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Background: The value of baseline fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) remains uncertain once gastroesophageal cancer is metastatic. We hypothesized that assessment of detailed PET-CT parameters (maximum standardized uptake value [SUVmax] and/or total lesion glycolysis [TLG]), and the extent of metastatic burden could aid prediction of probability of response or prognosticate. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed treatment-naive patients with stage 4 gastroesophageal cancer (December 2002–August 2017) who had initial PET-CT for cancer staging at MD Anderson Cancer Center. SUVmax and TLG were compared with treatment outcomes for the full cohort and subgroups based on metastatic burden (≤2 or >2 metastatic sites). Results: We identified 129 patients with metastatic gastroesophageal cancer who underwent PET-CT before first-line therapy. The median follow-up time was 61 months. The median overall survival (OS) was 18.5 months; the first progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.5 months. SUVmax or TLG of the primary tumor or of all metastases combined had no influence on OS or PFS, whether the number of metastases was ≤2 or >2. Overall response rates (ORRs) to first-line therapy were 48% and 45% for patients with ≤2 and >2 metastases, respectively (nonsignificant). ORR did not differ based on low or high values of SUVmax or TLG. Conclusions: This is the first assessment of a unique set of PET-CT data and its association with outcomes in metastatic gastroesophageal cancer. In our large cohort of patients, detailed analyses of PET-CT (by SUVmax and/or TLG) did not discriminate any parameters examined. Thus, baseline PET-CT in untreated metastatic gastroesophageal cancer patients has limited or no utility.

Introduction: Gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma is relatively common in elderly patients as the incidence increases with age. However, the optimal treatment approach is not well established in this group of patients. The aim of this study is to review our experience for localized gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma in patients aged ≥80 years and to assess association between patient characteristics, clinical factors, and overall survival (OS) in order to optimize the therapeutic approaches for this population. Methods: Patients ≥80 years old treated for localized gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma were retrospectively analyzed. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were applied to assess the association between patient characteristics and OS. Factors that were significant in the multivariate model were included in the final reduced model. Results: 127 patients ≥80 years old, were included in this study with median age of 83 years. The median follow-up time was 3.2 years, and median OS was 2.5 years (95% CI: 2.0–3.1 years). Independent prognostic factors for OS were Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) (p = 0.003), baseline clinical stage (p = 0.01), and surgery (p = 0.001). ECOG PS, tumor location, baseline stage, tumor grade, and surgery were included in the final reduced model. Conclusion: Surgical treatment can improve survival in elderly patients. Therapeutic decisions should be based on the patients’ general condition rather that age alone.

Mucosal melanomas (MMs) are rare and aggressive tumors that arise from melanocytes in the mucosal tissues that line the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urogenital tracts. Most MMs occur during the 6th and 7th decades of life. MMs may be asymptomatic but may also cause bleeding, pain, and itching, depending on the site of origin. Because of their asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic nature and the difficulty of visualizing them in some cases, they are often advanced tumors at patient presentation. MM staging varies depending on the site of the primary tumor. A simplified staging system allows classification of clinically localized disease as stage I, regional nodal involvement as stage II, and distant metastasis as stage III. MM differs genetically from its cutaneous counterparts. Common drivers in cutaneous melanoma such as B-raf proto-oncogene serine/threonine kinase (

Cervical carcinoma remains a common gynecologic malignancy. Physical examination has historically served as the predominant tool for staging and assessment, in part due to lack of availability of additional diagnostic resources in many parts of the world. Cross-sectional imaging in the evaluation of cervical cancer has become standard of care in developed countries, and has recently been incorporated into the official staging classification of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. This article will describe the use of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography/computed tomography and positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging in cervical cancer patients, review optimal techniques for MR evaluation of the cervix, and describe key aspects of staging and management of cervical carcinoma.

Endometrial carcinoma is the most common female pelvic malignancy in the United States. Although endometrial cancer is staged according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics surgical system, early and accurate diagnostic assessment of disease status of gynecologic malignancies is important for optimal treatment planning and outcome prediction. Preoperative imaging may assist in evaluation of local extent and detection of distant metastatic disease guiding the optimal course of treatment. Several imaging techniques such as transvaginal ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging have been used as tools for preoperative staging of endometrial cancer. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography and more recently, positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging have also been used in the management of endometrial cancer. Cross-sectional imaging, especially MRI, may detect gross myometrial invasion or extension of tumor to the cervical stroma which can alter management. Imaging studies can also evaluate the presence of lymph nodal involvement, and detect local and distant metastatic disease at diagnosis. Additionally, imaging also plays a role in the monitoring of treatment and surveillance of the patients for detection of early recurrent disease. In this article, we will review the imaging and staging of endometrial cancer.

To determine whether staging pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can distinguish malignant mixed Mullerian tumor (MMMT) from EC. Thirty-seven treatment-naive patients with histologically proven uterine MMMT and 42 treatment-naive patients with EC, treated at our institution, were included in our retrospective study. Staging pelvic MRI scans were reviewed for tumor size, prolapse through cervical os, and other features. Time-intensity curves for tumor and surrounding myometrium regions of interest were generated, and positive enhancement integral (PEI), maximum slope of increase (MSI), and signal enhancement ratio (SER) were measured. The Fisher's exact test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare characteristics between disease groups. Multivariate and univariate logistic regression models were used to distinguish MMMT from EC. Receiver operating characteristic analysis and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate prediction ability. MMMTs were larger than ECs with higher rate of tumor prolapse and more heterogeneous tumor enhancement compared to ECs. During the late phase of contrast enhancement, 100% of ECs, but only 84% of MMMTs, had lower signal intensity than the myometrium. Threshold PEI ratio ≥ 0.67 predict MMMT with 76% sensitivity, 84%, specificity and 0.83 AUC. Threshold SER ≤ 125 predict MMMT with 90% sensitivity, 50% specificity, and 0.72 AUC. MMMTs may show more frequent tumor prolapse, more heterogeneous enhancement, delayed iso- or hyper-enhancement, higher PEI ratios, and lower tumor SERs compared with EC. MRI can be used as a biomarker to distinguish MMMT from EC based on the enhancement pattern.

To review the pertinent anatomy and the imaging features of common and uncommon benign and malignant neoplasms and masses of the ischiorectal fossa. The ischiorectal or ischioanal fossa is the largest space in the anorectal region. The benign neoplasms that develop in the ischiorectal originate from the different components that forms the fossa including vascular tumors such as aggressive angiomyxoma or hemangioma; neural tumors as plexiform neurofibroma or schwannoma; fat tumors as lipoma; skin/skin appendages tumors as hidradenoma papilliferum; smooth or skeletal muscle tumors as solitary fibrous tumor. The malignant neoplasms that develop in the ischiorectal fossa also originate from different components that forms the fossa including vascular tumors such as angiosarcoma, neural tumors as malignant granular cell tumor and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor; fat tumors as liposarcoma; smooth or skeletal muscle tumors as leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, malignant PEComa, or undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. Additionally, the ischiorectal fossa can also harbor secondary hematogenous metastases and be affected by direct invasion from neoplasms of adjacent pelvic organs and structures. Furthermore, other miscellaneous masses can occur in the ischiorectal fossa including congenital and developmental lesions, and inflammatory and infectious processes. Knowledge of the anatomy, and the spectrum of imaging findings of common and uncommon benign and malignant neoplasms of the ischiorectal fossa is crucial for the radiologists during interpretation of images allowing them to make contributions to the diagnosis and better patient management.

The purpose of this article is to review the most commonly used tumor markers in abdominal and pelvic tumors, describe their limitations and explain how to use them in the context of known cancer in order to optimize multidisciplinary care of oncologic patients. Tumor markers are important for the diagnosis, staging, monitoring of treatment and detection of recurrence in many cancers. This knowledge is crucial in the daily interpretation of images of oncologic and non-oncologic patients. However, radiologists should also be aware of the limitations of the most commonly used tumor markers and they should not be used solely, but interpreted in conjunction with diagnostic imaging, clinical history and physical examination that will help optimize the multidisciplinary care and management of oncologic patients.

Small Cell Carcinoma of the Ovary, Hypercalcemic Type (SCCOHT) is a rare, aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis. Its features are difficult to differentiate from other ovarian malignancies. In this article, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of this rare malignancy including tumor genetics. We also describe demographic, clinical and imaging findings, staging, and treatment options.

Leiomyomas can develop in any organ containing smooth muscles. They most commonly occur in the gastrointestinal and the female genital tracts. Leiomyoma of the prostate is a rare, benign tumor. We report 3 cases of rare prostatic leiomyomas. The paucity of literature describing prostatic leiomyoma increases the chance for misdiagnosis. Fewer than 30 cases in the English literature, with none including magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, positron emission tomography-CT, and pathological findings together were found. Over the past decade, there has been a shift in the management of prostatic leiomyomas. Prostatectomy was once considered a standard approach for treatment, but now nonsurgical treatment options such as embolization are preferred. Conservative management including surveillance is an option for asymptomatic patients.

This article provides an overview of PET in cervical cancer, primarily with regard to the use of 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose-PET/computed tomography. A brief discussion of upcoming technologies, such as PET/MR imaging, is presented.

Background: A randomised phase 2 trial of trimodality with or without induction chemotherapy (IC) in oesophageal cancer (EC) patients showed no advantage in overall survival (OS) or pathologic complete response rate. To identify subsets that might benefit from IC, a secondary analysis was done. Methods: The trial had accrued 126 patients (NCT 00525915). Recursive partitioning and proportional hazards regression with interactions were performed. Results: The median follow-up of surviving patients was 6.7 years and the median OS duration was 3.8 years (95% confidence interval (CI), 2.6-5.8 years). OS was associated with tumour length (P=0.03), cT (P=0.02), cN (P=0.04), clinical stage (P=0.01), and tumour grade (P

Over the last 15 years, large randomized controlled studies have validated the benefit of preoperative therapy for patients with resectable gastric cancer. Computed tomography (CT) and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) are commonly used to select patients for preoperative treatment, but studies of preoperative staging accuracy that focus on patient selection for preoperative therapy are rare; therefore, whether CT or EUS can reliably identify patients eligible for preoperative therapy is still unclear. Our purpose was to determine the accuracy of EUS and CT for preoperative staging of gastric cancer and to identify factors that may affect their usefulness in selecting patients for preoperative therapy.We reviewed the medical records of 8,260 patients with gastric or gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma treated at our institution from 1995 to 2013, identifying those who underwent gastrectomy without preoperative treatment. We compared T stage and N status from preoperative EUS and CT reports with those drawn from surgical pathology reports. Clinicopathologic and demographic variables associated with incorrect preoperative staging were investigated using univariate and multivariate analyses.We identified 187 patients who underwent preoperative staging by EUS (n=145) and/or CT (n=134) before gastrectomy. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of EUS in distinguishing stage T1 from more advanced tumors were 82%, 78%, and 85%, respectively. Variables associated with underestimation of EUS T stage were lymphovascular invasion [odds ratio (OR), 7.51; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.91-29.50; P0.01] and white race (OR, 3.75; 95% CI, 1.31-10.75; P=0.01). The accuracies, sensitivities, and specificities for determining N status were, respectively, 65%, 49%, and 79% with CT and 66%, 29%, and 95% with EUS. Lymphovascular invasion was associated with a false negative result (OR, 3.79; 95% CI, 1.34-10.70; P=0.01), and well- or moderately differentiated histology was associated with a false positive result for CT N status (OR, 7.14; 95% CI, 2.00-25.44; P0.01).EUS is accurate in distinguishing T1 from T2-T4 lesions; both CT and EUS have low sensitivities and high specificities in determining N status. These accuracies and variables associated with inaccurate staging, including race, should be considered when selecting gastric cancer patients for preoperative therapy.

// Elena Elimova 1, 8 , Rebecca S. Slack 2 , Hsiang-Chun Chen 2 , Venkatram Planjery 1 , Hironori Shiozaki 1 , Yusuke Shimodaira 1 , Nick Charalampakis 1 , Quan Lin 1 , Kazuto Harada 1 , Roopma Wadhwa 1 , Jeannelyn S. Estrella 3 , Dilsa Mizrak Kaya 1 , Tara Sagebiel 4 , Jeffrey H. Lee 5 , Brian Weston 5 , Manoop Bhutani 5 , Mariela Blum Murphy 1 , Aurelio Matamoros 4 , Bruce Minsky 6 , Prajnan Das 6 , Paul F. Mansfield 7 , Brian D. Badgwell 7 and Jaffer A. Ajani 1 1 Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA 2 Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA 3 Department of Pathology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA 4 Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA 5 Department of Gastroenterology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA 6 Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA 7 Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA 8 Department of Medical Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada Correspondence to: Jaffer A. Ajani, email: jajani@mdanderson.org Keywords: localized gastric adenocarcinoma, cancer surveillance, cost-effectiveness analysis, imaging studies, esophagogastroduodenoscopy Received: December 02, 2016 Accepted: June 02, 2017 Published: July 13, 2017 ABSTRACT Purpose: After therapy of localized gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) patients, the costs of surveillance, relapse patterns, and possibility of salvage are unknown. Materials and Methods: We identified 246 patients, who after having a negative peritoneal staging, received therapy (any therapy which included surgery) and were surveyed (every 3–6 months in the first 3 years, then yearly; ~10 CTs and ~7 endoscopies per patient). We used the 2016 Medicare dollars reimbursed as the “costs” for surveillance. Results: Common features were: Caucasians (57%), men (60%), poorly differentiated histology (76%), preoperative chemotherapy (74%), preoperative chemoradiation (59%), and had surgery (100%). At a median follow-up of 3.7 years (range, 0.1 to 18.3), the median overall survival (OS) was 9.2 years (95% CI, 6.0 to 11.2). Tumor grade ( p = 0.02), p/yp stage ( p < 0.001), % residual GAC ( p = 0.05), the R status ( p = 0.01), total gastrectomy ( p = 0.001), and relapse type ( p = 0.02) were associated with OS. Relapse occurred in 79 (32%) patients (only 8% were local-regional) and 90% occurred within 36 months of surgery. P/yp stage ( p < 0.001) and total gastrectomy ( p = 0.01) were independent prognosticators for OS in the multivariate analysis. Only 1 relapsed patient had successful salvage therapy. The estimated reimbursement for imaging studies and endoscopies was $1,761,221.91 (marked underestimation of actual costs). Conclusions: The median OS of localized GAC patients was excellent with infrequent local-regional relapses. Rigorous surveillance had a low yield and high “costs”. Our data suggest that less frequent surveillance intervals and limiting expensive investigations to symptomatic patients may be warranted.

Older patients with localized gastric adenocarcinoma (LGAC) have substantial postoperative morbidity and mortality; however, postoperative outcomes of the patients who receive preoperative chemotherapy and/or chemoradiation have not been reported. We examined the impact of age at baseline on potential predictors of postoperative outcomes.Patients with LGAC who were treated with chemotherapy and/or chemoradiation followed by surgery (n = 203) formed two groups: (1) ≥65 years old (n = 70) and (2)65 years old (n = 133). We assessed postoperative morbidity and mortality as well as overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Potential predictors of 90-day postoperative outcomes were identified i) by age groups and ii) other clinical covariates. Descriptive statistics and survival analyses were utilized.90-day postoperative morbidity was similar in older and younger patients (61 % vs 58 %; P = 0.655). 90-day mortality was similar (3 % vs 0 %; P = 0.118). Major Clavien grade III/IV complications were similar (17 % vs 12 %; P = 0.392). OS and PFS were also similar for both groups (P = 0.863 and P = 0.558, respectively). Other factors, such as Charlson comorbidity index (P 0.001) and median operative time (P = 0.002) were strongly associated with postoperative complications.Our data show that older patients with LGAC generally have similar outcomes as do younger patients after preoperative therapy but comorbidity indices have significant impact on complications and the long-term outcomes rather than age.

Background: Patients with localized gastric adenocarcinoma (LGAC), who get pre-operative therapy, have heterogeneous/unpredictable outcomes. Predictive clinical variables/biomarkers are not established. Methods: We analyzed 107 LGAC patients who had chemoradiation and surgery. LGACs were grouped for (1) presence/absence of signet ring cell histology (SRC) and (2) histologic grade: G2 or G3. %SRC was assessed (0, 1-10, 11-49, and 50-100%) and correlated with pathologic complete response (pathCR) or Results: Most patients were men (60%), had stage cIII LGAC (50%), and received chemotherapy before chemoradiation (93%). Most had G3 tumors (78%) and SRC (58%). Presence of SRC was associated with a lower rate of pathCR (11 vs. 36%, p = 0.004), and the association remained significant even with a low percentage of SRC (1-10%; p = 0.014). The higher the fraction of SRC, the lower was the probability of pathCR (p = 0.03). G3 and SRC led to a shorter overall survival (OS) (p = 0.046 and p = 0.038, respectively). yp stage independently prognosticated OS and recurrence-free survival (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our novel findings suggest that LGACs with SRC are relatively chemoradiation resistant compared to LGACs without SRC. A higher fraction of SRC is associated with higher resistance. Upon validation/biomarker(s) evaluation, reporting of the fraction of SRC may be warranted.

Background Peritoneal metastases (PM) in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) may be identified by diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) or imaging (I). Although prognosis is poor, some patients have excellent outcome. We compared the overall survival (OS) of patients in 3 groups: those with positive cytology (CY+) by DL (DL-CY+), those with gross PM (GPM) by DL (DL-GPM+) and with GPM obvious on I (I-GPM+). Methods 146 GAC patients were identified. The Kaplan–Meier analysis, univariate, and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed. Results Patients were primarily men (67%), with good ECOG scores (0–1; 89%), had DL (84%), had poorly differentiated GAC (92%), and had received chemotherapy (89%). The median OS for all patients was 15 months (5%CI, 12.9–18.2 months). The DL-CY+ group had median OS of 22.5 months (95%CI, 15–29.3 months). Patients with I-GPM+ had four times the risk of death than those with DL-CY+ (P

e16566 Background: The management of Krukenberg tumors from primary gastric cancer remains unclear and it is unknown if oophorectomy improves survival. The purpose of this study was to compare the overall survival (OS) of patients with ovarian metastases from gastric cancer treated with standard chemotherapy to chemotherapy and oophorectomy. Methods: Between January 2008 and August 2019, we retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological features and treatment data of 97 patients with stage IV gastric cancer patients with ovarian metastases. Patients were categorized into two groups: Oophorectomy plus standard chemotherapy treatment vs. standard chemotherapy only (non-oophorectomy). The primary objective was to assess OS. Results: A total of 97 patients were identified. 37 (38.1%) patients had oophorectomy and 60 (61.9%) patients did not have oophorectomy. OS was better in the oophorectomy group relative to the non-oophorectomy group (37 months vs. 20 months; P= 0.0554). Survival from the time of diagnosis of ovarian metastases was significantly better in oophorectomy group relative to the non-oophorectomy group (26 months vs. 12 months; P= 0.0006). Conclusions: Our results showed that Oophorectomy in addition to systemic chemotherapy in this unique population seems to confer survival advantage in this retrospective analysis. Prospective evaluation is warranted.

Oncocytic neoplasms are rare tumors arising in the adrenal glands and usually considered as nonfunctional and benign. We report 4 cases of adrenal oncocytic neoplasm. The paucity of literature describing this entity increases the chance for misdiagnosis. Confirmatory diagnosis is by tissue sampling with adrenalectomy as the mainstay of treatment.

Early metabolic response after preoperative induction chemotherapy (IC) appears to predict histologic response and prognosis in esophageal cancer (EC), but the usefulness of this approach needs further development. We evaluated metabolic response after one cycle of IC using positron emission tomography (PET) to correlate PET response and outcomes. We retrospectively analyzed PET data from a randomized phase 2 trial (NCT00525915) of chemoradiation and surgery with or without IC for the treatment of EC. PET was performed at baseline, after one cycle of IC, and 5–7 weeks after chemoradiation. The relationship between PET response (≥35% reduction in standardized uptake value [SUV]) after IC and treatment response was analyzed. In 63 patients who received IC, the mean initial SUVmax prior to treatment was 11.9 ± 8.04 and mean SUVmax after one cycle of IC was 6.47 ± 4.45. The mean SUV reduction after IC was 39.3%. Eleven of 37 PET responders achieved a pathologic complete response (pCR), but only two of 22 PET non-responders did (univariate logistic regression; odds ratio: 4.25, 95% confidence interval: 0.83–21.77; p = 0.08). PET responders to IC had significantly longer overall survival (OS) than PET nonresponders (log-rank p = 0.009). PET response after chemoradiation was not correlated with OS (log-rank p = 0.15). Early PET response after IC is prognostic, but subsequent PET changes (for example, after chemoradiation) are not prognostic. Early PET response might have the potential of predicting pCR.

Cervical carcinoma remains a common gynecologic malignancy. Magnetic resonance imaging is a useful and accurate tool in the diagnosis, staging, and follow-up of cervical carcinoma. This article describes the optimal techniques for magnetic resonance evaluation of the cervix, illustrates the role of magnetic resonance imaging in patients with known or indicated cervical carcinoma, and describes key aspects of staging and management of cervical carcinoma.

Pelvic exenteration is a radical surgery that is used in an attempt to cure patients with locally advanced central pelvic malignancies. Exenteration is a salvage operation that is considered only after other therapies, such as chemoradiation, have been exhausted. The high morbidity from exenteration's multiorgan resection warrants careful patient selection. Preoperative imaging plays a major role in the selection process, allowing the exclusion of patients with unresectable pelvic disease or distant metastases. Imaging is also crucial to surgical planning, providing the surgeon with a map of the distribution and extent of the pelvic disease.

Background Complete cytoreduction with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) has been shown to improve survival in patients with low-grade mucinous adenocarcinoma (LGMA). However, incomplete cytoreduction exposes patients to significant morbidity without a similar survival benefit. Preoperative assessment of the ability to achieve CRS is therefore a critical step in selecting patients for CRS/HIPEC. Objective The aim of this study was to develop and validate a preoperative scoring system to accurately predict the ability to achieve complete cytoreduction in patients with LGMA of the appendix. Methods A simplified preoperative assessment for appendix tumor (SPAAT) score was developed based on computed tomography scan findings thought to predict incomplete cytoreduction. We applied the SPAAT score to patients with LGMA to determine the ability of the score to predict complete cytoreduction. This scoring system was then applied to a separate cohort of patients from a different institution. Sensitivity and specificity were determined for the SPAAT score. Survival was calculated and correlated with the SPAAT score and the completeness of cytoreduction score. Results A SPAAT score of

Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is the most common gynecologic malignancy in the United States. Prognosis depends on patient age, histological grade, depth of myometrial invasion and/or cervical invasion, and the presence of lymph node metastases. Although EC is staged surgically according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) system, preoperative imaging can assist in optimal treatment planning. Several imaging techniques such as transvaginal ultrasonography (TVUS), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been used as diagnostic tools for preoperative staging of EC. Recently, positron emission tomography (PET), PET/CT, and PET/MRI have also been used in staging these patients. In this article, we review the value of imaging in diagnosis, staging, treatment planning, and detection of recurrent disease in patients with EC.

Background: In patients with localized gastric adenocarcinoma (LGAC) who receive preoperative therapy, tools to predict response or prognosticate outcome before therapy are lacking. We used initial standardized uptake value (iSUV) of positron emission tomography (PET) to evaluate its association with overall survival (OS). Methods: We identified 60 patients with confirmed LGAC who were treated with preoperative chemoradiation and had a baseline PET in addition to other routine staging. Fisher's exact test and Wilcoxon's rank sum test were used to determine the association between iSUV and other variables, and the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model were used for survival analysis. Results: The median iSUV was 6 (range, 0-28). The presence of signet ring cells in pretreatment biopsies correlated highly with low iSUV (≤6; p = 0.0017). Patients with a high iSUV (>6) had a longer OS compared to those with a low iSUV (≤6; p = 0.0344). iSUV was not an independent predictor (p = 0.12); however, the risk of death was reduced for patients with an iSUV >6 (hazard ratio = 0.26). Conclusion: Our novel findings show that among LGAC patients treated with preoperative chemoradiation and surgery, those with a high iSUV have longer OS than patients with a low iSUV. iSUV appears to have a predictive role in patients with LGAC when treated with preoperative chemoradiation.

Background: Nearly 50% of gastric cancer patients are diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Therapy is palliative but results in ill effects. The median overall survival (OS) of AGC patients is often Methods: A retrospective analysis of AGC patients in our database was carried out. The patients were divided into two groups: asymptomatic or symptomatic. We sought to assess whether the delay of systemic therapy was harmful in asymptomatic patients. Results: A total of 135 patients were analyzed. Most patients were symptomatic (68%), males (67%), and had low ECOG scores (0-1; 85%). In univariate analyses, ECOG performance status 0 (p = 0.005), delayed initiation of therapy (p = 0.03), and lack of symptoms (p = 0.03) were associated with a longer OS. The multivariate model for OS identified only ECOG performance status as an independent prognosticator of longer OS (p = 0.02). Asymptomatic patients who had delayed (≥4 weeks) systemic therapy had an OS rate of 77% at 1 year compared to 58% for patients treated within 4 weeks (p = 0.47). Conclusion: Symptomatic AGC patients had a poor outcome compared to asymptomatic AGC patients. Treatment delay in asymptomatic patients had no detrimental effect on OS, suggesting that the timing of therapy can be based on patient selection.

Mucinous appendiceal neoplasms can contain radiopaque calcifications. Whether appendiceal radiographic calcifications indicate the presence of an appendiceal epithelial neoplasm is unknown. This study aimed to determine whether appendiceal calcifications detected by computed tomography (CT) correlate with the presence of appendiceal epithelial neoplasms. From prospective appendiceal and pathology databases, 332 cases of appendiceal neoplasm and 136 cases of control appendectomy were identified, respectively. Only cases with preoperative CT scans available for review were included in the study. Images were reviewed by two abdominal radiologists. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) were calculated, and the kappa statistic was used to determine agreement between the radiologists’ interpretations. Interobserver agreement between the radiologists was substantial, with a kappa of 0.74. Appendiceal mural calcifications were identified on CT scans in 106 appendiceal neoplasm cases (32%) and in 1 control case (1%) (P = 0.0001). In the appendiceal neoplasm subgroup, the presence of radiographic calcifications was associated with mucinous histology (35% vs 17%; P = 0.006; odds ratio [OR], 0.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.18–0.78) and with well-differentiated histologic grade (40% vs 24%; P = 0.002; OR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.29–0.76). The findings showed a sensitivity of 31.9% (95% CI, 26.9–37.2%), a specificity of 99.3% (95% CI, 96–100%), a PPV of 99.1% (95% CI, 94.9–100%), and an NPV of 37.4% (95% CI, 32.4–42.6%). This case–control study showed that appendiceal mural calcifications detected on CT are associated with underlying appendiceal epithelial neoplasms and that the identification of incidental mural appendiceal calcifications may have an impact on decisions regarding surgical intervention.

Background: Through a multidisciplinary decision-making process, we developed a strategy of systemic therapy followed by local consolidative therapy (chemoradiation with/without surgery) in selected patients with metastatic gastroesophageal carcinoma (mGEAC). Only after a consensus during multidisciplinary discussions, local therapy was initiated. Methods: We identified 101 patients with mGEAC who had local consolidation. We evaluated the association between various clinical variables (location of the primary, location of metastases, duration of initial chemotherapy, histologic grade, and radiation dose) and overall survival (OS). Results: Of 101 patients, 71 had a proximal primary (esophageal, Siewert type I or II), and 30 patients had a distal primary (Siewert type III or distal). The median OS was 25.7 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 22.3-32.8). The OS rates at 2 and 5 years were 53.8% (95% CI 44.7-64.8) and 20.7% (95% CI 13.4-31.9), respectively. OS was highly associated with the location of the primary (median of 22.8 months for Siewert I/II vs. 41.5 months for Siewert III or distal, p = 0.03). The duration of initial chemotherapy was highly associated with OS (median of 21.8 months for p = 0.004). Conclusion: Some mGEAC patients with a favorable clinical course can achieve a ∼20% 5-year survival rate with an approach that uses initial chemotherapy followed by multidisciplinary discussion to proceed with consolidation with local therapy. Patients with distal GEAC and those who receive initial chemotherapy for ≥3 months are the maximum beneficiaries.

Peritoneal disease can be caused by a wide spectrum of pathologies. While peritoneal disease is usually caused by primary or secondary malignancies, benign diseases can occur and mimic malignancies. This article begins with an overview of peritoneal embryology and anatomy followed by a detailed description of the multimodality imaging appearance of peritoneal diseases. Common diseases include peritoneal carcinomatosis, pseudomyxoma peritonei, lymphomatosis, sarcomatosis, and tuberculous peritonitis. The uncommon diseases which cause peritoneal disease include desmoid fibromatosis, desmoplastic small round cell tumor, malignant mesothelioma, well-differentiated mesothelioma, multicystic mesothelioma, papillary serous carcinoma, leiomyomatosis, extramedullary hematopoiesis, inflammatory pseudotumor and amyloidosis. This manuscript will help the radiologist become familiar with the different peritoneal spaces, pathways of spread, multimodality imaging appearance and differential diagnoses of peritoneal diseases in order to report the essential information for surgeons and oncologists to plan treatment.

106 Background: Preoperative induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiation yields better R0 resection rates, pathologic complete response (pCR) rates and improved survival for localized GAC.Previous studies with two-drug induction chemotherapy showed 70-80% R0 resection rates and 20-30% pCR rates. We report the effect of three-drug induction chemotherapy on a large cohort of localized GAC patients. Methods: We identified 97 patients with localized GAC who received three-drug induction chemotherapy followed by preoperative chemoradiation therapy. We assessed various endpoints (overall survival [OS], recurrence-free survival [RFS], R0 resection and pCR rate). Results: The median follow-up time was 3.5 years (range; 0.4-16.7). Most of the patients were men (60.8%) and the median age was 60 years (range; 21-89). The induction chemotherapy regimen was a fluoropyrimidine and a platinum compound (cisplatin or oxaliplatin) with a taxane (docetaxel or paclitaxel) for 95% of patients. Seventy-three (75%) out of 97 patients underwent planned surgery. R0 resection and pCR rate were 93% and 21%, respectively. Pathologic partial response (< 50% residual carcinoma) rate was 50.7%. The median OS was 6.43 years (95% Cl 3.27-12.36) for the entire cohort and 11.1 years (95% Cl 7.1-not estimable) for patients that underwent surgery. The estimated 2- and 5-year OS rates were 72% (95% CI 62-80) and 54% (95% CI 43-64) for the entire cohort and 83% (95% CI 72-91) and 66% (95% CI 53-76) for patients that underwent surgery. Pathological lesser stage (stage I/II vs. stage III/IV) (p = 0.001) and R0 resection (p = 0.019) were independently associated with longer RFS in the multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Our data show that three-drug combination is feasible without providing substantial advantage in this setting of preoperative induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiation and surgery.

Background: Despite the wide spread use of trastuzumab in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpressing metastatic gastric cancer patients, its optimal duration of administration beyond first-line disease progression is unknown. In HER2 overexpressing metastatic breast cancer, trastuzumab continuation beyond first-line disease progression has shown improvement in time to progression (TTP) without an increased risk of treatment related toxicity. Methods: HER2-overexpressing metastatic gastric cancer patients were identified from our database between January 2010 and December 2014. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 43 patients who received trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy as first-line and continued trastuzumab beyond disease progression. Results: Forty-three cases were identified, 27 males (62.8%), median age of the patients was 58 years. Thirty-five (81.4%) presented with stage 4 as their initial presentation. Eighty one percent had 3+ HER2 overexpression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and 18% had 2+ HER2 overexpression confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Thirteen (52%) were moderately differentiated, 16 (37.1%) were poorly differentiated. The most common sites of metastasis were liver 35 (81.4%) and lung 14 (32.5%). The most commonly used first-line regimen was oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and trastuzumab in 22 (51.1%) patients. Twenty-five (58.1%) patients received irinotecan, 5-FU and trastuzumab in the second-line. Progression-free survival (PFS) was 5 months (95% CI: 4.01–5.99 months). Five patients are still alive and excluded from calculating the median overall survival (OS) which was 11 months (range, 5–53 months) for the remaining 20 subjects of this second-line group. Trastuzumab was not discontinued due to side effects in any of the study population. Conclusions: In conclusion, this retrospective analysis suggests that continuation of trastuzumab beyond disease progression in patients with HER2-overexpressing metastatic gastric cancer is feasible and safe. Randomized studies are warranted.

Purpose To assess the ability of computed tomography (CT) to differentiate an atypical lipomatous tumor/well-differentiated liposarcoma (WDLPS) from a WDLPS with a dedifferentiated component (DDLPS) within it. Materials and methods Forty-nine untreated patients with abdominal atypical lipomatous tumors/well-differentiated liposarcomas who had undergone contrast-enhanced CT were identified using an institutional database. Three radiologists who were blinded to the pathology findings evaluated all the images independently to determine whether a dedifferentiated component was present within the WDLPS. The CT images were evaluated for fat content (≤25% or >25%); presence of ground-glass density, enhancing and/or necrotic nodules; presence of a capsule surrounding the mass; septations; and presence and pattern of calcifications. A multivariate logistic regression model with generalized estimating equations was used to correlate imaging features with pathology findings. Kappa statistics were calculated to assess agreement between the three radiologists. Results On the basis of pathological findings, 12 patients had been diagnosed with DDLPS within a WDLPS and 37 had been diagnosed with WDLPS. The presence of an enhancing or a centrally necrotic nodule within the atypical lipomatous tumor was associated with dedifferentiated liposarcoma (P = 0.02 and P = 0.0003, respectively). The three readers showed almost perfect agreement in overall diagnosis (κ r = 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.67-0.99). Conclusions An enhancing or centrally necrotic nodule may be indicative of a dedifferentiated component in well-differentiated liposarcoma. Ground-glass density nodules may not be indicative of dedifferentiation.

Objective: Patients with metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (MGEAC) have a poor but heterogeneous clinical course. Some patients have an unusually favorable outcome. We sought to identify clinical variables associated with more favorable outcomes. Methods: Of 246 patients with MGEAC, we identified 64 who received systemic therapy and eventually received local consolidation therapy. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used, and a nomogram was developed. Results: Of these 64 patients, 61% had received consolidation chemoradiation (CRT) with doses of 50-55 Gy and 78% did not undergo surgery. The median follow-up time of survivors was 3.9 years, and the median overall survival (OS) from CRT start was 1.5 years (95% CI, 1.2-2.2). Surgery (as local consolidation) was an independent prognosticator for longer OS in the multivariate analysis (p = 0.02). The 5-year OS rate was 25% (SE = 6%). The contributors to the nomogram were longer duration of systemic therapy before CRT and the type of local therapy. Conclusions: Our data suggest that a subset of patients with MGEAC have an excellent prognosis (OS >5 years). However, these patients need to be identified during their clinical course so that local consolidation (CRT, surgery, or both) may be offered.

Soft-tissue reconstruction of the pelvis with vascularized tissue flaps has become an increasingly common procedure. The types of flaps and the indications for their use vary, but all flap procedures are performed with the goal of transferring tissue from a donor site to a recipient site to restore form and function, obliterate dead space, and create an environment favorable to wound healing. Oncologic surgeries, including total pelvic exenteration and abdominoperineal resection, are the leading indications for pelvic reconstruction. The pedicle flaps most commonly used for pelvic reconstruction following these oncologic interventions are the vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap (VRAM) and the omental pedicle flap. Familiarity with the surgical techniques used for pelvic reconstruction with these flaps is crucial for the accurate interpretation of cross-sectional imaging studies, allowing the radiologist to distinguish between normal postoperative findings and complications or recurrent disease.

Frequently, the consensus conclusion after quality assurance conferences in radiology is that whatever mistake was made could have been avoided if more prior images or documents had been consulted. It is generally assumed that anything that was not specifically cited in the report had not been consulted. Is it actually safe to assume that an image or document that is not cited was also not consulted? It is this question that this investigation addresses. In this Institutional Review Board-approved study, one observer watched the board-certified radiologists while they interpreted imaging studies and issued reports. He recorded what type of study was being interpreted [either computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or conventional radiography (x-ray)]. He also recorded the number and type of prior imaging studies and documents that were consulted during the interpretation. These observations were then compared with the signed report to determine how many of the consulted imaging studies and documents were cited. Of the 198 previous imaging studies that the radiologists consulted, 116 (58.6%) were cited in a report. Of the 285 documents consulted, 3 (1.1%) were cited in a report. This difference in citation rate was statistically significant ([Formula: see text]). It cannot be safely assumed that an older radiologic image or medical document was not consulted during radiologic interpretation merely because it is not cited in the report. Radiologists often consult more old studies than they cite, and they do not cite the majority of prior documents that they consult.

120 Background: Surgery is the best option to cure localized GAC. When surgery is not possible due to comorbidities or patient refusal, definitive chemoradiation is an option. We report on one of the largest cohorts of GAC patients who did not have surgery. Methods: We identified 71 patients with localized GAC who received chemo/chemoradiation therapy but did not have surgery. We assessed various endpoints (overall survival [OS] and recurrence-free survival [RFS]). Clinical complete response (cCR; negative post therapy biopsy and no evidence of cancer by imaging) was also assessed. Results: The median follow-up time was 1.8 years (range; 0.4-10.6). Most of the patients were men (64.8%) and the median age was 73 years (range; 30-96). Reason for not having surgery included comorbidities in 34 (47.9%), poor performance status 14 (19.7%), and patient refusal 23 (32.4%). Most of the patients (80.3%) received chemoradiation and 14 (19.7%) could receive only chemotherapy. Of all 71 patients, 32 (45.1%) achieved to a cCR. For the entire cohort, the median OS was 2.1 years (95% Cl 0.98-1.02). The estimated OS rates at 2 and 5 years were 46.5% and 11.3%, respectively. The median OS and the median RFS for patients with cCR were 2.3 and 1.8 years (95% Cl 0.97-1.01), respectively. Female gender (HR 0.47, 95% Cl 0.25-0.91, p = 0.024) and chemoradiation (HR 0.36, 95% Cl 0.16-0.85; p = 0.019) were independently associated with longer OS in the multivariate analysis. Histologic grade and the presence of signet ring cell had no effect on OS. Conclusions: Our data show that patients with localized GAC who do not undergo surgery have a low but measurable 5-year OS rate of 11.3%.

Benign and malignant uterine masses can be seen in the women. Some of these are asymptomatic and incidentally discovered, whereas others can be symptomatic. With the soft tissue contrast resolution magnetic resonance imaging can render a definitive diagnosis, which can further help streamline patient management. In this article we show magnetic resonance imaging examples of benign and malignant masses of the uterus and their treatment strategies.

Peritoneal metastases (PM) in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) may be identified by diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) or imaging (I). Although prognosis is poor, some patients have excellent outcome. We compared the overall survival (OS) of patients in 3 groups: those with positive cytology (CY+) by DL (DL-CY+), those with gross PM (GPM) by DL (DL-GPM+) and with GPM obvious on I (I-GPM+).146 GAC patients were identified. The Kaplan-Meier analysis, univariate, and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed.Patients were primarily men (67%), with good ECOG scores (0-1; 89%), had DL (84%), had poorly differentiated GAC (92%), and had received chemotherapy (89%). The median OS for all patients was 15 months (5% CI, 12.9-18.2 months). The DL-CY+ group had median OS of 22.5 months (95% CI, 15-29.3 months). Patients with I-GPM+ had four times the risk of death than those with DL-CY+ (P 0.001) and patients with DL-GPM+ had two times the risk of death than those with DL-CY+ (P = 0.001). At 36 months, all DL-GPM+ and I-GPM+ had died but 8 patients with DL-CY+ remained alive.Some GAC patients with DL-CY+ have long OS; therefore, novel strategies to further prolong their OS are needed.

This chapter provides an illustrative practical overview of the utility of most CT and MRI techniques used for the clinical evaluation of the liver.

197 Background: Through a multidisciplinary decision-making process, we developed a strategy of systemic therapy followed by local consolidative therapy (chemoradiation and/or surgery) for selected mGEAC patients. We present results in a large cohort. Methods: From our database, we identified a 101 such patients. We analyzed the association of various clinical variables (location of primary, location of metastases, duration of initial chemotherapy, histologic grade, and radiation dose {≥50.4 Gy vs.

104 Background: Positive peritoneal cytology (+PCyt) or gross peritoneal carcinomatosis (GPC) carries a poor prognosis. Laparoscopic staging to detect +PCyt/GPC is recommended for all ≥T1b GACs. The natural history of GAC patients who have baseline –PCyt and then undergo multimodality therapy is not well documented, particularly for the risk of subsequent GPC. Methods: We analyzed 178 GAC patients with -PCyt at baseline who were followed postoperatively. Results: Of 178 patients who went to surgery after preoperative therapy, surgery in 14 patients (7.9%) was aborted due to GPC in 13 patients, and liver metastases in 1. We then analyzed 164 patients who had an R0 resection. The median follow-up duration was 3.4 (0.6-18) years. The rate of subsequent GPC was 13.4%, (22/164 patients) and the median time to GPC was 15.6 months. The median overall survival (OS) after GPC was only 7.1 months (95% CI: 0.4-17.9 months). Various clinical variables were related with GPC after an R0 resection (Table 1). The 5-year OS rate for patients without subsequent GPC was 75%. Conclusions: Even with baseline –PCyt, subsequent risk for GPC is ~20% in the best group of localized GAC patients. Patients who do not develop GPC have an excellent (75%) OS rate. Further research is warranted to identify patients at high risk of subsequent GPC. [Table: see text]

Oncologic therapy is constantly evolving to improve patient outcomes, especially with regard to chemotherapy. The use of combination therapies and development and implementation of molecular targeted therapy lead to iatrogenic conditions that the radiologist must be aware of in interpreting studies of and caring for the oncologic patient. Knowledge of the chemotherapeutic agents and the imaging appearances of associated toxicities can impact patient management and decrease patient morbidity and mortality.