Christian Lohrmann

Whole-body MRI in the detection of bone marrow infiltration in patients with plasma cell neoplasms in comparison to the radiological skeletal survey

To compare the diagnostic value of whole-body MRI versus radiological skeletal survey (RSS) in staging patients with plasma cell neoplasms (PCN) and to evaluate the possible therapeutic impact of the replacement of RSS by whole-body MRI. Fifty-four patients with PCN [multiple myeloma (MM), n=47; monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS), n=7] were studied by whole-body MRI and RSS in a monocenter prospective analysis from August 2002 to May 2004. The MRIs were performed using a rolling table platform “AngioSURF” for unlimited field of view with a 1.5-T system (Magnetom Sonata/Maestro Class, Siemens Medical Solutions, Erlangen, Germany). A coronal STIR sequence (TR5500-4230/TE102-94/TI160) was used for imaging of the different body regions, including the head, neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis and upper and lower extremities. The RSS consisted of eight different projections of the axial and appendicular skeleton. In 41/54 (74%) patients, the results of the whole-body MRI and RSS were concordant. In 11/54 (20%) patients, both imaging techniques were negative. Bone involvement was observed in 30/54 (55%) patients; however, whole-body MRI revealed this more extensively than the RSS in 27/30 (90%) patients with concordant positive imaging findings. In 3/30 (10%) patients, both imaging techniques demonstrated a similar extent of bone marrow infiltration. In 10/54 (19%) patients, the whole-body MRI was superior to RSS in detecting bone marrow infiltration, whereas the RSS was negative. In 3/54 (6%) patients, the RSS was proven to be false positive by the clinical course, whereas the whole-body MRI was truly negative. Whole-body MRI is a fast and highly effective method for staging PCN patients by the use of a rolling table platform. Moreover, it is more sensitive and specific than RSS and reveals bone marrow infiltration and extensive disease more reliably. Therefore, whole-body MRI should be performed as an additional method of exactly staging PCN patients and - with more data in the field - may even prove to be an alternate and more sensitive staging procedure than RSS in PCN patients.

Magnetic resonance imaging for supraspinatus muscle atrophy after cuff repair.

Between 1998 to 2000, the shoulders of 17 patients with rotator cuff tears were examined using magnetic resonance imaging preoperatively, and 6 and 12 months after open surgical repair. To assess the course of the supraspinatus muscle atrophy, the easily reproducible magnetic resonance imaging parameters occupation ratio and tangent sign in the Y-shaped view of the supraspinous fossa were evaluated and compared with the clinical examination. Occupation ratio is a quantitative parameter that reflects the area ratio, expressed as a percentage of the supraspinatus muscle belly to the supraspinous fossa. The tangent sign is a qualitative parameter that represents a line connecting the coracoid process and the apex of the scapular spine. Occupation ratio and tangent sign are reliable diagnostic tools in magnetic resonance imaging assessment of supraspinatus muscle atrophy. The sensitivity of the magnetic resonance imaging parameter occupation ratio is 75% and the specificity is 85%. The imaging parameter tangent sign has a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 85%. There is a significant relationship between occupation ratio, tangent sign, and improvement of strength and mobility registered in the score of Constant and Murley 12 months after surgery.

High-Resolution MR Lymphangiography in Patients with Primary and Secondary Lymphedema

OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to evaluate the feasibility of high-resolution MR lymphangiography with intracutaneous injection of gadodiamide, a commercially available, nonionic, extracellular paramagnetic contrast agent, for the visualization of lymphatic vessels in patients with primary and secondary lymphedema. CONCLUSION High-resolution MR lymphangiography is safe, is technically feasible, and has the potential to become a diagnostic imaging tool for patients with lymphedema.

Assessment of anal fistulas with high-resolution subtraction MR-fistulography: comparison with surgical findings.

To investigate a new MR‐imaging protocol defined as subtraction MR‐fistulography for the detection of fistula‐in‐ano.

Sinonasal computed tomography in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis.

The goal of this study was to describe pathologies of sinonasal CT in patients with Wegeners granulomatosis. Between 1993 and 2004, sinonasal CT was performed in 28 patients (15 male, 13 female) with Wegeners granulomatosis. The following imaging findings were assessed on the CT scans: mucosal thickening, subtotal opacification, air-fluid level, bony destruction, sclerosing osteitis, bony thickening, orbital mass, and saddle nose deformity. Of the 28 patients, 61% showed mucosal thickening in the nasal cavity and 75% in the paranasal sinuses. A subtotal opacification of the paranasal sinuses was detected in 25%, and of the mastoid cells in 7% of patients. Fifty-seven percent of patients had bony destruction of the nasal cavity, and 54% of the paranasal sinuses. CT revealed sclerosing osteitis of the paranasal sinuses in 21%, and of the mastoid cells in 18% of patients. Bony thickening of the paranasal sinuses was detected in 18%, and of the mastoid cells in 14% of patients. With respect to all imaging findings, the maxillary sinuses were the most frequently affected paranasal sinuses. The authors conclude that the following sinonasal CT findings are observed in patients with Wegeners granulomatosis: (1) bony destruction, mainly of the nasal cavity, maxillary sinuses, and mastoid cells; (2) sclerosing osteitis, mainly of the maxillary sinuses and mastoid cells; (3) bony thickening, mainly of the maxillary sinuses and mastoid cells; and (4) mucosal thickening, mainly of the maxillary sinuses. These findings are, however, nonspecific and should be combined with other clinicopathologic and laboratory studies to confirm the diagnosis of Wegeners granulomatosis.

Treatment of various secondary lymphedemas by microsurgical lymph vessel transplantation

Chronic lymphedema is a debilitating complication of cancer diagnosis and therapy and poses many challenges for health care professionals. It remains a poorly understood condition that has the potential to occur after any intervention affecting lymph node drainage mechanism. Microsurgical lymph vessel transplantation is increasingly recognized as a promising method for bypassing the obstructed lymph pathways and promoting long‐term reduction of edema in the affected limb. A detailed review of 14 patients with postoperative lymphedema treated with autologous lymph vessel transplantation between October 2005 and November 2009 was performed. In this report, the authors gave an account of their experience in utilizing this operative method to alleviate secondary lymphedema including upper limb, lower limb, genital, and facial edemas. Lymph vessel transplantation enhanced lymphatic drainage in patients with secondary lymphedema. In the upper and lower extremities, three patients had completed symptomatic recovery and another nine patients achieved reasonable reduction of lymphedema, four of these needed no further lymph drainage or compression garments and the remaining maintained their improvement with further decongestive therapy with or without compression garments. The patients with facial and genital edemas also experienced significant symptomatic improvement. The authors were able to establish long‐term patency of the lymph vessel anastomosis by magnetic resonance lymphangiography.

MR lymphangiography for the assessment of the lymphatic system in patients undergoing microsurgical reconstructions of lymphatic vessels

OBJECTIVE To assess the morphology of the lymphatic system pre- and postoperatively in patients undergoing microsurgical reconstructions of the lymphatic vessels. MATERIALS AND METHODS 8 lower extremities in 4 consecutive patients with secondary unilateral lymphedema of the lower extremities were examined by MR lymphangiography. 18 mL of gadoteridol and 1 mL of mepivacainhydrochloride 1% were subdivided into 10 portions and injected intracutaneously into the dorsal aspect of each foot at the region of the four interdigital webs and medial to the first proximal phalanx. MR imaging was performed with a 1.5-T system equipped with high-performance gradients. For MR lymphangiography a 3D-spoiled gradient-echo sequence was used. For evaluation of the lymphedema a heavily T2-weighted 3D-TSE sequence was performed. RESULTS In 2 patients the 3D-TSE sequence demonstrated a decrease of the epifascial lymphedema in the postoperative acquisitions, whereby MR lymphangiography displayed an improvement of dermal-back areas and collateral lymphatic vessels. In one patient the epifascial lymphedema of the lower extremity decreased, whereas the diameter of the lymphatic vessels showed a constant diameter of 2 mm. In one patient with a lymphocutaneous fistula at the level of the right groin, the feeding lymphatic vessels and contrast media extravasation could clearly be visualized. The 3D-TSE sequence demonstrated an epi- as well as subfascial lymphedema of the right leg. CONCLUSION MR lymphangiography is a safe and accurate diagnostic imaging method for the pre- and postoperative evaluation of the lymphatic circulation in patients undergoing microlymphatic surgery. Due to the minimal-invasiveness and lack of radiation, diagnostic follow-up MR lymphangiography examinations can be performed routinely and with no risk for the patient.

MR imaging of the lymphatic system in patients with lipedema and lipo-lymphedema

OBJECTIVE To assess for the first time the morphology of the lymphatic system in patients with lipedema and lipo-lymphedema of the lower extremities by MR lymphangiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS 26 lower extremities in 13 consecutive patients (5 lipedema, 8 lipo-lymphedema) were examined by MR lymphangiography. 18 mL of gadoteridol and 1 mL of mepivacainhydrochloride 1% were subdivided into 10 portions and injected intracutaneously in the forefoot. MR imaging was performed with a 1.5-T system equipped with high-performance gradients. For MR lymphangiography, a 3D-spoiled gradient-echo sequence was used. For evaluation of the lymphedema a heavily T2-weighted 3D-TSE sequence was performed. RESULTS In all 16 lower extremities (100%) with lipo-lymphedema, high signal intensity areas in the epifascial region could be detected on the 3D-TSE sequence. In the 16 examined lower extremities with lipo-lymphedema, 8 lower legs and 3 upper legs demonstrated enlarged lymphatic vessels up to a diameter of 3 mm. In two lower legs with lipo-lymphedema, an area of dermal back-flow was seen, indicating lymphatic outflow obstruction. In the 10 examined lower extremities with clinically pure lipedema, 4 lower legs and 2 upper legs demonstrated enlarged lymphatic vessels up to a diameter of 2 mm, indicating a subclinical status of lymphedema. In all examined extremities, the inguinal lymph nodes demonstrated a contrast material enhancement in the first image acquisition 15 min after injection. CONCLUSION MR lymphangiography is a safe and accurate minimal-invasive imaging modality for the evaluation of the lymphatic circulation in patients with lipedema and lipo-lymphedema of the lower extremities. If the extent of lymphatic involvement is unclear at the initial clinical examination or requires a better definition for optimal therapeutic planning, MR lymphangiography is able to identify the anatomic and physiological derangements and to establish an objective baseline.

Early recurrence of pancreatic cancer after resection and during adjuvant chemotherapy

Background/Aim: Adjuvant chemotherapy for 6 months is the current standard of care after potentially curative resection of pancreatic cancer and yields an overall survival of 15–20 months. Early tumor recurrence before or during adjuvant chemotherapy has not been evaluated so far. These patients may not benefit from adjuvant treatment. Patients and Methods: Thirty-five patients with resection of ductal pancreatic carcinoma and adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine were analyzed between 2005 and 2007. All patients had a computed tomography (CT) scan before and during adjuvant chemotherapy after 2–3 months, 12/35 patients had a histologically confirmed R1 resection. Recurrence of pancreatic cancer was determined by CT scan and the clinical course. Results: Median survival of 35 patients with resected pancreatic cancer was 19.7 months, and the 2-year survival was 44%. Thirteen (37%) of the 35 patients analyzed with a CT scan showed tumor recurrence during adjuvant chemotherapy. Overall survival of patients with tumor recurrence was 9.3 months with a 2-year survival rate of 13%, whereas median overall survival of patients without early relapse was 26.3 months (P<0.001). Local recurrence of pancreatic cancer occurred in 38% (5/13); 46% (6/13) of patients developed distant metastasis, and 38% (5/13) developed lymph node metastasis. Early tumor recurrence during or adjuvant chemotherapy did not correlate with R status (R1 vs R0, P=0.69), whereas histologically confirmed lymph node invasion (pN0 vs pN1) and grading showed a statistically significant correlation with early relapse (P<0.05). Conclusion: A significant fraction of patients with resected pancreatic cancer have early relapse during adjuvant chemotherapy, especially those with lymph node metastasis. Radiologic examinations prior to and during adjuvant chemotherapy will help to identify patients with tumor recurrence who are unlikely to benefit from adjuvant treatment and will need individualized palliative chemotherapy.

Posttraumatic edema of the lower extremities: Evaluation of the lymphatic vessels with magnetic resonance lymphangiography

OBJECTIVE To assess for the first time the morphology of the lymphatic system in patients with posttraumatic edema of the lower extremities by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging using the interstitial lymphangiography technique MATERIALS AND METHODS Six patients with posttraumatic edema in eight of their 12 lower extremities were examined by MR lymphangiography. Eighteen mL of gadoteridol and one mL of mepivacainhydrochloride 1% were subdivided into 10 portions and injected intracutaneously. MR imaging was performed with a 1.5-T system equipped with high-performance gradients. For MR lymphangiography, a 3D-spoiled gradient-echo sequence was used. RESULTS In five of the eight (63%) traumatized lower extremities, enlarged lymphatic vessels were detected, with the largest diameter measuring 5 mm. Additionally, a fast lymphatic outflow was observed in seven of the eight (88%) traumatized legs with enhancement of the inguinal lymph nodes already in the first image acquisition 15 minutes after contrast material injection. In two of the eight (25%) traumatized lower extremities, an extensive network of collateral lymphatic vessels was detected at the level of the calf. In both extremities, lymphatic collateralization involved not only the epifascial but also the subfascial lymphatic system. In one patient, who sustained a trauma of the left lower leg with tibial fracture, a small aneurysmatic widening of 7 mm could be detected at the middle level of the calf. CONCLUSION MR lymphangiography is a safe and accurate minimal-invasive imaging modality for the evaluation of the lymphatic circulation in patients with posttraumatic edema of the lower extremities. If the extent of lymphatic damage is unclear at the initial clinical examination or requires a better definition for optimal therapeutic planning, MR lymphangiography is able to identify the anatomic and physiological derangements and to establish an objective baseline.