Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI, Jan 24, 2016
To evaluate the percent change in tumoral volume measured at T2 -weighted magnetic resonance imag... more To evaluate the percent change in tumoral volume measured at T2 -weighted magnetic resonance imaging (T2 WMRI) and diffusion-weighted (DWI) as a method to identify responders after chemo- and radiation therapy (CRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal carcinoma. Forty-five consecutive patients (mean age ± SD: 72 years ± 9.7; male/female = 24/21) with locally advanced rectal carcinoma underwent CRT followed by surgery. Each patient underwent T2 WMRI and DWI at 1.5T before and 6 weeks after the completion of CRT. The percent change in tumoral volume before and 6 weeks after CRT was compared in patients classified as responders and nonresponders according to rectal cancer regression grade. Twenty-five patients were classified as responders with either partial (n = 20) or complete response (n = 5), while 20 patients were classified as nonresponders due to stable disease (n = 18) or disease progression (n = 2). Responders vs. nonresponders differed in the percent change of tumoral v...
PURPOSE To retrospectively assess the value of spectral pre-saturation inversion-recovery (SPIR) ... more PURPOSE To retrospectively assess the value of spectral pre-saturation inversion-recovery (SPIR) MR imaging sequence after gadolinium injection to identify some imaging findings which could be predictors of mesorectal fascia infiltration in patients with rectal carcinoma undergoing MR restaging after neoadjuvant chemo- and radiation therapy (CRT). METHOD AND MATERIALS Fifty-eight consecutive patients (mean age: 65.8 years; range: 46 - 85 years; M:F 39:19) with locally advanced rectal carcinoma involving the higher, middle or lower rectum underwent CRT followed by surgery. MR imaging was performed before and after completion of CRT by using T2-weighted fast spin-echo and T1-weighted SPIR sequences before and after gadolinium injection. MR images were assessed by two radiologists in consensus. The evidence of reticular (interwoven strands within the mesorectal fat creating a meshwork) or linear-shaped enhancing strands (strands travelling separately through the mesorectal fat) on MR i...
Objective. Benign thyroid nodules are a common occurrence whose only remedy, in case of symptoms,... more Objective. Benign thyroid nodules are a common occurrence whose only remedy, in case of symptoms, has always been surgery until the advent of new techniques, such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA). This study aimed at evaluating RFA efficacy, tolerability, and costs and comparing them to hemithyroidectomy for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. Design and Methods. 37 patients who underwent RFA were retrospectively compared to 74 patients surgically treated, either in a standard inpatient or in a short-stay surgical regimen. Efficacy, tolerability, and costs were compared. The contribution of final pathology was also taken into account. Results. RFA reduced nodular volume by 70% after 12 months and it was an effective method for treating nodule-related clinical problems, but it was not as effective as surgery for the treatment of hot nodules. RFA and surgery were both safe, although RFA had less complications and pain was rare. RFA costed €1,661.50, surgery costed €4,556.30, and short-stay surgery costed €4,139.40 per patient. RFA, however, did not allow for any pathologic analysis of the nodules, which, in 6 patients who had undergone surgery (8%), revealed that the nodules harboured malignant cells. Conclusions. RFA might transform our approach to benign thyroid nodules.
Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI, Jan 24, 2016
To evaluate the percent change in tumoral volume measured at T2 -weighted magnetic resonance imag... more To evaluate the percent change in tumoral volume measured at T2 -weighted magnetic resonance imaging (T2 WMRI) and diffusion-weighted (DWI) as a method to identify responders after chemo- and radiation therapy (CRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal carcinoma. Forty-five consecutive patients (mean age ± SD: 72 years ± 9.7; male/female = 24/21) with locally advanced rectal carcinoma underwent CRT followed by surgery. Each patient underwent T2 WMRI and DWI at 1.5T before and 6 weeks after the completion of CRT. The percent change in tumoral volume before and 6 weeks after CRT was compared in patients classified as responders and nonresponders according to rectal cancer regression grade. Twenty-five patients were classified as responders with either partial (n = 20) or complete response (n = 5), while 20 patients were classified as nonresponders due to stable disease (n = 18) or disease progression (n = 2). Responders vs. nonresponders differed in the percent change of tumoral v...
PURPOSE To retrospectively assess the value of spectral pre-saturation inversion-recovery (SPIR) ... more PURPOSE To retrospectively assess the value of spectral pre-saturation inversion-recovery (SPIR) MR imaging sequence after gadolinium injection to identify some imaging findings which could be predictors of mesorectal fascia infiltration in patients with rectal carcinoma undergoing MR restaging after neoadjuvant chemo- and radiation therapy (CRT). METHOD AND MATERIALS Fifty-eight consecutive patients (mean age: 65.8 years; range: 46 - 85 years; M:F 39:19) with locally advanced rectal carcinoma involving the higher, middle or lower rectum underwent CRT followed by surgery. MR imaging was performed before and after completion of CRT by using T2-weighted fast spin-echo and T1-weighted SPIR sequences before and after gadolinium injection. MR images were assessed by two radiologists in consensus. The evidence of reticular (interwoven strands within the mesorectal fat creating a meshwork) or linear-shaped enhancing strands (strands travelling separately through the mesorectal fat) on MR i...
Objective. Benign thyroid nodules are a common occurrence whose only remedy, in case of symptoms,... more Objective. Benign thyroid nodules are a common occurrence whose only remedy, in case of symptoms, has always been surgery until the advent of new techniques, such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA). This study aimed at evaluating RFA efficacy, tolerability, and costs and comparing them to hemithyroidectomy for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. Design and Methods. 37 patients who underwent RFA were retrospectively compared to 74 patients surgically treated, either in a standard inpatient or in a short-stay surgical regimen. Efficacy, tolerability, and costs were compared. The contribution of final pathology was also taken into account. Results. RFA reduced nodular volume by 70% after 12 months and it was an effective method for treating nodule-related clinical problems, but it was not as effective as surgery for the treatment of hot nodules. RFA and surgery were both safe, although RFA had less complications and pain was rare. RFA costed €1,661.50, surgery costed €4,556.30, and short-stay surgery costed €4,139.40 per patient. RFA, however, did not allow for any pathologic analysis of the nodules, which, in 6 patients who had undergone surgery (8%), revealed that the nodules harboured malignant cells. Conclusions. RFA might transform our approach to benign thyroid nodules.
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