ObjectiveTo assess the feasibility of contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) of the breast for assessing the size of residual tumors after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).Materials and methodsIn breast cancer patients who underwent NAC between 2011 and 2013, we evaluated residual tumor measurements obtained with CESM and full-field digital mammography (FFDM). We determined the concordance between the methods, as well as their level of agreement with the pathology. Three radiologists analyzed eight CESM and FFDM measurements separately, considering the size of the residual tumor at its largest diameter and correlating it with that determined in the pathological analysis. Interobserver agreement was also evaluated.ResultsThe sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were higher for CESM than for FFDM (83.33%, 100%, 100%, and 66% vs. 50%, 50%, 50%, and 25%, respectively). The CESM measurements showed a strong, consistent correlation with the pathological findings (correlation coefficient = 0.76-0.92; intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.692-0.886). The correlation between the FFDM measurements and the pathological findings was not statistically significant, with questionable consistency (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.488-0.598). Agreement with the pathological findings was narrower for CESM measurements than for FFDM measurements. Interobserver agreement was higher for CESM than for FFDM (0.94 vs. 0.88).ConclusionCESM is a feasible means of evaluating residual tumor size after NAC, showing a good correlation and good agreement with pathological findings. For CESM measurements, the interobserver agreement was excellent.
Background: Heart diseases can cause changes to vascular ultrasonography (VUS) waveforms in peripheral vessels. These changes are typically bilateral and systemic, they have been little studied, and little is known about them. Objective: To assess peripheral VUS waveforms in elderly patients in order to identify changes caused by heart diseases. Methods: During 2014, a total of 183 elderly patients were examined with peripheral VUS and the results were analyzed. Results: The sample comprised 102 women (55.7%) and 81 men (44.3%) with ages ranging from 60 to 91 years (mean of 70.4±7.2 years). Abnormalities were identified in VUS waveforms in 84 patients (45.9%). A total of 138 abnormalities were identified and classified into eight of the 13 categories described in the literature, as follows: arrhythmia, systolic pulsus bisferiens, low peak systolic velocity, pulsatile flow in femoral veins, bradycardia, tachycardia, pulsus tardus et parvus and pulsus alternans. There was low agreement between presence/absence of VUS abnormalities and cardiological assessments. Analysis of specific abnormalities revealed variable levels of agreement between VUS and cardiological assessments, ranging from good for tachycardia, moderate for arrhythmia, to low for bradycardia. There was no agreement between VUS and cardiological examinations for the remaining categories of abnormalities. Conclusions: Certain cardiac abnormalities can be identified in elderly patients by analysis of peripheral VUS waveforms. It is important to recognize and report the presence of these abnormalities because there is a possibility that they may serve to signal hitherto unidentified diagnoses in these patients. However, further studies are needed to determine the importance of changes to peripheral Doppler waveforms to recognition of heart diseases.
RESUMOOs autores expõem um caso de uma mulher de 57 anos que apresentou uma massa palpável na mama direita. Na mamografia, foi identificada uma assimetria focal com gordura de permeio, sem achado suspeito à ultrassonografia. A ressonância magnética das mamas, com meio de contraste, demonstrou um nódulo irregular e mal definido, com baixo sinal em T1 sem supressão de gordura e alto sinal em T2 com supressão de gordura. Apresentou também realce heterogêneo irregular com septos espessos realçantes medindo 5,3 cm, cinética inicial rápida e curva do tipo persistente. Uma nova ultrassonografia dirigida foi realizada, sendo observado um nódulo hipoecoico de 1,2 cm, associado à alteração da ecogenicidade do parênquima mamário adjacente. Realizou-se biópsia a vácuo do nódulo hipoecoico e do parênquima adjacente, guiada por ultrassom. O estudo histopatológico demonstrou angiossarcoma primário da mama de baixo grau. O PET-CT, realizado 6 meses após a cirurgia, não evidenciou recidiva ou metástases. ABSTRACT
Background Despite all the investment in primary venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis for surgical patients in recent years, there are still no specific guidelines for those who undergo procedures to treat lower limb varicose veins. Objectives To evaluate the profile of VTE prophylaxis practices among Brazilian vascular surgeons conducting lower limb varicose vein procedures. Methods Survey design, sending an electronic questionnaire to Brazilian vascular surgeons. Respondents were divided between those who perform saphenous vein treatment with conventional surgery and those who perform thermoablation for the purpose of comparison between groups. Results Of 765 respondents, 405 (53%) treat saphenous veins with conventional surgery for, 44 (6%) with foam, and 199 (26%) with thermoablation (endolaser or radiofrequency). Surgeons who perform thermoablation prescribed more pharmacoprophylaxis after varicose vein surgery than those who perform conventional surgery (67/199, 34% vs. 112/405, 28%; p = 0.002). The thermoablation group stratifies patients for thromboembolism risk more frequently than the conventional surgery group (102/199, 51% vs. 179/405, 44%; p = 0.004). Both groups use enoxaparin as the most frequent drug for prophylaxis, but the thermoablation group uses proportionally more direct oral anticoagulants than the conventional surgery group (26% vs. 10%, p<0.001). Conclusions Brazilian vascular surgeons who perform saphenous vein treatment by thermoablation prescribe pharmacoprophylaxis more frequently and for a longer period than those who use conventional surgery.
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