Isotropic volumetric MRI for displaying cranial perineural spread of cranial nerve in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Objective To observe the value of isotropic volumetric MRI for displaying perineural spread(PNS)of cranial nerve(CN)in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods Eighty-seven patients with pathologically proven nasopharyngeal carcinoma were prospectively enrolled.MR scanning,including three-dimensional liver acquisition with volume acceleration-flexible(3D LAVA_Flex)image,T2WI with fat suppression(T2WI-FS),T1WI,contrast enhancement(CE)T1WI-FS of nasopharynx and neck region were performed.The displaying rates of CN PNS were evaluated and compared between 3D LAVA_Flex and T2WI-FS,T1WI,CE-T1WI-FS at patient level,CN group level and neural level,respectively.Results The displaying rate of CN PNS in all 87 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients by 3D LAVA_Flex sequence was 49.43%(43/87),higher than that of conventional MRI(30/87,34.48%,P=0.001).Among 59 patients with advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosed with conventional sequences,the displaying rate of CN PNS was 71.19%(42/59)by 3D LAVA-Flex sequence,higher than that of conventional MRI(30/59,50.85%,P=0.001).At both patient level and posterior CN level,significant differences of the displaying rate of CN PNS were found between 3D LAVA-Flex sequence and T2WI-FS,T1WI,CE-T1WI-FS,while at CN level,the displaying rates of mandibular nerve PNS,CNⅨ—ⅪPNS in jugular foramen(P<0.05)and CNⅨ—ⅫPNS in carotid space of 3D LAVA_Flex sequence were all significantly higher than that of T2WI-FS,T1WI and CE-T1WI-FS(all P<0.05),of PNS of CNⅢ—Ⅴin cavernous sinus were higher than that of T2WI-FS(P<0.05),while of PNS of hypoglossal nerve were significantly higher than that of T2WI-FS and T1WI(both P<0.05).Conclusion 3D LAVA_Flex sequence could be used to effectively display CN PNS of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

大分割全脑放疗联合卡瑞利珠单抗在脑转移患者中的应用

研究分析大分割全脑放疗联合卡瑞利珠单抗治疗脑转移瘤的疗效及安全性。方法 2020.06-2023.02共20例脑转移瘤患者纳入研究,采用超常规大分割方案:给予30 Gy/10Fx放疗,3Gy/次/天,每周5次,2周完成;同步免疫治疗方案:放疗开始给予卡瑞利珠单抗注射夜(PD-1)的免疫治疗,每3周1次,放疗后继续维持免疫治疗3个月或至疾病进展或药物不能耐受。疗后1~2个月复查MRI 评估疗效。结果 CR、PR、SD分别占55%、25%和15%;治疗后1~4个月评估的治疗病灶客观有效率ORR为80%,疾病控制率DCR为95%,其中 PD5%仅1例。PFS影响因素主要为患者有颅外病变或原发灶未控制、KPS评分<70、GPA<2分、RPA>1级;OS影响因素主要为颅外病变或原发灶未控制、RPA>1级;免疫治疗及是否完成等对颅内PFS及OS均无影响;患者生活质量明显改善,治疗前EQ-5D平均47分,治疗结束后半年内随访平均76分,E1~5也明显见好转。不良反应仅有轻度的颅内转移相关症状及原发疾病引起的轻度贫血等症状。结论 大分割全脑放疗联合卡瑞利珠单抗治疗脑转移瘤可以提高患者生活质量且副反应小,疗效为安全有效。

Comparative Study of CT Images of Cerebral Metastasis from Pulmonary Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma

Objective: To explore the di?erence of CT images of metastatic tumors to the brain of lung squamous cell cancer and lung glandular cancer. Methods: Forty-?ve cases of lung squamous cell cancer and 59 cases of lung glandular cancer have gone through pathological con?rmation and all the 104 cases have been put under enhanced scanning on the basis of ?at scanning. The shape and density of the metastatic tumors, encephaledema around the tumors, and the reinforcement change after the enhancement were analyzed. Results: The CT scanning images of all the cases showed that, under ?at scanning, the density of the metastatic tumors to the brain of lung squamous cell cancer was over the slightly-high level and by no means even. Again, under ?at scanning, some 10 cases of metastatic tumors to the brain of lung glandular cancer showed a slightly-high density and some 49 other cases a low density and sack-like low density. Forty-?ve cases of metastatic tumors to the brain of lung squamous cell cancer were with hydroncus while some 30 cases of that of lung glandular cancer were in the same condition. Most of the two types of metastatic tumors, amounting to 97 cases, took place in supratentorial manner, and only 7 cases took place in subtentorial manner. Conclusion: The CT images of metastatic tumors to the brain of lung squamous cell cancer and lung glandular cancer are obviously di?erent from each other. As for the lung squamous cell cancer, the ?at scanning density of the tumor is over the slightly-high level with unevenness. There is relatively obvious reinforcement and obvious hydroncus. As for the lung glandular cancer, the metastatic tumor to the brain shows a low density and sack-like low density under ?at scanning. There is no obvious reinforcement and relatively slight hydroncus.

Brain metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma:A case report and review of the literature

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequent malignancies in the world. It is more common in far eastern countries and relatively rare in the United States and western European countries where at autopsy it accounts for only 1-2% of malignant rumors, The disease is usually manifested in the the 6^th and 7^th decade of life. HCC is one of the highly malignant neoplasms, Extrahepatic metastases are seen in 64% of patients with HCC. The lungs, regional lymph nodes, kidney, bone marrow and adrenals are common sites of HCC metastasis^[1-3], But, metastasis to brain and skull is extremely rare. Table I shows some of the reported cases of HCC with brain metastasis. These case reports reaffirms the complex and multidisciplinary care of these patients^[4-5].

MR IMAGING OF MENINGEAL CARCINOMATOSIS BY SYSTEMIC MALIGNANCY

Objective. To investigate the magnetic resonance (MR) features of meningeal carcinomatosis, and to improve the ability in understanding and diagnosing meningeal carcinomatosis by MR findings.Methods. Eleven cases with proven meningeal carcinomatosis were studied by conventional and Gd - DTPA enhanced MR imaging. The enhancement patterns and features, as well as the types of meningeal involvement, were retrospectively analyzed.Results. Conventional MR imaging showed no evident meningeal abnormalities. After the administration of Gd - DTPA, abnormal pia mater enhancement was detected in 9 cases, demonstrating as the continuous, thin, and lineal high signal intensity on the brain surface that could descend into the sulci. The abnormal pial enhancement occurred on the cortical surfaces of cerebellum, brainstem, and cerebrum. No abnormal enhancement in the subarach-noid space was found. Abnormal dura - arachnoid enhancement was seen in 3 cases, showing as the continuous, thick, and curvilineal high signal intensity over the convexities or in the tentorium without extension into the cortical sulci. Cerebral dura - arachnoid involvement was found in all 3 cases and one of them also showed abnormal enhancement in cerebellar dura - arachnoid and tentorium. Of the 11 cases, 9 with pial involvement had abnormal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) results, 2 involving only the dura - arachnoid had normal CSF results.Conclusion. Meningeal carcinomatosis could be well demonstrated by Gd - DTPA enhanced MR imaging, and its type could be differentiated by the enhancement features. Combined with the clinical information, Gd - enhanced MR imaging may lead to the diagnosis and guide the therapy of meningeal carcinomatosis.