Carlo Emanuele Neumaier

MR imaging of the brachial plexus: comparison between 1.5-T and 3-T MR imaging: preliminary experience

ObjectiveTo compare 1.5-T and 3-T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the brachial plexus.Materials and MethodsInstitutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained from 30 healthy volunteers and 30 consecutive patients with brachial plexus disturbances. MR was prospectively performed with comparable sequence parameters and coils with a 1.5-T and a 3-T system. Imaging protocols at both field strengths included T1-weighted turbo spin-echo (tSE) sequences and T2-weighed turbo spin-echo (tSE) sequences with fat saturation. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between muscle and nerve were calculated for both field strengths. The visibility of brachial plexus nerve at various anatomic levels (roots, interscalene area, costoclavicular space, and axillary level) was analyzed with a four-point grading scale by two radiologists. MR imaging diagnoses and pathological findings were also compared qualitatively.ResultsSNR and CNRs were significantly higher on 3-T MR images than on 1.5-T MR images (Friedman test) for all sequences. Nerve visibility was significantly better on 3-T MR images than on 1.5-T MR images (paired sign test). Pathological findings (n = 30/30) were seen equally well with both field strengths. MR imaging diagnoses did not differ for the 1.5- and 3-T protocols.ConclusionsHigh-quality MR images of the brachial plexus can be obtained with 3-T MR imaging by using sequences similar to those used at 1.5-T MR imaging. In patients and healthy volunteers, the visibility of nerve trunks and cords at 3-T MR imaging appears to be superior to that at 1.5-T MR imaging.

Predictability, efficacy and safety of radiosensitization of glioblastoma-initiating cells by the ATM inhibitor KU-60019.

We have previously shown that pharmacological inhibition of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) protein sensitizes glioblastoma‐initiating cells (GICs) to ionizing radiation (IR). Herein, we report the experimental conditions to overcome GIC radioresistance in vitro using the specific ATM inhibitor KU‐60019, two major determinants of the tumor response to this drug and the absence of toxicity of this treatment in vitro and in vivo. Repeated treatments with KU‐60019 followed by IR substantially delayed GIC proliferation in vitro and even eradicated radioresistant cells, whereas GIC treated with vehicle plus radiation recovered early and expanded. The tumor response to the drug occurred under a cutoff level of expression of TP53 and over a cutoff level of expression of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K). No increased clastogenicity or point mutagenicity was induced by KU‐60019 plus radiation when compared to vehicle plus radiation. No significant histological changes to the brain or other organs were observed after prolonged infusion into the brain of KU‐60019 at millimolar concentrations. Taken together, these findings suggest that GIC‐driven tumors with low expression of TP53 and high expression of PI3K might be effectively and safely radiosensitized by KU‐60019.

Color Doppler appearance of penile cavernosal–spongiosal communications in patients with normal and impaired erection

Abstract. Our objective was to investigate prevalence and Doppler characteristics of penile cavernosal–spongiosal communications (CSC). These vessels are either anastomoses connecting the cavernosal arteries with the urethral arterial network or afferent vessels to the corpus spongiosum. Sixty-one consecutive patients underwent penile color Doppler US. Waveform changes in CSC were evaluated in comparison with changes in the cavernosal artery. Eighteen of 61 patients had normal erection, 17 of 61 had arterial insufficiency, and 26 of 61 had veno-occlusive dysfunction. Resistance index (RI) in CSC was significantly lower than in cavernosal arteries in all patients and increased during phases 1–2 (positive diastolic flow). Peak systolic velocity (PSV) in CSC was significantly higher in the patients with veno-occlusive dysfunction. During cavernosal phase 4 (diastolic flow reversal) CSC of patients with normal erection or with arterial insufficiency disappeared, underwent markedly reduced diastolic flow, or had systolic flow inversion. Conversely, low resistance flow was appreciable in CSC of patients with veno-occlusive dysfunction who reached phase 4. During phase 5 (systolic peak reduction) all CSC disappeared. Color Doppler US allows evaluation of CSC both in patients with normal and impaired erection.

Case Report: US Detection of Tendinous Metastasis from Malignant Melanoma

The introduction of high frequency transducers has considerably improved the application of US in the study of musculo-tendinous diseases. We report a rare case of tendinous metastasis from malignant melanoma. The tumour (high karyokinetic index, Clark level IV) arose 4 years earlier in the dorsal region. The patient was admitted for pain in the left knee. A nodular hypoechoic lesion, 0.8 cm in diameter, poorly marginated, located in the subcutaneous tissue and involving the patellar tendon was identified with ultrasound. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis.

Case report: Isolated neurofibrosarcoma of the liver: US, CT and MR findings

Neurofibrosarcomas are rare neoplasms usually associated with von Recklinghausens disease. In this paper we describe ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) appearances of an unusual isolated neurofibrosarcoma of the liver.

Spontaneous rupture of renal angiomyolipoma with perinephric haemorrhage: sonographic findings.

The sonographic findings observed in four patients with spontaneous rupture of a renal angiomyolipoma and perinephric haemorrhage are presented. In all cases, a hyperechoic renal mass surrounded by a large hypoechoic haematoma was identified. Furthermore, the actual site of rupture of the tumour could be seen in one case as a wedge-shaped hypoechoic structure extending from the periphery to the centre of the mass. CT has been suggested as the method of choice in the assessment of both the presence and extent of haemorrhagic complications of angiomyolipomas. However, since such lesions can be demonstrated and identified by ultrasound, which is often used as the first imaging procedure in abdominal complaints, the technique may also prove of value in planning further diagnostic tests and in choosing the appropriate therapeutic approach to these patients.

Faithful animal modelling of human glioma by using primary initiating cells and its implications for radiosensitization therapy [ARRIVE 1]

It has been reported that the ATM kinase inhibitor KU60019 preferentially radiosensitizes orthotopic high grade gliomas (HGG) driven by established U87 and U1242 cell lines bearing specific TP53 mutations. We wished to determine whether those results could be extended to tumors driven by primary glioma initiating cells (GIC) that closely mimic clinical tumors. Orthotopic HGG were developed in immunodeficient non-obese diabetic-severe combined immunodeficient (NOD-SCID) mice by intracranial injection of primary GIC isolated from the adult glioblastoma COMI (acronym of patient’s name) and the pediatric anaplastic astrocytoma 239/12. Similar to the clinical tumors of origin, the orthotopic tumors COMI and 239/12 displayed different growth properties with a voluminous expansive lesion that exerted considerable mass effect on the adjacent structures and an infiltrating, gliomatosis-like growth pattern with limited compressive attitude, respectively. Significant elongations of median animal survival bearing the adult COMI tumor was observed after one KU60019 convection enhanced delivery followed by total 7.5 Gy of ionizing radiation delivered in fifteen 0.5 Gy fractions, as compared to animals treated with vehicle + ionizing radiation (105 vs 89 days; ratio: 0.847; 95% CI of ratio 0.4969 to 1.198; P:0.0417). Similarly, a trend to increased median survival was observed with the radiosensitized pediatric tumor 239/12 (186 vs 167 days; ratio: 0.8978; 95% CI of ratio: 0.5352 to 1.260; P: 0.0891). Our results indicate that radiosensitization by KU60019 is effective towards different orthotopic gliomas that faithfully mimic the clinical tumors and that multiple GIC-based animal models may be essential to develop novel therapeutic protocols for HGG transferable to the clinics.