Background: The aim of the study is to identify the advantages, if any, of post-operative MRIs performed at 48 h compared to MRIs performed after 48 h in glioblastoma surgery. Materials and Methods: To assess the presence of a residual tumor, the T1-weighted Contrast Enhancement (CE), Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC), and Cerebral Blood Volume (rCBV) in the proximity of the surgical cavity were considered. The rCBV ratio was calculated by comparing the rCBV with the contralateral normal white matter. After the blind image examinations by the two radiologists, the patients were divided into two groups according to time window after surgery: ≤48 h (group 1) and >48 h (group 2). Results: A total of 145 patients were enrolled; at the 6-month follow-up MRI, disease recurrence was 89.9% (125/139), with a mean patient survival of 8.5 months (SD 7.8). The mean ADC and rCBV ratio values presented statistical differences between the two groups (p < 0.05). Of these 40 patients in whom an ADC value was not obtained, the rCBV values could not be calculated in 52.5% (21/40) due to artifacts (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The study showed differences in CE, rCBV, and ADC values between the groups of patients undergoing MRIs before and after 48 h. An MRI performed within 48 h may increase the ability of detecting GBM by the perfusion technique with the calculation of the rCBV ratio.

BACKGROUND:The communication of the diagnosis of breast cancer induces to the patient a strong psychological trauma. Radiologists are at the forefront of communicating, either for a biopsy or the probable diagnosis of malignancy. This is a complex task, which requires the knowledge and application of correct "communicative models", among which the SPIKES protocol represents a fundamental reference.DESIGN AND METHODS:110 patients, with a history of breast cancer, filled out a questionnaire consisting of six questions: five aimed at defining communication compliance with the SPIKES protocol, the sixth, consisting of six feelings, aimed at the knowledge of the next emotional state.RESULTS:Regarding compliance with various "strategic points" of the SPIKES protocol, questionnaires show that 70% of patients reported no omissions, while the remaining 30% reported omissions relatively to perception (56%), emotions (23%), setting (13%), knowledge (6%) and invitation (2%). The results showed the existence of a correlation between the final emotional state and the correct application of the SPIKES protocol; in fact, patients who reacted with a positive final emotional state-reported greater adherence to the strategic points of the SPIKES protocol.CONCLUSIONS:In healthcare, knowing the communicative compliance of a team in giving "bad news" is fundamental, especially in breast cancer. The SPIKES protocol is recognized by the Literature as a fundamental reference able to affect "positively" the emotional state of patients. The proposed questionnaire is a valid tool to identify the weak points of communication and related criticalities, to improve clinical practice.

Background Our aim is to evaluate the possible persistence of lung parenchyma alterations, in patients who have recovered from Covid-19. Design and methods We enrolled a cohort of 115 patients affected by Covid-19, who performed a chest CT scan in the Emergency Department and a chest CT 18 months after hospital discharge. We performed a comparison between chest CT scan 18 months after discharge and spirometric data of patients enrolled. We obtained quantitative scores related to well-aerated parenchyma, interstitial lung disease and parenchymal consolidation. A radiologist recorded the characteristics indicated by the Fleischner Society and “fibrotic like” changes, expressed through a CT severity score ranging from 0 (no involvement) to 25 (maximum involvement). Results 115 patients (78 men, 37 women; mean age 60.15 years old ±12.52). On quantitative analysis, after 18 months, the volume of normal ventilated parenchyma was significantly increased (16.34 points on average ±14.54, p<0.0001). Groundglass opacities and consolidation values tend to decrease (-9.80 and -6.67 points, p<0.0001). On semiquantitative analysis, pneumonia extension, reactive lymph nodes and crazy paving reached statistical significance (p<0.0001). The severity score decreased by 2.77 points on average (SD 4.96; p<0.0001). There were not statistically significant changes on “fibrotic-like” changes correlated with level of treatment and there was not a statistically significant correlation between CT lung score and spirometric results obtained 18 months after discharge. Conclusions Patients recovered from Covid-19 seem to have an improvement of ventilated parenchyma and “fibrotic-like” alterations. The level of treatment does not appear to influence fibrotic changes.

INTRODUCTION: Post-traumatic bone marrow edema is detected in 36% of patients undergoing wrist magnetic resonance (MRI), and in most cases, it is related to scaphoid fracture. However, the correct attribution of bone marrow edema in an acute setting remains complex. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of the origin of acute bone marrow edema in scaphoid injury.EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: All published and unpublished studies on the presence of bone marrow edema in case of scaphoid injury were included. Comprehensive literature searches were conducted (30 June 2020) based on the use of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane and Web of Science database. Potentially relevant articles were selected for full text review. A data extraction worksheet was compiled to acquire and record the observations regarding pathologies related to the presence of bone marrow edema in scaphoid trauma.EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: The scaphoid is the most fractured carpal bone; on T1- and T2-weighted sequences is seen as a low signal intensity line across the bone with an adjacent marrow edema. In case of disruption of the ligamentous complex holding the scaphoid and lunate together, in the condition called scapholunate (SL) dissociation, MRI reveals bone marrow edema on the carpal-sided of the scaphoid. Bone contusion refers to bone marrow edema without evidence of fractures that occurs in the post-traumatic bone where marrow changes demonstrated on MRI result from a combination of hemorrhage, edema and microtrabecular fractures. The osteochondral lesion represents an osteochondral fracture involving an area of avascular necrosis in the subchondral bone and in the overlying cartilage layer; typical radiographic findings of this condition are sclerosis, fragmentation, erosion and collapse of the proximal pole of the scaphoid, and these findings on MRI are confirmed and classified.CONCLUSIONS: A review of the currently available literature on diagnostic studies of bone marrow edema following scaphoid trauma identified the mode of presentation and associated findings for major underlying diseases. Further studies will be needed to build solid evidence on the clinical usefulness of this information to help identify the appropriate treatment and follow-up pathway.

Purpose The use of Electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) for the diagnosis of pulmonary peripheral lesions is still debated due to its variable diagnostic yield; a new 4D ENB system, acquiring inspiratory and expiratory computed tomography (CT) scans, overcomes respiratory motion and uses tracked sampling instruments, reaching higher diagnostic yields. We aimed at evaluating diagnostic yield and accuracy of a 4D ENB system in sampling pulmonary lesions and at describing their influencing factors. Methods We conducted a three-year retrospective observational study including all patients with pulmonary lesions who underwent 4D ENB with diagnostic purposes; all the factors potentially influencing diagnosis were recorded. Results 103 ENB procedures were included; diagnostic yield and accuracy were, respectively, 55.3% and 66.3%. We reported a navigation success rate of 80.6% and a diagnosis with ENB was achieved in 68.3% of cases; sensitivity for malignancy was 61.8%. The majority of lesions had a bronchus sign on CT, but only the size of lesions influenced ENB diagnosis (p < 0.05). Transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy was the most used tool (93.2% of times) with the higher diagnostic rate (70.2%). We reported only one case of pneumothorax. Conclusion The diagnostic performance of a 4D ENB system is lower than other previous navigation systems used in research settings. Several factors still influence the reachability of the lesion and therefore diagnostic yield. Patient selection, as well as the multimodality approach of the lesion, is strongly recommended to obtain higher diagnostic yield and accuracy, with a low rate of complications.