameliorates the need for atropine injection or the presence of an anesthesiologist. Infiltration of the carotid sinus with 5 ml of 1% lidocaine, 3 min before dilatation, was performed in 30 consecutive patients. No one exhibited any significant rhythm change that required atropine injection. The anesthesiologist did not face any hemodynamic instability during the carotid artery stenting procedure. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

Predictive ability of maximal tumor diameter on MRI for high-risk endometrial cancer

Aim: To investigate the predictive ability of tumor size for deep myometrial invasion (≥50%) and metastatic lymphadenopathy, on maximal tumor diameter (MRI) of endometrial cancer. Materials and methods: Our study population consisted of 105 patients (mean age: 59.8 years) with histologically confirmed endometrial cancer. All patients underwent preoperative pelvic MRI. Tumor maximal diameter (size) was calculated on multiple sequences, and the largest value was recorded. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association of maximal tumor diameter (MRI) with the depth of myometrial invasion and the presence of pelvic nodal metastases (histology); optimal tumor size cut-off for the prediction of deep myometrial involvement and nodal metastases was calculated using ROC analysis. Surgicopathological specimen examination was the standard of reference. Results: Tumor size on MRI, independently predicted deep myometrial invasion. Optimal maximal tumor diameter cut-off for the prediction of deep myometrial invasion was 2 cm (SE 90%, SP 50.9%). When tumor size was used as a categorical variable in the multiple logistic regression model, tumor size >2 cm had 10.04 times greater odds of deep myometrial invasion (95% CI 3.34–30.17, p < 0.001). Optimal tumor size cut-off for prediction of nodal metastases was 4 cm (SE 60%, SP 76.9%). Multiple logistic regression analysis with nodal metastases as a dependent variable showed that tumor size >4 cm had 4.79 times greater odds for malignant dissemination to the lymph nodes (95% CI 1.00–23.09, p = 0.047). Conclusion: Maximal tumor diameter on preoperative MRI may be yet another prognosticator for deep myometrial invasion and metastatic lymphadenopathy in patients with endometrial carcinoma. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York

Endometrial vs. cervical cancer: development and pilot testing of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scoring system for predicting tumor origin of uterine carcinomas of indeterminate histology

Purpose: To report discriminant MRI features between cervical and endometrial carcinomas and to design an MRI- scoring system, with the potential to predict the origin of uterine cancer (cervix or endometrium) in histologically indeterminate cases. Materials and methods: Dedicated pelvic MRIs of 77 patients with uterine tumors involving both cervix and corpus were retrospectively analyzed by two experts in female imaging. Seven MRI tumor characteristics were statistically tested for their discriminant ability for tumor origin compared to final histology: tumor location, perfusion pattern, rim enhancement, depth of myometrial invasion, cervical stromal integrity, intracavitary mass, and retained endometrial secretions. Kappa values were estimated to assess the levels of inter-rater reliability. On the basis of positive likelihood ratio values, an MRI-score was assigned. Results: K value was excellent for most of the imaging criteria. Using ROC curve analysis, the estimated optimal cut-off for the MRI-scoring system was 4 with 96.6% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Using a ≥4 cut-off for cervical cancers and <4 for endometrial cancers, 97.4% of the patients were correctly classified. 2/58 patients with cervical cancer had MRI score <4 and none of the patients with endometrial cancer had MRI score >4. The area under curve of the MRI-scoring system was 0.99 (95% CI 0.98–1.00). When the MRI-score was applied to 20/77 patients with indeterminate initial biopsy and to 5/26 surgically treated patients with erroneous pre-op histology, all cases were correctly classified. Conclusion: The produced MRI-scoring system may be a reliable problem-solving tool for the differential diagnosis of cervical vs. endometrial cancer in cases of equivocal histology. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media New York

Incremental prognostic value of MRI in the staging of early cervical cancer: A prospective study and review of the literature

This is to evaluate the predictive ability of clinical examination and preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the staging of early cervical cancer.We prospectively evaluated 115 patients with cervical cancer, International Federation of Gynecologic and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage <IIB; receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis determined the predictive ability of MRI, clinical assessment, and their combination for tumor staging. Surgery was the standard of reference.MRI was more accurate than clinical examination for tumor estimate, parametrial or internal os involvement. When combined with MRI, the predictive ability of clinical examination for overall staging [area under the curve (AUC)=0.59, P>.05) increased significantly (AUC=0.84, P<.05).Our results support the official incorporation of MRI into FIGO classification system. © 2015 Elsevier Inc

Αdnexal cystic lymphangiomas in patients with massive leiomyomatous uterus: a not so uncommon finding on pelvic MRI

Purpose: To investigate any association between the presence of an adnexal cystic lymphangioma (ACL) and an enlarged leiomyomatous uterus. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted by two expert radiologists using a 10-year MRI database (2008–2018); 85 patients (mean age: 45.5 years ± 10.9) were considered eligible due to the presence of a single (n = 31) or multiple (n = 54) leiomyomas causing distortion of the uterine contour and uterine enlargement. The association of specific leiomyoma features (longest diameter (Dmax), location, number) and uterine volume with the presence of ACL was statistically tested. Diagnosis of ACL was based on typical imaging features (n = 14) and intraoperative/histological findings (n = 3). Results: ACL (unilateral = 9, bilateral = 8) was recorded in 17/85 (20%) of patients; it was more frequently observed when the largest leiomyoma was located in the uterine fundus (33.3%). Patients with ACL had significantly more leiomyomas (median: 5 vs. 2, p = 0.043), greater Dmax of largest leiomyoma (median: 13.3 vs. 7.2 cm, p < 0.001), and larger uterine volumes (median: 676.7 vs. 223.1 cm3, p < 0.001) compared to patients without ACL. ROC curve analysis for a number of leiomyomas showed that the optimal cut-off for the prediction of ACL was the presence of 5 leiomyomas with 53.8% sensitivity and 84% specificity (AUC = 0.65, 95% CI 0.51–0.83, p = 0.049), Dmax of largest leiomyoma 9.1 cm with 76.5% sensitivity and 77.9% specificity (AUC = 0.83, 95% CI 0.73–0.94, p < 0.001), and uterine volume 311 cm3 with 71% sensitivity and 75% specificity (AUC = 0.79, 95% CI 0.66–0.92, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The presence of ACL is significantly associated with number of leiomyomas, Dmax of largest leiomyoma, and uterine volume; prospective evaluation of our results is needed to investigate its clinical significance. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

MR imaging of endometriosis: Spectrum of disease

Endometriosis is a common gynecological disorder defined by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. It is the most common cause of chronic pelvic pain and typically affects the ovaries, uterine ligaments, peritoneum, tubes, rectovaginal septum and bladder. It may, however, be found at various extrapelvic sites, including the perineum, liver, pancreas, lung or even the central nervous system, and in such cases, diagnosis may be quite challenging. Even though definitive diagnosis requires laparoscopy, preoperative identification of endometriosis is important not only to differentiate it from other diseases with similar clinical presentations but also, for accurate presurgical mapping, since complete removal of all endometriotic foci is critical for the effective treatment of the patient's symptoms. Ultrasound is performed initially, but magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly being used, particularly when sonographic findings are unclear, when deep pelvic endometriosis is suspected or when surgery is planned, as it provides better contrast resolution and a larger field of view compared to ultrasound. In this article, we will discuss distinctive MRI appearances of endometriotic foci and we will review common and uncommon locations of endometriosis within the body, in an attempt to familiarize radiologists with its wide spectrum of manifestations. © 2017 Éditions françaises de radiologi

MRI prognosticators for adverse maternal and neonatal clinical outcome in patients at high risk for placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders

Background: Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders may be associated with significant mortality and morbidity for both mother and fetus. Purpose/Hypothesis: To identify MRI risk factors for poor peripartum outcome in gravid patients at risk for PAS. Study Type: Prospective. Population: One hundred gravid women (mean age: 34.9 years) at third trimester, with placenta previa. Field Strength/Sequence: T2-SSTSE (single-shot turbo spin echo), T2-TSE, T1-TSEFS (TSE images with fat-suppression) at 1.5T. Assessment: Fifteen MRI features considered indicative of PAS were recorded by three radiologists and were tested for any association with the following adverse peripartum maternal and neonatal events: increased operation time, profound blood loss, hysterectomy, bladder repair, ICU admission, prematurity, low birthweight, and 5-minute APGAR score <7. Statistical Tests: Kappa (K) coefficients were computed as a measure of agreement between intraoperative information/histology and MRI results as well as for interobserver agreement; chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to explore the association of the MRI signs with clinical complications. A score was calculated by adding all recorded MRI signs and its predictive ability was tested using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, against all complications, separately; odds ratios (ORs) for optimal cutoffs were determined with logistic regression analysis. Results: There was excellent agreement (K >0.75, P < 0.001) between MRI and intraoperative findings for invasive placenta, bladder and parametrial involvement. Intraplacental T2 dark bands, myometrial disruption, uterine bulge, and hypervascularity at the utero-placental interface or parametrium, showed significant association (P < 0.005) with poor clinical outcome for both mother and fetus. The MRI score showed significant predictive ability for each adverse maternal event (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.85–0.97, P < 0.001). The presence of ≥3 MRI signs was the cutoff point for a complicated delivery (OR: 19.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.05–60.13) and ≥6 MRI signs was the cutoff point for massive bleeding (OR: 90.93, 95% CI: 11.3–729.23), hysterectomy (OR: 72.5, 95% CI: 17.9–293.7), or extensive bladder repair (OR: 58.74, 95% CI: 7.35–469.32). The MRI score was not significant for predicting adverse neonatal events including preterm delivery (P = 0.558), low birthweight (P = 0.097), and 5-minute Apgar score (P = 0.078). Data Conclusion: Preoperative identification of specific MRI features may predict peripartum course in high-risk patients for PAS. Level of Evidence: 1. Technical Efficacy: Stage 5. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:602–618. © 2018 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicin