Whole-Body CT after Motor Vehicle Crash: No Benefit after High-Energy Impact and with Normal Physical Examination

Background Debate continues about the risks and benefits of systematic whole-body CT when no injury is clinically suspected. Risks of whole-body CT include high radiation exposure and iodine contrast agent, but its effectiveness in reducing mortality in low-risk motor vehicle crashes is unclear. Purpose To assess unsuspected injuries revealed at whole-body CT in patients following motor vehicle crash (MVC) meeting only kinetic elements of the Vittel criteria for the severity of trauma, with no evidence of trunk injury and a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included all consecutive adult patients who consulted an emergency department of a level 1 trauma center between August 2016 and July 2017 if they underwent whole-body CT for one or more kinetic elements of the Vittel criteria, had a normal examination of the trunk, and had a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15. Data of the MVC mechanism and physical and biologic examinations were collected, as well as patient treatment data after whole-body CT. Whole-body CT examinations were read by two double-blinded readers to help detect unsuspected injuries. Results Ninety-three patients were included; 72 were men with a mean age of 30.8 years ± 12.0 (standard deviation). Sixty-nine patients were occupants of a car. Seventeen patients were hit by a car while on motorbikes, three while on bicycles, and four as pedestrians. Unsuspected injuries were depicted at 11 whole-body CT examinations: eight lung contusions, one acetabular fracture, one sternal fracture, and one adrenal hematoma. None of these injuries required a specific treatment. One patient with lung contusion of more than 30% of lung volume was followed without requiring further treatment. Conclusion In this population, whole-body CT did not lead to any change in patient treatment. These results suggest whole-body CT should not be systematically performed when no evidence of trunk injury is observed in patients following motor vehicle crash meeting only kinetic elements of Vittel criteria. © RSNA, 2019 See also the editorial by Munera and Durso in this issue

Analysis of body mass index, weight loss and progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Background: Nintedanib is an approved therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Some patients treated with nintedanib experience weight loss. Exploratory data suggest that low body mass index or weight loss are associated with worse outcomes in patients with IPF. We investigated whether BMI at baseline or weight loss over 52 weeks was associated with FVC decline, or influenced the effect of nintedanib, in patients with IPF. Methods: Using pooled data from the two INPULSIS trials, we analysed the rate of decline in FVC (mL/yr) over 52 weeks in patients treated with nintedanib and placebo in subgroups by baseline BMI ( 5%) using random coefficient regression. Results: In the placebo group, the mean rate of FVC decline over 52 weeks was numerically greater in patients with lower baseline BMI (− 283.3 [SE 22.4], − 207.9 [20.9] and − 104.5 [21.4] in patients with BMI 5% than ≤5% weight loss over 52 weeks (− 312.7 [SE 32.2] versus − 199.5 [SE 14.4] mL/year). Nintedanib reduced the rate of FVC decline versus placebo in both subgroups by weight loss, with a greater treatment effect in patients with > 5% weight loss (interaction p = 0.0008). The adverse event profile of nintedanib was similar across subgroups. Conclusions: In patients with IPF, lower BMI and weight loss may be associated with faster decline in FVC. Nintedanib reduces the rate of FVC decline both in patients who lose weight on treatment and those who do not. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov; Nos. NCT01335464 and NCT01335477; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov

Magnetic resonance imaging in children: common problems and possible solutions for lung and airways imaging

Pediatric chest MRI is challenging. High-resolution scans of the lungs and airways are compromised by long imaging times, low lung proton density and motion. Low signal is a problem of normal lung. Lung abnormalities commonly cause increased signal intenstities. Among the most important factors for a successful MRI is patient cooperation, so the long acquisition times make patient preparation crucial. Children usually have problems with long breath-holds and with the concept of quiet breathing. Young children are even more challenging because of higher cardiac and respiratory rates giving motion blurring. For these reasons, CT has often been preferred over MRI for chest pediatric imaging. Despite its drawbacks, MRI also has advantages over CT, which justifies its further development and clinical use. The most important advantage is the absence of ionizing radiation, which allows frequent scanning for short- and long-term follow-up studie

EACVI/EHRA Expert Consensus Document on the role of multi-modality imaging for the evaluation of patients with atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the commonest cardiac rhythm disorder. Evaluation of patients with AF requires an electrocardiogram, but imaging techniques should be considered for defining management and driving treatment. The present document is an expert consensus from the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) and the European Heart Rhythm Association. The clinical value of echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), computed tomography (CT), and nuclear imaging in AF patients are challenged. Left atrial (LA) volume and strain in echocardiography as well as assessment of LA fibrosis in CMR are discussed. The value of CT, especially in planning interventions, is highlighted. Fourteen consensus statements have been reached. These may serve as a guide for both imagers and electrophysiologists for best selecting the imaging technique and for best interpreting its results in AF patients

Multimodal images integration for catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia

International audienceRadiofrequency catheter ablation is an important therapeutic option for patients with recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT). The procedure aims at cauterizing regions of the ventricle. A good knowledge of anatomical structures and tissues properties can improve procedure safety and efficacy. This work aimed at analysing the feasibility of a workflow based on multimodal image integration to assist the intervention. We focused here on a model including myocardial thickness and fibrosis extracted from late gadolinium enhanced MRI (LGE-MRI) sequence, and left ventricular anatomy segmented from multiphase computed tomography (CT). The produced model can be imported within Carto-3® system (Biosense Webster Inc, Diamond Bar, CA), the software used during the ablation procedure. Four patients cases have been included in this preliminary study. The four produced patient specific models have been validated by a clinician, and two of them have been integrated within Carto-3® system and used during the intervention. © 2017 IEEE Computer Society. All rights reserved

Pneumopathie d’hypersensibilité révélée par un syndrome de détresse respiratoire aiguë

National audienc

Toxicité pulmonaire induite par l’osimertinib

National audienceThe third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) osimertinib is recommended as a first-line treatment in advanced non-small cell lung cancer harboring an activating mutation of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR). Adverse pulmonary events related to osimertinib exposure have been reported, primarily in Japanese patients. They rarely occur in the Caucasian population. Herein we report two clinical cases of osimertinib-induced lung toxicities in patients diagnosed with advanced lung adenocarcinoma harboring an EGFR mutation. In the first case, interstitial pneumonia was asymptomatic and evolved favorably after osimertinib discontinuation. The second patient presented a more extensive form of lung injuries and despite systemic corticosteroid therapy, the evolution was fatal. Osimertinib-related lung toxicities remain exceptional. While most forms are mild, consideration of TKI treatment discontinuation may be necessitated. Introduction of another TKI or rechallenge with osimertinib might be considered along with corticosteroid therapy if necessary. Diffuse alveolar damage is a pejorative prognostic factor

[Ambulatory management of bilateral secondary spontaneous pneumothorax in palliative care]

National audienceINTRODUCTION: Secondary spontaneous pneumothoraces account for 35% of all pneumothoraces after the age of 50. Their management is still debated and can be challenging due to the underlying respiratory condition. In our observation, the use of small-bore chest tubes allowed prolonged ambulatory care in a palliative setting. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 54-year-old woman suffering from a leiomyosarcoma with multiple pulmonary metastases who had repeated episodes of pneumothorax, one of which was bilateral. Treatment involved the bilateral insertion of 8.5F pigtail catheters connected to Heimlich valves that allowed management as an outpatient. Recurrences were treated similarly, in association with oncological management, providing great additional benefits for patient comfort in this palliative context. CONCLUSION: Altogether, this case report confirms the applicability of outpatient management for drained spontaneous secondary pneumothoraces, even bilateral, especially in a palliative-care setting