Search

Rationale and Objectives To analyze the performances of diameter-based measurements, either using diameters, or by calculating diameter-based volumes, as compared to volume measurements in assessing growth of pulmonary adenocarcinomas manifesting as subsolid nodules on CT. Materials and Methods In this IRB-approved, retrospective study, 74 pulmonary adenocarcinomas presenting as subsolid nodules and resected in 69 patients (21 men, 48 women, mean age 70 ± 9 years) were included. Three CTs were available for each patient. Nodule size on each CT was assessed with diameter measurements, calculated volume based on diameter measurements, and measured volume. Nodule growth was defined as an increase of measured volume ≥25% between two sequential CTs. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values of diameter-based measurements for growth assessment were calculated. Nodule characteristics were compared with nonparametric tests and analysis of variance. Results There were fewer growing nodules during CT1-CT2 interval (n = 22, 30%) than during CT2-CT3 interval (n = 33, 45%, p =.060). Specificity and negative predictive value of diameter-based measurements for growth assessment ranged respectively from 52 to 77% and 81 to 83% between CT1 and CT2, and from 66 to 76% and 79 to 90% between CT2 and CT3. Nongrowing nodules tended to be larger, regardless how size was measured, and some of these differences in size were statistically significant (p =.002 to .046). Conclusion For pulmonary adenocarcinomas presenting as subsolid nodules on CT, diameter-based assessment of nodule volume is reasonably accurate at confirming a lack of nodule growth but may overestimate actual growth, as compared to growth assessment based on measured volume.

Patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) can present with various clinical manifestations including syncope. The mechanism of syncope in PE is not fully elucidated and data of right ventricular (RV) function in patients has been limited. We retrospectively identified 477 consecutive patients hospitalized with acute PE diagnosed with a computed tomogram (CT) who also had a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) 24 h prior to or 48 h after diagnosis. Parameters of RV strain on CT, TTE, electrocardiogram (ECG), and clinical characteristics and adverse outcomes were collected. Patients with all three studies available for assessment were included (n = 369) and those with syncope (n = 34) were compared to patients without syncope (n = 335). Patients with syncope were more likely to demonstrate RV strain on all three modes of assessment compared to those without syncope [17 (50%) vs. 67 (20%); p = 0.001], and those patients were more likely to receive advanced therapies [9 (53%) vs. 15 (22%); p = 0.02]. PE-related mortality was highest among those presenting with high-risk PE and syncope (36%, OR 20.1, 95% CI 5.3–81.1; p

Zusammenfassung Klinisches/methodisches Problem Seit dem Auftreten des neuartigen Coronavirus Ende 2019 und der damit verbundenen Erkrankung – Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) – kam es zum Ausrufen einer Pandemie durch die Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO). Der Referenzstandard für die Diagnose ist der Virusnachweis mittels „reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction“ (RT-PCR). Bei hoher Spezifizität ist die Sensitivität der RT-PCR jedoch stark abhängig von der Symptomdauer, der Viruslast, der Qualität der Probe sowie des verwendeten Tests. Radiologische Standardverfahren Im Rahmen von COVID-19 werden primär Thoraxröntgen und Thorax-Computertomographie(CT) zur Erkennung von Lungenmanifestationen bzw. deren Ausdehnung und von Komplikationen eingesetzt. Leistungsfähigkeit Die Sensitivität und Spezifizität des Thoraxröntgens bei COVID-19 ist gering. Die Thorax-CT weist eine hohe Sensitivität von ungefähr 90 % bei jedoch geringer Spezifizität auf (zwischen 25 und 33 %). Empfehlung für die Praxis Die Indikation für die Durchführung von Bildgebung im Rahmen von COVID-19 sollte immer mit Bedacht gestellt werden, um das Übertragungsrisiko für medizinisches Personal und andere Patienten zu minimieren. Die Bildgebung ist vor allem hilfreich zur Evaluierung des Ausmaßes der Lungenbeteiligung der Erkrankung, zur Abgrenzung von Komplikationen und Differenzialdiagnosen. Typischerweise zeigen sich bilaterale, subpleurale Milchglasverdichtungen mit oder ohne Konsolidierungsareale. Im Verlauf können auch Veränderungen einer organisierenden Pneumonie beobachtet werden. Bei Untersuchungen nach Genesung einer COVID-19-Pneumonie ist auf fibrotische Lungenveränderungen zu achten.

Background Confirming that subsolid adenocarcinomas show exponential growth is important because it would justify using volume doubling time to assess their growth. Purpose To test whether the growth of lung adenocarcinomas manifesting as subsolid nodules at chest CT is accurately represented by an exponential model. Materials and Methods Patients with lung adenocarcinomas manifesting as subsolid nodules surgically resected between January 2005 and May 2018, with three or more longitudinal CT examinations before resection, were retrospectively included. Overall volume (for all nodules) and solid component volume (for part-solid nodules) were measured over time. A linear mixed-effects model was used to identify the growth pattern (linear, exponential, quadratic, or power law) that best represented growth. The interactions between nodule growth and clinical, CT morphologic, and pathologic parameters were studied. Results Sixty-nine patients (mean age, 70 years ± 9 [standard deviation]; 48 women) with 74 lung adenocarcinomas were evaluated. Overall growth and solid component growth were better represented by an exponential model (adjusted

Rationale and Objectives To analyze the pattern and longitudinal evolution of honorary authorship in major radiology journals. Materials and Methods In this Institutional Review Board-approved study, an electronic survey was sent to first authors of original research articles published in the American Journal of Roentgenology, European Radiology, the Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Radiology during 2 years (July 2014 through June 2016). Questions addressed the perception of honorary authorship and contributing factors, as well as demographic information. Univariate analysis was performed by using χ2 tests. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess independent factors associated with the perception of honorary authorship. Results Of 1839 first authors, 315 (17.3%) responded. Of these, 31.4% (97/309) perceived that at least one coauthor did not make sufficient contributions to merit authorship and 54.3% (159/293) stated that one or more coauthors performed only “nonauthor” tasks according to International Committee of Medical Journal Editors criteria. Of eight factors significantly associated with the perception of honorary authorship on univariate analysis, two were retained by the stepwise multivariate model: having someone suggest adding an author and a coauthor performing only a nonauthorship task. Conclusion There has been little variation in the perception of honorary authorship among first authors of original research articles in radiology. The suggestion of adding an author and having coauthors performing only nonauthorship tasks are the two most important risk factors for honorary authorship. Our findings indicate that a prolonged course of transformation of current cultural norms is required to decrease honorary authorship.

Purpose The aim of this study was to identify potential computed tomography manifestations of pulmonary adenocarcinomas presenting as subsolid nodules and associated with the histologic evidence of spread of tumor through air spaces (STAS). Materials and methods From a radiologic-pathologic repository of resected pulmonary adenocarcinomas including 203 subsolid nodules, 40 STAS-positive nodules were randomly selected and matched to 40 STAS-negative nodules. Total average diameter, as well as average and long-axis diameters of the solid component, was measured. The proportion of solid component diameter to total average diameter was calculated. Measurements and proportions between STAS-positive and STAS-negative nodules were compared with paired samples t test, χ test, or the Fisher exact test. Results The total average diameter in STAS-positive nodules was significantly larger than in STAS-negative nodules (P=0.024). The average and long-axis diameters of the solid component of STAS-positive nodules were significantly larger than that of STAS-negative nodules (P=0.001 and 0.003). The proportion of solid component to total average diameter was significantly larger in STAS-positive than in STAS-negative nodules (P=0.041). At a threshold of ≥10 mm for the average and the solid component long-axis diameters, significantly more nodules were STAS-positive than STAS-negative (P=0.015 and 0.001). Conclusions Total average diameter, average and long-axis diameters of the solid component, and a high proportion of solid component diameter compared with total average diameter are computed tomography manifestations of subsolid pulmonary adenocarcinomas with STAS. These findings could serve as an in-vivo tool for the likelihood estimation of STAS, and consequently influence management of subsolid adenocarcinomas.

Objectives The eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging manual now stratifies nonmucinous lung adenocarcinomas (nmLACAs) by the size of the invasive component only. This is determined by direct gross or microscopic measurement; however, a calculated invasive size based on the percentage of invasive growth patterns has been proposed as an alternative option. Methods To compare radiologic with different pathologic assessments of invasive tumor size, we retrospectively reviewed a cohort of resected nmLACAs with a part-solid appearance on computed tomography (CT) scan (n = 112). Results The median direct microscopic pathologic invasive measurements were not significantly different from the median calculated pathologic invasive measurements; however, the median CT invasive measurements were 0.26 cm larger than the median direct pathologic measurements (P < .001). Conclusions Our results show that pathologic calculated invasive tumor measurements are comparable to direct microscopic measurements of invasive tumor, thereby supporting the recommendation for use of calculated invasive tumor size by the pathologist if necessary.

Rationale and Objectives The objective of this study was to quantify the impact of different rounding methods on size measurements of pulmonary nodules and to determine the number of nodules that change management categories as a result of rounding. Materials and Methods For this retrospective institutional review board-approved study, we included 503 incidental pulmonary nodules (308 solid and 195 subsolid) from a data repository. Long and short axes were measured. Average diameters were calculated using four different rounding methods (method 1: no rounding; method 2: rounding only the average diameter to the closest millimeter; method 3: rounding only short and long axes; and method 4: rounding short and long axes and the average diameter to the closest millimeter). Nodules were classified for each rounding method according to the 2017 Fleischner Society guideline management categories. Measurements were compared among the four rounding methods using analysis of variance. Results Without rounding, the average nodule diameter was 15.67 ± 5.97 mm. This increased between 0.03 and 0.29 mm using rounding methods 2–4 (range: P Conclusions Rounding methods have a small absolute but statically significant effect on nodule size, impacting management category in less than 3% of the nodules. This suggests that, in clinical practice, any rounding method can be used for determining nodule size without substantially biasing individual nodules toward given management categories.

Rationale and Objectives This study aims to assess the use of skeletal muscle mass measurements at two thoracic levels to diagnose sarcopenia on computed tomography (CT) chest examinations and to analyze the impact of these measurements on clinical outcome parameters following transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Materials and Methods This study retrospectively included 157 patients who underwent preoperative CT examinations. The total muscle area was measured on transverse CT images at the 3rd lumbar and 7th and 12th thoracic levels with skeletal muscle indices (SMIs) calculated at each level. SMIs were then compared to clinical outcome parameters, and thoracic cutoff values for sarcopenia at the 7th and 12th thoracic levels were calculated. Results Correlation between SMIs at the third lumbar vertebra (L3) and the 12th thoracic vertebra (T12) was stronger (r = 0.724, P

Objectives The aims of this study were to quantify the relationship between computed tomography (CT) size, volume, density, and roundness of lung adenocarcinomas (ACs) manifesting as pure ground-glass nodules (pGGNs) on CT images and to correlate these parameters with histologic features of invasiveness. Methods From 2005 to 2015, 63 ACs manifesting as pGGNs on CT images were surgically resected at our institution. CT size was measured, and roundness, volumes and densities were computed. CT parameters were correlated to age and sex, as well as to size and number of invasive foci and histologic AC subcategories. Correlations were quantified with Spearman rank correlation coefficients. Results Of 63 ACs, 28 (44%) were AC in situ, 25 (40%) were minimally invasive AC, and 10 (16%) were invasive AC. Six of 35 nodules with invasive foci (17%) were smaller than 10 mm. Correlations between age and CT size, volume, density, and roundness were not significant (range r = –0.061 to 0.144, p = 0.285 to 0.902). Correlations between size and number of invasive foci with CT size ( r = 0.417, p r = 0.389, p = 0.003, respectively) were similar to the correlations with volume ( r = 0.401, p = 0.001 and r = 0.350, p = 0.005, respectively) and stronger than the correlation with density ( r = 0.237, p = 0.062 and r = 0.222, p = 0.081, respectively) and roundness ( r = 0.059, p = 0.648 and r = –0.030, p = 0.831, respectively). Conclusions In ACs manifesting as pGGNs on CT images, nodule size is positively related to size and number of histologically invasive foci. However, invasive foci can be found in pGGNs smaller than 10 mm. Measuring volume and density of pGGNs provides no advantage over two-dimensional size measurements, which appear sufficient for risk estimation in clinical practice.

Rationale and Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency and spectrum of abnormalities on routine screening chest radiographs among inpatients and outpatients with “positive purified protein derivative (PPD)” in a large tertiary care academic medical center in a country with low prevalence of tuberculosis (TB). Materials and Methods The reports of all chest radiographs of general inpatients and outpatients referred for positive PPD (2010–2014) were evaluated for the frequency of evidence of active or latent TB and the spectrum of imaging findings. The results of additional chest radiographs and computed tomography scans were recorded, as were additional relevant clinical histories and symptoms. Results Of the 2518 patients who underwent chest radiography for positive PPD, the radiographs were normal in 91.3%. The vast majority of the abnormal radiographs demonstrated findings consistent with old tuberculous disease. There were three cases (0.1%) of active TB, all of which were either recent immigrants from an endemic area or had other relevant histories or clinical symptoms suggestive of the disease. Conclusions Universal chest radiography in general inpatient and outpatient populations referred for positive PPD is of low yield for detecting active disease in a country with low prevalence of TB.

Rationale and Objectives This study aimed to compare long-axis diameter to average computed tomography (CT) diameter measurements of lung adenocarcinomas manifesting as solid lung nodules ≤30 mm on CT, as referenced to pathologic measurements, and to determine the impact of the two CT measurement approaches on tumor (T)-staging of nodules. Materials and Methods This institutional review board-approved study included all 274 radiologic solid adenocarcinomas resected at our institution over 10 years. Two observers measured long- and short-axis diameters on pre-resection chest CT in lung and mediastinal windows. T-stages were determined. CT measurements and T-stages were compared to pathology measurements and T-stages using Wilcoxon signed rank test and McNemar test. Inter- and intraobserver variability was determined with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman plots. Results For lung and mediastinal windows, nodule size was significantly larger using long-axis diameter rather than average diameter (16.93 vs. 14.92 mm, P .001; and 14.02 vs. 12.17 mm, P .001, respectively). The correlation of CT with pathologic measurements was stronger with long-axis than with average diameter (ICC 0.808 vs. 0.730; and 0.731 vs. 0.621, respectively). Lung window measurements correlated stronger with pathology than mediastinal window measurements. CT T-stages differed from pathology T-stages in more than 20% of nodules ( P .001). Inter- and intraobserver variability was small with long-axis and average diameter (ICC range 0.96–0.991, and 0.970–0.993, respectively), but long-axis diameter showed wider scatter on Bland-Altman plots. Conclusions Long-axis CT diameter is preferable for T-staging because it better reflects the pathology T-stage. Average CT diameter might be used for longitudinal nodule follow-up because it shows less measurement variability and is more conservative in size assessment.

Objectives The eighth edition of the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual now stratifies the T descriptor for lung cancers by each increasing 1.0 cm increment, up to 5.0 cm, with an additional category for tumor greater than 7.0 cm. Bias in pathologic versus radiologic measurements may impact tumor staging. Methods The gross pathologic measurements of 493 resected lung adenocarcinomas were compared with presurgical computed tomography radiologic measurements. Also, pathologic tumor measurement data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program database were examined. Results The distribution of pathologic measurements showed clustering at 0.5-cm increments, with 43.0% of pathologic measurements falling on 0.5-cm increments compared to only 20.3% of radiologic measurements. This pathologic measurement clustering was also observed for both 591,691 resected lung cancers and 3,597,685 tumors of any type from the SEER database. Conclusions Compared to radiologic measurements, gross pathologic measurements cluster around whole- and half-cm values. This measurement bias could lead to incorrect pathologic tumor staging and influence clinical treatment plans.

The aim of this study was to develop and test multiclass predictive models for assessing the invasiveness of individual lung adenocarcinomas presenting as subsolid nodules on computed tomography (CT). 227 lung adenocarcinomas were included: 31 atypical adenomatous hyperplasia and adenocarcinomas in situ (class H1), 64 minimally invasive adenocarcinomas (class H2) and 132 invasive adenocarcinomas (class H3). Nodules were segmented, and geometric and CT attenuation features including functional principal component analysis features (FPC1 and FPC2) were extracted. After a feature selection step, two predictive models were built with ordinal regression: Model 1 based on volume (log) (logarithm of the nodule volume) and FPC1, and Model 2 based on volume (log) and Q.875 (CT attenuation value at the 87.5% percentile). Using the 200-repeats Monte-Carlo cross-validation method, these models provided a multiclass classification of invasiveness with discriminative power AUCs of 0.83 to 0.87 and predicted the class probabilities with less than a 10% average error. The predictive modelling approach adopted in this paper provides a detailed insight on how the value of the main predictors contribute to the probability of nodule invasiveness and underlines the role of nodule CT attenuation features in the nodule invasiveness classification.

INTRODUCTION Risk stratification for acute pulmonary embolism (PE) incorporates metrics of right ventricle (RV) function. Significant RV dysfunction influences left ventricular (LV) function, though LV function metrics are not utilized for stratifying outcomes in patients with PE. Mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) is a linear echocardiographic (TTE) measure that evaluates longitudinal LV function and may aid in risk stratification for acute PE. METHODS Using a single-center database of patients with PE from 2007 to 2014, MAPSE was calculated for all TTE's available with sufficient quality (n = 362). A MAPSE of ≥11 mm was used as a normal reference. Thirty-day adverse outcomes were defined as administration of vasopressor, fibrinolytic therapy, open embolectomy, or 30-day PE-related mortality. Odds ratios (OR) and adjusted OR (AOR) were calculated using logistic regression analysis. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) measurements were incorporated to determine the additive benefit of MAPSE. RESULTS Compared with the reference MAPSE ≥ 11 mm and LVEF > 50%, patients with MAPSE 50% had worse outcomes (AOR 2.94 [95% CI: 1.08-7.98], P = 0.035). Among patients with LVEF > 50%, the presence of both a MAPSE

Background Tumor spread through air spaces (STAS), a significant prognostic indicator, has been described recently as a pattern of invasion in pulmonary carcinomas. However, questions remain regarding preoperative identification of STAS and whether it represents an in vivo phenomenon versus an ex vivo artifact. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 67 paired preoperative bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) or bronchial washing (BW) cytology specimens with the subsequent lung adenocarcinoma surgical resection specimen to determine whether preoperative cytology could predict STAS. Other clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features of the resected lesions were also correlated with preoperative bronchial cytology results. Results Positive bronchial cytology was observed in 28 cases (41.8%), 24 of which had STAS (85.7%); however, negative BAL/BW cytology was observed in 39 cases (58.2%), 29 of which had STAS (74.4%) (x2 = 1.27, P = .26, not significant). High-STAS burden was observed in 44 cases (83.0%), 21 (47.7%) with negative BAL/BW and 23 (52.3%) with positive BAL/BW. Low-STAS burden was observed in 9 cases (17.0%), 8 (88.9%) with negative BAL/BW and only 1 (11.1%) with positive BAL/BW (x2 = 5.11, P = .024, significant). For tumors with STAS, a statistically significant difference was identified in the maximal STAS distance from the main tumor edge between BAL/BW-positive and BAL/BW-negative groups (P = .007). Of the remaining clinicopathologic and radiologic features, only visceral pleural invasion was significantly associated with BAL/BW positivity. Conclusion Presurgical bronchial cytology alone cannot adequately predict tumor STAS; however, it may provide useful information regarding the extent and overall burden of STAS on the subsequent resection specimen.

To assess single energy metal artifact reduction (SEMAR) and spectral energy metal artifact reduction (MARS) algorithms in reducing artifacts generated by different metal implants.Phantom was scanned with and without SEMAR (Aquilion One, Toshiba) and MARS (Discovery CT750 HD, GE), with various metal implants. Images were evaluated objectively by measuring standard deviation in regions of interests and subjectively by two independent reviewers grading on a scale of 0 (no artifact) to 4 (severe artifact). Reviewers also graded new artifacts introduced by metal artifact reduction algorithms.SEMAR and MARS significantly decreased variability of the density measurement adjacent to the metal implant, with median SD (standard deviation of density measurement) of 52.1 HU without SEMAR, vs. 12.3 HU with SEMAR, p 0.001. Median SD without MARS of 63.1 HU decreased to 25.9 HU with MARS, p 0.001. Median SD with SEMAR is significantly lower than median SD with MARS (p = 0.0011). SEMAR improved subjective image quality with reduction in overall artifacts grading from 3.2 ± 0.7 to 1.4 ± 0.9, p 0.001. Improvement of overall image quality by MARS has not reached statistical significance (3.2 ± 0.6 to 2.6 ± 0.8, p = 0.088). There was a significant introduction of artifacts introduced by metal artifact reduction algorithm for MARS with 2.4 ± 1.0, but minimal with SEMAR 0.4 ± 0.7, p 0.001.CT iterative reconstruction algorithms with single and spectral energy are both effective in reduction of metal artifacts. Single energy-based algorithm provides better overall image quality than spectral CT-based algorithm. Spectral metal artifact reduction algorithm introduces mild to moderate artifacts in the far field.

OBJECTIVE. Bronchoscopy and MDCT are routinely used to assess tracheobronchomalacia (TBM). Recently, dynamic MRI (cine MRI) has been proposed as a radiation-free alternative to MDCT. In this study, we tested cine MRI assessment of airway dynamics during various breathing conditions and compared cine MRI and MDCT measurements in healthy volunteers and patients with suspected TBM. CONCLUSION. Cine MRI was found to be a technically feasible alternative to MDCT for assessing central airway dynamics.

We would like to thank the authors of the three editorials (1-3) for their interest in and comments on our article “ Lung Adenocarcinoma Manifesting as Pure Ground-Glass Nodules: Correlating CT Size, Volume, Density, and Roundness with Histopathologic Invasion and Size ” (4).

The original version of this article, published on 13 October 2020, unfortunately contained a mistake.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate intermediate and long-term changes in expiratory tracheal collapsibility by computed tomography (CT) in patients with tracheobronchomalacia following surgical treatment with tracheobronchoplasty and to correlate CT findings with clinical findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between 2003 and 2016, 18 patients with tracheobronchomalacia underwent tracheobronchoplasty and were imaged preoperatively and postoperatively at both intermediate and long-term intervals. Imaging included end-inspiratory and dynamic expiratory phase scans. The cross-sectional area of the airway lumen was measured at 2 standard levels (1 cm above the aortic arch and carina). These measurements were used to calculate % collapsibility. Clinical findings recorded included a questionnaire on symptomatology and a 6-minute walk test. RESULTS Before surgery, expiratory collapsibility of the upper trachea was 72%±25% (mean±SD) and that of the lower trachea was 68%±22%. On intermediate follow-up (mean, 1.5 y), collapsibility significantly decreased to 37%±21% at the upper trachea and 35%±19% at the lower trachea (P

Background Anaemia is a common problem experienced by critically-ill people. Treatment with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) has been used as a pharmacologic strategy when the blunted response of endogenous erythropoietin has been reported in critically-ill people. The use of ESAs becomes more important where adverse clinical outcomes of transfusing blood products is a limitation. However, this indication for ESAs is not licensed by regulatory authorities and is called off-label use. Recent studies concern the harm of ESAs in a critical care setting. Objectives To focus on harms in assessing the effects of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), alone or in combination, compared with placebo, no treatment or a different active treatment regimen when administered off-label to critically-ill people. Search methods We conducted a systematic search of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO via OvidSP, CINAHL, all evidence-based medicine (EBM) reviews including IPA and SCI-Expanded, Conference Proceedings Citation Index- Science, BIOSIS Previews and TOXLINE up to February 2017. We also searched trials registries, checked reference lists of relevant studies and tracked their citations by using SciVerse Scopus. Selection criteria We considered randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled observational studies, which compared scheduled systemic administration of ESAs versus other effective interventions, placebo or no treatment in critically-ill people. Data collection and analysis Two review authors independently screened and evaluated the eligibility of retrieved records, extracted data and assessed the risks of bias and quality of the included studies. We resolved differences in opinion by consensus or by involving a third review author. We assessed the evidence using GRADE and created a 'Summary of findings' table. We used fixed-effect or random-effects models, depending on the heterogeneity between studies. We fitted three-level hierarchical Bayesian models to calculate overall treatment effect estimates. Main results Of the 27,865 records identified, 39 clinical trials and 14 observational studies, including a total of 945,240 participants, were eligible for inclusion. Five studies are awaiting classification. Overall, we found 114 adverse events in 33 studies (30 RCTs and three observational studies), and mortality was reported in 41 studies (32 RCTs and nine observational studies). Most studies were at low to moderate risk of bias for harms outcomes. However, overall harm assessment and reporting were of moderate to low quality in the RCTs, and of low quality in the observational studies. We downgraded the GRADE quality of evidence for venous thromboembolism and mortality to very low and low, respectively, because of risk of bias, high inconsistency, imprecision and limitations of study design. It is unclear whether there is an increase in the risk of any adverse events (Bayesian risk ratio (RR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.93 to 1.21; 3099 participants; 9 studies; low-quality evidence) or venous thromboembolism (Bayesian RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.41; 18,917 participants; 18 studies; very low-quality evidence). There was a decreased risk of mortality with off-label use of ESAs in critically-ill people (Bayesian RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.92; 930,470 participants; 34 studies; low-quality evidence). Authors' conclusions Low quality of evidence suggests that off-label use of ESAs may reduce mortality in a critical care setting. There was a lack of high-quality evidence about the harm of ESAs in critically-ill people. The information for biosimilar ESAs is less conclusive. Most studies neither evaluated ESAs' harm as a primary outcome nor predefined adverse events. Any further studies of ESA should address the quality of evaluating, recording and reporting of adverse events.

Objectives To assess the performance of the “Computer-Aided Nodule Assessment and Risk Yield” (CANARY) software in the differentiation and risk assessment of histological subtypes of lung adenocarcinomas manifesting as pure ground glass nodules on computed tomography (CT). Methods 64 surgically resected and histologically proven adenocarcinomas manifesting as pure ground-glass nodules on CT were assessed using CANARY software, which classifies voxel-densities into three risk components (low, intermediate, and high risk). Differences in risk components between histological adenocarcinoma subtypes were analysed. To determine the optimal threshold reflecting the presence of an invasive focus, sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value were calculated. Results 28/64 (44%) were adenocarcinomas in situ (AIS); 26/64 (41%) were minimally invasive adenocarcinomas (MIA); and 10/64 (16%) were invasive ACs (IAC). The software showed significant differences in risk components between histological subtypes (P

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact that a clinical history of an oncologic disease may have on the management decisions for incidentally detected lung nodules on chest computed tomographic (CT) examinations.An electronic survey was sent to all 796 members of the Society of Thoracic Radiology regarding criteria for the management of incidentally detected lung nodules in oncologic patients, as well as recommendations for nodule follow-up. Nodule characteristics and clinical parameters used by respondents were analyzed. Differences between variables were examined using the χ test.Of the 796 Society of Thoracic Radiology members, 178 (22.36%) replied. Most respondents were subspecialized in cardiothoracic imaging (92.70%) and practiced in an "academic or teaching hospital setting" (75.28%) with a "dedicated oncology center" (94.03%). "History of oncologic disease" was the most important factor (98.87%) for management decisions. In patients with such a history, respondents most commonly used "experience and common sense" (56.74%) and reported "all incidentally found lung nodules" (65.73%, P0.0001). "Size" and "shape" were the 2 most important nodule characteristics (33.61% and 27.05%, respectively) used to consider a nodule "clinically relevant," and "size" (44.07%) was also the most important nodule characteristic prompting recommendation for short-term CT follow-up. Follow-up CT examinations in oncologic patients were recommended by 75.84% of respondents.In patients with a history of oncologic disease, radiologists tend to report every detected nodule and to routinely recommend follow-up CT examinations. Although most radiologists rely on "experience and common sense" in managing these nodules, greater standardization of lung nodule management in oncologic patients is needed, ideally through guidelines tailored to this patient population.

OBJECTIVE Mortality is frequently used as an outcome in critical care trials, being a patient-orientated variable and robust against information/selection bias. Mortality frequency, however, should be measured at a defined time point of follow-up. Practice of meta-analysis shows that follow-up times of trials in critical care medicine differ substantially. This may have substantial implications on potential pooling of effect estimates. We aimed to describe the current practice of mortality follow-up time definitions in a representative sample of published critical care randomized controlled trials and to analyze the influence of different follow-up times on subsequently pooled effect estimates. DATA SOURCES Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PASCAL Biomed, and PsycINFO. STUDY SELECTION Databases were searched for critical care randomized controlled trials published after 2000. A random sample of 50% was drawn for further review. DATA EXTRACTION Study characteristics were extracted, as well as the number and time points of mortality ascertainment. Additional data were extracted from Kaplan-Meier plots, as available. DATA SYNTHESIS Meta-regression and multilevel mixed-effects linear regression were used to analyze the influence of follow-up time (independent variable) on deviation of pooled risk ratios from study baseline (dependent variable). From 9,246 retrieved references, we included 106 studies representing 63,713 participants. Among these, 45 studies (43%) reported more than one time point, with 24 different time points at all, only three (28, 30, and 90 d) being reported in more than 10% of studies. Limiting meta-analyses to only one predefined time point would reduce the number of eligible studies by at least 60%. No influence of time points on meta-analytic summary effect estimates was found. CONCLUSIONS In a large sample of critical care randomized controlled trials, numerous different mortality time points are reported. Mortality time points did not influence pooled point estimates of the effects. Consequently, it seems possible to pool effect estimates, which in turn will increase the precision of these effect estimates.

Pulmonary parametric response map (PRM) was proposed for quantitative densitometric phenotypization of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, little is known about this technique in healthy subjects. The purpose of this study was to describe the normal spectrum of densitometric classification of pulmonary PRM in a group of healthy adults. 15 healthy volunteers underwent spirometrically monitored chest CT at total lung capacity (TLC) and functional residual capacity (FRC). The paired CT scans were analyzed by PRM for voxel-by-voxel characterization of lung parenchyma according to 4 densitometric classifications: normal lung (TLC ≥ -950 HU, FRC ≥ -856 HU); expiratory low attenuation area (LAA) (TLC ≥ -950 HU, FRC