Detection of Individual Prostate Cancer Foci via Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background

Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) undoubtedly affects the diagnosis and treatment of localized prostate cancer (CaP). However, clinicians need a better understanding of its accuracy and limitations in detecting individual CaP foci to optimize management.

The Impact of Covert Lacunar Infarcts and White Matter Hyperintensities on Cognitive and Motor Outcomes After Stroke

Background and Aims

In addition to overt stroke lesions, co-occurring covert lesions, including white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and covert lacunar infarcts (CLI), contribute to poststroke outcome. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between covert lesions, and motor and cognitive outcomes in individuals with chronic stroke.

Imaging update on soft tissue sarcoma

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare tumours presenting as soft tissue lumps. Ultrasound is often the primary modality for the initial assessment, with MRI the mainstay for lesion characterisation. PET/CT along with other emerging MRI sequences are used in certain situations as an adjunct and problem solving tool in STS staging and assessment of disease recurrence. Recent advances include the promise of whole body MRI, hybrid PET/MRI, diffusion weighted imaging, dynamic contrast enhanced MRI and advances in artificial intelligence. This article discusses current concepts in extremity STS imaging and highlights recent advances.     

Preoperative tendon retraction,not smoking,is a risk factor for failure with continuity after rotator cuff repair

BackgroundSmoking is a poor prognostic factor for healing after rotator cuff repair and is associated with inferior results. We hypothesized that smokers would have higher recurrent tear rates and more postoperative myotendinous junction (MTJ) retraction in healed repairs than nonsmokers three months postoperatively.MethodsRotator cuff repairs (RCRs) were retrospectively reviewed over a 2-year period. Patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within 6 months prior to surgery and again at 3 months postoperatively. Seventy-nine patients were included and stratified by smokers versus nonsmokers. Baseline patient demographics, tear characteristics, and surgical factors were collected. Preoperative and postoperative MRIs were assessed to quantify the MTJ position and to establish the recurrent tear rate.ResultsFor the total cohort (nonsmokers, n = 56; smokers, n = 23), significant differences in age, race, and traumatic onset of injury existed between groups. There were no significant differences in recurrent tear between smokers (26%) and nonsmokers (27%), but nonsmokers were more satisfied. For patients with healed RCRs (nonsmokers, n = 41; smokers, n = 17), there were significant differences in race. On univariate analysis, nonsmokers had a significantly more lateral MTJ postoperatively (P = 0.05). On multivariable regression analysis, medialized postoperative MTJ position in healed cuffs was driven only by greater preoperative rotator cuff retraction preoperatively. There were no significant differences in MTJ position based on smoking status for patients with healed RCRs.ConclusionSmoking does not appear to be an independent risk factor for postoperative MTJ retraction in healed RCRs, also known as failure in continuity. Preoperative tear size and retraction play the biggest roles in predicting postoperative MTJ position, regardless of smoking status. There are no significant differences in patient-reported outcomes for patients with healed RCRs, but nonsmokers had more satisfaction following RCR in the total cohort.Level of EvidenceLevel III; Retrospective cohort study; Diagnostic study     

Day-to-day variability in motor threshold during rTMS treatment for depression: Clinical implications

BackgroundWhen repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is used to treat medication refractory depression, the treatment pulse intensity is individualized according to motor threshold (MT). This measure is often acquired only on the first day of treatment, as per the protocol currently approved by Food and Drug Administration.ObjectiveHere, we aimed to assess daily MT variability across an rTMS treatment course and simulate the effects of different schedules of MT assessment on treatment intensity.MethodsWe conducted a naturalistic retrospective study with 374 patients from a therapeutic rTMS program for depression that measures MT daily.ResultsFor each patient, in almost half the TMS sessions, MT varied on average more than 5% as compared to the baseline MT acquired in the first treatment day. Such variability was only minimally impacted by having different TMS technicians acquiring MT in different days. In a smaller cohort of healthy individuals, we confirmed that the motor hotspot localization method, a critical step for accurate MT assessment, was stable in different days, arguing that daily MT variability reflects physiological variability, rather than an artifact of measurement error. Finally, in simulations of the effect of one-time MT measurement, we found that half of sessions would have been 5% or more above or below target intensity, with almost 5% of sessions 25% above target intensity. The simulated effects of weekly MT measurements were significantly improved.ConclusionsIn conclusion, MT varies significantly across days, not fully dependent on methods of MT acquisition. This finding may have important implications for therapeutic rTMS practice regarding safety and suggests that regular MT assessments, daily or at least weekly, would ameliorate the effect.     

Large-scale analysis of interindividual variability in single and paired-pulse TMS data

ObjectiveThis study brought together over 60 transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) researchers to create the largest known sample of individual participant single and paired-pulse TMS data to date, enabling a more comprehensive evaluation of factors driving response variability.MethodsAuthors of previously published studies were contacted and asked to share deidentified individual TMS data. Mixed-effects regression investigated a range of individual and study level variables for their contribution to variability in response to single and paired-pulse TMS data.Results687 healthy participant’s data were pooled across 35 studies. Target muscle, pulse waveform, neuronavigation use, and TMS machine significantly predicted an individual’s single-pulse TMS amplitude. Baseline motor evoked potential amplitude, motor cortex hemisphere, and motor threshold (MT) significantly predicted short-interval intracortical inhibition response. Baseline motor evoked potential amplitude, test stimulus intensity, interstimulus interval, and MT significantly predicted intracortical facilitation response. Age, hemisphere, and TMS machine significantly predicted MT.ConclusionsThis large-scale analysis has identified a number of factors influencing participants’ responses to single and paired-pulse TMS. We provide specific recommendations to minimise interindividual variability in single and paired-pulse TMS data.SignificanceThis study has used large-scale analyses to give clarity to factors driving variance in TMS data. We hope that this ongoing collaborative approach will increase standardisation of methods and thus the utility of single and paired-pulse TMS.     

Extensor hallucis longus muscle contracture after distal tibial physeal injury: A report of two cases

Few studies have reported about isolated contracture in the extensor hallucis longus (EHL) muscle, but none of the EHL muscle contracture after distal tibial physeal injury. Two such cases in 16- and 14-year-old boys who underwent surgeries for distal physeal injury of the tibia at a previous hospital are presented. Extension contracture of the hallux appeared 1–2 months post-surgery. Physical examinations revealed that the extension contracture of the first metatarsophalangeal joint was aggravated in plantar flexion of the ankle due to a tenodesis effect, and magnetic resonance imaging showed atrophy and signal changes in the anterior compartment muscles. This was diagnosed as EHL muscle contracture due to anterior compartment syndrome (ACS) after distal tibial physeal injury. The EHL tendon transfers were performed in both cases, with favorable short-term results. Therefore, the EHL tendon transfer might be preferable in case of the EHL muscle contracture due to partial ACS.