Using positron emission tomography - computed tomography imaging to distinguish of metastatic disease from second primary lung tumours in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Background: In NSCLC patients with multiple lesions, the differentiation between metastases and second primary tumours has significant therapeutic and prognostic implications. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the potential of 18F-FDG PET to discriminate metastatic disease from second primary lung tumours.Methods: Of 318 NSCLC patients between November 2015 and October 2018 at Bach Mai hospital, patients with a synchronous second primary lung cancer were selected. Patients with metastatic disease involving the lungs served as the control group. Maximum standardized uptake values (SUVs) measured with 18F-FDG PET were determined for two tumours in each patient. The SUVmax was determined and compared between the second primary group and metastatic disease group. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the SUVmax for an optimal cut-off value.Results: A total of 81 NSCLC patients (44 metastatic disease, 37 second primary cancer) were included for analysis. The SUVmax was significantly higher in patients with second primary cancer than in those with metastatic disease (7.53±4.33 vs 4.35±2.58, respectively, p<0.001). The area under the ROC curve was 0.81 and the odds ratio for the optimal cut-off was 7.52.Conclusions: SUVmax from 18F-FDG PET images can be helpful in differentiating metastatic disease from second primary tumours in patients with synchronous pulmonary lesions. Further studies are warranted to confirm the consistency of these results.

Can positron emission tomography - computed tomography imaging predict of metastases in patients with small cell lung cancer

Background: Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 15%-20% of all lung cancer cases. positron emission tomography - computed tomography (PET/CT) has become increasingly used as an initial staging tool in patients with SCLC. We aimed to explore the relationships between primary tumor 18F-FDG uptake measured as the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max) and clinical stage at PET/CT for small cell lung cancer patients (SCLC).Methods: Patients with SCLC who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT scans before the treatment were included in the study at Bach Mai hospital of Vietnam, from November 2014 to May 2018. The primary tumor and secondary lesion SUVmax was calculated; the tumor size was measured; the TNM status was determined mainly by FDG PET/CT imaging according to The 8th Edition of the TNM Classification for Lung Cancer were recorded. An evaluation was made of the linear relationship between tumor size, T stage, N stage, and M stages of the patients and their SUVmax using Spearman’s correlation.Results: Total 37 cases (34 men and 3 women; age range 38 - 81 years, median 64 years) were analyzed. The average of primary tumor size and SUVmax were 5.95±2.77 cm and 10.21±4.75, respectively. The SUVmax of primary tumor is significantly greater than that of nodal and distant organ metastasis (10.21±4.75 vs 8.20±4.35 and 6.44±3.17, p<0.01). There was a moderate correlation between SUVmax and tumor size (r =0.596, p<0.001), tumor stage (r = 0.502, p<0.01) but not significant with nodal stage (r =-0.218, p=0.194), metastasis stage (r = -0.055, p=0.747), and overall stage (r=-0.060, p=0.725).Conclusions: SUVmax was significantly correlated with tumor size, but not with distant metastases or lymph node involvement. Therefore, SUVmax on positron emission tomography is not predictive of the presence of metastases in patients with SCLC

Impact of 18F-FDG PET/CT on the staging of patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 80% of new diagnoses of pulmonary carcinoma. This study investigated the correlation between 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in computerized tomography integrated positron emission tomography and tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis in patients with NSCLC.Methods: The records of 318 NSCLC patients (220 male, 98 females; mean age 60.94 years) were evaluated retrospectively.Results: 278 cases were adenocarcinomas; 28 squamous cell carcinomas; and 12 large cell carcinoma. When the cases were categorized according to tumor size (group 1, ≤3 cm; group 2, >3 and ≤5 cm; group 3, >5 cm), the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was significantly lower in groups 1 and 2 compared with group 3 (p<0,001 for each). Considering all cases, tumor SUVmax was not correlated with age, gender or histopathological type. Lymph node metastases were seen in 250 cases: 80.2% of these were adenocarcinomas, 71.4% squamous cell carcinomas, and 58.3% large cell carcinomas. Neither lymph node involvement nor distant metastases were correlated with tumor SUVmax, although lymph node size was positively correlated with lymph node SUVmax (r=0.758; p<0.001).Conclusions: SUVmax was significantly associated with tumor size, but not with distant metastases or lymph node involvement. Therefore, SUVmax on positron emission tomography is not predictive of the presence of metastases.

Oral Cancer: The State of the Art of Modern-Day Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosing and treating lesions of the mouth and gums is challenging for most clinicians because of the wide variety of disease processes that can present with similar appearing lesions and the fact that most clinicians receive inadequate training in mouth diseases. Oral cancer, a common lesion in oral cavity, is not correctly diagnosing a clinical picture of an early squamous cell carcinoma. The prevalence of oral cancer continues to rise worldwide, related to the increase in consumption of tobacco, alcohol and other carcinogenic products. However, there has also been a significant reduction in mortality due to increasing awareness, early diagnosis and advances in treatments. This chapter is an attempt to provide a comprehensive update encompassing the spectrum of etiologic/risk factors, current clinical diagnostic tools, management philosophies, and molecular biomarkers and progression indicators of oral cancer

Primary Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Thyroid: A Report of a Rare Case with Bone Metastasis and Review of the Literature

Mucoepidermoid carcinomas (MECs) are generally found in salivary gland, but they have also been mentioned in other organs such as the larynx, esophagus, breast. MECs are considered to be a low-grade carcinoma and their occurrence in the thyroid is extremely rare. We present a 54-year-old male patient admitted to our clinic, complaining about having back pains for approximately three months. A lumbosacral spine MRI and a PET/CT scan revealed multiple lesions in the L4, L5, S1 vertebra bodies, sacral bone and left pelvis bone, suggesting of a metastatic disease. The result of thyroid FNA was carcinoma and a biopsy of the vertebra bone confirmed the presence of a metastatic carcinoma. A total thyroidectomy and level VI neck dissection was conducted followed by palliative external beam radiotherapy (30 Gy) to the vertebra bodies, sacral bone and left pelvis bone. In pathological studies, the diagnosis of thyroid mucoepidermoid carcinoma was confirmed. Six months after treatment, the patient died due to severe pain and fatigue caused by the disease. Here, we report a rare case with bone metastasis as the first symptom of MEC and a brief review of published literature on the subject

Effects of steel corrosion to BFRP Strengthened columns under eccentric loading

The experiment consists of twenty-four mid-scale rectangular RC columns (200x200x800mm) strengthening by BFRP sheets and research variables include: BFRP layer (0, 1, and 3 layers); eccentricity (25mm and 75mm); and 4 levels of steel corrosion. The results reveal that SEL (ratio of ultimate load of strengthened member to that of corresponding controlled member) is direct proportion with steel corrosion while SEV (ratio of ultimate vertical displacement of strengthened member to that of corresponding controlled member) is inverse proportion with steel corrosion; SEL slightly increases with the increase of BFRP layer and eccentricity; but SEV decreases noticeably with the increase of BFRP layer and eccentricity. In addition,the interaction between FRP sheets, stirrups, and longitudinal reinforcement in steel degraded BFRP strengthened columns is very strong.However, column design basing on current design manuals and codes as ACI 440.2R and CNR DT 200R1 has not mentioned this affect. Thus, the load capacity prediction of column being strengthened by BFRP sheets should include levels of steel corrosion for reality, reasonable, and integral of the design

Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach as a novel technique for pediatric populations: Results from a single surgeon

BackgroundThe transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA) is increasingly being adopted worldwide because of its many advantages. However, there are few reports on the effectiveness and safety of TOETVA in children. In this study, we report the results of the application of TOETVA on 27 pediatric patients in Vietnam. To the best of our knowledge, this is also the largest sample size of the TOETVA technique performed by a single surgeon on pediatric patients worldwide. Patients and methods: From June 2020 to February 2022, we performed TOETVA on 27 pediatric patients (≤ 18 years old). The outcomes of the procedure were retrospectively reviewed.ResultsOur study was conducted on 27 pediatric patients, of whom 24 were female (88.9%). The mean age was 16.3 ± 2 (range 10-18). Fifteen patients had benign thyroid nodules with a mean nodule size of 31.6 ± 7.1 (range 20-50mm), and 12 patients had papillary thyroid carcinoma with a mean nodule size of 10.2 ± 5.6 (range 4-19mm). All 27 patients underwent successful TOETVA without any conversion to open surgery. The 15 patients with benign thyroid nodules had lobectomies with a mean operative time of 83.3 ± 10.5 (range 60-105 minutes). Among the 12 patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer, ten had a lobectomy, isthmusectomy, and central neck dissection, with a mean operative time of 89.8 ± 5.7 (range 80-100 minutes). The other two underwent total thyroidectomy with central lymph node dissection with a mean operative time of 132.5 minutes. The mean hospital stay was 4.7 ± 0.9 (range 3-7 days). No patient had permanent complications, such as hypocalcemia, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, or mental nerve injury. The rates of temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and mental nerve injury were 3.7% and 11.1% respectively.ConclusionsTOETVA may be a feasible and safe surgical method for children with thyroid disease. However, we recommend that only high-volume thyroid surgeons with experience in TOETVA should perform TOETVA on the pediatric population

Effects of steel corrosion to BFRP Strengthened columns under eccentric loading

The experiment consists of twenty-four mid-scale rectangular RC columns (200x200x800mm) strengthening by BFRP sheets and research variables include: BFRP layer (0, 1, and 3 layers); eccentricity (25mm and 75mm); and 4 levels of steel corrosion. The results reveal that SEL (ratio of ultimate load of strengthened member to that of corresponding controlled member) is direct proportion with steel corrosion while SEV (ratio of ultimate vertical displacement of strengthened member to that of corresponding controlled member) is inverse proportion with steel corrosion; SEL slightly increases with the increase of BFRP layer and eccentricity; but SEV decreases noticeably with the increase of BFRP layer and eccentricity. In addition,the interaction between FRP sheets, stirrups, and longitudinal reinforcement in steel degraded BFRP strengthened columns is very strong.However, column design basing on current design manuals and codes as ACI 440.2R and CNR DT 200R1 has not mentioned this affect. Thus, the load capacity prediction of column being strengthened by BFRP sheets should include levels of steel corrosion for reality, reasonable, and integral of the design

Vector abundance and species composition of Anopheles mosquitoin Central Region and Central West Highlands, Viet Nam

Malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Viet Nam. In 2008, World Health Organization reported an estimated value of 243 million cases with a mortality of about 863 thousand in the world. Malaria transmission in the Central Region and Central West Highlands of Viet Nam is known to be holoendemic and perennial. High humidity (80%) and a high mean temperature of 25°C in this area favour the bionomics of the principal malaria vectors. Vector control is a major component of the Global Malaria Control Strategy and still remains the most generally effective measure to prevent malaria transmission. Successful application of vector control measures requires the understanding of the bionomics of Anopheles species responsible for malaria transmission, including correct and precise identification of the target species and its distribution.This study was conducted to provide information on the vector abundance and species composition of Anopheles mosquito at Quang Binh, Binh Đinh, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Gia Lai, Dak Lak ofCentral Region and Central West Highlands of Viet Nam. A total of 18 Anopheles species were collected in these provinces, therein, the 2main vectors are An. minimus and An. dirus, and the 3 secondary vectors are An. aconitus, An. jeyporiensis, An. maculatus. An. dirus and An. minimus species are present in most of the studied communes in 6 provinces, An. aconitus, An. jeyporiensis and An. maculatusare present in Binh Dinh, Ninh Thuan and Gia Lai provinces, whileAn. jeyporiensisdoes not seem to be found in the other provinces

Multi-correlation between nematode communities and environmental variables in mangrove-shrimp ponds, Ca Mau Province, Southern Vietnam

Multi-correlation between bio-indices of nematode communities and ecological parameters in mangrove-shrimp farming ponds in Tam Giang commune, Nam Can District, Ca Mau Province, Vietnam were investigated. In which, diversities of nematode communities and several environmental variables in eight ponds were considered to process. Our findings underlined the high diversity of nematode communities in mangrove-shrimp farming ponds compared to other mangrove habitats. Nematode diversities provided more oppotunity in natural food for shrimp. Single correlation analyses showed that the species richness index correlated significantly to three variables (salinity, total organic carbon, and total nitrogen), the Margalef diversity index correlated to two variables (salinity, total organic carbon), and the expected number of species for 50 individuals index correlated with one variable (salinity). Results of multi-correlation analyses between the nematode bio-indices and the environmental variables were completely different from those of single-correlation analyses. In multi-correlation analyses, the species richness and the Margalef diversity index correlated to two variables (salinity, total organic carbon), Pielou’s evenness index and Hill indices correlated with dissolved oxygen, also the Hurlbert index correlated to total organic carbon. Hence, it is necessary to pay attention to the impact of complex interactions between the multi-environmental variables and nematode communities. This research aims to explain the differences between single- and multi-correlation for evaluation of the effects of environmental factors on nematodes as well as aquatic organisms.