Predictors of unfavorable outcome at 90 days in basilar artery occlusion patients

BACKGROUND In a previous study,basilar artery occlusion(BAO)was shown to lead to death or disability in 80%of the patients.The treatment for BAO patients in the acute stage includes thrombolysis and intra-arterial thrombectomy,but not all patients benefit from these treatments.Thus,understanding the predictors of outcome before initiating these treatments is of special interest.AIM To determine the predictors related to the 90-d clinical outcome in patients with BAO in an Asian population.METHODS We performed a retrospective case review of patients admitted to a tertiary stroke center between 2015 and 2019.We used the international classification of diseases-10 criteria to identify cases of posterior circulation stroke.A neurologist reviewed every case,and patients fulfilling the criteria defined in the Basilar Artery International Cooperation Study were included.We then analyzed the patients’characteristics and factors related to the 90-d outcome.RESULTS We identified a total of 99 patients as real BAO cases.Of these patients,33(33.3%)had a favorable outcome at 90 d(modified Rankin Scale:0–3).Moreover,72 patients received intra-arterial thrombectomy,while 13 patients received intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator treatment.We observed a favorable outcome in 33.3%of the cases and an unfavorable outcome in 66.7%of the cases.We found that the initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)score and several BAO symptoms,including impaired consciousness,tetraparesis,and pupillary abnormalities,were significantly associated with an unfavorable outcome(P<0.05),while cerebellar symptoms were associated with a favorable outcome(P<0.05).In the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)analysis,the areas under the ROC curve of initial NIHSS score,impaired consciousness,tetraparesis,cerebellar symptoms,and pupillary abnormalities were 0.836,0.644,0.727,0.614,and 0.614,respectively.Initial NIHSS score showed a higher AUROC(0.836)compared to BAO symptoms.CONCLUSION The most important predictor of an unfavorable outcome was the initial NIHSS score.BAO symptoms,including tetraparesis,impaired consciousness,and pupillary abnormality were also related to an unfavorable outcome.

Uterine cervical carcinoma treated with chemoradiotherapy: impact of three-month MRI follow-up on clinical management and outcome

Aim:The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of MRI performed three months after treatment on further follow-up interventions and outcome in patients with uterine cervical carcinoma treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy.Methods:Sixty consecutive women diagnosed with uterine cervical cancer FIGO 2009 stage IB1-IVA during 2011-2012 treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy/radiotherapy with curative intent at the Department of Gynaecological Oncology at Karolinska University Hospital were retrospectively included.A review of MRI reports and medical records with focus on follow-up interventions associated to imaging was performed.Results:On follow-up MRI three months post treatment,29/60 women had complete remission(mrCR),24/60 women had partial remission(mrPR)and 7/60 had progressive disease(mrPD).In patients with mrCR,no additional procedures were performed.The group with mrPR had 27 additional MRIs,3 PET/CT examinations and 9 biopsy procedures,none leading to diagnosis of residual tumour.Locoregional control rate was 96%after 6.5 months(median).No patient had cervical relapse only;2/53 had cervical relapse in combination with non-regional lymph nodes and distant relapse.There was no statistically significant difference in overall survival between patients with mrCR and mrPR(HR=2.2,P=0.21).Conclusion:Patients with residual changes on MRI at three months post treatment have a low risk for locoregional recurrence.If this is not recognised,follow-up MRI results in unnecessary additional procedures with low impact on treatment outcome.Further studies are needed regarding the most appropriate imaging modality and timing of post-treatment evaluation.