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Vaccination strategies have been at the forefront of controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. An association between vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) and one of these vaccines, the ChAdOx1 nCov-19 vaccine, is now recognized. The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency and location of thrombosis in each vascular system using CT, MRI, and US to identify additional sites of thrombus in a United Kingdom-wide sample of patients with confirmed VITT. Thirty-two radiology centers identified through the national collaborative Radiology Academic Network for Trainees were invited from the United Kingdom; seven of these contributed to this study. All patients with confirmed VITT ¬between February 3 and May 12, 2021, who met the inclusion criteria were included. The location and extent of thrombi were evaluated using CT, MRI, and US. A total of 40 patients (median age, 41 years [IQR, 32-52]; 22 [55%] men) with confirmed vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia after administration of their first ChAdOx1 nCov-19 vaccine were included. Thirty-two patients (80%) developed symptoms within the first 14 days, and eight (20%) developed symptoms within 14-28 days. Twenty-nine patients (72%) experienced neurologic symptoms and were confirmed to have cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, 12 (30%) had clinical deterioration and repeat imaging demonstrated extension of their primary thrombus, and eight (20%) died. Twenty-five of 30 patients (83%) who underwent additional imaging had occult thrombosis. In conclusion, patients with VITT are likely to have multiple sites of thrombosis, with the most frequent being cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in combination with pulmonary embolism and portomesenteric venous thrombosis. Whole-body imaging with contrast-enhanced CT can be used to identify occult thrombosis.

Background Most radiologists reporting CT colonography (CTC) do not undergo compulsory performance accreditation, potentially lowering diagnostic sensitivity. Purpose To determine whether 1-day individualized training in CTC reporting improves diagnostic sensitivity of experienced radiologists for 6-mm or larger lesions, the durability of any improvement, and any associated factors. Materials and Methods This prospective, multicenter cluster-randomized controlled trial was performed in National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales between April 2017 and January 2020. CTC services were cluster randomized into intervention (1-day training plus feedback) or control (no training or feedback) arms. Radiologists in the intervention arm attended a 1-day workshop focusing on CTC reporting pitfalls with individualized feedback. Radiologists in the control group received no training. Sensitivity for 6-mm or larger lesions was tested at baseline and 1, 6, and 12 months thereafter via interpretation of 10 CTC scans at each time point. The primary outcome was the mean difference in per-lesion sensitivity between arms at 1 month, analyzed using multilevel regression after adjustment for baseline sensitivity. Secondary outcomes included per-lesion sensitivity at 6- and 12-month follow-up, sensitivity for flat neoplasia, and effect of prior CTC experience. Results A total of 69 hospitals were randomly assigned to the intervention (31 clusters, 80 radiologists) or control (38 clusters, 59 radiologists) arm. Radiologists were experienced (median, 500-999 CTC scans interpreted) and reported CTC scans routinely (median, 151-200 scans per year). One-month sensitivity improved after intervention (66.4% [659 of 992]) compared with sensitivity in the control group (42.4% [278 of 655]; difference = 20.8%; 95% CI: 14.6, 27.0

ObjectiveThe global COVID-19 pandemic has changed healthcare across the world. Efforts have concentrated on managing this crisis, with impact on cancer care unclear. We investigated the impact on endoscopy services and gastrointestinal (GI) cancer diagnosis in the UK.DesignAnalysis of endoscopy procedures and cancer diagnosis at a UK Major General Hospital. Procedure rates and diagnosis of GI malignancy were examined over 8-week periods in spring, summer and autumn 2019 before the start of the crisis and were compared with rates since onset of national lockdown and restrictions on elective endoscopy. The number of CT scans performed and malignancies diagnosed in the two corresponding periods in 2019 and 2020 were also evaluated.Results2 698 2516 and 3074 endoscopic procedures were performed in 2019, diagnosing 64, 73 and 78 cancers, respectively, the majority being in patients with alarm symptoms and fecal immunochemical test+ve bowel cancer screening population. Following initiation of new guidelines for management of endoscopy services 245 procedures were performed in a 6 week duration, diagnosing 18 cancers. This equates to potentially delayed diagnosis of 37 cancers per million population per month. Clinician triage improved, resulting in 13.6 procedures performed to diagnose one cancer.ConclusionsOur data demonstrate an 88% reduction in procedures during the first 6 weeks of COVID-19 crisis, resulting in 66% fewer GI cancer diagnoses. Triage changes reduced the number of procedures required to diagnose cancer. Our data can help healthcare planning to manage the extra workload on endoscopy departments during the recovery period from COVID-19.

An earlier incorrect version appeared online. This article was corrected on August 18, 2021. This case series reports six patients (4 men; median age 38 years; interquartile range 26-48) presenting with vaccine-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis beginning 3 to 26 days after receiving the first dose of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AstraZeneca) vaccine. The patients were admitted to a general hospital between 9 to 31 days after the first dose. All patients had strongly detected anti-platelet factor 4 antibodies and severe thrombosis. Laboratory features included thrombocytopenia and elevated D-Dimer levels. Thrombotic events were predominantly venous; two patients had arterial or mixed arterial/venous thrombosis. All patients recovered after receiving intravenous immunoglobulin and non-heparin based anticoagulation.

Purpose To evaluate an interleaved MRI sampling strategy that acquires both high temporal resolution (HTR) dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) data for quantifying breast tumor blood flow (TBF) and high spatial resolution (HSR) DCE data for clinical reporting, following a single standard injection of contrast agent. Methods A simulation study was used to evaluate the performance of the interleaved technique under different conditions. In a prospective clinical study, 18 patients with primary breast cancer, who were due to undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), were examined using interleaved HTR and HSR DCE-MRI at 1.5 Tesla. Tumor regions of interest were analyzed with a two-compartment tracer kinetic model. Paired parameters (n = 10) from the data acquired before and post-cycle 2 of NACT were compared using the nonparametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results Simulations demonstrated that TBF was reliably estimated using the proposed strategy. The region of interest analysis revealed significant changes in TBF (0.81-0.43 mL/min/mL; P = 0.002) following two cycles of NACT. The HSR data were reported in the normal way and enabled the assessment of tumor volume, which decreased by 53% following NACT (P = 0.065). Conclusions TBF can be measured reliably using the proposed strategy without compromising a standard clinical protocol. Furthermore, in our feasibility study, TBF decreased significantly following NACT, whereas capillary permeability surface-area product did not. Magn Reson Med 79:317-326, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

To evaluate an interleaved MRI sampling strategy that acquires both high temporal resolution (HTR) dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) data for quantifying breast tumor blood flow (TBF) and high spatial resolution (HSR) DCE data for clinical reporting, following a single standard injection of contrast agent.A simulation study was used to evaluate the performance of the interleaved technique under different conditions. In a prospective clinical study, 18 patients with primary breast cancer, who were due to undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), were examined using interleaved HTR and HSR DCE-MRI at 1.5 Tesla. Tumor regions of interest were analyzed with a two-compartment tracer kinetic model. Paired parameters (n = 10) from the data acquired before and post-cycle 2 of NACT were compared using the nonparametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test.Simulations demonstrated that TBF was reliably estimated using the proposed strategy. The region of interest analysis revealed significant changes in TBF (0.81-0.43 mL/min/mL; P = 0.002) following two cycles of NACT. The HSR data were reported in the normal way and enabled the assessment of tumor volume, which decreased by 53% following NACT (P = 0.065).TBF can be measured reliably using the proposed strategy without compromising a standard clinical protocol. Furthermore, in our feasibility study, TBF decreased significantly following NACT, whereas capillary permeability surface-area product did not. Magn Reson Med 79:317-326, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.