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Objective The objective of this study was to assess the initial results of chest computed tomography (CT) standardized diagnostic criteria proposed by the Radiological Society of North America in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) compared with reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Methods Seventy-one patients who underwent RT-PCR test for COVID-19 and chest CT within an interval of 4 days or less were included. Seventy-five CTs were reviewed and classified as typical, indeterminate, or atypical appearance or negative for pneumonia by 2 radiologists. With RT-PCR as reference standard, the performance of the CT diagnostic criteria in diagnosing COVID-19 was assessed. Results The prevalence of positive RT-PCR was 45.1%. It was obtained a sensitivity of 83% (95% confidence interval [CI], 78%–89%), a specificity of 97% (95% CI, 92%–99%), an accuracy of 91% (95% CI, 85%–96%), a positive predictive value of 97% (95% CI, 91%–99%), and a negative predictive value of 86% (95% CI, 80%–92%). The diagnostic performance was excellent, considering the area under the curve of 0.92 (95% CI, 0.84–0.99). Conclusions Chest CT standardized diagnostic criteria had high specificity and positive predictive value for the diagnosis of COVID-19 when presenting a typical appearance.

A giant cell tumor (GCT) is an intermediate grade, locally aggressive neoplasia. Despite advances in surgical and clinical treatments, cases located on the spine and pelvic bones remain a significant challenge. Failure of clinical treatment with denosumab and patient refusal of surgical procedures (hemipelvectomy) led to the use of cryoablation. We report the use of percutaneous CT-guided cryoablation as an alternative treatment, shown to be a minimally invasive, safe, and effective option for a GCT with extensive involvement of the pelvic bones and allowed structural and functional preservation of the involved bones.

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We demonstrated that 3D-T(1rho) MRI of the shoulder can be performed on a 3 T clinical scanner within specific absorption rate (SAR) limits, and we present baseline values for healthy patients which may be useful for quantitative comparison with diseased shoulders.

ObjectiveTo assess the accuracy of ultrasound in the visualization of the brachial plexus and to determine the value of the method in comparison with that of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Materials and MethodsThis was an anatomical study of the brachial plexuses of 20 asymptomatic adults (40 plexuses), comparing ultrasound and MRI in terms of their accuracy. In the ultrasound study, a high-frequency linear transducer was used, and a neurovascular coil was used in the MRI study. To estimate the frequency of visualization, the brachial plexus was divided into segments.ResultsThe cervical nerve roots, the upper trunk, and the middle trunk were the segments that were best visualized on ultrasound. On MRI, the degree of visualization was excellent for most of the segments. In the comparison between ultrasound and MRI, the C6, C7, upper trunk, and middle trunk segments showed equivalent degrees of visualization, with a high level of agreement between the two methods. ConclusionIn the brachial plexus, ultrasound can be used in the assessment of the cervical nerve roots, as well as of the upper and middle trunks, although it provides limited visualization of the remaining segments. Ultrasound and MRI showed a high level of agreement for the visualization of the C6, C7, and middle trunk segments.

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1 -Neurosurgeon from Sírio Libanês Hospital -São Paulo / SP / Brazil. 2 -Head and Neck Surgeon from Sírio Libanês Hospital -São Paulo / SP / Brazil. 3 -Neurologist from Sírio Libanês Hospital -São Paulo / SP / Brazil. 4 -Radiologist from Sírio Libanês Hospital -São Paulo / SP / Brazil. 5 -Neuropathologist from Sírio Libanês Hospital -São Paulo / SP / Brazil. RESUMO Introdução: A maioria dos Hemangiopericitomas (HPC) ocorre na pele ou no sistema musculoesquelético, enquanto que a topografia do Sistema Nervoso Central (SNC) é mais rara. Objetivo e Métodos: Nós descrevemos um paciente portador de um HPC espinhal volumoso, com compressão medular exuberante, se estendendo de C6 a T3, o qual foi levado para cirurgia. Resultados: O paciente foi submetido à cirurgia, via posterior, identificando um tumor sólido de consistência firme, vermelho-acastanhado, muito vascularizado, o qual foi delicadamente dissecado e ressecado totalmente em bloco. Exames histopatológico e imunohistoquímico revelaram HPC. Conclusão: HPCs espinhais são tumores raros, que ocorrem de maneira isolada, aderidos à dura-máter, mas que favorecem a ressecção completa, tendo em vista apresentarem bom plano de clivagem com tecidos circunjacentes. Palavras-chave: Neoplasia do SNC, tumor espinhal, hemangiopericitoma.ABSTRACT Introduction: Most hemangiopericytomas (HPC) are located in the musculoskeletal system and the skin, while the location in the central nervous system (CNS) is rare. Objective and Methods: We describe a patient suffering from a spinal extradural huge HPC, with marked spinal cord compression, extending from C6 to T3 level, who was elected to surgery. Results: Patient was submitted to surgery, via a posterior approach, indentifying a huge red-brown firm mass, highly vascular, that was softly dissected from surrounding tissues. Total gross removal was accomplished, with "in-block" resection, preserving neurological function, as shown by somatosensitive evoked potential. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry essay were performed confirming the diagnosis of Hemangiopericytoma. Conclusion: Spinal HPCs respond to approximately 8% of all HPC, tend to occur isolated and attached to spinal duramater, and usually present a good surgical cleavage between the tumor and the dura.