Dirk Vanbeckevoort

Magnetic resonance imaging of the effects of infliximab on perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease.

OBJECTIVES:Although the clinical efficacy of infliximab as measured by closure of fistulas in Crohns disease has been demonstrated, its influence on the inflammatory changes in the fistula tracks is less clear. The aim of the present study was to assess the behavior of perianal fistulas before and after infliximab treatment.METHODS:Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical evaluation were performed in a total of 18 patients before and after treatment with infliximab. An MRI-based score of perianal Crohns disease severity was developed using both criteria of local extension of fistulas (complexity, supralavetoric extension, relation to the sphincters and of active inflammation (T2 hyperintensity, presence of cavities/abscesses, and rectal wall involvement).RESULTS:The MRI score was reliable in assessing the fistula tracks, with a good interobserver concordance (p < 0.001). Fistula tracks with signs of active inflammation were found in all 18 patients at baseline and collections in seven. After short-term infliximab treatment, active tracks persisted in eight of 11 patients who had clinically responded to infliximab. After long-term (46 wk) infliximab therapy, MRI signs of active track inflammation had resolved in three of six patients.CONCLUSIONS:We have developed an MRI-based score of perianal Crohns disease severity to assess the anatomical evolution of Crohns fistulas. Our study demonstrates that despite closure of draining external orifices after infliximab therapy, fistula tracks persist with varying degrees of residual inflammation, which may cause recurrent fistulas and pelvic abscesses. Whether complete fistula fibrosis occurs over time with repeated infliximab infusions needs further study.

Pelvic floor descent in females: comparative study of colpocystodefecography and dynamic fast MR imaging.

The purpose of this study was to compare fast dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with colpocystodefecography (CCD) in the evaluation of pelvic floor descent in women. Thirty‐five women with clinical evidence of pelvic floor descent were studied. A fast single‐shot MR sequence was performed in the supine position during pelvic floor relaxation and during maximal pelvic strain. On the same day, a dynamic CCD was performed with the patient seated on a stool‐chair. The degree of descent of the bladder, vagina, and anorectal junction was evaluated as the vertical distance between the pubococcygeal line and the bladder base, the vaginal vault, and the anorectal junction, respectively. A bulge of more than 3 cm measured as the distance between the extended line of the anterior border of the anal canal and the tip of the rectocele was interpreted as a rectocele. MRI was compared with CCD during maximal pelvic strain (CCD I) and during voiding and defecation (CCD II). CCD was considered as the gold standard. Compared with clinical examination, CCD I showed a larger number of involved compartments, except for the middle compartment. CCD II was superior to clinical examination in all cases. In comparison with CCD I and especially CCD II, MRI had a lower sensitivity, especially for the anterior and middle compartment. Even four enteroceles seen on CCD II were not detected by MRI. When CCD I and CCD II were compared, a cystocele, a vaginal vault prolapse, an enterocele, and a rectocele were more readily seen on CCD II than with CCD I. When compared with CCD, supine dynamic MRI is unreliable, especially in the anterior and middle compartment. Even in the detection of enteroceles CCD was superior to MRI. In general, the best results with MRI can be expected for evaluation of the rectum.J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 1999;9:373–377.

Patient acceptance for CT colonography: what is the real issue?

Abstract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the discomfort associated with CT colonography compared with colonoscopy and bowel purgation cleansing, and to evaluate patient preference between CT colonography and colonoscopy. In a total of 124 patients, scheduled for multidetector virtual CT colonography and diagnostic colonoscopy, patient acceptance and future preference were assessed during the different steps of the procedure (colon preparation, CT examination, and conventional colonoscopy). Patients who described contradictory findings between the degree of discomfort and their preference regarding follow-up examinations were retrospectively reinterviewed regarding the reason for this discrepancy. Colonoscopy was graded slightly more uncomfortable than virtual CT colonography, but the preparation was clearly the most uncomfortable part of the procedure. Concerning their preference regarding follow-up examinations, 71% of the patients preferred virtual CT colonography, 24% preferred colonoscopy, and 5% had no preference. Twenty-eight percent of the patients preferred virtual CT colonography despite that they thought it was equally or even more uncomfortable than colonoscopy. This was mainly due to the faster procedure (17 patients), the lower physical challenge (14 patients), and the lack of sedation (12 patients) of virtual CT colonography. Factors other than the discomfort related to the examinations play an important role in the patients preference for virtual CT colonography, namely the faster procedure, the lower physical challenge, and the lack of sedation. Since the preparation plays a major decisive factor in the patient acceptance of virtual CT colonography, more attention should be given to fecal tagging.

Intrapatient Cetuximab Dose Escalation in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer According to the Grade of Early Skin Reactions: The Randomized EVEREST Study

PURPOSE Skin toxicity in patients receiving cetuximab has been associated positively with clinical outcome in several tumor types. This study investigated the effect of cetuximab dose escalation in patients with irinotecan-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer who had developed no or mild skin reactions after 21 days of treatment at the standard dose. This article reports clinical and pharmacokinetic (PK) data. PATIENTS AND METHODS After 21 days of standard-dose cetuximab (400 mg/m(2) initial dose, then 250 mg/m(2) per week) plus irinotecan, patients with ≤ grade 1 skin reactions were randomly assigned to standard-dose (group A) or dose-escalated (to 500 mg/m(2) per week; group B) cetuximab. Patients with ≥ grade 2 skin reactions continued on standard-dose cetuximab plus irinotecan (group C). RESULTS The intent-to-treat population comprised 157 patients. PK profiles reflected the dose increase and were predictable across the dose range investigated. Weekly cetuximab doses of up to 500 mg/m(2) were well tolerated, and grade 3 and 4 adverse events were generally comparable between treatment groups. Dose escalation (n = 44) was associated with an increase in skin reactions ≥ grade 2 compared with standard (n = 45) dosing (59% v 38%, respectively). Dose escalation, compared with standard dosing, showed some evidence for improved response rate (30% v 16%, respectively) and disease control rate (70% v 58%, respectively) but no indication of benefit in relation to overall survival. In an exploratory analysis, dose escalation seemed to increase response rate compared with standard dosing in patients with KRAS wild-type but not KRAS mutant tumors. CONCLUSION Cetuximab serum concentrations increased predictably with dose. Higher dose levels were well tolerated. The possible indication for improved efficacy in the dose-escalation group warrants further investigation.

Effects of infliximab therapy on transmural lesions as assessed by magnetic resonance enteroclysis in patients with ileal Crohn's disease☆ , ☆☆ , ★

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Anti TNF therapy induces mucosal healing in patients with Crohns disease, but the effects on transmural inflammation in the ileum are not well understood. Magnetic resonance-enteroclysis (MRE) offers excellent imaging of transmural and peri-enteric lesions in Crohns ileitis and we aimed to study its responsiveness to anti TNF therapy. METHODS In this multi-center prospective trial, anti TNF naïve patients with ileal Crohns disease and with increased CRP and contrast enhanced wall thickening received infliximab 5 mg/kg at weeks 0, 2 and 6, and q8 weeks maintenance MRE was performed at baseline, 2 weeks and 6 months and assessed based on a predefined MRE score of severity in ileal Crohns Disease. RESULTS Twenty patients were included; of those, 18 patients underwent MRE at week 2 and 15 patients at weeks 2 and 26 as scheduled. Inflammatory components of the MRE index decreased by ≥2 points and by ≥50% at week 26 (primary endpoint) in 40% and 32% of patients (per protocol and intention to treat analysis, respectively). The MRE index improved in 44% at week 2 and in 80% at week 26. Complete absence of inflammatory lesions was observed in 0/18 at week 2 and 13% (2/15) at week 26. The obstructive elements did not change. Clinical and CRP improvement occurred as early as wk 2, but only CDAI correlated with the MRE index. CONCLUSION Improvement of MRE occurs from 2 weeks after infliximab therapy onwards and correlates with clinical response but normalization of MRE is rare.

Long-Term Monitoring of Infliximab Therapy for Perianal Fistulizing Crohn's Disease by Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

BACKGROUND & AIMS Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to assess the outcome of infliximab (IFX) therapy in patients with perianal fistulizing Crohns disease (pfCD). However, few long-term data are available about its efficacy. METHODS We assessed 59 patients with pfCD by MRI and clinical evaluation at baseline. Treated patients then received paired clinical and MRI examinations for a median time period of 36 (11-53.3) weeks. Short-, mid-, and long-term effects of therapy, as well as the ability of MRI to predict treatment outcome and need for surgery, were evaluated. RESULTS Compared with the baseline MRI, the short-term follow-up MRI (n = 29) revealed a reduced number of fistula tracks in 13.8% and in the inflammatory activity in 55.2% of patients, respectively; mid-term MRI (n = 25) in 56% and in 52%, respectively; and long-term MRI (n = 13) in 15.4% and in 31%, respectively. Improvement of pfCD based on MRI results coincided with clinical improvement in 54.7% of the patients. Short-term and mid-term (but not long-term) MRI showed a significant decrease in the activity score. Therapy outcome was worse among patients with persisting fistulas (P = .01), collections (P = .009), and rectal wall involvement (P = .01) in the final MRI. Patients with single-branched fistulas (P < .0001) and collections (P = .006) in their baseline MRI were more likely to undergo surgery. CONCLUSIONS MRI is a useful technique for evaluation of pfCD during the first year of follow-up. In the long-term, the MRI improvement coincides with clinical and endoscopic response to IFX in 50% of the patients.

Stool tagging applied in thin-slice multidetector computed tomography colonography.

Objective To compare thin-slice multidetector computed tomography colonography (CTC) that uses stool tagging with colonoscopy. Method One hundred fifty patients scheduled for colonoscopy underwent high-resolution CTC. An iodinated contrast agent was added to the preparation to tag the residual colonic fluid and stool. The effect of fluid tagging was assessed first. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for two independent readers. In addition, values were recalculated separately for the first and last 75 patients. Results Tagging was optimal in 95.3% of the cases, and reader confidence was high. Sensitivities were 64.1%–66.7% (for the 2 readers) for 5- to 9-mm polyps and 91.7% for larger polyps. The overall specificity was 94.2% and 95%. Sensitivity improved during the study for both 5- to 9-mm polyps (from 54.2%–58.3% to 80%) and polyps larger than 9 mm (from 50% to 100%). Specificity changed nonuniformly. Conclusion The combination of fluid tagging and high-resolution scanning in CTC showed high sensitivity and specificity, especially concerning sensitivity for polyps of 10 mm and larger.

Autoimmune pancreatitis associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis: MR imaging findings.

Abstract. Autoimmune pancreatitis is a relatively rare type of chronic pancreatitis that may be associated with other autoimmune disorders. The imaging features of this entity may be misleading and suggest the presence of a malignant tumour. We present a case in which MR imaging allowed us to diagnose autoimmune pancreatitis associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis, which is another autoimmune-related disease. Typical MR characteristics of autoimmune pancreatitis include focal or diffuse enlargement of the pancreas, the absence of parenchymal atrophy and significant dilation proximal to the site of stenosis, the absence of peripancreatic spread, the clear demarcation of the lesion and the presence of a peripancreatic rim.

Clinical, physiological and radiological assessment of rectovaginal septum reinforcement with mesh for complex rectocele

Rectocele can be part of a more complex rectal prolapse syndrome including rectal intussusception and enterocele. This reflects insufficiency at different levels of support in the posterior pelvic compartment. A new technique involving reinforcement of the rectovaginal septum with mesh by a combined laparoscopic and perineal approach was evaluated.

Conservative management of esophageal perforations during pneumatic dilation for idiopathic esophageal achalasia.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Esophageal perforation is the most serious adverse event of pneumatic dilation (PD) for achalasia; it is usually managed by surgical repair. We investigated risk factors for esophageal perforation after PD and evaluated safety and long-term outcome of nonsurgical management strategies. METHODS We analyzed medical records of patients with achalasia who were treated with PD from 1992-2010 at the University Hospital Gasthuisberg in Leuven, Belgium; all patients with esophageal perforation were contacted to determine long-term outcomes. Achalasia outcomes were assessed by using the Vantrappen criteria. RESULTS Of 830 PD procedures performed on 372 patients with manometry-confirmed achalasia (57 ± 1 years, 51% male), 16 were complicated by transmural esophageal perforation (4.3% of patients, 1.9% of dilations). Age >65 years was the only significant risk factor for complications (odds ratio, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-10.2). All patients were treated conservatively with broad-spectrum antibiotics and nothing by mouth. In 6 patients (38%) the clinical course was further complicated by a pleural effusion, which required a drain in 4 patients. One patient (6%) died of mediastinal hemorrhage within 12 hours after PD. Patients with complications were discharged after 19 ± 2.3 days, compared with 4 ± 0.2 days for those without complications (P < .0001). Long-term outcomes (mean follow-up, 84 ± 14 months) were determined for 12 patients (75%); 11 had excellent or good outcomes (69%), and 1 had a moderate outcome (6%). CONCLUSIONS Age >65 years is a significant risk factor for esophageal perforation after PD. Nonsurgical management of transmural esophageal tears is feasible, with favorable short-term and long-term outcomes, but is not devoid of complications.