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Purpose To determine the clinical, pathological, and radiological features, including the Vesical Imaging-Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) score, independently correlating with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (BCa), in a multicentric national setting. Method and Materials Patients with BCa suspicion were offered magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before trans-urethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). According to VI-RADS, a cutoff of ≥ 3 or ≥ 4 was assumed to define muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Trans-urethral resection of the tumor (TURBT) and/or cystectomy reports were compared with preoperative VI-RADS scores to assess accuracy of MRI for discriminating between non-muscle-invasive versus MIBC. Performance was assessed by ROC curve analysis. Two univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were implemented including clinical, pathological, radiological data, and VI-RADS categories to determine the variables with an independent effect on MIBC. Results A final cohort of 139 patients was enrolled (median age 70 [IQR: 64, 76.5]). MRI showed sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy for MIBC diagnosis ranging from 83–93%, 80–92%, 67–81%, 93–96%, and 84–89% for the more experienced readers. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.95 (0.91–0.99). In the multivariable logistic regression model, the VI-RADS score, using both a cutoff of 3 and 4 (P P = .007), tumor size (P = .013), and concomitant hydronephrosis (P = .027) were the variables correlating with a bladder cancer staged as ≥ T2. The inter-reader agreement was substantial (k = 0.814). Conclusions VI-RADS assessment scoring proved to be an independent predictor of muscle-invasiveness, which might implicate a shift toward a more aggressive selection approach of patients’ at high risk of MIBC, according to a novel proposed predictive pathway.

Purpose The aim of the study was to prospectively evaluate the agreement between chest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) and to assess the diagnostic performance of chest MRI relative to that of CT during the follow-up of patients recovered from coronavirus disease 2019. Materials and methods Fifty-two patients underwent both follow-up chest CT and MRI scans, evaluated for ground-glass opacities (GGOs), consolidation, interlobular septal thickening, fibrosis, pleural indentation, vessel enlargement, bronchiolar ectasia, and changes compared to prior CT scans. DWI/ADC was evaluated for signal abnormalities suspicious for inflammation. Agreement between CT and MRI was assessed with Cohen’s k and weighted k. Measures of diagnostic accuracy of MRI were calculated. Results The agreement between CT and MRI was almost perfect for consolidation (k = 1.00) and change from prior CT (k = 0.857); substantial for predominant pattern (k = 0.764) and interlobular septal thickening (k = 0.734); and poor for GGOs (k = 0.339), fibrosis (k = 0.224), pleural indentation (k = 0.231), and vessel enlargement (k = 0.339). Meanwhile, the sensitivity of MRI was high for GGOs (1.00), interlobular septal thickening (1.00), and consolidation (1.00) but poor for fibrotic changes (0.18), pleural indentation (0.23), and vessel enlargement (0.50) and the specificity was overall high. DWI was positive in 46.0% of cases. Conclusions The agreement between MRI and CT was overall good. MRI was very sensitive for GGOs, consolidation and interlobular septal thickening and overall specific for most findings. DWI could be a reputable imaging biomarker of inflammatory activity.

The aim of this study was to validate the role of MR/Ultrasound Fusion-Guided Targeted Biopsy as a first diagnostic modality in subjects with clinical suspicion of prostate cancer (PCa).108 men (age range 46-78 years) with clinical suspicion for PCa (PSA 4 ng/mL) underwent multiparametric MRI of the prostate (mpMRI) and, when suspicious lesion were found (according to the PIRADSv2 scoring system), targeted biopsy was performed. All patients without significant alteration patterns at mpMRI have been referred for follow-up at 1 year.91/108 patients showed on the mpMRI highly suspicious lesions (PIRADS 4 and 5); the remaining 17/108 patients revealed no significant alteration consistent with PCa (PIRADS 3). Among the first group of patients, 58/91 proved to be positive for PCa on the pathology report: 24 patients had a Gleason Score (GS) 6 (3 + 3); 18 patients GS 7 of which 7 (3 + 4) and 11 (4 + 3); 14 patients GS 8 (4 + 4); two patients GS 9 (5 + 4); 33 proved to be negative. Overall cancer detection rate (CDR) was 63%. However, the CDR rises significantly, up to 77%, after the 53 initial consecutive biopsies that were performed (p 0,05) and thus identified as part of the learning curve. Patients of the second group (17/108) have been followed with serial PSA assessments, clinical reevaluation, and follow-up mpMRI.Performing exclusively targeted MR/Ultrasound Fusion-Guided biopsies for the diagnosis of PCa in patients with suspicious PSA levels ( 4 ng/mL) increases the detection rate of clinically significant cancer, changing both the therapeutic options and the prognosis.

In the original publication of the article, the first and last names of the second author were interchanged.