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Purpose: Catheter-related complications are observed in infusion of chemotherapy, and these were encountered with targeted therapies. Our principle is to study non-mechanical effects of type and initiation time of chemotherapy among the other factors on patency of totally implantable vascular access devices (TIVAD) inserted in patients with colorectal carcinoma., Methods: This is a one-center retrospective cohort study. We analyzed TIVAD related complications in 624 patients with colorectal carcinoma. The patients were categorized by chemotherapy type (non-target-directed chemotherapy agents (Group A), bevacizumab (Group B), and cetuximab (Group C)). Additionally, we divided the patients into groups by the time interval between TIVAD insertion and chemotherapy initiation. According to our study, a 3-day period was optimal. Therefore, we named the groups as within 3 days and beyond 3 days, and called this process 3 days cut-off. Age, gender, jugular-subclavian access, platelet count, INR, the types of chemotherapy, and the initiation time of chemotherapy were investigated by survival tests. We compared chemotherapy type groups both one-by-one and combined into one group., Results: The TIVADs were removed due to the complications in 11 patients of Group A, 6 patients of Group B, and 3 patients of Group C. Only chemotherapy type was significant ( p  = 0.011) in Cox regression test. A clear difference ( p  = 0.010) was detected between the catheter patency of Group A and combination of Groups B and C, because of skin necrosis and thrombosis. Within 3 days of their first chemotherapy day, an important difference between Group A and Group C ( p  = 0.013) was observed in the TIVAD patency. The same observation was made between Group A and Group B ( p  = 0.007). Beyond this period, no major difference was detected ( p  = 0.341)., Conclusion: A major effect on catheter patency was detected by using the target-directed chemotherapy agent within 3 days, which should be considered in target-directed chemotherapy.

Purpose: In our study, we aimed to show the efficiency of diffusion-weighted images at different b -values and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in the differentiation of recurrent tumours from post-treatment tissue changes., Material and Methods: The conventional and diffusion magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of 42 patients operated for soft tissue sarcomas between June 2012 and March 2015 followed up with MRIs that were evaluated by 2 radiologists retrospectively. Diffusion MRIs were acquired at 4 different b -values (50, 400, 800, 1000 s/mm 2 ). The lesions were classified according to conventional MRI findings as post-treatment changes and recurrent tumours., Results: When the patient group with recurrent tumours was compared with the patient group with postoperative changes the ADC calculations were statistically significantly lower for the recurrent tumours at all b -levels ( p < 0.001 for all b -levels). The sensitivity of b -50 values lower than 3.01 × 10 3 mm 2 /s in showing recurrent tumours was 100% and the specificity was 77.78%. The sensitivity of b -400 values lower than 2.1 × 10 3 mm 2 /s in showing recurrent tumours was 80% and the specificity was 96.3%. The sensitivity of b -800 values lower than 2.26 × 10 3 mm 2 /s in showing recurrent tumours was 100% and the specificity was 88.89%. The sensitivity of b -1000 values lower than 2 × 10 3 mm 2 /s in showing recurrent tumours was 93.3% and the specificity was 92.5%., Conclusions: The ADC values obtained from diffusion-weighted images have high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating recurring soft tissue sarcomas during monitoring after treatment from postoperative changes., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest., (© Pol J Radiol 2021.)

Background and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mammographic, sonographic and MRI findings of metaplastic breast carcinoma., Methods: In this retrospective review study, we analyzed the medical files of 9600 patients who were treated for invasive breast cancers. Clinical information, histopathologic and radiologic findings of 65 patients were included in this study. All existing radiologic images and medical reports were reviewed retrospectively. Thirty-three patients had MG, 58 patients had US and 7 patients had MRI imaging results., Results: Mammographically, the most frequent presentations of MPBC were round shape, microlobulated margin and high density masses. Calcifications with or without masses were not a frequent finding. The most common sonographic findings were round shape, partially indistinct angular margin, hypoechoic and heterogeneous echo patterns and no posterior feature masses. All lesions were presented as masses rather than non-mass enhancements on magnetic resonance imaging. Features of masses had more malignant feature on MRI than other modalities in all 7 patients., Conclusion: Metaplastic breast carcinoma is one of the rarest poorly differentiated invasive breast carcinomas. Interestingly, these aggressive tumors demonstrate benign or moderately malign features on imaging methods. This appearance of MPBC can cause it to be misdiagnosed as a benign breast lesion especially in young women. MPBC should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of large palpable breast masses. Therefore, follow-up at short intervals and/or multimodality imaging studies which include breast MRI are important for the diagnosis of MPBC., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Objective: MRI is being used increasingly as a modality that can provide important information about breast cancer. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is an imaging technique from which apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values can be calculated in addition to obtaining important structural information which cannot be obtained from other imaging studies. We did not find any significant relationships between ADC values and prognostic factors, but did provide some explanations for conflicting results in the literature., Methods: The ADC results of 61 females with invasive ductal carcinomas were evaluated. DWI was performed and ADC values were calculated from the area in which restriction of diffusion was the highest in ADC mapping. B value was 500 and region of interest (ROI) was designated between 49 and 100 mm 2 . Calculations were performed automatically by the device. Tissue samples were obtained for prognostic factor evaluation. The relationships between ADC and prognostic factors were investigated. Comparisons between groups were made with one-way ANOVA and Kruskal Wallis test. Pairwise comparisons were made with Dunn's test. Analyses of categorical variables were made with Chi-square test., Results: We found a weak negative correlation between ADC and Ki-67 values (r = -0.279; p = 0.029). When we compared ADC values in regard to tumour type, we found no significant differences for tumour grade, Ki-67 positivity, estrogen receptor positivity, progesterone receptor positivity, C-erb B2, lymphovascular invasion and ductal carcinoma in situ or lobular carcinoma in situ component. On a side note, we found that mean ADC values decreased as tumour grade increased; however, this was not statistically significant., Conclusion: The literature contains studies that report conflicting results which may be caused by differences in B values, ROI area and magnetic field strength. Multicentre studies and systematic reviews of these findings may produce crucial data for the use of DWI in breast cancer. Advances in knowledge: To determine if any significant relationship exists between DWI findings and prognostic factors of breast cancer.

Objective: To demonstrate the diagnostic potentials of MRI, diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping in the detection of parotid masses correlated to the histopathological results. Methods: Study design was retrospective. Fifteen patients with parotid gland masses were included as the study group and contralateral normal parotis glands of same patients were taken as the control group. Patients with bilateral parotid gland tumors were excluded, 7 right-sided and 8 left-sided parotid masses were included in the research. The study took place at the Department of Radiology, Ankara, Turkey, between May 2012 and September 2014. Results: Apparent diffusion coefficient measurements of 15 parotis tumors in 1000 and 750 sec/mm2 b-values with comparison to the contralateral normal gland  parenchyma were demonstrated. Neurofibromas was predicted as the highest, and lipomas as the lowest ADC values. Pleomorphic adenomas, Warthin's tumor, and normal parotid parenchyma indicate significant statistical differences from each other on the basis of mean ADC values (p less than 0.05). Conclusion: The DWI and ADC mapping of parotis gland could aid in the differential diagnosis  of benign and malignant masses.

Introduction: To evaluate the value of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging compared with conventional magnetic resonance imaging (C-MRI) for the differentiation of benign from malignant lymph nodes in different regions of the body., Patients and Methods: A total of 31 patients ranging in age from 18 to 75 years (mean age: 53 years) were included in this study. The patients were examined using a 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging system with coils chosen according to lymph node locations. Diffusion-weighted images were obtained using the single-shot echo planar sequence and had b values of 50, 500, and 1000 s/mm(2.) The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were measured from ADC maps. The correlation between the pathological diagnoses and mean ADC values in the benign and malignant lymph node groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U-test with Bonferroni correction. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the method., Results: The mean ADC value for benign lymph nodes was 0.97×10(-3) mm(2)/s (range: 0.6-1.2×10(-3) mm(2)/s), and the mean ADC value for malignant lymph nodes was 0.76×10(-3) mm(2)/s (range: 0.3-1.2×10(-3) mm(2)/s) (P<.001). In ROC analysis, the cut-off ADC value for malignant versus benign lymph node differentiation was 0.8×10(-3) mm(2)/s. Using an ADC value of 0.8×10(-3) mm(2)/s, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of the method for differentiating between benign and malignant lymph nodes were 76.4%, 85.7%, 86.6%, 75%, and 80.6%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of C-MRI were 88.2%, 78.5%, 83.3, 84.6%, and 83.8%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of C-MRI findings suspicious for malignancy combined with the ADC values were 76.4%, 64.2%, 100%, 81.8%, and 91.6%, respectively., Conclusions: C-MRI alone remained superior to diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and combination C-MRI and DWI for differentiating malignant from benign lymph nodes; however, DWI and ADC calculation may play a role in lymph node characterization., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is one of the major sources of low back pain that can lead to severe morbidity. Possible SIJ pain requires a thorough evaluation and treatment option. The purpose of this study was to analyze the possible relationships between computed tomography (CT) grading of SIJ arthritis and the effectiveness of intraarticular steroid injection treatment under CT guidance., Patients and Methods: A total of 61 patients with SIJ pain who were treated with CT guided intraarticular steroid injection were retrospectively reviewed. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain control were recorded for short-term (day after injection, first week, third week) and long-term (sixth months and final control) follow-up times. SIJ arthritis was graded using CT images according to the New York criteria. Patients were assigned into low-grade (0, 1 and 2) and high-grade (3 and 4) groups. The relationship between arthritis grades and VAS scores in short and long-term follow-ups were statistically analyzed., Results: Mean age and follow-up was 54.8 years (range: 41-68 years) and 27.8 months (range: 24-36 months), respectively. In 40 patients there was low-grade arthritis, while 21 patients were characterized on having high-grade sacroiliac arthritis detected during the radiological evaluation. There was no statistically significant difference between low and high-grade arthritis in regard to short-term VAS scores. On contrary, for long-term VAS scores, there was significant difference between low- and high-grade arthritis., Conclusions: Steroid injection treatment for SIJ pain is not effective on a long-term basis for patients with high-grade arthritis, and although they have had decreased VAS scores in the short-term, after 2 years of follow-up, their VAS scores significantly increased leading to symptomatic sacroiliac joint pain.

Objective: Coracoid impingement is an uncommon cause of the shoulder pain. It is stimulated by adduction, internal rotation and forward flexion. These positions decrease the width of the coracohumeral interval. Owing to restriction of movement, rotator cuff tendons may be overloaded. Thus, in this study, we aimed to determine whether coracoid impingement increase the tendency of rotator cuff tears., Materials and Methods: Routine clinical MRI sequences of 117 shoulders were reviewed, and axial coracohumeral interval measurements were taken. Rotator cuff tendon integrity was evaluated. Relation between rotator cuff tear and coracohumeral interval width was commented statically., Results: Seventy-nine of the patients were women, 38 of them men. The average age was 44.8 ± 14.2 (14-75). The mean age of patients with rotator cuff tear was significantly higher than patients without tear (p = 0.001). The mean value of coracohumeral interval width was 8.853 ± 2.491 mm (min: 2.9-max: 15.8). There were no significant differences between coracohumeral interval width of women and men (p = 0.139). The mean value of coracohumeral interval width with rotator cuff tear was 8.362 ± 2.382, and without tear was 9.351 ± 2.520. There was a significant differences between them (p = 0.031)., Conclusion: According to our study, there was a relationship between coracohumeral interval width and rotator cuff tear, so decreasing coracohumeral interval width may increase tendency of rotator cuff tear.

Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is often seen in patients with colorectal cancer. Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome are related to increased risk of colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to quantitatively determine the relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and colorectal cancer with the examination of routine abdominopelvic computed tomography images taken for staging., Methods: A retrospective evaluation was made of the colonoscopy and histopathology reports of 1630 patients who presented for a scanning or diagnostic colonoscopy examination. Colorectal cancer was determined histopathologically in 129 cases. Colorectal cancer patients with distant metastasis or additional malignancies were excluded from the study. A total of 105 patients met the criteria and were included in the study. A control group was formed of 94 patients with no history of cancer. The liver density on abdominopelvic computed tomography and serum transaminase values were recorded for the patients and compared with those of the control group., Results: The groups were similar in respect of age, gender and aspartate aminotransferase levels. Although not statistically significant, the alanine aminotransferase levels of the patient group were high compared to the control group. The liver density on computed tomography was statistically significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group., Conclusion: The liver density measurement on contrast abdominopelvic computed tomography of colorectal cancer patients was low, which is consistent with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.