Comparison of CT and MRI for presurgical characterization of paraaortic lymph nodes in patients with pancreatico-biliary carcinoma

AIM:To determine the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) for presurgical characterization of paraaortic lymph nodes in patients with pancreatico-biliary carcinoma. METHODS:Two radiologists independently evaluated CT and MR imaging of 31 patients who had undergone lymphadenectomy (9 metastatic and 22 non-metastatic paraaortic nodes). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed using a five point scale to compare CT with MRI. To re-define the morphologic features of metastatic nodes, we evaluated CT scans from 70 patients with 23 metastatic paraaortic nodes and 47 non-metastatic ones. The short axis diameter, ratio of the short to long axis, shape, and presence of necrosis were compared between metastatic and non-metastatic nodes by independent samples t-test and Fisher's exact test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS:The mean area under the ROC curve for CT (0.732 and 0.646, respectively) was slightly higher than that for MRI (0.725 and 0.598, respectively) without statistical significance (P = 0.940 and 0.716,respectively). The short axis diameter of the metastatic lymph nodes (mean = 9.2 mm) was significantly larger than that of non-metastatic ones (mean = 5.17 mm, P < 0.05). Metastatic nodes had more irregular margins (44.4%) and central necrosis (22.2%) than non-metastatic ones (9% and 0%, respectively), with statistical significance (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION:The accuracy of CT scan for the characterization of paraaortic nodes is not different from that of MRI. A short axis-diameter (> 5.3 mm), irregular margin, and presence of central necrosis are the suggestive morphologic features of metastatic paraaortic nodes.

Paraaortic lymph node metastasis in patients with intra-abdominal malignancies:CT vs PET

AIM： To compare the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography （CT） and positron emission tomography （PET） for the preoperative detection of paraaortic lymph node （PAN） metastasis in patients with intra- abdominal malignancies. METHODS： Sixty-six patients with intra-abdominal malignancies who underwent both CT and PET before lymphadenectomy were included in this study. Histopathologicaliy, 13 patients had metastatic PAN, while 53 had non-metastatic PAN. The CT criteria for metastasis were： short diameter ：）f 〉 8 mm, Iobular or irregular shape, and/or combined ancillary findings, including necrosis, conglomeration, vessel encasement, and infiltration. The PET criterion was positive fluorodeoxyglucose （FDG） uptake. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value （PPV）, negative predictive value （NPV）, and accuracy of both modalities were compared with the pathologic findings, and the false positive and false negative cases with both CT and PET were analyzed.RESULTS： The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of CT were 61.5%, 84.9%, 50%, 90% and 80.3%, respectively. For PET, the percentages were 46.2%, 100%, 100%, 88.3%, and 89.4%. Additionally, there were 8 false positive CT cases （8/53, 15.1%） and zero false positive PET cases. Of the 13 metastatic PANs, there were 5 false negative CT scans （38.5%） and 7 （53.9%） false negative PET scans.CONCLUSION： For detecting PAN metastasis, CT is more sensitive than PET, while PET is more specific.

FOLFIRINOX vs gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel for treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer: Single-center cohort study

BACKGROUND FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel(Gem+nabPTX)were recently introduced for metastatic pancreatic cancer treatment.However,studies that compared these two regimens and studies in Asian populations are lacking.AIM To compare the treatment outcomes of FOLFIRINOX and Gem+nabPTX regimen for metastatic pancreatic cancer treatment in Korean population.METHODS Patients with metastatic or recurrent pancreatic cancer treated with FOLFIRINOX(n=86)or Gem+nabPTX(n=81)as the first-line since January 2015 were identified using the Severance Hospital Pancreatic Cancer Cohort Registry.Treatment efficacy,treatment-related adverse events and economic aspects were compared.RESULTS Patients in the FOLFIRINOX group were significantly younger(54 vs 65 years;P<0.001)and had better performance statuses at diagnosis.The median overall survival(10.7 vs 12.1 mo;P=0.157),progression-free survival(8.0 vs 8.4 mo;P=0.134),and objective response rates(33.7%vs 46.9%;P=0.067)were not significantly different when compared with Gem+nabPTX group.Grade≥3 neutropenia and gastrointestinal adverse events were more common in the FOLFIRINOX group.The drug costs of both regimens were similar.CONCLUSION Treatment efficacy and economic burdens were comparable between the two regimens.But,the details of adverse event were different.Gem+nabPTX regimen might be considered preferentially in certain conditions.

Gallstone spillage caused by spontaneously perforated hemorrhagic cholecystitis

There are occasional incidences of gallstone spillage during laparoscopic cholecystectomy,and there have been frequent reports on such a topic in the literature. To the best of our knowledge,however,there have been no reports about spilled stones caused by spontaneously perforated hemorrhagic cholecystitis. Here,we report the radiologic findings of spilled stones caused by spontaneously perforated hemorrhagic cholecystitis in a 55-year-old man.