370 research outputs found
Evaluation of the response to therapy of neoplastic lesions
No full textThe introduction of an evaluation standard for the response to therapy of neoplastic lesions is necessary not only for the standardisation of clinical research protocols, but also to allow the objective and transferable management of the oncology patient in routine clinical practice. The international criteria that define how to evaluate a neoplastic disease and to determine its response to treatment were first introduced in the 80s by the WHO and have been recently updated with the new RECIST criteria defined by broad consensus of European and U.S. oncology organisations and published in 2000. The new criteria, especially those related to lesion measurement are substantially different from the previous criteria, they are simpler and easier to use, but present some problems that should be brought to the attention of radiologists who must adjust them with the common sense and balance of judgement resulting from our practice. These problems refer above all to certain types of lesions (such as cystic, bone and nodal metastases), to the method for measuring the maximum diameter, to the use of contrast agents and to the frequency of follow-up examinations, with consequent effects on radioprotection and workloads. In any case, the radiologist who examines a patient with neoplastic lesions and compares the examination results with previous images, should make sure the report does not contain vague language, that the maximum diameters of the lesions are always indicated and that any morphological and/or contrast enhancement changes are described: the report should enable clinicians to make a complete evaluation of the condition and of disease progression, for a global management of the oncology patient
Closed-End Mutual Funds in Italy
No full textThe first part of this paper is a summary picture of the evolution of the debate on closed-ended funds in Italy. To the end, the author reviews some of the most important elements to emerge. In the second part, he makes a few personal considerations on some of the aspects of the problem under discussion, based on his own professional experiences
Magnetic Resonance Diffusion-Weighted Imaging for Detecting Fundal Intracholecystic Papillary Neoplasm inside Rokitansky-Aschoff Sinuses: A Comparison of Two Cases and a Literature Review
No full textRokitansky-Aschoff sinuses (RAS) are a common imaging finding in gallbladder adenomyomatosis (ADM), often presenting as fundal cystic spaces. Intracholecystic papillary neoplasm (ICPN) is a relatively uncommon pre-invasive tumor of the gallbladder epithelium that rarely involves RAS mucosa. We compare two cases that showed similar fundal cystic spaces resembling RAS, in which Magnetic Resonance Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (MR-DWI) was valuable for detecting (or ruling out) an underlying malignant ICPN. Evidence from the literature overall supports the role of MR-DWI for detecting intracholecystic malignant tissue
Ultrasonography of the ulnar nerve in the elbow: video article
No full textDisorders affecting the ulnar nerve in the elbow are common in clinical practice. The diagnosis is based on clinical evaluation and electrodiagnostic tests, but imaging examinations are frequently necessary, particularly for the identification of the structures associated with nerve compression. The purpose of this video article is to review the anatomy, the pathology, scanning techniques, and sonographic appearance of the ulnar nerve in the elbow
Has color Doppler a role in the evaluation of mammary lesions?
No full textHas color Doppler a role in the evaluation of mammary lesions? A schematic review of color Doppler diagnostic criteria, indicating a benign or malignant lesion, are described.Malignant tumors have a tendency to show increased vascularization, but avascular tumors may be found as well as hypervascular benign tumors.Number of vessels, blood-flow velocity, and intra-tumoral vessel resistance assessed by color Doppler ultrasonography don't permit clear differentiation between malignant and benign tumors, but intra-tumoral blood-flow analysis well correlates with aggressiveness and histological grade of the mass, so a preoperative assessment using Color Doppler may give preliminary prognostic informations useful for therapeutic planning.Color Doppler ultrasound may be valuable also in assessing the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and in particular of antiangiogenesis treatments.Color Doppler ultrasound has many other useful applications in the evaluation of diseases of the female and male breast, that are reviewed in the paper.Color Doppler however is not conceived as a stand-alone examination, but associated with B-mode ultrasound that is quite effective as a diagnostic tool, often not requiring Doppler informations
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