The purpose of this investigation was to assess gaps in radiologists’ medical knowledge using abdominal subspecialty online longitudinal assessment (OLA)-type questions. Secondarily, we evaluated ...what question-centric factors influenced radiologists to pursue self-directed additional reading on topics presented.
A prospective OLA-type test was distributed nationally to radiologists over a 4-month period. Questions were divided into multiple groupings, including arising from three different time periods of literature (≤5 years, 6-15 years, and >20 years), relating to common versus uncommon modalities, and guideline-based versus knowledge-based characterization. After each question, participants rated their confidence in diagnosis and perceived question relevance. Answers were provided, and links to answer explanations and references were provided and tracked. A series of regression models were used to test potential predictors of correct response, participant confidence, and perceived question relevance.
In all, 119 participants initiated the survey, with 100 answering at least one of the questions. Participants had significantly lower perceived relevance (mean: 51.3, 59.2, and 62.1 for topics ≤5 years old, 6-15 years old, and >20 years old, respectively; P < .001) and confidence (mean: 48.4, 57.8, and 63.4, respectively; P < .001) with questions on newer literature compared with older literature. Participants were significantly more likely to read question explanations for questions on common modalities compared with uncommon (46% versus 40%; P = .005) and on guideline-based questions compared with knowledge-based questions (49% versus 43%; P = .01).
OLA-type questions function by identifying areas in which radiologists lack knowledge or confidence and highlight areas in which participants have interest in further education.
A 38-year-old male recently diagnosed with acute on chronic rhinosinusitis and orbital cellulitis presented with a right painful infraorbital mass and swelling. Fine needle aspiration of the mass ...demonstrated atypical lymphoid infiltrate highly suggestive of lymphoma. Flow cytometry and immunophenotypic analysis detected an abnormal lymphocytic population characterized by positive CD20, CD38, and CD10, however, the CD19 marker was negative. Whole-body positron emission tomography showed a sizeable hypermetabolic mass centered at the right maxillary sinus, extending into the right orbit, and several hypermetabolic lymph nodes in the right neck. A diagnosis of high-grade CD19-negative DLBCL was made and the patient was initiated on R-HyperCVAD (Rituximab- cyclophosphamide, vincristine, Adriamycin, dexamethasone) chemotherapy protocol.The diagnosis of paranasal lymphoma may remain elusive for months leading to delays in treatment, thus a high index of suspicion is warranted. The loss of CD19 expression in DLBCL represents a diagnostic challenge because this surface marker is widely used to gate the B cells for immunophenotyping and flow cytometry analysis. It also leads to therapeutic limitations to CD19 targeting therapies.
Abstract
Extraosseous Ewing’s sarcoma (EES), first described in 1969, is a malignant mesenchymal tumor just like its intraosseous counterpart. Although Ewing’s sarcomas are common bone tumors in ...young children, EESs are rarer and more commonly found in older children/adults, often carrying a poorer prognosis. We discuss the multimodality imaging features of EES and the differential diagnosis of an aggressive appearing mass in proximity to skeletal structures, with pathologic correlates. This review highlights the need to recognize the variability of radiologic findings in EES such as the presence of hemorrhage, rich vascularity, and cystic or necrotic regions and its imaging similarity to other neoplasms that are closely related pathologically.
Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder that predisposes patients to cutaneous tumors, pulmonary cysts with recurrent spontaneous pneumothoraces, and a variety of renal ...neoplasms including hybrid oncocytic and chromophobe renal cell carcinomas. There has been much debate regarding the genetic link with the occurrence of colorectal cancer and other colonic anomalies. Associations between BHD and intestinal adenomatous polyposis and sigmoid diverticulosis have been described in the literature, but there have been no prior reports of appendiceal diverticulosis in patients with BHD. Here, we present a 40-year-old female patient with a known family history of BHD, who was found to have diverticulosis of the appendix and pulmonary blebs on computed tomography upon routine screening for renal and pulmonary abnormalities, suggesting additional focus be given to the gastrointestinal tract (including the appendix) at the time of CT assessment.
Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with intracranial hypertension (ICHTN). The Rotterdam CT score (RS) can predict clinical outcomes following TBI, but the relationship between the RS ...and ICHTN is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical and radiological factors that predict ICHTN in patients with severe TBI.
The authors performed a single-center retrospective review of patients who, between 2018 and 2021, had an intracranial pressure (ICP) monitor placed following TBI. Radiological and clinical characteristics related to the TBI and ICP monitoring were collected. The main outcome of interest was ICHTN, which was a dichotomous outcome (yes or no) defined on a per-patient basis as an ICP > 22 mm Hg that persisted for at least 5 minutes and required an escalation of treatment. ICHTN included both elevated opening pressure on initial monitor placement and ICP elevations later during hospitalization. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine variables associated with ICHTN. Diagnostic accuracy was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC).
Seventy patients with severe TBI and an ICP monitor were included in this study. There was a predominance of male patients (94.0%), and the mean patient age was 40 years old. Most patients (67%) had an intraparenchymal catheter placed, whereas 33% of patients had a ventriculostomy catheter placed. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the RS was an independent predictor of ICHTN (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2-3.5, p = 0.014). No instances of ICHTN were observed in patients with an RS of 2 or less and no sulcal effacement. The AUROC of the RS and sulcal effacement was higher than the AUROC of the RS alone for predicting ICHTN (0.76 vs 0.71, p = 0.003, z-test).
The RS was predictive of ICHTN in patients with severe TBI, and the diagnostic accuracy of the model was improved with the inclusion of sulcal effacement at the vertex on CT of the head. Patients with a low RS and no sulcal effacement are likely at low risk for the development of ICHTN.
The spaces in which drug use occurs constitutes a key aspect of the “risk environment” of people who inject drugs (PWID). We aimed to add nuance to the characterization of “safe” and “unsafe” spaces ...in PWID’s environments to further understand how these spaces amplify the risk of morbidities associated with injection drug use. PWID were recruited through the Baltimore City syringe service program and through peer referral. Participants completed a socio-behavioral survey. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify associations between utilization of public, semi-public and private spaces with arrest, non-fatal overdose, and receptive syringe sharing. The sample of PWID (N = 283) was mostly 45 years and older (54%), male (69%), Black (55%), and heroin users (96%). Compared to PWID who primarily used private settings, the adjusted odds of recent overdose were greater among PWID who mostly used semi-public and public locations to inject drugs. We also found independent associations between arrest and semi-public spaces, and between receptive syringe sharing and public spaces (all p < 0.05). This study highlights the need for safe spaces where PWID can reduce their risk of overdose, likelihood of arrest and blood-borne diseases, and the dual potential of the environment in promoting health and risk.
To assess SARS-CoV-2 outcomes, we matched a municipal COVID-19 registry and clinic rosters from a municipal primary care network containing a large HIV clinic and assessed clinical outcomes by HIV ...status. The risk of severe COVID-19 was higher among people with HIV (PWH, adjusted relative risk = 1.84, 95% confidence interval = 1.05-3.25), while SARS-CoV-2 incidence was lower despite higher testing rates. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaigns should prioritize PWH to prevent severe COVID-19 disease given potentially higher risk.
To assess SARS-CoV-2 outcomes, we matched a municipal COVID-19 registry and clinic rosters from a municipal primary care network containing a large HIV clinic and assessed clinical outcomes by HIV ...status. The risk of severe COVID-19 was higher among people living with HIV (PLWH; adjusted relative risk=1.84, 95% confidence interval=1.05–3.25), while SARS-CoV-2 incidence was lower despite higher testing rates. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaigns should prioritize PLWH to prevent severe COVID-19 disease given potentially higher risk.
Abstract
Background
Recent epidemiological studies have suggested that sexual dimorphism influences treatment response and prognostic outcome in glioblastoma (GBM). To this end, we sought to (i) ...identify distinct sex-specific radiomic phenotypes—from tumor subcompartments (peritumoral edema, enhancing tumor, and necrotic core) using pretreatment MRI scans—that are prognostic of overall survival (OS) in GBMs, and (ii) investigate radiogenomic associations of the MRI-based phenotypes with corresponding transcriptomic data, to identify the signaling pathways that drive sex-specific tumor biology and treatment response in GBM.
Methods
In a retrospective setting, 313 GBM patients (male = 196, female = 117) were curated from multiple institutions for radiomic analysis, where 130 were used for training and independently validated on a cohort of 183 patients. For the radiogenomic analysis, 147 GBM patients (male = 94, female = 53) were used, with 125 patients in training and 22 cases for independent validation.
Results
Cox regression models of radiomic features from gadolinium T1-weighted MRI allowed for developing more precise prognostic models, when trained separately on male and female cohorts. Our radiogenomic analysis revealed higher expression of Laws energy features that capture spots and ripple-like patterns (representative of increased heterogeneity) from the enhancing tumor region, as well as aggressive biological processes of cell adhesion and angiogenesis to be more enriched in the “high-risk” group of poor OS in the male population. In contrast, higher expressions of Laws energy features (which detect levels and edges) from the necrotic core with significant involvement of immune related signaling pathways was observed in the “low-risk” group of the female population.
Conclusions
Sexually dimorphic radiogenomic models could help risk-stratify GBM patients for personalized treatment decisions.
Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is a devastating traumatic neurologic injury with variable prognosis. Although outcomes such as mortality have been described, the time course of neurologic progression is ...poorly understood. We investigated the association between DAI neuroanatomic injury pattern and neurologic recovery timing.
A retrospective review of our institution's trauma registry identified patients diagnosed with DAI from 2017–2021. The neuroradiologist’s review of a head computed tomography scan was used to score DAI severity. In-hospital neurologic examinations were reviewed, and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was calculated for all patients throughout the hospital stay. Categorical variables were analyzed using the Fisher exact test, and continuous variables were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test.
Nineteen DAI patients (grade 1 = 8; grade 2 = 1; grade 3 = 10) were included (mean age 31 years, 79% male). Mean Rotterdam computed tomography score, Injury Severity Scale, and admission GCS were comparable across DAI grades. Mean time in days to follow commands was shorter for those with grade 1 DAI (9.3) compared with grade 2 (17 days) or grade 3 (19 days) DAI (P = 0.02). Throughout hospitalization, patients with grade 1 DAI had higher motor (P = 0.006), eye (P = 0.001), and total GCS (P = 0.011) scores compared with those with grade 2 or 3 DAI. At the time of discharge, total GCS and the frequency of command following was similar across DAI grades.
Patients with grade 1 DAI demonstrated the fastest short-term neurologic recovery, although final discharge neurologic examination was comparable across DAI grades. DAI classification can provide useful short-term prognostic information regarding in-hospital neurologic improvement.
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