Lateral Lymph Nodes in Rectal Cancer: Do we all Think the Same? A Review of Multidisciplinary Obstacles and Treatment Recommendations

Lateral lymph nodes in low, locally advanced, rectal cancer have proven implications for local recurrence rates, which increase drastically in the presence of persistently enlarged lateral lymph nodes. These clinical implications warrant a thorough understanding of lateral nodal disease with awareness and knowledge from all three specialties involved – radiology, radiation oncology, and surgery – to ensure proper treatment. Relevant literature for each specialty, including all current guidelines and perspectives, were examined. Variations in definitions and treatment paradigms were evaluated. There is still no consensus for the standardized treatment of lateral nodal disease. Each discipline works according to their own available evidence, but relevant data are scarce. Current international guidelines and standard recommendations for the diagnostics and treatment of lateral lymph nodes are lacking. This results in differing perspectives and interpretations between the disciplines which can lead to challenging communication in an area where multidisciplinary collaboration is essential. This review addresses this by presenting the current evidence, perspectives and practices of each specialty and makes suggestions for each phase of the diagnostic and treatment process for patients with lateral nodal disease. By doing this, steps are taken toward achieving international consensus, and multidisciplinary collaboration.     

Tricuspid valve endocarditis: Cardiovascular imaging evaluation and management

Right-sided infective endocarditis is an increasingly recognized disease entity, with tricuspid valve being most frequently involved. Risk factors for tricuspid valve endocarditis (TVIE) include intravenous drug use, cardiac implantable electronic devices and indwelling catheters. Staphylococcus aureus is the predominant causative organism in TVIE. The diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE) is based on clinical manifestations, blood cultures, and the presence of valvular vegetations detected by echocardiography. Complementary imaging is helpful when there is ongoing clinical suspicion for IE following initially negative echocardiography. Multislice computed tomography allows for assessment of extra-cardiac complications in TVIE, including pulmonary septic emboli. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography and radiolabelled white blood cell, single-photon emission computed tomography provide important clinical information concerning the presence of IE in right-sided prosthetic valves or cardiac implantable electronic devices. The aim of this review is to provide an update on TVIE, discussing the role of multimodality imaging in TVIE and the management of these patients.     

超声心动图诊断左心室射血分数减低的左冠状动脉异常起源于肺动脉的效果分析

目的探讨左心室射血分数（LVEF）减低的左冠状动脉异常起源于肺动脉（ALCAPA）的超声心动图特点及手术效果。 方法选取2008年10月至2018年9月首都医科大学附属北京儿童医院ALCAPA患者28例，根据LVEF分为LVEF减低组（LVEF＜50%）19例和LVEF正常组（LVEF≥50%）9例，比较2组患者超声心动图表现，应用两独立样本t检验比较2组患者间超声参数的差异。手术患者（17例）分别于术后1 d、1个月、6个月、1年进行超声心动图随访，应用配对t检验与术前超声参数进行对比。 结果LVEF减低组患者LVEF为30%~48%，平均年龄5.4个月；LVEF正常组LVEF为60%~73%，平均年龄2.5岁。LVEF减低组与LVEF正常组相比，左心室舒张末期内径大［（131.95±24.24）mm/m² vs（85.67±20.26）mm/m²］，右冠状动脉内径小［（3.06±0.51）mm vs（4.01±0.62）mm］，差异具有统计学意义（t=-4.465、4.075，P均＜0.001），易形成室壁瘤。LVEF减低组中10例行手术治疗，7例超声心动图随访至术后1年；与术前相比，术后1 d开始左心室舒张末期内径逐渐回缩［（109.98±16.06）mm/m²、（99.49±12.02）mm/m²、（89.48±10.90）mm/m²、（80.03±8.09）mm/m² vs（123.26±12.40）mm/m²］，差异具有统计学意义（t=-2.668、-7.519、-5.413、-6.526，P=0.004、0.001、0.012、0.007），LVEF术后1个月开始恢复，术后6个月达正常水平［（45.50±9.57）%、（66.25±10.34）%、（67.25±4.50）% vs（38.83±7.05）%］，差异具有统计学意义（t=3.162、3.683、5.869，P=0.025、0.014、0.002）。 结论LVEF减低的ALCAPA患儿年龄小、心脏病变重，超声心动图可以准确作出诊断，但需要与心内膜弹力纤维增生症、扩张型心肌病相鉴别。ALCAPA手术治疗远期效果较好，超声心动图在术后随访中有重要作用。     

斑点追踪分层应变技术评价蒽环类药物化疗患者早期心肌毒性

目的 本研究采用二维斑点追踪显像技术（2D-STI）评价使用蒽环类化疗药物患者左室收缩功能及左室收缩同步性，探讨2D-STI在评价蒽环类药物化疗早期心肌毒性中的应用价值。方法 选取我院诊断为乳腺癌的女性患者40例，所有患者均接受表柔比星化疗。分别在化疗前（T0）、第一周期及第二周期化疗后（T1、T2）进行二维超声心动图检查，用EchoPAC软件分析蒽环类药物化疗患者左室心肌内膜、心肌外膜、整体纵向应变（EndoGLS、EpiGLS、GLS）、环向应变（EndoGCS、EpiGCS、GCS）及左室整体径向应变（GRS）；获取纵向、环向及径向整体达峰时间标准差（Tssl-SD、Tssc-SD，Tssr-SD）及纵向、环向及径向达峰时间最大差值（Tssl-Dif、Tssc-Dif、Tssr-Dif），获取纵向、环向及径向延迟指数（LSDI、CSDI、RSDI）。结果 与T0周期相比，GLS、endoGLS及endoGCS在T2周期化疗后的变化有统计学意义（p2均＜0.05）；与T0周期相比，患者Tssl-SD及LSDI 在T2周期化疗后的变化有统计学意义（p2均＜0.05）。结论 2D-STI技术获取的分层应变参数及同步性参数可以准确分析蒽环类药物化疗患者早期心肌收缩功能的损伤及室壁运动协调性的损伤，能够敏感发现蒽环类药物化疗后的早期心肌毒性表现。