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The radiation-attenuated Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites (PfSPZ) Vaccine has demonstrated safety and immunogenicity in 5-month-old to 50-year-old Africans in multiple trials. Except for one, each trial has restricted enrollment to either infants and children or adults < 50 years old. This trial was conducted in Equatorial Guinea and assessed the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of three direct venous inoculations of 1.8 × 106 or 2.7 × 106 PfSPZ, of PfSPZ Vaccine, or normal saline administered at 8-week intervals in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial stratified by age (6–11 months and 1–5, 6–10, 11–17, 18–35, and 36–61 years). All doses were successfully administered. In all, 192/207 injections (93%) in those aged 6–61 years were rated as causing no or mild pain. There were no significant differences in solicited adverse events (AEs) between vaccinees and controls in any age group (P ≥ 0.17). There were no significant differences between vaccinees and controls with respect to the rates or severity of unsolicited AEs or laboratory abnormalities. Development of antibodies to P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein occurred in 67/69 vaccinees (97%) and 0/15 controls. Median antibody levels were highest in infants and 1–5-year-olds and declined progressively with age. Antibody responses in children were greater than in adults protected against controlled human malaria infection. Robust immunogenicity, combined with a benign AE profile, indicates children are an ideal target for immunization with PfSPZ Vaccine.

Most head and neck paragangliomas (PGLs) are biochemically silent and often present with recurrence and metastases in association with hereditary syndromes. Whole-body functional imaging is increasingly used to detect tumor extent and guide treatment planning of PGLs. [68Ga]-DOTATATE, which targets somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) overexpression, has emerged as a sensitive functional imaging modality in PGLs. We present a patient with metastatic glomus caroticum PGL in whom [68Ga]-DOTATATE PET/MRI provided a more accurate characterization of metastatic extent, as compared to gadolinium-enhanced MRI of the neck and whole body [18F]-FDG PET/CT. We then review the current literature and discuss the imaging implications of [68Ga]-DOTATATE PET/MRI in PGLs.

To assess the reliability of measuring diffusivity, diffusional kurtosis, and cellular-interstitial water exchange time with long diffusion times (100-800 ms) using stimulated-echo DWI.Time-dependent diffusion MRI was tested on two well-established diffusion phantoms and in 5 patients with head and neck cancer. Measurements were conducted using an in-house diffusion-weighted STEAM-EPI pulse sequence with multiple diffusion times at a fixed TE on three scanners. We used the weighted linear least-squares fit method to estimate time-dependent diffusivity,Diffusivity measured by time-dependent STEAM-EPI measurements and commercial SE-EPI showed comparable results with RBased on two well-established diffusion phantoms, we found that time-dependent diffusion MRI measurements can provide stable diffusion and kurtosis values over a wide range of diffusion times and across multiple MRI systems. Moreover, estimation of cellular-interstitial water exchange time can be achieved using the Kärger model for the metastatic lymph nodes in patients with head and neck cancer.

The incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has increased over the years in the Western hemisphere. There are an estimated 56,000 cases of renal cancers which are diagnosed and 13,000 deaths which occur yearly in the United States. Up to 20–40% of patients may develop metastases after radical nephrectomy, and therefore monitoring with imaging for recurrent or metastatic disease is critical. Imaging varies with each specific suspected site of disease with CT/MRI of the abdomen and pelvis being the mainstay modalities, and osseous and central nervous system imaging is reserved for only symptomatic patients. Radiologic reporting is also evolving to reflect effects of systemic therapy on lesion morphology. For monitoring systemic treatment of metastatic lesions, some studies suggest imaging interpretation may be better tailored to cytostatic agents’ effects by addressing markers of vascularity rather than size criteria alone. In the future, nuclear medicine studies may compliment routine imaging as newer agents such as PSMA are evaluated for more accurate tumor staging. Imaging research continually aims to fill gaps in treatment selection and monitoring of treatment response in metastatic RCC.

Diffuse leukoencephalopathy and juxtacortical and/or callosal microhemorrhages were brain imaging features in critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been reported in association with a variety of brain imaging findings such as ischemic infarct, hemorrhage, and acute hemorrhagic necrotizing encephalopathy. Herein, the authors report brain imaging features in 11 critically ill patients with COVID-19 with persistently diminished mental status who underwent MRI between April 5 and April 25, 2020. These imaging features include (a) confluent T2 hyperintensity and mild restricted diffusion in bilateral supratentorial deep and subcortical white matter (in 10 of 11 patients) and (b) multiple punctate microhemorrhages in juxtacortical and callosal white matter (in seven of 11 patients). The authors also discuss potential pathogeneses. © RSNA, 2020 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

IMPORTANCE: Genomic classifiers were developed to better guide clinicians in the treatment of indeterminate thyroid nodules (ITNs). To our knowledge, whether there is variation in the diagnostic accuracy of these tests depending on ITN size has not been previously studied. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the diagnostic performance of a genomic classifier in relation to ITN size. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A case series study with medical records review was conducted including all patients with a cytologic diagnosis of ITN managed with genomic classifier testing and surgery from January 2015 to December 2018 at NYU Langone Health. Demographics, ITN characteristics, genomic profiles, treatment, and final pathologic findings were recorded. Data analysis was conducted from March to April 2021. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary aim was to assess the positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), sensitivity, and specificity of a genomic classifier test (ThyroSeq) in relation to ITN size (4 cm). The secondary aim was to investigate the risk of cancer associated with genetic signatures. RESULTS: Of the 212 patients with 218 ITNs, 158 (74.5%) were women; median (SD) age was 49 (15.6) years. Genomic classifier results were positive in 173 ITNs (79.4%) treated with surgery. In this group of 173 positive ITNs, 46 (26.6%) were malignant on final pathologic testing. Overall, the observed cancer prevalence in the population was 23.9% (52 ITNs). In 45 ITNs that underwent surgery despite a negative genomic classifier interpretation, 6 (13.3%) were malignant. The PPV of a positive test was 27% and the NPV was 87%. The PPV and NPV findings improved as the ITN size increased (4 cm [n = 33]: PPV, 50%; NPV, 89%). Test specificity was higher in larger ITNs (4 cm: 40%; P = .01). Isolated RAS sequence variations were the most common variant identified in malignant nodules (11 [21.1%] of all ITNs), followed by BRAF variants (7 [13.5%] of all ITNs). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this case series, the performance of the ThyroSeq test improved for larger ITNs. The risk of cancer in large ITNs with negative test results was low. These data suggest that, in genomic classifier–negative ITNs larger than 4 cm, initial management of thyroid lobectomy may be sufficient.

BACKGROUND While most meningiomas are considered benign tumors, a subset of these tumors are characterized by a more aggressive clinical course and require multimodal treatment. Beyond surgical and radiotherapeutic options, there are no effective medical treatments available. Somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) is expressed by the majority of meningiomas. 177Lu-DOTATATE is a SSTR2-targeting radionuclide that has been successful in neuroendocrine tumors. Here we report the results of the interim analysis of an ongoing clinical trial (NCT03971461) that is evaluating the effect of 177Lu-DOTATATE in treating progressive intracranial meningiomas. METHODS In this Simon two-stage design phase II study, adults with advanced intracranial meningiomas received 177Lu-DOTATATE 7.4 GBq (200 mCi) every eight weeks for four doses. 68Ga-DOTATATE PET-MRI was performed before and at the end of treatment. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival at 6 months (PFS-6). Correlative studies evaluated the association of PFS-6, objective response rate, progression-free survival, overall survival with radiographic tumor measurements, 68Ga-DOTATATE uptake on PET-MRI, SSTR2 expression in tumor, and meningioma methylation subclass. RESULTS Fourteen patients (F = 11, M = 3) with progressive meningiomas (WHO I = 3, II = 10, III = 1) have been enrolled. Median age was 63.1 (range 49-78) years. All patients previously underwent tumor resection and at least one course of radiation. Treatment with 177Lu-DOTATATE was well tolerated, no treatment-limiting toxicities were observed. Six of 14 patients (42%) achieved PFS-6. Radiographically, all six patients had achieved Stable Disease. A functional alteration of tumoral SSTR2 expression by 68Ga-DOTATATE PET-MR imaging was observed in three patients. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with SSTR2-targeting 177Lu-DOTATATE is well tolerated. In this interim analysis, six of 14 patients achieved PFS-6. This exceeds the predefined threshold to continue to stage two of this study. This clinical trial is now open to patient enrollment at two study sites in the US.

Objective Pituitary carcinoma is a rare tumor, defined as a tumor of adenohypophyseal cells with systemic or craniospinal metastasis. We present a case of a growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary carcinoma with a review of literature to better characterize this disease. Design Case report and literature review of 25 cases of GH-secreting pituitary carcinomas Results The age of diagnosis of GH-secreting carcinomas ranged 24–69 years old with a mean age of 44.4 with 52% of cases present in females. Mean latency period between diagnosis of acromegaly and transition to pituitary carcinoma was 11.4 years with mean survival being 3.4 years. Conclusion Growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary carcinomas are rare and hard to distinguish from aggressive pituitary adenomas. From review of literature, treatment options include debulking surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy with dismal outcomes. There are no diagnostic markers or features which can predict metastatic progression of these tumors. Future studies with genomic landscapes and relevant tumor markers are needed to identify pituitary tumors most likely to metastasize.

Objectives: To examine the frequency in which angled endoscopes are necessary to visualize the true maxillary ostium (TMO) following uncinectomy and prior to maxillary antrostomy. Additionally, to identify preoperative computed tomography (CT) measures that predict need for an angled endoscope to visualize the TMO. Study Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Tertiary academic hospital. Patients and Methods: Patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) between December of 2017 and August of 2018 were retrospectively identified. Cases were reviewed if they were primary ESS cases for chronic rhinosinusitis without polyposis and if they were at least 18 years of age. Results: Sixty-three maxillary antrostomies were reviewed (82.5% were from bilateral cases). Thirty-five cases (55.6%) required an angled endoscope in order to visualize the TMO. Of the preoperative CT measures examined, a smaller sphenoid keel-caudal septum-nasolacrimal duct (SK-CS-NL) angle was significantly associated with need for an angled endoscope intraoperatively to visualize the TMO (17.1° SD ± 3.2 vs 15.0° SD ± 2.9; P = .010). Conclusion: Angled endoscopes are likely required in the majority of maxillary antrostomies to visualize the TMO. This is important to recognize in order to prevent iatrogenic recirculation. The SK-CS-NL angle may help to identify cases preoperatively which require an angled endoscope to identify the TMO during surgery.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a serious public health crisis and can have neurologic manifestations. This is a retrospective observational case series performed March 1-31, 2020, at New York University Langone Medical Center campuses. Clinical and imaging data were extracted, reviewed, and analyzed. Two hundred forty-two patients with COVID-19 underwent CT or MRI of the brain within 2 weeks after the positive result of viral testing (mean age, 68.7 ± 16.5 years; 150 men/92 women [62.0%/38.0%]). The 3 most common indications for imaging were altered mental status (42.1%), syncope/fall (32.6%), and focal neurologic deficit (12.4%). The most common imaging findings were nonspecific white matter microangiopathy (134/55.4%), chronic infarct (47/19.4%), acute or subacute ischemic infarct (13/5.4%), and acute hemorrhage (11/4.5%). No patients imaged for altered mental status demonstrated acute ischemic infarct or acute hemorrhage. White matter microangiopathy was associated with higher 2-week mortality (P < .001). Our data suggest that in the absence of a focal neurologic deficit, brain imaging in patients with early COVID-19 with altered mental status may not be revealing.

The cavernous sinus is a complex structure susceptible to a wide variety of vascular, neoplastic and inflammatory pathologies. Vascular pathologies include ICA aneurysms, carotid-cavernous fistulas, cavernous sinus thrombosis, and cavernous hemangioma. Neoplasms that involve the cavernous sinus include pituitary adenoma, meningioma, schwannoma, lymphoma, perineural tumor spread, metastases, and direct tumor invasion. Infectious and inflammatory diseases include Tolosa-Hunt syndrome, sarcoidosis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, IgG-4 related disease and invasive fungal infections. In this article, we review the clinical and imaging findings of a number of pathologies involving the cavernous sinus, focusing on key features that can narrow the differential diagnosis and, in some cases, support a particular diagnosis.

BACKGROUND Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial neoplasm. Once surgical and radiotherapeutic options are exhausted, there are no effective medical treatments available. A majority of meningiomas express somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2), representing a promising treatment target. 177Lu-DOTATATE is a SSTR2-targeting radionuclide that has been successful in SSTR2-expressing neuroendocrine tumors. Here we hypothesize that 177Lu-DOTATATE is effective in treating progressive intracranial meningiomas. METHODS In this ongoing phase II study (NCT03971461), adults with advanced intracranial meningiomas received 177Lu-DOTATATE 7.4 GBq (200 mCi) every 8 weeks for 4 doses. 68Ga-DOTATATE PET-MRI was obtained before and at the end of treatment (EOT). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival at 6 months (PFS-6). Correlative studies evaluated the association of PFS-6, objective response rate, progression-free survival, overall survival with radiographic tumor measurements, 68Ga-DOTATATE uptake on PET-MRI, SSTR2 expression in tumor, and meningioma methylation subclass. RESULTS Nine patients (F = 7, M = 2) with progressive meningiomas (WHO I = 2, II = 6, III = 1) have been enrolled. Median age was 63 (range 49–78) years. All patients previously underwent tumor resection and at least one course of radiation. Treatment with 177Lu-DOTATATE was well tolerated, although CTCAE grade 3/4 electrolyte derangements and cytopenias were observed. Six patients reached PFS-6, three patients experienced progressive disease. Four patients had EOT 68Ga-DOTATATE PET-MRI evaluations in which anatomic measurements and 68Ga-DOTATATE standardized uptake values (SUV) pre- and post-treatment were assessed: one patient had reduced SUV measurements in all target lesions indicating altered SSTR2 expression and functional treatment response, one patient had stable disease, one patient had a mixed treatment response, and one patient experienced progressive disease. CONCLUSIONS SSTR2-targeting 177Lu-DOTATATE represents a promising treatment option for patients with progressive intracranial meningiomas. Treatment is well tolerated and can lead to functional alteration of tumoral SSTR2 expression by 68Ga-DOTATATE PET-MR imaging.

PURPOSE To evaluate quantitatively the relationship between the displacement of anterior visual pathway structures by pituitary tumors and visual field damage with the goal of improving diagnosis and management. METHODS Subjects had pituitary macroadenomas and both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and static perimetry. Neuroradiologists measured the displacement of anterior visual pathway structures and right-left tumor asymmetry. To quantify the degree and laterality of visual field loss, we used algorithms from the neurologic hemifield test to analyze each right-left pair of visual fields with respect to temporal asymmetry, the proportion of loss that was temporal, total asymmetry, and total damage. We compared these metrics with the displacement of anterior visual pathway structures and tumor asymmetry. RESULTS Of 114 subjects, 64 (56%) were male and the median age was 57 years (range, 14-88). The summation of vision loss in both eyes and the proportion of temporal loss were statistically significantly related to the maximum displacement of the anterior visual pathway (both P < 0.001 for fit of linear regression). The relationship between the asymmetry of visual field loss in the two eyes and the subjective assignment of tumor asymmetry on MRI did not achieve statistical significance (P = 0.06 by analysis of variance). CONCLUSIONS Displacement of the anterior visual pathway by pituitary tumors is associated with both the total amount of visual field loss and the proportion of temporal visual field loss. Although there was right-left asymmetry of vision loss in some subjects, it was not related to the subjective assessment of tumor asymmetry.

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that bitemporal hemianopsia (BHA) is the most common visual field (VF) defect in patients with pituitary macroadenoma and to assess the degree of optic pathway compression necessary to produce visual defects.We reviewed the MRI findings and medical records of 119 patients with pituitary macroadenoma who had undergone formal assessment of VFs. We then evaluated the degree of optic pathway displacement caused by the pituitary macroadenoma, as observed on MR images. The classifications of optic pathway displacement included no contact, abutment but no displacement, mild displacement (3 mm), and moderate displacement (≥ 3 mm). Qualitative analysis classified VFs as normal or as having defects that were monocular, bitemporal, mixed (bitemporal with additional defects), homonymous, or nonspecific.A total of 89 of 115 patients had an abnormal VF. Only one patient had true BHA. The most common defects were bitemporal or mixed defects (in 49 of 115 patients [42.6%]), likely because more than just the chiasm is often compressed by the pituitary macroadenoma. Classification of optic pathway displacement by the pituitary macroadenoma was as follows: 23 patients had no contact, eight had abutment but no displacement, 27 had mild displacement, and 57 had moderate displacement. In 78 of the 92 patients (84.8%) with pituitary macroadenoma that had contact with the optic pathway, contact was with the optic chiasm and the prechiasmal optic nerve. Of the 49 patients with bitemporal or mixed defects, 42 had moderate displacement of the optic pathway caused by their tumors.BHA is exceedingly uncommon in patients with pituitary macroadenoma. However, although bitemporal and mixed defects are the most common abnormal VF findings, they were found in only 42.6% of patients. Such defects rarely occur if the tumor displaces the optic pathway less than 3 mm from baseline.

Objective:To compare the rate of abnormal brain metabolism by FDG-PET/CT to other paraclinical findings and to describe brain metabolism patterns in autoimmune encephalitis (AE).Methods:A retrospective review of clinical data and initial dedicated brain FDG-PET/CT studies for neurology inpatients with AE, per consensus criteria, treated at a single tertiary center over 123 months. Z-score maps of FDG-PET/CT were made using 3-dimensional stereotactic surface projections with comparison to age group–matched controls. Brain region mean Z-scores with magnitudes ≥2.00 were interpreted as significant. Comparisons were made to rates of abnormal initial brain MRI, abnormal initial EEG, and presence of intrathecal inflammation.Results:Sixty-one patients with AE (32 seropositive) underwent brain FDG-PET/CT at median 4 weeks of symptoms (interquartile range [IQR] 9 weeks) and median 4 days from MRI (IQR 8.5 days). FDG-PET/CT was abnormal in 52 (85%) patients, with 42 (69%) demonstrating only hypometabolism. Isolated hypermetabolism was demonstrated in 2 (3%) patients. Both hypermetabolic and hypometabolic brain regions were noted in 8 (13%) patients. Nine (15%) patients had normal FDG-PET/CT studies. CSF inflammation was evident in 34/55 (62%) patients, whereas initial EEG (17/56, 30%) and MRI (23/57, 40%) were abnormal in fewer. Detection of 2 or more of these paraclinical findings was in weak agreement with abnormal brain FDG-PET/CT (κ = 0.16, p = 0.02).Conclusions:FDG-PET/CT was more often abnormal than initial EEG, MRI, and CSF studies in neurology inpatients with AE, with brain region hypometabolism the most frequently observed.

WOS: 000404131300017 PubMed: 28079306 Ankle dislocations are orthopedic emergencies that require immediate treatment to avoid neurovascular impairment. They are usually accompanied by one or more comminuted fractures of the ankle mortis. In rare circumstances, such as high-energy trauma, the ankle dislocations may not be accompanied by concomitant malleolar fractures and, thus, are named "pure ankle dislocations". We presented a very rare and interesting case of an open medial dislocation of the ankle without associated fracture in an 18-year-old man with no known predisposing risk factors. The patient was admitted to the emergency department after sustaining a catastrophic trampoline accident resulting in severe inversion of the right ankle. The patient was treated with an external fixator and was mobilized early in the post-surgical course. Despite initial presentation that revealed lack of posterior tibial pulse, the post-surgical course was uneventful, with full functional recovery and joint mobility. The primary goals of treatment are immediate reduction of the joint and relief of neurovascular stress. External fixation is a prompt, fairly easy treatment that one should keep in mind in pure ankle dislocations. Nonetheless, ligamentous restoration and early mobilization were the key elements as seen in our case for full functional recovery.

Neurofibromatosis bright objects (NBOs) are poorly understood. This article aimed to investigate: 1) differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) between NBOs based in gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM), and 2) the relationship between NBOs and the affected white matter tracts. Fourteen NF1 patients were included in this study. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), FA, radial diffusivity (RD) and eigenvalues were used to compare NBOs and matching contralateral normal-appearing sites (NAS). Diffusion tensor imaging scalars were also compared with age-matched healthy controls. Fiber tractography was performed to assess NBO-induced changes in WM trajectories. ADC values were higher for GM and WM NBOs than for NAS and controls. FA values were lower in GM and WM NBOs compared with controls. In all regions, eigenvalues were higher in NBOs than in NAS and controls. Only three out of 18 NOBs appeared to disrupt WM tracts. ADC, Λ2 and RD values of WM NBOs were higher in symptomatic compared to asymptomatic patients. Increased ADC, RD and eigenvalues and decreased FA values in NBOs can be explained by myelin and axonal damage. Increased ADC values and RD in WM NBOs correlated with the presence of symptoms. Tract integrity predominated in our study.

Hypoxic-ischemic injury (HII) continues to be an important cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. In recent years, the role of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has increased by providing early detection to initiate preventive measures and assess the severity of tissue injury, and it often serves as a prognostic indicator. However, because of the subtle findings and temporal variability of signal abnormalities, the imaging diagnosis often remains troublesome, particularly for trainees and general radiologists who do not often encounter these findings. The imaging manifestations between term and preterm infants differ significantly; the imaging findings in term neonates are discussed. Two main patterns of HII have been described in term neonates: peripheral and basal ganglia-thalamus, with the predominant pattern in an affected infant dependent on the duration and severity of the insult. The peripheral pattern occurs in the setting of mild hypoxia or ischemia of prolonged duration, with predominant findings in the cerebral cortex and subcortical white matter along the intervascular boundary zones. The basal ganglia-thalamus pattern is most often secondary to a more severe hypoxic or ischemic event of short duration and manifests with abnormal hyperintensity on T1-weighted images and hypointensity on T2-weighted images in the posterolateral putamen and ventrolateral thalamus. Associated loss of normal hyperintensity on T1-weighted images and hypointensity on T2-weighted images in the posterior limb of the internal capsule may be present. Restricted diffusion and evolution of imaging findings may be seen in each of these regions, depending on when images are obtained. Advanced imaging techniques, including MR spectroscopy, may add valuable information and specificity, with an abnormal lactate peak often serving as an indicator of HII in term neonates.

Vascular leiomyoma is a benign, usually solitary tumor arising from the tunica media of the vein. It can occur anywhere in the body wherever smooth muscle is present. These masses are commonly found in the uterus, urogenital tract and gastrointestinal tract but also less commonly in the extremities. They occur more often in the lower extremities than the upper extremities. Females are more affected than males and are generally seen in the third and fourth decades of life. We present magnetic resonance imaging, and histopathologic features of two pathology proven subcutaneous vascular leiomyomas of the hand and lower leg.

This study investigates the prognostic value of (18)F-FDG PET/CT qualitative therapy assessment (Hopkins criteria) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) with residual neck nodes after definitive chemoradiation therapy and compares the Hopkins criteria with anatomic nodal size and morphologic features for prediction of survival outcomes.A total of 72 patients with HNSCC, with negative primary tumor and positive residual neck nodes (CT criteria1 cm short-axis diameter) after the completion of definitive chemoradiation therapy, were included. PET/CT was performed 6-24 weeks after completion of treatment. FDG uptake in residual nodes on PET/CT was interpreted using a structured qualitative 5-point scale (Hopkins criteria). The 5-point scale was dichotomized to negative (scores 1, 2, and 3) or positive (scores 4 and 5) results. Cystic or necrotic nodes were defined as those with central low attenuation with a relatively hyperdense capsule. Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox regression analysis were performed.On the basis of the Hopkins criteria, 10 (13.9%) patients had positive findings and 62 (86.1%) had negative findings for residual nodal disease. According to CT interpretation, 25 patients (34.7%) had residual cervical lymph nodes greater than or equal to 1.5 cm in diameter, and 41 (56.9%) patients had cystic or necrotic nodes. Patients were followed for a median of 27 months after posttherapy PET/CT. There was a statistically significant difference in overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio, 7.06; p0.001) and progression-free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio, 6.18; p0.001) between patients with negative versus positive residual FDG nodal uptake. There was no statistically significant difference in OS and PFS in patients categorized on the basis of nodal size or morphologic features.PET-based structured qualitative therapy assessment (Hopkins criteria) can predict survival outcomes of patients with HNSCC with residual neck nodes after definitive chemoradiotherapy.

Objective To determine imaging features that may separate adamantinomatous and papillary variants of craniopharyngiomas given that tumors with adamantinomatous signature features are associated with higher recurrence rates, morbidity, and mortality. We specifically reviewed calcification on CT, T1 bright signal intensity, and cystic change on T2 weighted images for differentiating these two types. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the MRI and CT studies in 38 consecutive patients with pathologically proven craniopharyngiomas between January 2004 and February 2014 for the presence of calcification on CT scans, bright signal intensity on T1 weighted images, and cystic change on T2 weighted images. Results Of the 38 craniopharyngiomas, 30 were adamantinomatous type and 8 were papillary type. On CT scans, calcification was present in 25 of 38 tumors. All calcified tumors were adamantinomatous type. Twenty four of 38 tumors had bright signal intensity on T1 weighted images. Of these 24 tumors, 22 (91.7%) were adamantinomatous and 2 were papillary type. Cystic change on T2 weighted images was noted in 37 of 38 tumors; only 1 tumor with papillary type did not show cystic change. Conclusion T1 bright signal intensity and calcification on CT scans uniformly favor the adamantinomatous type over papillary type of craniopharyngioma in children. However, these findings are more variable in adults where calcification and T1 bright signal intensity occur in 70.6% and 58.8% respectively of adult adamantinomatous types of craniopharyngiomas.

Purpose. The objective is to compare lateralizing ability of three quantitative MR (qMRI) modalities to depict changes of hippocampal architecture with clinical entities in temporal lobe epilepsy.Methods. We evaluated 14 patients with clinical and EEG proven diagnosis of unilateral TLE and 15 healthy volunteers. T1-weighted 3D dataset for volumetry, single-voxel1H MR spectroscopy (MRS), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were performed for bilateral hippocampi of all subjects.Results. Individual volumetric measurements provided accurate lateralization in 85% of the patients, spectroscopy in 57%, and DTI in 57%. Higher lateralization ratios were acquired combining volumetry-spectroscopy (85%), spectroscopy-DTI (85%), and volumetry-DTI (100%). Significantly decreased NAA/(Cho+Cr) ratios (p=0.002) and increased FA (p=0.001) values were obtained in ipsilateral to epileptogenic hippocampus. Duration of epilepsy and FA values showed a significant negative correlation (p=0.016,r=-0.847). The history of febrile convulsion associated with ipsilateral increased ADC values (p=0.015,r=0.851) and reduced NAA/(Cho+Cr) ratios (p=0.047,r=-761).Conclusion. Volumetry, MRS, and DTI studies provide complementary information of hippocampal pathology. For lateralization of epileptogenic focus and preoperative examination, volumetry-DTI combination may be indicative of diagnostic accuracy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Sclerosis of the arytenoid cartilage may be seen as an incidental finding in patients who do not have laryngeal cancer but may also be an early sign of neoplastic infiltration. Our purpose was to determine the frequency of asymmetric mineralization, in particular sclerosis, of the arytenoid cartilages on CT scans in adults who have no history of laryngeal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cervical CT scans of 972 consecutive patients seen in our emergency department were retrospectively evaluated. Three hundred twenty-two patients were excluded who were younger than 18 years of age or whose arytenoids could not be reliably seen due to artifacts. Six hundred fifty patients (424 men, 226 women) were assessed, and their arytenoid cartilages were graded as nonmineralized, calcified, sclerotic, or ossified on each side separately. The mean age of patients was 44.3 ± 17.8 years (range, 18–97 years). RESULTS: The frequencies of asymmetric arytenoid cartilage sclerosis, calcification, and ossification were 4.9% (32/650), 4.4% (29/650), and 3.4% (23/650), respectively, with an overall asymmetric mineralization frequency of 12.9% (84/650). Asymmetric sclerosis was more common in women (16/226, 7.1%) than in men (16/424, 3.8%), but the difference was just at statistical significance (P = .05). The rate of unilateral arytenoid sclerosis was 4.6% in all subjects, 6.6% in women, and 3.5% in men. Unilateral sclerosis is much more frequently associated with the left arytenoid than the right. CONCLUSIONS: Asymmetric mineralization of the arytenoid cartilages was seen in 12.9% of our study population. This should be taken into account when evaluating CT scans of patients with laryngeal cancer for arytenoid cartilage invasion to avoid false-positive reads.

Objective:To compare brain metabolism patterns on fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET/CT in anti–NMDA receptor and other definite autoimmune encephalitis (AE) and to assess how these patterns differ between anti–NMDA receptor neurologic disability groups.Methods:Retrospective review of clinical data and initial dedicated brain FDG-PET/CT studies for neurology inpatients with definite AE, per published consensus criteria, treated at a single academic medical center over a 10-year period. Z-score maps of FDG-PET/CT were made using 3-dimensional stereotactic surface projections in comparison to age group–matched controls. Brain region mean Z scores with magnitudes ≥2.00 were interpreted as significant. Comparisons were made between anti–NMDA receptor and other definite AE patients as well as among patients with anti–NMDA receptor based on modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at the time of FDG-PET/CT.Results:The medial occipital lobes were markedly hypometabolic in 6 of 8 patients with anti–NMDA receptor encephalitis and as a group (Z = −4.02, interquartile range [IQR] 2.14) relative to those with definite AE (Z = −2.32, 1.46; p = 0.004). Among patients with anti–NMDA receptor encephalitis, the lateral and medial occipital lobes were markedly hypometabolic for patients with mRS 4–5 (lateral occipital lobe Z = −3.69, IQR 1; medial occipital lobe Z = −4.08, 1) compared with those with mRS 0–3 (lateral occipital lobe Z = −0.83, 2; p < 0.0005; medial occipital lobe Z = −1.07, 2; p = 0.001).Conclusions:Marked medial occipital lobe hypometabolism by dedicated brain FDG-PET/CT may serve as an early biomarker for discriminating anti–NMDA receptor encephalitis from other AE. Resolution of lateral and medial occipital hypometabolism may correlate with improved neurologic status in anti–NMDA receptor encephalitis.

The aim of this study was to determine various imaging features of intraosseous meningiomas (IOMs) and differentiate low-grade from high-grade tumors. The histopathologic evaluation revealed World Health Organization (WHO) grade I tumor in 56 (86%) patients, grade II in 8 (12%), and grade III in 1 (2%) patient. WHO grade I was considered low grade and II and III were designated as high grade. Hyperostosis was observed most commonly in low-grade IOMs. Mixed hyperostotic/lytic pattern with radial bony spiculations and presence of a scalp mass seem to be more frequently associated with higher-grade IOMs.

Implantation of a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) is one option for pain control in individuals with chronic lumbosacral radicular or axial lumbar pain. The expected positioning of SCSs based on the location of pain, the types of electrodes (percutaneous vs surgical paddle), and the types of electrode arrays and the potential complications have not been described to date in the radiology literature.A 5-year retrospective review of the radiology information system at our institution revealed 24 patients with images of 36 SCSs. Those images were reviewed to identify the location and type of electrodes as well as the location of the lead within the spinal canal. Not all implantable pulse generators were within the radiologic field of view. Complications identified by reviewing medical records were correlated with imaging findings.Fourteen different types of electrodes were identified. Most were placed in the thoracic spine only, but six thoracolumbar and two cervical spine electrodes were also present. We measured the position of the electrodes within the spinal canal on 26 CT studies of the 24 patients. On 22 of 26 CT studies, the electrodes were placed in the epidural space in the posterior one third of the spinal canal. Complications included misplaced, retained, and broken leads; puncture of the thecal sac; infection; and hematoma.Radiologists should be familiar with the different types of electrodes and typical spinal locations of electrodes, leads, and implantable pulse generators. Improper placement of electrodes may lead to ineffective pain relief or to other complications.

Intracranial hypotension syndrome (IHS) is a rare disorder characterized by postural headache, low cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure, dural thickening and pachymeningeal contrast enhancement as a consequence of decreased CSF volume. The present report is a case of spontaneous IHS due to dural leak at the level of T12-L1. The site of CSF leakage was not detectable on either conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or 12-weighted MR myelography. However, it was evident on contrast-enhanced MR myelography (CE-MRM). The present report discusses the efficacy of CE-MRM in the detection of CSF leaks according to the literature so far.

To assess the patient care benefit of a recently implemented institutional policy requiring official second-opinion consultation for all studies performed outside the institution.The institutional review board approved the retrospective review of patient data for this HIPAA-compliant study and waived the need for individual informed consent. The second-opinion consultation reports for outside neuroradiology studies finalized by subspecialty-trained neuroradiologists within calendar year 2008 were compared with the outside reports provided with the images. The reports were categorized by using a five-point scale: 1 indicated no difference in interpretation; 2, clinically unimportant difference in detection; 3, clinically unimportant difference in interpretation; 4, clinically important difference in detection; and 5, clinically important difference in interpretation. Clinically important differences were defined as those likely to change patient care or diagnoses. Statistical comparisons were performed by using two-sample continuity-corrected Z tests with two-sided alternatives. Bonferroni corrections were performed when more than two rates were compared. Confidence intervals for all rates were constructed by using the score interval along with the Yates continuity correction.Of 7465 studies, 4534 (60.7%) had an outside report for comparison. There were 347 (7.7%) instances with clinically important differences. Of these 347 discrepancies, 233 (67.1%) were category 4 and 114 (32.9%) were category 5. When the final diagnosis was determined from pathology reports, clinical assessments, and/or imaging follow-up, the second-opinion consultation was noted to be correct in 163 (84.0%) of 194 studies with category 4 or 5 discrepancies.A 7.7% rate of discrepant interpretations (347 of 4534 studies) was noted for a service offering second-opinion consultations for outside examinations. Most were discrepancies in detecting abnormalities rather than in interpreting identified findings. When a definitive diagnosis was obtainable, the second-opinion consultation was more accurate in 84% of studies. Review of outside studies benefits patient care.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Adult lumbar scoliosis is an increasingly recognized entity that may contribute to back pain. We investigated the epidemiology of lumbar scoliosis and the rate at which it is unreported on lumbar MR images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The coronal and sagittal sequences of lumbar spine MR imaging scans of 1299 adult patients, seeking care for low back pain, were reviewed to assess for and measure the degree of scoliosis and spondylolisthesis. Findings were compared with previously transcribed reports by subspecialty trained neuroradiologists. Inter- and intraobserver reliability was calculated. RESULTS: The prevalence of adult lumbar scoliosis on MR imaging was 19.9%, with higher rates in ages >60 years (38.9%, P < .001) and in females (22.6%, P = .002). Of scoliotic cases, 66.9% went unreported, particularly when the scoliotic angle was

Middle ear adenomas are rare benign tumors, which can easily be mistaken for other conditions radiologically. They derive from the middle ear mucosa. We report the case of a 48-year-old man with a history of decreased left-sided hearing and intermittent pulsatile tinnitus. High-resolution CT of the temporal bones revealed a well-defined left middle ear soft-tissue attenuation abutting the head of the malleus. Surgical excision revealed a middle ear adenoma.