Filippo Pesapane

Necrobiosis Lipoidica Diabeticorum: A pediatric case report

Introduction: Necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) is a rare chronic granulomatous dermatitis that usually appears in the lower extremities. It affects about 0.3–1.2% of diabetic patients, the majority of whom have type 1 diabetes. The etiology and pathogenesis of this disorder are still unclear. NL is characterized by skin rash that usually affects the shins. The average onset is 30 years, with females being affected more commonly. There are very few reported cases of necrobiosis lipoidica in children. Case report: We report a case of a 16 year old girl affected by type 1 diabetes mellitus (15 years disease duration) who developed an erythematous nodular rash on the lower extremities and interscapular area. In the suspect of necrobiosis lipoidica, a skin biopsy was performed (lower extremities and interscapular area). The microscopic evaluation of the pretibial lesions was suggestive of necrobiosis lipoidica. The smaller lesions in the interscapular area showed signs of perivascular dermatitis which could be consistent with early stages of necrobiosis lipoidica. Local treatment with tacrolimus determined a progressive improvement of the lesions. Conclusion: In patients with T1DM, diagnosis of NL of the lower legs is usually unequivocal. However, diagnosis may be more challenging in the presence of lesions with recent onset and/or atypical clinical presentation and unusual site. In these cases, NL must always be taken in consideration in order to avoid misdiagnosis, wrong/late treatment decisions, and progression to ulceration.

A case of acquired tufted angioma in adulthood

Tufted angioma is a rare vascular tumor whose name derives from its histopathological appearance, characterized by tufts of capillaries within the dermis. Its etiology and pathogenesis are uncertain. Tufted angioma typically occurs during infancy or early childhood and displays various clinical patterns. It may present as a subtle stain-like area that later thickens as a large plaque, infi ltrated or dusky blue-purple lesion, or as an exophytic, fi rm, violaceous, cutaneous nodule. Medical treatment is not necessary for tufted angioma, given its benign nature and slow progression. Only clinical follow-up is therefore recommended.

Ultra-small superparamagnetic iron oxide contrast agents for lymph node staging of high-risk prostate cancer

Ultrasmall superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide (USPIOs) imaged with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been proposed as an experimental method for visualizing lymph node (LN) metastases. The method does not require ionizing radiation, yet can detect small nodes that are involved with metastases. USPIOs are naturally taken up by macrophages that deposit in the normal LN creating a low signal region in normal areas; areas within the node that do not show this loss of signal are likely involved by tumor although there can be other causes (fibrosis or inflammation). However, the lack of approved USPIOs that are clinically available hinders adoption and larger studies. The proposed indications for USPIO MRI, including specific compounds and imaging methods are discussed.

Artificial intelligence as a medical device in radiology: ethical and regulatory issues in Europe and the United States

Worldwide interest in artificial intelligence (AI) applications is growing rapidly. In medicine, devices based on machine/deep learning have proliferated, especially for image analysis, presaging new significant challenges for the utility of AI in healthcare. This inevitably raises numerous legal and ethical questions. In this paper we analyse the state of AI regulation in the context of medical device development, and strategies to make AI applications safe and useful in the future. We analyse the legal framework regulating medical devices and data protection in Europe and in the United States, assessing developments that are currently taking place. The European Union (EU) is reforming these fields with new legislation (General Data Protection Regulation [GDPR], Cybersecurity Directive, Medical Devices Regulation, In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Device Regulation). This reform is gradual, but it has now made its first impact, with the GDPR and the Cybersecurity Directive having taken effect in May, 2018. As regards the United States (U.S.), the regulatory scene is predominantly controlled by the Food and Drug Administration. This paper considers issues of accountability, both legal and ethical. The processes of medical device decision-making are largely unpredictable, therefore holding the creators accountable for it clearly raises concerns. There is a lot that can be done in order to regulate AI applications. If this is done properly and timely, the potentiality of AI based technology, in radiology as well as in other fields, will be invaluable.Teaching Points• AI applications are medical devices supporting detection/diagnosis, work-flow, cost-effectiveness.• Regulations for safety, privacy protection, and ethical use of sensitive information are needed.• EU and U.S. have different approaches for approving and regulating new medical devices.• EU laws consider cyberattacks, incidents (notification and minimisation), and service continuity.• U.S. laws ask for opt-in data processing and use as well as for clear consumer consent.

The prostate cancer focal therapy

Despite prostate cancer (PCa) is the leading form of non-cutaneous cancer in men, most patients with PCa die with disease rather than of the disease. Therefore, the risk of overtreatment should be considered by clinicians who have to distinguish between patients with high risk PCa (who would benefit from radical treatment) and patients who may be managed more conservatively, such as through active surveillance or emerging focal therapy (FT). The aim of FT is to eradicate clinically significant disease while protecting key genito-urinary structures and function from injury. While effectiveness studies comparing FT with conventional care options are still lacking, the rationale supporting FT relies on evidence-based advances such as the understanding of the index lesions central role in the natural history of the PCa and the improvement of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) in the detection and risk stratification of PCa. In this literature review, we want to highlight the rationale for FT in PCa management and the current evidence on patient eligibility. Furthermore, we summarize the best imaging modalities to localize the target lesion, describe the current FT techniques in PCa, provide an update on their oncological outcomes and highlight trends for future research.

Interventional radiology of the adrenal glands: current status

As more and more adrenal neoplasms are found incidentally or symptomatically, the need for interventional procedures has being increasing. In recent years these procedures registered continued steady expansion. Interventional radiology of the adrenal glands comprises angiographic and percutaneous procedures. They may be applied both in benign and in malignant pathologies. The present review reports the current status of indications, techniques results and complications of the image-guided procedures.

Artificial intelligence in medical imaging: threat or opportunity? Radiologists again at the forefront of innovation in medicine

One of the most promising areas of health innovation is the application of artificial intelligence (AI), primarily in medical imaging. This article provides basic definitions of terms such as “machine/deep learning” and analyses the integration of AI into radiology. Publications on AI have drastically increased from about 100–150 per year in 2007–2008 to 700–800 per year in 2016–2017. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography collectively account for more than 50% of current articles. Neuroradiology appears in about one-third of the papers, followed by musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, breast, urogenital, lung/thorax, and abdomen, each representing 6–9% of articles. With an irreversible increase in the amount of data and the possibility to use AI to identify findings either detectable or not by the human eye, radiology is now moving from a subjective perceptual skill to a more objective science. Radiologists, who were on the forefront of the digital era in medicine, can guide the introduction of AI into healthcare. Yet, they will not be replaced because radiology includes communication of diagnosis, consideration of patient’s values and preferences, medical judgment, quality assurance, education, policy-making, and interventional procedures. The higher efficiency provided by AI will allow radiologists to perform more value-added tasks, becoming more visible to patients and playing a vital role in multidisciplinary clinical teams.

The T1 Hemorrhage Exclusion Sign in the Detection of Prostate Cancer at MRI

Case History A 76-year-old man, with no family history of prostate cancer (PCa), consulted for erectile dysfunction. Digital rectal examination revealed an enlarged prostate with a firm area on the left side. The serum PSA concentration was 17.70 ng/mL. Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) examination of the prostate showed a hypoechoic area in the left peripheral zone (PZ). TRUS-guided biopsy revealed a Gleason score 9 (4 + 5) adenocarcinoma on the left side and a Gleason score 7 (4 + 3) adenocarcinoma on the right side. For staging purposes, a 3T multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) was performed three weeks after the TRUS-guided biopsy. MRI confirmed a tumor in the midgland anterior and lateral posterior section of the left PZ with extracapsular extension and enlarged iliac lymph nodes. A second smaller nodular lesion was present in the midgland medial posterior section of the right PZ. The lesions had homogeneous low signal intensity on T2-weighted images (WI) (arrows on Figure 1) and low ADC value on the diffusion-weighted images (arrows on Figure 2). Axial T1–WI showed diffuse hyperintense signal due to the post biopsy hemorrhage in the right PZ, whereas the area free of T1 hyperintense blood remarkably matched the cancer localization (Figure 3: arrowheads delimit the area of hemorrhage, and asterisks indicate the tumors). This phenomenon has been described in the literature as the “T1 hemorrhage exclusion sign” [1].

Vascular Emergencies of the Retroperitoneum: Recent Advances in MDCT and Interventional Radiology

Vascular emergencies of the retroperitoneum can arise from traumatic or nontraumatic arterial or venous injuries. Advances in interventional radiology technique have permitted less invasive alternative treatments to surgery for the management of aortic and inferior vena cava acute injuries. In this chapter, the MDCT findings of large-vessel vascular emergencies within the retroperitoneum are discussed, with correlative interventional findings and treatment.

Injuries of the Limbs in Polytrauma: Upper and Lower Limbs

Extremity injuries are the second most common traumatic injuries after head injuries and account until 80% of all cases of vascular trauma. Peripheral injuries are usually not immediately lethal, whether due to penetrating or blunt injuries; nevertheless, a prompt identification of the injuries is crucial for a correct management.