Isolated apical perfusion defect in SPECT-CT scans, is there any prognostic value?

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Lopes ◽  
M Monteiro ◽  
D Campos ◽  
C Saleiro ◽  
S Costa ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) plays a significant role in diagnostic and therapeutic decision making in coronary artery disease (CAD). An isolated apical defect in the 17th segment in SPECT/CT scans is a common finding, sometimes attributed to the apical thinning phenomenon. However, the clinical significance of apical thinning or other isolated apical defects is unknown. Purpose The purpose of this study is to assess the prognostic impact of an isolated apical perfusion defect (17th segment) in patients (P) with suspicion of significant CAD. Methods A cohort of 612 consecutive P that underwent a MPI test with a SPECT/CT scanner, between January 2017 and December 2017, in a single nuclear medicine centre, was included in this retrospective study. The inclusion criteria for this study were either a normal perfusion exam (group 1 – G1) or only an isolated apical defect in the 17th segment, either reversible suggesting ischemia (group 2 – G2) or fixed suggesting necrosis (group 3 – G3). Images with and without attenuation correction were analysed. Mean follow-up was 29±4 months. The chi square test was used for categorical variables, and analysis of variance for continuous variables. Binary logistic regression was used to control for confounding. Results A total of 612 P were included (57% male sex, mean age of 69±10) and divided in G1 (n=494, 80.7%), G2 (n=62, 10%) and G3 (n=56, 9.2%). P in G3 had higher body mass index (31±7, p=0.028) and higher prevalence of dyslipidemia (84%, p=0.001), while P in G1 had lower ejection fraction at rest (54±15, p=0.001). There was no association between the presence of isolated apical defect and all- cause mortality (G1 = 7.3% vs G2 = 6.5% vs G3 = 5.4%, p=0.851). There was a statistically significant difference between groups in the referral for coronary angiography in the bivariate analysis (G1 = 7.9% vs G2 = 35.5% vs G3 = 10.7%, p=0.001), but this association did not remain when accounted for potential confounders (angina, ejection fraction, previous CAD and diabetes) – OR=3.94, 95% CI: [0.968–16.093], p=0.056. In those P that underwent coronary angiography, there was no statistically significant difference between the 3 groups in revascularization of significant CAD (G1 = 38.5% vs G2 = 36.4% vs G3 = 50%, p=0.830). During the follow-up time, 11 P of group 1 suffered an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but there were no events in group 2 or 3. Conclusion Isolated apical myocardial defect on a SPECT/CT exam has no association with all-cause mortality in this patients. There is no significant difference in referral for coronary angiography or need for coronary revascularization between P with normal exams and P with isolated apical defects. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Emre Erdem ◽  
Ahmet Karatas ◽  
Tevfik Ecder

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The effect of high serum ferritin levels on long-term mortality in hemodialysis patients is unknown. The relationship between serum ferritin levels and 5-year all-cause mortality in hemodialysis patients was investigated in this study. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A total of 173 prevalent hemodialysis patients were included in this study. The patients were followed for up to 5 years and divided into 3 groups according to time-averaged serum ferritin levels (group 1: serum ferritin &#x3c;800 ng/mL, group 2: serum ferritin 800–1,500 ng/mL, and group 3: serum ferritin &#x3e;1,500 ng/mL). Along with the serum ferritin levels, other clinical and laboratory variables that may affect mortality were also included in the Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Eighty-one (47%) patients died during the 5-year follow-up period. The median follow-up time was 38 (17.5–60) months. The 5-year survival rates of groups 1, 2, and 3 were 44, 64, and 27%, respectively. In group 3, the survival was lower than in groups 1 and 2 (log-rank test, <i>p</i> = 0.002). In group 1, the mortality was significantly lower than in group 3 (HR [95% CI]: 0.16 [0.05–0.49]; <i>p</i> = 0.001). In group 2, the mortality was also lower than in group 3 (HR [95% CI]: 0.32 [0.12–0.88]; <i>p</i> = 0.026). No significant difference in mortality between groups 1 and 2 was found (HR [95% CI]: 0.49 [0.23–1.04]; <i>p</i> = 0.063). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Time-averaged serum ferritin levels &#x3e;1,500 ng/mL in hemodialysis patients are associated with an increased 5-year all-cause mortality risk.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
I Almeida ◽  
M Victor ◽  
I Cruz ◽  
A Marques ◽  
C Gomes ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction The uptake of bone-seeking radiotracers in 99mTc-DPD scintigraphy has been shown to be highly sensitive for cardiac transthyretin (ATTR) amyloid. Progressive levels of cardiac involvement are associated with poor prognosis. Purpose Evaluation of the prognostic impact of the tracer uptake level in the heart through 99mTc-DPD scintigraphy. Methods Single center retrospective analysis of patients’ data referred to perform a 99mTc-DPD between September 2014- July 2018 due to an abnormal echocardiogram or family history of ATTR. Data was collected regarding clinical, echocardiographic and 99mTc-DPD parameters to evaluate prognostic impact of the uptake level on cardiovascular events, namely hospitalizations due to acute heart failure, myocardial infarction or stroke, and all-cause mortality. Results 35 patients were reviewed of whom 12 (34.3%) had a positive 99mTc-DPD, performing the diagnosis of an ATTR amyloidosis: mean age 78.4 ± 7.3 years, 100% male. 33.3% had a cardiac uptake level 2 (group 1) and 66.6% level 3 (group 2). Group 1 patients were younger (mean age 72.3 ± 4.6 versus 81.5 ± 6.5 years, p 0.03). At the time of diagnosis, most patients in both groups were in NYHA class II. Mean value of NTproBNP in group 1 patients was 4322.4 ± 35.0 versus 6387.7 ± 60.0 pg/ml (p 0.03); troponin level was not statistically different between groups (88.3 ± 63.1 versus 54.5 ± 16.1 pg/ml, p 0.228). On transthoracic echocardiogram evaluation, there were no significant differences between groups regarding cardiac function: mean ejection fraction 48.8 ± 6.3 versus 43.9 ± 11.5% (p 0.453) and mean global longitudinal strain -10.4 ± 2.8 versus -9.0 ± 2.9% (p 0.531). Although almost patients presented a nearly normal ejection fraction, almost have diastolic dysfunction (75 versus 100%, p 0.140) and pericardial effusion (100% in both groups). Hypertrophy level was similar between groups: septum thickness was 19.5 ± 0.7 in group 1 and 19 ± 1.4mm in group 2 (p 0.386). During follow-up, 25% of group 1 patients were hospitalized due to acute heart failure and 25% died. In group 2 patients, there were 25% of hospitalizations due to heart failure and all-cause mortality rate of 50%. Conclusions In our population, there was no significant association between the cardiac uptake level in 99mTc-DPD scintigraphy and cardiac symptoms or cardiac function evaluated through transthoracic echocardiogram at the time of diagnosis. However, higher levels of cardiac uptake were associated with higher mortality in the follow-up period. This data suggests that 99mTc-DPD scintigraphy should be performed not only for diagnosis but also for prognosis assessment in these patients.


Arthroplasty ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhijie Chen ◽  
Kaizhe Chen ◽  
Yufei Yan ◽  
Jianmin Feng ◽  
Yi Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective To evaluate the effect of medial posterior tibial slope (PTS) on mid-term postoperative range of motion (ROM) and functional improvement of the knee after medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). Methods Medical records of 113 patients who had undergone 124 medial UKAs between April 2009 through April 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. The mean follow-up lasted 7.6 years (range, 6.2–11.2 years). Collected were demographic data, including gender, age, height, weight of the patients. Anteroposterior (AP) and lateral knee radiographs of the operated knees were available in all patients. The knee function was evaluated during office follow-up or hospital stay. Meanwhile, postoperative PTS, ROM, maximal knee flexion and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score (pre−/postoperative) of the operated side were measured and assessed. According to the size of the PTS, patients were divided into 3 groups: group 1 (<4°), group 2 (4° ~ 7°) and group 3 (>7°). The association between PTS and the knee function was investigated. Results In our cohort, the average PTS was 2.7° ± 0.6° in group 1, 5.6° ± 0.9° in group 2 and 8.7° ± 1.2° in group 3. Pairwise comparisons showed significant differences among them (p < 0.01). The average maximal flexion range of postoperative knees in each group was 112.4° ± 5.6°, 116.4° ± 7.2°, and 117.5° ± 6.1°, respectively, with significant difference found between group 1 and group 2 (p < 0.05), and between group 1 and group 3 (p < 0.05). However, the gender, age, and body mass index (BMI) did not differ between three groups and there was no significant difference between groups in terms of pre−/postoperative HSS scores or postoperative knee ROM. Conclusion A mid-term follow-up showed that an appropriate PTS (4° ~ 7°) can help improve the postoperative flexion of knee. On the other hand, too small a PTS could lead to limited postoperative knee flexion. Therefore, the PTS less than 4° should be avoided during medial UKA.


Author(s):  
Haytham M. Nasser ◽  
Ahmed Hussein ◽  
Gad M. Behairy ◽  
Mostafa Abdo

Abstract Background Varicocele is an abnormally dilated pampiniform plexus of the veins within the spermatic cord and is considered the most common correctable cause of male factor infertility. Many approaches are described for treatment either surgical (tradition inguinal, subinguinal, and laparoscopic) or non-surgical percutaneous embolization. During the period from August 2017 to December 2018, we prospectively analyzed the preoperative and post-operative alteration of semen parameters (at 3 and 9 months) of the data collected from 63 patients with clinically evident varicocele referred to our tertiary hospital. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1, thirty-three patients who underwent subinguinal microsurgical ligation, and group 2, thirty patients who underwent percutaneous embolization. Results Sixty-three patients enrolled in this study were divided in two groups: group 1, patients who underwent surgery, and group 2, patients who underwent embolization; the mean age is 24.6 ± 1.27 years in group 1 and 23.7 ± 2 years in group 2; there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups as regards BMI, diabetes, hypertension, and smoking. Bilaterality was present in 15.2% of group 1 patients and 10% in group 2 patients (P value 0.06). Most of the patients were classified as grades 2 and 3 with no statistical significance regarding severity of the disease. Preoperative semen parameters for patients including sperm count, motility, and abnormal forms showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Post-intervention semen analysis was done twice during follow-up after 3 months and 9 months from the date of intervention. After 3 months, the semen parameters were improved in both groups in spite of the higher sperm count in group 2 but with no statistical significance. After 9 months follow-up, semen analysis showed persistent increase in sperm mobility in group 1 patients in comparison to group 2 patients. Both groups had better improvement in count of normal form with no statistical significant change. Conclusion Improvement of semen parameters while treating primary varicocele by either subinguinal microsurgery approach or percutaneous embolization shows equivalent outcomes.


2020 ◽  
pp. 38-45
Author(s):  
Duong Nguyen Thi Thuy ◽  
Huong Nguyen Thi Kim

Background: Composite and Glass ionomer cement (GIC) are common restorative materials of non carious cervical lesions (NCCLs), which effects are controverisial. The aim of the present study was to compare the result of restorations on NCCLs between Composite and GIC. Materials and Methods: follow-up clinical trial with split-mouth design. Thirty-six patients with 96 NCCLs were divided into 2 groups (n=48/group): Group 1 restored by Composite, Group 2 restored by GIC. The restorations were evaluated at baseline, 1 and 3 months for pulpal sensitivity, restoration morphology and overall success grade. Results: GIC restorations gained 100% Good results for all parameters at 3 time points. Composite showed 87.5%, 93.8% and 97.9% Good results at baseline, 1 and 3 months, sequentially. At 3 weeks recall, 1 Composite restorations (2.1%) showed Moderate results of Retention and 2 Composite restorations (4.2%) changed colour. Conclusions: There was no statistically significant difference seen among the three groups for 3 parameters. Key words: non-carious cervical lesion, Composite, Glass ionomer cement


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aylin Karalezli ◽  
Sema Kaderli ◽  
Ahmet Kaderli ◽  
Cansu Kaya ◽  
Sabahattin Sul

Abstract Purpose: To compare the effect of intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) or intravitreal dexamethasone implants (IVD) on regression of hyperreflective dots (HRDs) on optical coherence tomography (OCT) B-scan in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Methods: 37 eyes of 37 patients with cystoid macular edema who received IVR or IVD and followed up for at least 12 months were included in this study. The patients were divided into three groups according to intravitreal treatment. Group 1 consisted of 12 eyes who received only IVD, group 2 consisted of 10 eyes who received only IVR on a pro re nata and group 3 consisted of 15 eyes who received both IVD and IVR. OCT parameters (CMT, number of HRDs, status of external limiting membrane (ELM) and ellipsoid zone (EZ)) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were compared between the groups over the follow-up time. HRDs were categorized as HRD in inner retinal layers (from the internal limiting membrane to the inner nuclear layer) or HRD in outer retinal layers (from the outer plexiform layer to the outer border of the photoreceptor layer).Results: There was no significant difference between groups in terms of BCVA, CMT, HRDs in the inner and the outer retinal layers at baseline visit. (p˃0.05 for all) Comparing the baseline values in all groups, a significant decrease was observed in CMT in the first year. (For group 1; p=0.013, group 2; p=0.010; group 3, p<0.001) The BCVA was significantly increased after 1 year in all groups. (p=0.001, p=0.006, p<0.001) The mean number of HRDs in inner and outer retinal layers were significantly decreased in group 1 and group 3. (For group 1; p<0.001, p=0.001, for group 3; p<0.001, p<0.001) However, there was no significant difference in terms of the mean number of HRDs in inner and outer retinal layers for group 2. (p=0.134, p=0.477) At the first year, the number of HRDs in inner and outer retinal layers was significantly lower in group 1 and group 3 than group 2. (For inner HRDs; group 1 vs. group 2 p=0.007, group 2 vs. group 3 p<0.001. For outer HRDs group 1 vs. group 2 p<0.001, group 2 vs. group 3 p<0.001.) The BCVA was higher in group 3 than group 2 at 1year. (p=0.048). There was no significant difference in terms of post-treatment CMT and the number of HRDs between group 1 and group3 in posthoc tests (p=0.621, p=0.876, and p=0.632).Conclusion: The reduction in HRDs at 12 months and better BCVA after IVD intimates that the HRDs should be considered as inflammatory markers in the follow-up of CME in BRVO. Thus, IVD injection could be more appropriate for patients with higher HRDs after BRVO.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (7_suppl) ◽  
pp. 289-289
Author(s):  
Jason Homza ◽  
John T. Nawrocki ◽  
Harmar D. Brereton ◽  
Christopher A. Peters

289 Background: Salvage radiotherapy (SRT) may be employed as a potentially curative intervention for patients experiencing biochemical failure (serum prostate-specific antigen [PSA] ≥ 0.2 ng/mL) after prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer. Patients not showing a favorable response to SRT alone may require additional therapies and may benefit from earlier identification of this need. Methods: 131 consecutive patients received SRT during the timeframe of this study. 76 were deemed eligible based on the following criteria: prostatic adenocarcinoma diagnosis receiving SRT, no clinical evidence of metastasis, no hormone use prior to/during SRT, serum PSA measurement halfway through SRT, and minimum follow-up time of 3 months. Median follow-up time was 51.6 months. Eligible patients were divided into three groups based on PSA response by the midpoint of treatment: no change, decrease, or increase in PSA. The primary endpoint of the study was clinical failure (measured from SRT completion), defined as serum PSA value ≥0.2ng/mL above the post-radiotherapy nadir, initiation of androgen deprivation therapy, development of bone metastasis, or death from prostate cancer. Results: 13.1% experienced no change in PSA halfway through SRT (group 0), 68.4% of patients experienced a decrease (group 1), 18.4% experienced an increase (group 2). Four-year freedom from clinical failure was 60.0% for group 0, 58.3% for group 1, and 41.7% for group 2. Median time to clinical failure was 71.7 months for group 1, 26.8 months for group 2, and was not reached for group 0. Pairwise multiple comparison demonstrated a significant difference in four-year freedom from clinical failure between groups 1 and 2 (p = 0.036). Conclusions: These data strongly suggest that changes in PSA are apparent midway through SRT and are associated with 4-year freedom from clinical failure. Further study is warranted to determine whether mid-treatment PSA during SRT may be used to identify a subset of patients that may benefit from treatment intensification.


2017 ◽  
Vol 89 (4) ◽  
pp. 282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murat Bagcioglu ◽  
Cristian Surcel ◽  
Serkan Ozcan ◽  
Cristian Mirvald ◽  
Mehmet Ali Karagoz ◽  
...  

Objective: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is commonly used as a first-line treatment for locally advanced and metastatic prostatic cancer (Pca). There is no consensus about which alternative treatment should be used after the failure of initial ADT. We aimed to investigate the effect of changes in treatment on PSA and testosterone levels. Material and methods: A total of 120 patients with an established diagnosis of either locally advanced or metastatic Pca in two different centers. Depending on the type of medical and/or surgical management protocol planned at initial presentation, all cases were divided into three main groups as follows. Group 1 (n: 80) included the patients who underwent medical management during whole follow-up period in whom the initial management protocol was later on switched to another medical treatment with different agents, Group 2 (n: 20) included patients who were initially treated with a medical management protocol and switched to surgical castration during follow-up evaluation and lastly Group 3 (n: 20) included the patients undergoing treated surgical castration as initial treatment modality without any further medical management protocol. Results: Evaluation of our data did clearly demonstrate a statistically significant difference between the initial and final PSA as well as testosterone levels in Group 1 cases. Mean PSA and testosterone levels increased significantly in these cases despite a change in hormonal therapy by using another agent for androgen deprivation. Cases in Group 2 and 3 cases did not show any statistically significant difference with respect to the mean PSA as well as testosterone values during the same follow-up period. Conclusions: Our data clearly indicated that in case of a biochemical progression, switching into another alternative medical treatment was not effective enough in limiting the rising PSA levels in a statistically significant manner when compared with the approaches of switching to surgical castration after initial medical treatment or continuing with regular and close follow-up after initial surgical castration alone.


Author(s):  
B. Nadler ◽  
M. I. Shevell

Introduction:Absence epilepsy is the most common primary generalized epilepsy syndrome encountered in pediatric practice. Treatment is pharmacologically specific and usually successful with a single medication. The objective of this study was to identify any clinical or electroencephalographic features at initial presentation in a consecutive cohort of children with absence epilepsy that may be associated with the need for a second medication.Methods:A computerized pediatric neurology database (1991-2007 inclusive) was retrospectively searched for all patients with typical absence seizures, 3 Hz spike and wave on EEG and no apparent symptomatic etiology who were over the age of two years at seizure onset with at least one year of follow-up. All such children were then divided into two groups; a) those requiring a single medication for seizure control (Group 1), and b) those requiring two medications for seizure control despite optimal management with the initial medication as determined by serum drug monitoring (Group 2). Clinical and electrographic features evident at diagnosis were then contrasted between Group 1 and 2.Results:Seventy-five children with absence seizures were initially identified with 52 meeting the study’s inclusion and none of the exclusion criteria. Of these 52 children, 43 required a single medication for seizure control (Group 1), while 9 required two or more medications for seizure control (Group 2). A significant difference (p<0.05) was apparent between Group 1 and 2 with respect to gender (16/43 males vs 8/9 males) and mean age of diagnosis (8.19 years +/− 3.00 vs 6.06 years +/− 2.22). Age of onset of seizures, interval duration of seizures prior to treatment initiation, duration of seizures, presence of automatisms, family history, presence of co-morbid conditions and EEG findings were not found to be significantly different between the two Groups.Conclusions:Male gender and an earlier age of diagnosis is associated with the need for two medications for seizure control in children with absence epilepsy. This observation may suggest the need for more intensive early programmatic follow-up for young male children with newly diagnosed absence epilepsy to effect more rapid attainment of seizure control.


Author(s):  
El-Zahraa M. Esmat Sultan ◽  
Khaled R. Abdel Meguid ◽  
Hesham B. Mahmoud

Abstract Background Due to delay in obtaining approval from insurance institution, performing PCI after successful reperfusion using streptokinase was postponed for ˃24 h-1 week. The study was conducted to investigate safety and efficacy of such delay in comparison to the ideal guidelines of PCI (≤ 24 h) in 129 STEMI patients received streptokinase followed by PCI. Patients were divided into two groups: (group 1 = 57; early PCI ≤ 24 h.) and (group 2 = 72; late PCI > 24 h.). Results Primary end point was death, congestive heart failure and reinfarction up to 30 days. Secondary end point was TIMI flow < G3, ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage and non-intracranial bleeding. No statistical significant difference was found between both groups regarding LVEF, dimensions and myocardium wall preservation and incidence of complications and TIMI flow. No primary endpoints were detected. Five patients had secondary endpoints in early PCI and four in the late PCI. Suction device and IV Eptifibatide were used more in early PCI (p = 0.003). Conclusions The study suggests that relatively late PCI (> 24 h–1wk) after successful reperfusion using streptokinase in STEMI patients seems to be safe and effective in 30-day follow-up, provided that patients received DAPT and were subjected to close observation. The results seem safely applicable when we are forced to this choice; however lack of more investigations to this hypothesis is considered a limitation.


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