The utility of Multi-Detector Computed Tomography criteria after neoadjuvant therapy in Borderline Resectable Pancreatic cancer: Prospective, bi-institutional study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the utility of MDCT criteria for the determination of resectability and tumor response in borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) following neoadjuvant therapy (NAT).

METHODS

This prospective study includes 90 consecutive BRPC patients who underwent surgery following NAT. Two radiologists assessed baseline and pre-surgical CTs for (largest tumor axis, size, attenuation, and vascular criteria). Logistic regression was used to determine which CT criteria independently associated with R0 resection and pathologic major response (pMR). Median survival and overall survival (OS) were calculated.

RESULTS

Seventy-three/90 (81.1 %) patients had R0 resection, and 11/90 (12.2 %) had pMR. After NAT, there were significant interval changes in the largest tumor axis, size, attenuation, and venous burden index (VBI) (P < 0.02). On the multivariable analysis, regression of the VBI and low VBI at the pre-surgical CT were independently associated with an increased likelihood of R0 resection (OR 1.82; 95 % CI 1.44-5.33) (OR 1.91; 95 % CI 1.83-6.14). The assessment of VBI at the pre-surgical CT showed moderate reproducibility (k-value, 0.56 - 0.60). On the multivariable analysis, partial response (PR) was found to be independently associated with an increased likelihood of pMR (OR 1.71; 95 % CI 1.31-3.45). The median survival was longer in patients who had R0 (P = 0.01). The overall survival was longer in patients who had pMR compared to those who did not (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Surgical exploration could be indicated in patients who had regression of the VBI and low VBI at the pre-surgical CT. PR response is associated with pMR.

Multiparametric transvaginal ultrasound in the diagnosis of endometrial cancer in post-menopausal bleeding: diagnostic performance of a transvaginal algorithm and reproducibility amongst less experienced observers

OBJECTIVE

(a) To comparatively evaluate the performance of grayscale ultrasound features, power Doppler (PD) blood flow characteristics, and gel infusion sonography (GIS) in diagnosing endometrial cancer during real-time examination, (b) to compare the performance of real-time diagnosis of endometrial cancer by experienced observers with offline analysis by blinded observers using similar sonographic criteria during review of cine loop clips.

METHODS

152 females with post-menopausal bleeding (PMB) had ET ≥ 4 mm at first-line ultrasound were included. Two experienced radiologists evaluated endometrial patterns at real-time evaluation (grayscale ultrasound, PD, and GIS), then examinations were stored as video clips for later evaluation by two less-experienced radiologists. The reference standard was hysteroscopy (HY) and/or hysterectomy with the histopathological examination. The area under (AUC) the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was calculated to assess the diagnostic performance for the prediction of endometrial cancer.

RESULTS

Among 152 females with ET ≥ 4 mm at first line TVUS, 88 (57.9%) patients had endometrial cancer on final pathologic analysis. Real-time ultrasound criteria (ET ≥ 5 mm with the presence of irregular branching endometrial blood vessels or multiple vessels crossing EM or areas with densely packed color-splash vessels with non-intact or interrupted EMJ at the grayscale ultrasound and/or GIS) correctly diagnosed 95% of endometrial cancers with 92% diagnostic efficiency.There is comparable accuracy of real-time evaluation (96%) and offline analysis (92%) after the exclusion of poor quality videos from the analysis. The diagnostic criteria showed good to an excellent agreement between real-time ultrasound and offline analysis.

CONCLUSION

When real-time ultrasound is performed with good technique, utilizing multiple parameters, it is possible to diagnose endometrial cancer with a high degree of accuracy and reproducibility.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

when real-time ultrasound is performed with good technique, utilizing multiple parameters, it is possible to diagnose endometrial cancer with a high degree of accuracy and reproducibility.

Preoperative CT staging of borderline pancreatic cancer patients after neoadjuvant treatment: accuracy in the prediction of vascular invasion and resectability

OBJECTIVES

To assess the utility of MDCT tumor-vascular interface criteria for predicting vascular invasion and resectability in borderline pancreatic cancer (BRPC) patients after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT).

METHODS

This prospective study included 90 patients with BRPC who finished NAT, showed no progression in preoperative CTs and underwent surgery. Two radiologists independently assessed preoperative vessel-tumor interface criteria. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance for predicting vascular invasions and resectability using surgical and pathological results as the gold standard. Inter-reader agreement was assessed using the κ coefficient.

RESULTS

Pathologic vascular invasion was confirmed in 47 (54.7%) veins and 14 (16.3%) arteries. R0 resection was achieved in (82.6%71/86) pancreatic resection. Using criteria of circumferential interface ≥ 180 degrees with contour deformity ≥ grade 3 and/or length of tumor contact > 2 cm to predict vascular invasion, the AUCs for the two readers were 0.85-0.88 for arterial invasion and 0.92-0.87 for venous invasion. Using criteria of circumferential interface ≤ 180° with contour deformity ≤ grade 2 and/or length of tumor contact < 2 cm to predict R0 resection, the AUCs was 0.85-0.86 for the two readers. The overall inter-reader agreement was good (κ = 0.75-0.80). The κ values for venous invasion, arterial invasion and R0 resection were 0.76, 0.78, and 0.80.

CONCLUSION

Tumor-vessel criteria demonstrated good diagnostic performance and reproducibility in the prediction of vascular invasion after NAT in BRPC. These criteria could be helpful in the prediction of R0 resection in cases with only venous involvement.

The accuracy of multi-detector computed tomography and laparoscopy in the prediction of peritoneal carcinomatosis index score in primary ovarian cancer

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of MDCT and laparoscopy in the prediction of peritoneal carcinomatosis index score. Reproducibility of MDCT interpretation was also assessed.

METHODS

This prospective study included 85 ovarian cancer patients underwent MDCT and diagnostic laparoscopy before cytoreductive surgery. We calculated the accuracy of diagnostic modalities in the calculation of the peritoneal cancer index score (PCI). Radiologist interobserver agreement was calculated using kappa statistics.

RESULTS

Nine hundred-thirty (84.2%) of the 1105 regions had peritoneal deposits at exploratory laparotomy. Computed tomography (CT) and laparoscopy sensitivity were 94.9%, 98.3%, specificity 86.7%, 80.4%, PPV 97.9 %, 96.8%, NPV 72.2%, 88.8 %, and accuracy 93.8 %, 95.7%, respectively. However, computed tomography (CT) diagnostic performance is less accurate than laparoscopy in pelvic and small intestinal regions; no statistically significant differences were evident regarding total PCI score compared to surgery (p> 0.05). CT and laparoscopy correctly depicted peritoneal carcinomatosis in 88.2%, 90.6% of patients, respectively. Optimal cytoreduction was achieved in 68 (80%) patients.

CONCLUSION

Both CT and laparoscopy seems to be effective tools for assessment of peritoneal carcinomatosis using the PCI score. Dedicated MDCT protocol with routine use of a standardized PCI form may provide better comprehensive multi-regional analysis that may help surgeons referring patients to the best treatment option. Laparoscopy is a valuable tool in cases with a high risk of suboptimal cytoreduction related to disease extent.

Accuracy of radiologic- laparoscopic peritoneal carcinomatosis categorization in the prediction of surgical outcome

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the agreement between multiple detector CT (MDCT) and laparoscopy in the preoperative categorization of peritoneal carcinomatosis, and to determine the impact of this categorization on the prediction of cytoreduction status.

METHODS

This prospective study included 80 consecutive females with primary ovarian cancer eligible for cytoreductive surgery (CRS). MDCT and diagnostic laparoscopy were performed prior to surgery for assessment of peritoneal carcinomatosis extent. Based on PCI (peritoneal cancer index) score, carcinomatosis was categorized into three groups. Categorization agreement between CT and laparoscopy was assessed and compared with the intraoperative-histopathologically proven PCI. Impact of PCI categorization on cytoreduction status was also evaluated.

RESULTS

The overall agreement between CT and laparoscopy in preoperative peritoneal carcinomatosis categorization was good (K =0.71-0.79) in low category group and excellent in both moderate and large group (interclass correlation coeeficient = 0.89-0.91). (p<0.01) Optimal cytoreduction was achieved in 62/80 (77.5%) patients, PCI < 20 was detected in 48/62 (77.4%), pre-operative PCI < 20 correctly predicted optimal cytoreductive surgery (OCS) in 40/48 (83.3%) cases. Suboptimal cytoreduction was performed in 18/80 (22.5%) patients. PCI > 20 was detected in (10/18) 55.6%, preoperative CT and laparoscopy PCI > 20 correctly predicted SCS in 8/10 (80%) cases. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve showed that PCI cut-off <20 was the best predictor of OCS with an accuracy 85%, sensitivity 97%, specificity 40%, negative predictive value 76%, and positive predictive value 93%.

CONCLUSION

Both laparoscopy and CT are equally effective in pre-operative peritoneal carcinomatosis categorization. PCI < 20 is accurate in the prediction of optimal cytoreduction. More than half of patients with suboptimal cytoreduction had PCI > 20 and interval debulking surgery can be recommended.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

Both laparoscopy and CT are equally effective in pre-operative peritoneal carcinomatosis categorization. PCI < 20 is accurate in the prediction of optimal cytoreduction. More than half of patients with suboptimal cytoreduction had PCI > 20 and interval debulking surgery can be recommended.