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Background: Although many formulas for predicting postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) have been introduced, POPF is generally predicted during pancreatic surgery due to pancreatic texture. This study was designed to verify the correlation between Hounsfield units (HU) and pancreatic texture and to suggest a fistula risk score (FRS) that can be used before surgery. Methods: Data from 545 patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy for malignant disease between January 2008 and December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. The HU level of the pancreas was measured, and odds ratio (OR) of the HU for POPF was analyzed. Additionally, the assessed HU was compared with the pancreatic texture (soft vs. hard) and calculated cutoff level. Finally, the preoperatively chosen pancreatic texture according to HU level was applied to the FRS formula (preoperative-FRS: p-FRS), and the results were compared with a previously reported FRS formula (updated alternative-FRS: ua-FRS). Results: The Hounsfield unit levels were correlated with clinically relevant POPF (CR-POPF) (odds ratio [OR]: 1.04 (1.01–1.07), p = 0.015). In the receiver operating characteristic curve, the HU showed significant prediction potential for pancreatic texture (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.744, p < 0.001). The p-FRS also showed acceptable results in predicting CR-POPF (AUC = 0.702, p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the DeLong's test compared with the ua-FRS (p = 0.314). In the Hosmer–Lemeshow test, observed probabilities were correlated with predicted probabilities (p = 0.596). Conclusions: The HU level on preoperative computed tomography (CT) is a predictive factor for POPF and could represent for pancreatic texture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the optimal radiologic method to determine Milan criteria (MC) for the prediction of recurrence in patients who underwent locoregional treatment (LRT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and subsequent liver transplantation (LT). Methods: This retrospective study included 121 HCC patients who underwent LRT and had both liver dynamic CT and MRI. They were classified with MC using four cross combinations of two imaging modalities (CT and MRI) and two diagnostic criteria (modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors [mRECIST] and Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System treatment response algorithm [LI-RADS TRA]). Competing risk regression was performed to analyze the time to recurrence after LT. The predictive abilities of the four methods for recurrence were evaluated using the time-dependent area under the curve (AUC). Results: Competing risk regression analyses found that beyond MC determined by MRI with mRECIST was independently associated with recurrence (hazard ratio, 6.926; p = 0.001). With mRECIST, MRI showed significantly higher AUCs than CT at 3 years and 5 years after LT (0.597 vs. 0.756, p = 0.012 at 3 years; and 0.588 vs. 0.733, p = 0.024 at 5 years). Using the pathologic reference standard, MRI with LI-RADS TRA showed higher sensitivity (61.5%) than CT with LI-RADS TRA (30.8%, p < 0.001) or MRI with mRECIST (38.5%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: MRI with mRECIST was the optimal radiologic method to determine MC for the prediction of post-LT recurrence in HCC patients with prior LRT. Key Points: • MRI with modified RECIST (mRECIST) is the optimal preoperative method to determine Milan criteria for the prediction of post-transplant HCC recurrence in patients with prior locoregional treatment. • With mRECIST, MRI was better than CT for the prediction of post-transplant recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and transient elastography (TE) in assessing liver fibrosis and steatosis in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Methods: Patients who underwent liver biopsy or liver surgery at two academic hospitals between 2017 and 2021 were retrospectively recruited. The stages of liver fibrosis and steatosis were evaluated using histologic examination. Liver stiffness (LS) was assessed using MR elastography (LSMRE) and TE (LSTE). Liver steatosis was assessed using proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP). Results: The mean age of the study population (n = 280) was 53.6 years and male sex predominated (n = 199, 71.1%). Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was the most prevalent (n = 127, 45.5%), followed by hepatitis B virus (n = 112, 40.0%). Hepatocellular carcinoma was identified in 130 patients (46.4%). The proportions of F0, F1, F2, F3, and F4 fibrosis were 13.2%, 31.1%, 9.6%, 16.4%, and 29.7%, respectively. LSMRE had a significantly greater AUROC value than LSTE for detecting F2–F4 (0.846 vs. 0.781, P = 0.046), whereas LSMRE and LSTE similarly predicted F1–4, F3–4, and F4 (all P > 0.05). The proportions of S0, S1, S2, and S3 steatosis were 34.7%, 49.6%, 12.5%, and 3.2%, respectively. PDFF had significantly greater AUROC values than CAP in predicting S1-3 (0.922 vs. 0.806, P < 0.001) and S2-3 (0.924 vs. 0.795, P = 0.005); however, PDFF and CAP similarly predicted S3 (P = 0.086). Conclusion: MRI exhibited significantly higher diagnostic accuracy than TE for detecting significant fibrosis and mild or moderate steatosis in patients with CLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of regional lymph node (LN) metastasis detected on preoperative CT and/or 18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scans in the prediction of early tumor recurrence after curative surgical resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This retrospective study included 137 patients who underwent upfront surgery with R0 resection of PDAC between 2013 and 2016. Regional LN metastasis was identified using two criteria: positive findings for regional LN metastasis on either preoperative CT or FDG-PET scans (LNOR), or on both preoperative CT and FDG-PET scans (LNAND). A total of 55 patients had early tumor recurrence within 12 months after curative resection. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that preoperative carbohydrate antigen 19–9 (CA19-9) levels, preoperative locally advanced status, and regional LN metastasis (both LNOR and LNAND criteria) were significant risk factors for early recurrence. Positive LNOR and LNAND showed significantly poorer recurrence-free survival compared to negative regional LN metastasis groups (p = 0.048 and p = 0.020, respectively). Compared with the LNAND criteria, the LNOR criteria provided higher sensitivity (22.4% vs. 15.5%, p = 0.046) and a higher negative predictive value (61.9% vs. 59.8%, p = 0.046). The LNOR definition provided more sensitive and accurate performance in diagnosing preoperative regional LN metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to determine the clinical and histopathological prognostic factors for patients who underwent surgical resection of multiple hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) of multicentric occurrence. The secondary aim of this study was to evaluate whether specific imaging-related factors, including arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE) and the LI-RADS category of each lesion on gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI, would provide additional prognostic information about multicentric HCCs. Methods: In this retrospective study, 54 patients with 120 multicentric HCCs were diagnosed by surgical resection at a single tertiary hospital between 2009 and 2014. Two independent readers evaluated patients' preoperative gadoxetic acid–enhanced MR images and recorded APHE and LI-RADS category for each HCC, with discrepancies resolved through consensus sessions if necessary. Potential clinicopathologic and imaging parameters for predicting disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using Cox regression analysis. Results: Presence of microvascular invasion (MVI) (p = 0.003) and of three or more HCCs (p = 0.013) were both independent predictors of a shorter DFS. Patients with concurrent MVI and three or more HCCs had the shortest DFS. MVI was the only statistically significant parameter (p = 0.023) predicting OS. The number of HCCs with APHE or LR-5/M category was not associated with survival. Conclusions: Presence of MVI and of three or more HCCs were associated with poorer outcomes after surgical resection of multicentric HCCs. Imaging parameters on gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI such as APHE or LI-RADS category were not associated with postsurgical outcomes. Key Points: • Patients with three or more hepatocellular carcinomas showed worse disease-free survival than those with two hepatocellular carcinomas after surgical resection. • Microvascular invasion was the only significant factor to affect both the disease-free and overall survivals of patients after surgical resection of multicentric hepatocellular carcinomas. • Preoperative MRI findings related to multicentric hepatocellular carcinomas such as arterial phase hyperenhancement and LI-RADS category of lesions did not provide significant prognostic information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) utilizing subtraction AP (arterial phase) imaging only for T1 hyperintense observations compared with the detection of HCC on subtraction AP imaging that included T1 hyper-, iso-, and hypointense lesions on gadoxetate disodium–enhanced MRI. Materials and methods: This retrospective study included 234 patients (311 observations including 239 HCCs) at high risk for HCC who underwent gadoxetate disodium–enhanced MRI with subtraction AP imaging between 2015 and 2017. Arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE) was divided into two subtypes: conventional APHE, where subtraction AP imaging is used to detect APHE only for T1 hyperintense observations; and modified APHE, where subtraction AP imaging is applied to T1 hyper-, iso-, and hypointense lesions. Two readers independently reviewed all observations and the per-observation diagnostic performances were compared using McNemar's test. Results: Modified nonrim APHE showed significantly higher sensitivity than conventional nonrim APHE (90.0% vs 82.8%; p < 0.001) for diagnosing HCC, without a significant difference in specificity (66.7% vs 68.1%; p > 0.999). The LR-5 category with modified nonrim APHE provided better sensitivity than the LR-5 with conventional nonrim APHE (70.3% vs 63.2%; p < 0.001), without a significant decrease in specificity (94.4% vs 95.8%; p > 0.999). Conclusion: Extended application of subtraction AP imaging for T1 hypo- or isointense observations on gadoxetate disodium–enhanced MRI can improve sensitivity in the diagnosis of HCC without a significant difference in specificity. Key Points: • Modified nonrim arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE), extended application of subtraction arterial phase imaging for T1 hypo- or isointense observation, outperforms conventional nonrim APHE. • The LR-5 category with modified nonrim APHE provided better sensitivity in diagnosing HCC than the LR-5 with conventional APHE, without a significant decrease in specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To identify common and unique pre-treatment prognostic factors in patients with borderline resectable (BR) or locally advanced (LA) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), treated with chemotherapy (CTx) or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Methods: We enrolled 215 patients with BR/LA PDAC, who were treated with either CTx (n = 82) or CRT (n = 133) as a first-line treatment between 2013 and 2016. Clinical data and CT imaging findings for predicting overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed using Cox regression analysis. Results: Carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 > 1000 U/mL (hazard ratio [HR] 1.91; p = 0.001) and non-homogeneous enhancement (HR 1.95; p < 0.001) were associated with shorter OS in all study populations. There was no significant difference in median OS (15.3 vs 16.8 months, p = 0.297) and PFS (10.0 vs 11.7 months, p = 0.321) between the CTx and CRT groups. Non-homogeneous enhancement (HR 2.04; p = 0.006) and presence of positive lymph node on CT (HR 2.38; p = 0.036) were associated with poor OS in the CTx group, while CA 19-9 > 1000 U/mL (HR 2.38; p = 0.001) and non-homogeneous enhancement (HR 1.73; p = 0.006) were independent predictors for poor OS in the CRT group. Conclusion: Enhancement pattern on CT was a common prognostic factor for patients with PDAC treated with either CTx or CRT. Presence of positive lymph nodes on CT was a poor prognostic factor for the CTx group only, whereas CA 19-9 > 1000 U/mL was a poor prognostic factor for the CRT group only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The current LR-5 criteria of Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) determined by only major features provide high specificity, but unsatisfactorily low sensitivity for the noninvasive diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to identify significant ancillary features (AFs) in LI-RADS version 2018 and develop the upgraded LR-5 criteria to improve diagnostic performance on gadoxetic acid–enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: This retrospective study included 280 patients (366 observations including 281 HCCs) at high-risk for HCC who underwent gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI between 2015 and 2017. Two readers evaluated major features and AFs for each observation and assigned a LI-RADS category. Independently significant AFs were identified through logistic regression analysis. Upgraded LR-5 criteria were developed by combining independently significant AFs with LR-4 assigned by major features alone. Sensitivities and specificities of the diagnostic criteria were compared using McNemar's test. Results: Two of the AFs favoring malignancy in general (mild-moderate T2 hyperintensity and hepatobiliary phase hypointensity) and two of the AFs favoring HCC in particular (nonenhancing "capsule" and mosaic architecture) were independently significant features for diagnosing HCC. By using the upgraded LR-5 criteria (LR-4 by major features alone + each aforementioned AF), sensitivities were significantly increased (69.4–76.9%) compared with the standard LR-5 (66.2%; all, p ≤ 0.004), whereas specificities (95.3–96.5%) were not significantly different (96.5%; all, p > 0.999). Conclusions: Independently significant AFs may be used to upgrade from LR-4 to LR-5 to improve sensitivity without impairing specificity on gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI. Key Points: • Independently significant AFs for HCC on gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI were mild-moderate T2 hyperintensity, hepatobiliary phase hypointensity, nonenhancing "capsule," and mosaic architecture. • When LR-4 criteria by major features alone in combination with significant AFs were upgraded to LR-5, sensitivities were higher than the standard LR-5, without impairing specificity. • Independently significant ancillary features in Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2018 may be used to upgrade from LR-4 to LR-5 to improve sensitivity without impairing specificity on gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of LR-M criteria for differentiating hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma, and combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma and to compare the imaging features of each type. Methods: In this retrospective study, 110 patients were surgically diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma (n = 67) and combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (n = 43) at a single tertiary hospital between 2013 and 2018. Among them, those with risk factors were enrolled (16 cholangiocarcinomas and 33 combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinomas). Forty-nine other patients with size-matched hepatocellular carcinoma were selected as a control group. Two independent readers evaluated the imaging findings of the preoperative MRIs based on LI-RADS version 2018 and assigned an LI-RADS category. The diagnostic performance of the LR-M criteria for diagnosing cholangiocarcinoma or combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma was evaluated, and the imaging features were compared. The imaging findings of the tumors in patients without risk factors (51 cholangiocarcinomas and 10 combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinomas) were evaluated for subgroup analysis. Results: In the non-hepatocellular carcinoma group, 33 patients were categorized into LR-M and 14 patients into LR-5 (67.3% and 28.6%, respectively), while 5 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were categorized into LR-M and 38 patients into LR-5 (10.2% and 77.6%, respectively). Sensitivity and specificity of the LR-M criteria were 67.3% and 89.8%, respectively. When more than two LR-M features were present, cholangiocarcinoma or combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma were suggested with a specificity of 95.9%. Conclusion: The diagnostic performance of the LR-M criteria is acceptable with moderate sensitivity and high specificity for both cholangiocarcinoma and combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma. Imaging findings of primary hepatic carcinomas should be understood as a spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We compared the diagnostic performances of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) 2018 and Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) 2018 criteria on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the noninvasive diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients and evaluated the difference in diagnostic value between MRI with extracellular contrast agents (ECA-MRI) and MRI with hepatobiliary agents (HBA-MRI). Methods: This study included 382 observations from 298 patients at high risk for HCC who underwent preoperative multiphasic contrast-enhanced MRI between January 2015 and December 2016. Two readers assessed all observations according to the EASL 2018 and LI-RADS 2018 criteria, and the per-observation diagnostic performances were compared. Results: On ECA-MRI, the LR-5 category of LI-RADS 2018 showed significantly higher sensitivity (78.9% vs. 71.5%, p = 0.005) and accuracy (81.7% vs. 75.0%, p = 0.003) for the diagnosis of HCC than the EASL 2018. On HBA-MRI, the diagnostic performances of the EASL 2018 and LR-5 of LI-RADS 2018 were not significantly different. When using EASL 2018, no statistically significant differences were observed in the diagnostic performances between ECA-MRI and HBA-MRI; however, when using the LR-5 of LI-RADS 2018, ECA-MRI had a higher sensitivity (78.9% vs. 67.5%, p = 0.029) than HBA-MRI. Conclusions: On ECA-MRI, the LR-5 category of LI-RADS 2018 provides better sensitivity and accuracy than the EASL 2018 for diagnosing HCC. EASL 2018 provides comparable diagnostic performances between ECA-MRI and HBA-MRI, but the LR-5 category of LI-RADS 2018 provides better sensitivity on ECA-MRI than on HBA-MRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the diagnostic capability of single-phase dual-energy CT (DECT) angiography to differentiate acute and chronic pulmonary thromboembolism (APTE, CPTE). We prospectively enrolled 26 patients (M:F = 9:17; mean age, 61 years old) with a filling defect in the pulmonary artery on DECT angiography. They were divided into two groups-APTE and CPTE-based on the clinical criteria. Two investigators quantitatively measured the following parameters at the embolism and main pulmonary artery: CT attenuation density [Hounsfield unit (HU) values], iodine-related HU value (IHU), and iodine concentration (IC, mg/ml). These parameters of the embolism and their ratio divided by those of the main pulmonary artery were compared between APTE and CPTE groups. Among 26 patients, 15 were categorized into the APTE group and 11 into the CPTE group. The mean HU, IHU, and IC values of emboli were significantly different between the APTE and CPTE groups (32.2 ± 17.0 vs. 52.1 ± 13.6 HU; P = 0.016, 7.2 ± 2.8 vs. 27.3 ± 12.7 HU; P < 0.001, and 0.57 ± 0.23 vs. 1.56 ± 0.67; P < 0.001). The mean HU, IHU, and IC ratios between emboli and main pulmonary arteries were also significantly different between the two groups (0.085 ± 0.046 vs. 0.156 ± 0.064 HU; P = 0.003, 0.023 ± 0.013 vs. 0.099 ± 0.053; P < 0.001, and 0.048 ± 0.035 vs. 0.130 ± 0.064; P = 0.001). DECT angiography using a quantitative analytic methodology can be used to differentiate between APTE and CPTE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of different patient factors and dose levels of chemotherapeutic agents on clinical outcomes in advanced gastric cancer are not as yet fully characterized. We aimed at developing an integrative model that incorporates dose and covariate information to predict tumor growth and patient survival in advanced gastric cancer patients treated with trastuzumab (T), 5-FU(F)/capecitabine (X) (F or X), and cisplatin (P). Sixty-nine patients (training dataset) were used for model building and a separate 86 patients (test dataset) for model validation. A fraction of tumor cells sensitive to each drug was incorporated as a model parameter, and T was assumed as cytostatic and X/F and P as cytotoxic. Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed on model parameters and patient covariates. The model well described the time course of observed tumor size changes, and revealed that the pretreatment tumor growth rate constant kg, which was formulated as a function of pretreatment disease duration and baseline tumor size, was positively correlated with baseline tumor size (p = 0.0084) and histologic grade (p = 0.034), and the efficacy of 5-FU with body weight (p < 2e−16) and that of cisplatin with histologic grade (p = 0.00013). Prior gastrectomy and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group scores were significant prognostic factors for progression-free survival (PFS). For hazards analysis, a unit increase of kg was associated with a relative risk of 3.19 for PFS (p = 0.00055) and 4.45 for OS (p = 2e−04) in the test dataset, with a similar trend observed in the training dataset. Dose-response simulations showed that, for small baseline tumor size or low histologic grade, a maximum cytotoxic effect was attainable with a dose smaller than the current recommended dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]