Primary tumors and mediastinal lymph nodes after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy of lung cancer: serial CT findings with pathologic correlation

PURPOSE: The purpose of this work was to describe the changes of primary tumor and mediastinal lymph nodes on CT after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy and to correlate the CT findings with pathology. METHOD: Twenty-one consecutive patients [N2 disease (n = 19) or resectable T4 and N2 disease (n = 2)] with non-small cell lung cancer underwent neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Changes of primary tumor and mediastinal nodes before and after the therapy were assessed using CT. The CT findings were correlated with pathologic findings. RESULTS: With neoadjuvant therapy, decrease in T stage was achieved in 9 of 21 (43%) patients on CT. On pathology, the remaining tumor consisted mostly of fibrosis and necrosis with little proportion of viable tumor cells (mean volume 17%, range 0-55%). Decrease in nodal stage was achieved in 14 of 21 (67%) patients on pathologic examination. Seven patients had cancer cells in mediastinal lymph nodes: in 6 of 9 (67%) patients with adenocarcinoma and 1 of 12 (8%) patients with squamous cell carcinoma (p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: With neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy, the remaining tumor consists mostly of fibrosis or necrosis. Decreased nodal stage on pathology is achieved especially in patients with N2 disease of squamous cell carcinoma. The CT findings of the tumor and mediastinal nodes are not helpful in predicting the pathology after the therapy.     

High tibial open wedge osteotomy below the tibial tubercle: clinical and radiographic results

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic results of open wedge HTO below the tubercle for genu varum in relatively young patients.

Methods

Thirty-seven knees in 19 patients with genu varum treated by open wedge HTO below the tubercle between 2001 and 2008 were retrospectively studied. Median follow-up was 36 months (12–108), and median patient age at the time of surgery was 26 years (16–45). Clinical results were evaluated using Lysholm knee scores and Hospital for Special Surgery knee scores. Satisfaction with the results of surgery (0–10 points) was subjectively evaluated using operative scar (1–5 points) and leg shape (1–5 points) results at follow-up. Radiographic evaluations were made using: (1) tibiofemoral angles, (2) mechanical axis deviations, (3) varus-valgus inclinations of the tibial plateau, (4) tibial slopes, and (5) Insall-Savati and (6) Blackburne-Peel ratios.

Results

All but one patient achieved radiographic healing and union at the osteotomy site at an average of 3 months postoperatively. Average Lysholm knee score improved from 89.4 ± 8.7 preoperatively to 98.6 ± 2.5 at final follow-up (P = 0.0001), and mean HSS score improved from 91.1 ± 5.6 preoperatively to 98.5 ± 2.0 at final follow-up (P = 0.0001). Mean patient satisfaction score at final follow-up was 8.6 ± 1.0, and mean tibiofemoral angle increased from ?1.6° preoperatively to 7.7° at final follow-up (P < 0.0001). The point where the mechanical axis crosses the tibial plateau also shifted significantly from 15.0% preoperatively to 50.6% at final follow-up (P = 0.0002). However, mean posterior tibial slope did not change significantly (9.7° preoperatively and 8.7° at final follow-up; P = NS), and neither did patella heights as measured by Insall-Savati and Blackburne-Peel ratios.

Conclusion

Both functional assessment and radiographic measures indicated that HTO below the tibial tubercle leads to significant improvements in radiographic parameters and knee function without changes in patellar height or posterior tibial slope. The results obtained support the hypotheses that opening wedge HTO below the tibial tubercle should be recommended in relatively young patients with genu varum.

Level of evidence

Therapeutic study, Level IV.     

I-MIBG myocardial scintigraphy as a noninvasive screen for the diagnosis of coronary artery spasm

Background. It has been suggested that the sympathetic nervous system might play an important role in the development of coronary artery spasm. However, no cardiac imaging modality has been able to demonstrate abnormal sympathetic innervation in patients with coronary artery spasm. The purpose of this study was to assess the presence and location of abnormal sympathetic innervation using iodine 123-metaiodobenzylguanidine (¹²³I-MIBG) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and to evaluate the clinical efficacy of ¹²³I-MIBG SPECT as a noninvasive screening test in patients with coronary artery spasm.Methods and Results. Coronary arteriography and a provocative test with intravenous administration of ergonovine maleate were performed in 26 patients (20 men, 6 women, mean age 48.2 ± 12.0 years, range 20 to 67 years) who were suspected of having a coronary artery spasm. The subjects were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (n = 18) comprised subjects with a positive provocative test result, and group 2 (n = 8) comprised subjects with negative provocative test results. Ten healthy subjects served as controls. No abnormal MIBG uptake was observed in the control subjects. Abnormal sympathetic nervous innervation using ¹²³I-MIBG SPECT was observed either as a reduced uptake or a defective pattern in the perfused areas in 13 of the 18 regions supplied by vessels of ergonovine-induced vasospasm. Normal sympathetic innervation, as evidenced by normal ¹²³I-MIBG uptake, was noted in all of the 60 segments of normal vessel territories. Reduced uptake of ¹²³I-MIBG was not detected in the perfused areas of 5 vasospasm-induced vessels (perfusion territory of left anterior descending coronary artery [LAD] and the right coronary artery [RCA] in 2 and 3 patients, respectively). The sensitivity and specificity of ¹²³I-MIBG for detection of coronary artery spasm were 72.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 55 % to 89 %) and 100 %, respectively. The positive predictive and negative predictive values were 100% and 92.3% (95% CI 91% to 93%), respectively.Conclusion. ¹²³I-MIBG SPECT is a feasible method to evaluate noninvasively and localize the territories of coronary arteries with spasm. Invasive diagnostic coronary arteriography with ergonovine provocation test may be unnecessary for diagnosis of coronary artery spasm in patients with typical resting pain, negative exercise test or normal thallium perfusion scan results, but showing abnormalities in ¹²³I-MIBG SPECT.     

123I-MIBG myocardial scintigraphy as a noninvasive screen for the diagnosis of coronary artery spasm

Background  It has been suggested that the sympathetic nervous system might play an important role in the development of coronary artery spasm. However, no cardiac imaging modality has been able to demonstrate abnormal sympathetic innervation in patients with coronary artery spasm. The purpose of this study was to assess the presence and location of abnormal sympathetic innervation using iodine 123-metaiodobenzylguanidine (¹²³I-MIBG) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and to evaluate the clinical efficacy of ¹²³I-MIBG SPECT as a noninvasive screening test in patients with coronary artery spasm. Methods and Results  Coronary arteriography and a provocative test with intravenous administration of ergonovine maleate were performed in 26 patients (20 men, 6 women, mean age 48.2±12.0 years, range 20 to 67 years) who were suspected of having a coronary artery spasm. The subjects were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (n=18) comprised subjects with negative provocative provocative test result, and group 2 (n=8) comprised subjects with negative provocative test results. Ten healthy subjects served as controls. No abnormal MIBG uptake was observed in the control subjects. Abnormal sympathetic nervous innervation using ¹²³I-MIBG SPECT was observed either as a reduced uptake or a defective pattern in the perfused areas in 13 of the 18 regions supplied by vessels of ergonovine-induced vasospasm. Normal sympathetic innervation, as evidenced by normal ¹²³I-MIBG uptake, was noted in all of the 60 segments of normal vessel territories. Reduced uptake of ¹²³I-MIBG was not detected in the perfused areas of 5 vasospasm-induced vessels (perfusion territory of left anterior descending coronary artery [LAD] and the right coronary artery [RCA] in 2 and 3 patients, respectively). The sensitivity and specificity of ¹²³I-MIBG for detection of coronary artery spasm were 72.2% (95% confidence interval, [CI] 55% to 89%) and 100%, respectively. The positive predictive and negative predictive values were 100% and 92.3% (95% CI 91% to 93%), respectively. Conclusion   ¹²³I-MIBG SPECT is a feasible method to evaluate noninvasively and localize the territories of coronary arteries with spasm. Invasive diagnostic coronary arteriography with ergonovine provocation test may be unnecessary for diagnosis of coronary artery spasm in patients with typical resting pain, negative exercise test or normal thallium perfusion scan results, but showing abnormalities in ¹²³I-MIBG SPECT. Presented in part at the European Association of Nuclear Medicine Congress, September 1996, Copenhagen, Denmark.     

Endoscopic Evaluation of the Quality of the Anastomosis After Esophagectomy with Gastric Tube Reconstruction

BACKGROUND: The morbidity and mortality of anastomotic complications after esophagectomy have gradually decreased in recent years. However, swallowing difficulties and reflux continue to burden patients jeopardizing their quality of life. In the present study we performed endoscopic evaluation of the outcomes of esophagogastrostomy by analyzing the presence of anastomotic stenosis and reflux esophagitis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out on 74 patients who underwent esophagogastrostomy after esophagectomy by one surgeon between January 1995 and December 2004. Fifty-three patients had an endoscopic examination during follow-up (29 +/- 23.6 months, range = 5-111 months). Reflux esophagitis and stenosis at the anastomostic site were analyzed according to the surgical technique used and the location of the esophagogastrostomy. RESULTS: The mean age at the time of repair was 60.3 +/- 8.87 (range = 39-81) years. Cervical anastomosis was performed in 26 patients and intrathoracic anastomosis in 27 patients. No significant statistical difference in the frequency of anastomotic stenosis was observed between the two groups (p = 0.829); reflux esophagitis was noted in three patients in the cervical anastomosis group and in 14 patients in the intrathoracic anastomosis group (p = 0.041). For all patients, 23 received a hand-sewn esophagogastric anastomosis and 30 a circular stapled one. There was no significant statistical difference in anastomotic stenosis (p = 0.689) and reflux esophagitis (p = 0.879) in comparisons between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Cervical anastomosis resulted in a better outcome for esophagogastrostomy by lowering the risk of reflux esophagitis; this outcome might improve the patient's quality of life.     

Treatment of completely displaced supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children by cross-fixation with three Kirschner wires.

The authors investigated 63 consecutive patients (average age 6 years 6 months) who underwent cross-fixation with three Kirschner wires after reduction of a completely displaced supracondylar fracture (type 3) of the humerus. All fractures were reduced and fixed by inserting two parallel Kirschner wires in the lateral side, followed by one crossed medial Kirschner wire under fluoroscopic guidance. Lateral pins were inserted in parallel or divergent fashion to ensure stability. With a medial crossed pin insertion, the elbow was carefully extended for easy palpation and protection of the ulnar nerve without displacing the reduced fracture. Skin incision for detection of the ulnar nerve before medial Kirschner wire fixation was not required. There was no iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury caused by the Kirschner wires. The clinical outcome of the surgery after an average of 17 months was investigated: 62 (98.4%) of the 63 patients studied showed a "satisfactory" result. Cross-fixation with three Kirschner wires is considered an effective and safe method for avoiding ulnar nerve injury in the treatment of a completely displaced supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children.     

Femoral bone density changes after total hip arthroplasty with uncemented taper-design stem: a five year follow-up study

We measured bone density (BD) changes to assess adaptive bone remodelling five years after uncemented total hip arthroplasty with taper-design femoral component using quantitative computed-tomography-assisted osteodensitometry (qCT). Nineteen consecutive patients (21 hips) with degenerative joint disease were enrolled in the study. A press-fit cup and a tapered uncemented stem ceramic−ceramic pairing were used in all patients. Serial clinical, radiological and qCT osteodensitometry assessments were performed after the index operation and at the one, two and five year follow-ups. At the latest follow-up, the clinical outcome was rated satisfactory in all hips. The radiological assessment showed signs of osteointegration with stable fixation of all cups and stems. Overall, there was evidence of a BD loss at year five (p = 0.004). We estimate that BD loss was between 2.2% and 12.1% in comparison with baseline postoperative values. Progressive loss of BD in the metaphyseal region was observed in all hips. We found unremarkable BD changes of diaphyseal cortical BD throughout the five year follow-up period. qCT osteodensitometry technology allows differentiation of cortical and cancellous BD changes over time. Periprosthetic BD changes at the five year follow-up are suggestive of stable stem osteointegration with proximal femoral diaphysis load transfer and metaphyseal stress shielding.     

Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors of Early-Onset Tuberculosis After Liver Transplantation

BackgroundWe encountered some cases of early-onset tuberculosis (TB) after liver transplant (LT), leading to further transmission to other immunocompromised patients. Therefore, we investigated the clinical characteristics and risk factors of early-onset TB after LT.MethodsAll adult patients with TB after LT from 1996 to 2019 were retrospectively enrolled. Our hospital did not screen for latent TB infection (LTBI) in LT recipients because of concerns regarding the potential hepatotoxicity of anti-TB medication. Patients were categorized into 2 groups based on the TB onset time after LT: early-onset TB (≤2 months) and late-onset TB (>2 months).ResultsOf 4301 LT recipients, 91 patients developed TB after LT (2.1%). The median time from LT to TB development was 9.4 months. Of these 91 patients, 11 were classified as having early-onset TB (12.1%). Patients with early-onset TB had a greater pretransplant TB history than patients with late-onset TB (36.4% vs 11.3%, P = .048).ConclusionThis unusual early-onset TB was more common in patients with a pretransplant TB history, suggesting the possibility of missed TB or full manifestation of the indolent course of TB after LT. Therefore, LT recipients with a pretransplant TB history should undergo thorough screening for active TB and consider prophylaxis.