MRI follow-up for pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm: an ultrashort versus long protocol

Purpose To evaluate whether an ultrashort-protocol (USP) MRI including only T2-weighted HASTE axial and 3D MRCP SPACE sequences adequately measures the largest diameter of the largest cyst and the main pancreatic duct (MPD) and identifies worrisome features (WF) and high-risk stigmata (HRS) when compared to longer protocols (LP, long protocol; SP, short protocol; S-LP, short or long protocol). We also calculated reductions in costs associated with USP. Methods This retrospective study included 183 IPMN patients. Two radiologists compared two imaging sets (USP versus S-LP) per patient, comparing the mean values of the largest cyst and MPD and agreement regarding the presence or absence of cystic or MPD mural nodules and solid pancreatic tumors. The interobserver agreement for cystic mural nodules and WF/HRS was evaluated, using the Bland-Altman plot and Cohen’s Kappa. Results A total of 112 IPMN patients were evaluated. For detecting cysts or MPD nodules, WF/HRS, and solid pancreatic tumors, USP and S-LP coincided in 94.9%, 99.1%, 92.4%, and 99.1% of cases, respectively. Both USP and S-LP identified all true cystic mural nodules. The mean size of the largest cyst and MPD was 19.48/19.67 mm and 3.24/3.33 mm using USP versus S-LP, while the mean differences for USP versus S-LP were 0.19 mm and 0.08 mm. The USP cost was 39% of LP cost and 77% of SP. Interobserver agreement was moderate to strong. Conclusions For IPMN surveillance, an ultrashort-protocol MRI provides nearly identical information to the more expensive longer protocols. Graphical abstract

Mucinous Ovarian Tumors With Anaplastic Mural Nodules: Case Report

Ovarian mucinous cystic tumors may be associated with various types of mural nodules, which can be classified as benign or malignant (anaplastic carcinoma, sarcoma, carcinosarcoma). However, anaplastic malignant nodules have rarely been reported. Here, we present a case of a 35-year-old woman who presented with abdominal discomfort. Ultrasonography showed a large cystic mass in the pelvic and abdominal cavities measuring 337 × 242 mm. Abdominal computed tomography revealed upper anterior and posterior uterine pelvic cystic lesions based on multiple nodule partition walls and classes. During hospitalization, the patient underwent exploratory laparotomy, which revealed a poorly differentiated ovarian malignant tumor, and subsequent surgical excision was performed. The pathological analysis of the surgical samples of the right ovary revealed a mucinous ovarian tumor, while the mural nodules were classified as anaplastic carcinoma. After surgery, the patient started receiving chemotherapy. Unfortunately, the patient died 6 months later. Mucinous tumor occurring with an anaplastic carcinoma is rare, and the current diagnostic methods are not sufficient in providing an early and accurate diagnosis. Most patients are already in the advanced stage upon diagnosis and combined with poorly differentiated pathological features, the prognosis is extremely poor. Clinicians need to improve the clinical evaluation before surgery and conduct preoperative preparation and communication to improve the prognosis of patients as much as possible.

A Novel Endoscopic Ultrasonography Imaging Technique for Depicting Microcirculation in Pancreatobiliary Lesions without the Need for Contrast-Enhancement: A Prospective Exploratory Study

Detective flow imaging endoscopic ultrasonography (DFI-EUS) provides a new method to image and detect fine vessels and low-velocity blood flow without using ultrasound contrast agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of DFI-EUS for pancreatobiliary lesions and lymph nodes. Between January 2019 and January 2020, 53 patients who underwent DFI-EUS, e-FLOW EUS, and contrast-enhanced EUS were enrolled. The ability of DFI-EUS and e-FLOW EUS to detect vessels was compared with that of contrast-enhanced EUS. This article describes the DFI technique along with our first experience of its use for vascular assessment of pancreatobiliary lesions. Vessels were imaged in 34 pancreatic solid lesions, eight intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs), seven gall bladder lesions, and four swollen lymph nodes. DFI-EUS (91%) was significantly superior to e-FLOW EUS (53%) with respect to detection of vessels (p < 0.001) and for discrimination of mural nodules from mucous clots in IPMN and gallbladder lesions from sludge (p = 0.046). Thus, DFI-EUS has the potential to become an essential tool for diagnosis and vascular assessment of various diseases.

Low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are associated with malignant intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms: A multicenter study

Background Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) can potentially undergo malignant transformation. Studies have shown that high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) was associated with the risk of cancer. In this study, the association between HDL-c and the incidence of malignancy in IPMNs was investigated. Materials and methods 226 patients with histologically proven IPMNs who underwent surgery were included in the present study. Patients were assigned to a training group (n = 151) and validation group (n = 75). Patients’ demographic information, clinical data, and histopathological evaluation findings were obtained from medical records. Malignant IPMNs were defined as lesions that showed high grade dysplasia and invasive carcinoma. Logistic regression analyses were used to show the association between HDL-c and malignant IPMNs. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to analyze predictive performance. Results The prevalence of low HDL-c levels was higher in patients with malignant IPMNs than in those with non-malignant IPMNs (P < 0.01) in both the training group and validation group. The prevalence of malignant IPMNs decreased with an increase in HDL-c levels both in patients with all types of IPMNs, as well as in those with branch-duct IPMNs (BD-IPMNs).Logistic analysis showed that low HDL-c levels were associated with malignant IPMNs (odds ratio (OR) = 20.56, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 2.58–163.64, P < 0.01) in all types of IPMNs and BD-IPMNs (OR = 17.6, 95 %CI: 1.16–268.46, P = 0.02 ).The predictive performance of mural nodules plus low HDL-c levels was higher than that of mural nodules alone or mural nodules plus cyst size for the identification of malignant BD-IPMNs. Conclusions HDL-c levels may serve a potential biomarker for identifying malignant IPMNs and improve the predictive ability of malignancy in BD-IPMNs.

Ovarian Mucinous Tumor with Mural Nodules of Anaplastic Carcinoma: A Clinicopathological Analysis of Three Cases Report and Review of Related Literature

Background:Anaplastic carcinoma mural nodules presenting in ovarian mucinous cystic tumors are very rare. Here, we reported clinicopathological, immunohistochemical and molecular features of 3 such cases, and reviewed the related literature.Case presentation:The expression of pan-cytokeratin (CK) in the mural nodules of all three patients supported the diagnosis of mural nodules of anaplastic carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining showed wild-type expression of p53 in the mural nodules and mucinous epithelium of Cases 2 and 3, while Case 1 was negative for the p53 mutation. The synchronous expression of p53 in epithelia and mural nodules suggested that mural nodules might be homologous with mucinous adenocarcinoma and might be the result of dedifferentiation of mucinous adenocarcinoma. In the sarcomatoid region of Case 1, p53 was wild-type in spindle cells and multinucleated giant cells in the background. In Case 3, a broad-based serrated adenoma of the appendix was also found. Therefore, exons of tumor-related genes were detected by high-throughput next-generation sequencing (NGS). Missense mutations of PIK3CA and PTEN were found, but no germline mutations were detected.Conclusions:In young patients with sarcomalike mural nodule (SLMNs) morphology, pathological analysis is recommended to avoid overlooking the existence of malignant mural nodules. Serrated lesions occurred in the appendix and ovarian mucinous tumor simultaneously, but no germline mutations were detected by NGS, indicating this was a sporadic case.

Anaplastic carcinoma showing rhabdoid features combined with ovarian mucinous borderline cystadenoma: a case report and literature review

Anaplastic carcinoma in an ovarian tumor (ACOT) is rare. There have been a few controversial cases illustrating the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of ACOT, which are not well known. A 60-year-old Chinese woman presented with a large pelvic tumor. A transvaginal ultrasound examination showed a large single ovarian cystic tumor with mural nodules and ascites. A gross ovarian mass with a size of approximately 20 × 10×15 cm3 was found. The content of the ovarian cyst was light yellow and chocolate-like, and a large grayish mural nodule of approximately 10 cm was found on the cyst wall. Histological diagnosis of ovarian mucinous borderline cystadenoma with a mural nodule of anaplastic carcinoma showing rhabdoid features and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIIa was made. Fifteen months after surgery, the patient had received six courses of paclitaxel and carboplatin. She is still alive without any recurrence of the tumor. Findings from the present case suggest that patients with ACOT and FIGO stage IIIa would benefit from surgery and chemotherapy of paclitaxel and carboplatin. We also review the clinical features and survival rate of patients with ACOT using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result database, and summarize previously reported treatments.

Differentiation between endometriosis-associated ovarian cancers and non- endometriosis-associated ovarian cancers based on magnetic resonance imaging

Objectives: Endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer (EAOC) patients show different clinical characteristics compared with non-EAOC patients. However, a few studies are focused on the imaging characteristics of EAOC until now. We assessed MRI characteristics in differentiating EAOC and non-EAOC. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical and MRI characteristics from 54 patients with 67 lesions diagnosed with primary epithelial ovarian carcinoma at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University between January 2012 and October 2020. We studied MRI findings such as maximum diameter, morphology, configuration, locularity, features of mural nodules, lymphadenopathy, peritoneal implants, the presence of hyperintensity on T1WI, and hypointensity on T2WI. We also studied the clinical characteristics. Significant MRI variables in univariate analysis were selected for subsequent multivariate regression analysis. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of the significant MRI variables in univariate analysis. Results: We found that the patients with EAOC, compared with those with non-EAOC, were younger, more unilateral, and had earlier FIGO stage. Univariate analysis revealed that morphology, locularity, growth pattern of mural nodules, and hypointensity on T2WI were factors that significantly differed between EAOC and non-EAOC. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, locularity and hypointensity on T2WI were independent predictors to distinguish EAOC from non-EAOC. Conclusions: EAOC typically presented as a unilocular mass with hypointensity on T2WI in cystic components. MRI could help distinguish EAOC from non-EAOC. Advances in knowledge: MRI is a promising tool for preoperative diagnosis of EAOC.