Steven Pans

Breast cancer in pregnancy: recommendations of an international consensus meeting.

PURPOSE To provide guidance for clinicians about the diagnosis, staging and treatment of breast cancer occurring during an otherwise uncomplicated pregnancy. METHODS An international expert Panel convened to address a series of questions identified by a literature review and personal experience. Issues relating to the diagnosis and management of breast cancer after delivery were outside the scope. RESULTS There is a paucity of large and/or randomized studies. Based on cohort studies, case series and case reports, the recommendations represent the best available evidence, albeit of a lower grade than is optimal. RECOMMENDATIONS In most circumstances, serious consideration should be given to the option of treating breast cancer whilst continuing with the pregnancy. Each woman should ideally be referred to a centre with sufficient expertise, given a clear explanation of treatment options. Most diagnostic and staging examinations can be performed adequately and safely during pregnancy. Treatment should however be adapted to the clinical presentation and the trimester of the pregnancy: surgery can be performed during all trimesters of pregnancy; radiotherapy can be considered during the first and second trimester but should be postponed during the third trimester; and standard chemotherapies can be used during the second and third trimester. Since neonatal morbidity mainly appears to be related to prematurity, delivery should not be induced before 37 weeks, if at all possible. CONCLUSIONS The treatment of breast cancer in pregnancy should be executed by experienced specialists in a multidisciplinary setting and should adhere as closely as possible to standard protocols.

Prospective Study to Assess Short-Term Intra-Articular and Tenosynovial Changes in the Aromatase Inhibitor–Associated Arthralgia Syndrome

PURPOSE Arthralgia is an adverse class effect of aromatase inhibitors (AIs). To date, its exact mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in clinical rheumatologic features and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of hands and wrists in AI and tamoxifen users. PATIENTS AND METHODS This is a prospective single-center study including 17 consecutive postmenopausal patients with early breast cancer receiving either tamoxifen (n = 5) or an AI (n = 12). At baseline and after 6 months, patients filled in a rheumatologic history questionnaire and a rheumatologic examination including a grip strength test was done. At the same time points, MRI of both hands and wrists was performed. The primary end point was tenosynovial changes from baseline on MRI. Secondary end points were changes from baseline for morning stiffness, grip strength, and intra-articular fluid on MRI. Wilcoxon signed ranks was used to test changes from baseline and the Spearman correlation coefficient to assess the association between rheumatologic and MRI changes from baseline. RESULTS At 6 months, patients on AI had a decrease in grip strength (P = .0049) and an increase in tenosynovial changes (P = .0010). The decrease in grip strength correlated well with the tenosynovial changes on MRI (P = .0074). Only minor changes were seen in patients on tamoxifen. AI users reported worsening of morning stiffness and showed an increase in intra-articular fluid on MRI. CONCLUSION The functional impairment of hands in the AI-associated arthralgia syndrome is characterized by tenosynovial changes on MRI correlating with a significant decrease in hand grip strength.

Debilitating musculoskeletal pain and stiffness with letrozole and exemestane: associated tenosynovial changes on magnetic resonance imaging

ObjectiveArthralgia, skeletal and muscle pain have been reported in postmenopausal women under treatment with third generation aromatase inhibitors (AIs). However, the pathogenesis and anatomic correlate of musculoskeletal pains have not been thoroughly evaluated. Moreover, the impact of AI-induced musculoskeletal symptoms on normal daily functioning needs to be further explored.Patients and methodsWe examined 12 consecutive non-metastatic breast cancer patients who reported severe musculoskeletal pain under a third generation AI; 11 were on letrozole and 1 on exemestane. Clinical rheumatological examination and serum biochemistry were performed. Radiological evaluation of the hand/wrist joints were performed using ultrasound (US) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).ResultsThe most common reported symptom was severe early morning stiffness and hand/wrist pain causing impaired ability to completely close/stretch the hand/fingers and to perform daily activities and work-related skills. Six patients had to discontinue treatment due to severe symptoms. Trigger finger and carpal tunnel syndrome were the most frequently reported clinical signs. US showed fluid in the tendon sheath surrounding the digital flexor tendons. On MRI, an enhancement and thickening of the tendon sheath was a constant finding in all 12 patients.ConclusionsMusculoskeletal pains in breast cancer patients under third generation AIs can be severe, debilitating, and can limit compliance. Characteristic tenosynovial, and in some patients joint changes on US and MRI were observed in this series and have not been reported before.

Blau syndrome: cross-sectional data from a multicentre study of clinical, radiological and functional outcomes

OBJECTIVE To report baseline articular, functional and ocular findings of the first international prospective cohort study of Blau syndrome (BS). METHODS Three-year, multicentre, observational study on articular, functional (HAQ, Childhood HAQ and VAS global and pain), ophthalmological, therapeutic and radiological data in BS patients. RESULTS Baseline data on the first 31 recruited patients (12 females and 19 males) from 18 centres in 11 countries are presented. Of the 31 patients, 11 carried the p.R334W NOD2 mutation, 9 the p.R334Q and 11 various other NOD2 missense mutations; 20 patients were sporadic and 11 from five BS pedigrees. Median disease duration was 12.8 years (1.1-57). Arthritis, documented in all but one patient, was oligoarticular in 7, polyarticular in 23. The median active joint count was 21. Functional capacity was normal in 41%, mildly impaired in 31% and moderate-severe in 28% of patients. The most frequently involved joints at presentation were wrists, ankles, knees and PIPs. On radiographs, a symmetrical non-erosive arthropathy was shown. Previously unknown dysplastic bony changes were found in two-thirds of patients. Ocular disease was documented in 25 of 31 patients, with vitreous inflammation in 64% and moderate-severe visual loss in 33%. Expanded manifestations (visceral, vascular) beyond the classic clinical triad were seen in 52%. CONCLUSION BS is associated with severe ocular and articular morbidity. Visceral involvement is common and may be life-threatening. Bone dysplastic changes may show diagnostic value and suggest a previously unknown role of NOD2 in bone morphogenesis. BS is resistant to current drugs, suggesting the need for novel targeted therapies.

Aromatase inhibitor-induced loss of grip strength is body mass index dependent: hypothesis-generating findings for its pathogenesis.

BACKGROUND Our preliminary results showed that tenosynovial changes and decrease in grip strength are associated with the aromatase inhibitor-induced musculoskeletal syndrome (AIMSS). Here, we report the final results and assess the relationship between grip strength and body mass index (BMI). PATIENTS AND METHODS We conducted a prospective study including postmenopausal early breast cancer patients receiving either an aromatase inhibitor (AI) or tamoxifen. Primary end point was change from baseline in tenosynovial abnormalities. Secondary end points were changes from baseline in morning stiffness, intra-articular fluid and grip strength and its association with BMI. RESULTS After 6 months of therapy, 74% [95% confidence interval (CI) 51% to 89%] of AI-treated patients had worsened tenosynovial abnormalities, 56% (95% CI 34% to 75%) had increased intra-articular fluid, and 22% (95% CI 9% to 45%) had increased morning stiffness. Grip strength decreased 8% for the left hand (95% CI 2% to 21%) and 11% for the right (95% CI 4% to 17%). Regression analysis suggested that grip strength decreased more for subjects with high or with low BMI. CONCLUSIONS AIMSS is characterized by tenosynovial changes, intra-articular fluid and morning stiffness. We hypothesize that the quadratic association between BMI and loss of grip strength reflects AI-induced changes on the endocrine control of the growth hormone insulin-like growth factor-I pathway.

Fibrolipomatous hamartoma in the foot: atypical MR imaging findings

Lipomatosis of a nerve is a well-known but uncommon entity mostly seen in the median nerve. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been shown to provide pathognomonic features, obviating the need for diagnostic biopsy. We present a case of lipomatosis of a branch of the medial plantar nerve with an atypical appearance on magnetic resonance imaging.

Prospective study to assess fluid accumulation and tenosynovial changes in the aromatase inhibitor-induced musculoskeletal syndrome: 2-year follow-up data

BACKGROUND Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) frequently lead to the AI-induced musculoskeletal syndrome (AIMSS). Looking into its pathophysiology, 6 months of AI therapy thickens the tendon sheath with intra-articular fluid (IAF) retention and loss of grip strength. We here report 24-month follow-up data. PATIENTS AND METHODS A prospective cohort study of 33 postmenopausal breast cancer patients received adjuvant endocrine therapy; 27 received an AI and 6 received tamoxifen. At baseline, 6 and 24 months patients had a rheumatologic examination, including a grip strength test, and magnetic resonance imaging of both hands and wrists. The primary end point was tenosynovial changes; secondary end points were changes in morning stiffness, grip strength and IAF. RESULTS Twenty-three AI and 5 tamoxifen patients completed all investigations. Between month 6 and 24, IAF further increased in AI users (P = 0.04) but not in tamoxifen users, and grip strength further decreased in both groups. The worsened tenosynovial changes were strongly correlated with a decrease in grip strength. At 24 months, morning stiffness continued to be present in over a third of AI users. CONCLUSION AIMSS represents a substantial problem in breast cancer patients. It is associated with tenosynovial changes, IAF retention, joint stiffness and loss of grip strength that do not improve with prolonged use.

The widened mediastinum in trauma patients.

Mediastinal widening is a frequent radiological finding in the emergency department patient. The causes of mediastinal widening can be divided into traumatic and nontraumatic mediastinal widening. An important association of moderate to high velocity trauma is the mediastinal haematoma. It may be the result of traumatic transsection of the aorta, or it may be due to bleeding from other mediastinal vessels. Before the era of multidetector spiral CT, angiography was the gold standard for the evaluation of patients with a widened mediastinum. Meanwhile, angiography as a risk-carrying invasive examination has widely been replaced by MDCT. However, conventional radiography remains an important diagnostic tool; so does angiography, especially in the context of interventional radiology. Multidetector spiral CT plays an important role (Alkadhi et al., Radiographics 2004; 24:1239-1255), but usually as a second line procedure. This article discusses the radiological signs of traumatic mediastinal widening. Different traumatic lesions resulting in a widened mediastinum are presented, and some nontraumatic causes of a widened mediastinum are shown, in order to facilitate the differentiation between both entities.

Septic pulmonary embolisms and metastatic infections from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis on FDG PET/CT

A 59-year-old immune-compromised woman after nonmyeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation for myelodysplastic syndrome, was admitted with methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus sepsis related to a Hickman catheter. Despite aggressive antibiotic therapy and catheter removal, blood cultures remained positive and her dyspnoea continued unabated. Subsequent transoesophageal/transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated infective endocarditis with a focal vegetation (10× 4 mm) on the posterior leaflet, a perforation in the 2-3 section of the posterior leaflet and severe mitral regurgitation (4/4). She was then referred for a PET/CT scan with F-FDG to rule out septic embolism and metastatic infection. The coronal maximum intensity projection image (a) revealed focally increased uptake in the left ventricle (dashed arrow). In addition, numerous hypermetabolic small nodules were scattered throughout both lungs, and hypercaptation was seen around the left hip and right shoulder (arrows). PET, CT and fused PET/CT images localized the increased myocardial uptake to the mitral valve (b) and pulmonary FDG uptake projected onto multiple parenchymal nodules, some with central excavation (c). The periarticular uptake corresponded to septic arthritis of the acromioclavicular joint extending into the supraspinatus tendon and a collection within the quadratus femoris muscle (d). These imaging findings are characteristic of infective endocarditis with septic pulmonary embolisms and metastatic muscle abscesses and septic arthritis. Acute infective endocarditis is a potentially life-threatening disease with an outcome that depends on the presence of systemic embolization and extracardiac infections. This case illustrates the power and value of PET/CT in assessing extracardiac complications. O. Gheysens (*) :N. Lips : L. Mortelmans Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium e-mail: olivier.gheysens@uzleuven.be

Ultrasound in acute trauma of the ankle and hindfoot

Abstract. Ultrasound is a rapid, widely available and inexpensive imaging modality for the evaluation of the ankle and hindfoot. Ultrasonography can be performed in acute, semiacute and chronic conditions. Ankle injuries can be evaluated with ultrasound combined with X-rays. In the emergency room, acute trauma of ankle and hindfoot is an important indication for ultrasound.