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International Journal of Spine Surgery Jun 2024We sought to determine which aspect of the upper instrumented vertebrae (UIV)-tilt angle or screw angle-was more strongly associated with: (1) proximal junctional...
Comparing the Upper Instrumented Vertebrae Tilt Angle vs Screw Angle in the Development of Proximal Junction Kyphosis After Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery: Which Matters More?
BACKGROUND
We sought to determine which aspect of the upper instrumented vertebrae (UIV)-tilt angle or screw angle-was more strongly associated with: (1) proximal junctional kyphosis/failure (PJK/F), (2) other mechanical complications and reoperations, and (3) patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).
METHODS
A single-institution, retrospective cohort study was undertaken for patients undergoing adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery from 2011 to 2017. Only patients with UIV at T7 or below were included. The primary exposure variables were UIV tilt angle (the angle of the UIV inferior endplate and the horizontal) and UIV screw angle (the angle of the UIV screws and superior endplate). Multivariable logistic regression included age, body mass index, osteopenia/osteoporosis, postoperative sagittal vertical axis, postoperative pelvic-incidence lumbar lordosis mismatch, UIV tilt angle and UIV screw angle.
RESULTS
One hundred and seventeen patients underwent adult spinal deformity surgery with a minimum of 2-year follow-up. A total of 41 patients (35.0%) had PJK and 26 (22.2%) had PJF. (1) UIV tilt angle: 96 (82.1%) had lordotic UIV tilt angles, 6 (5.1%) were neutral, and 15 (12.8%) were kyphotic. (2) UIV screw angle: 38 (32.5%) had cranially directed screws, 4 (3.4%) were neutral, and 75 (64.1%) were caudally directed. Both lordotic-angled UIV endplate (OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.01-1.12, and = 0.020) and cranially directed screws (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.07-1.33, and < 0.001) were associated with higher odds of PJK, with a more pronounced effect of UIV screw angle compared with UIV tilt angle (Wald test, 9.40 vs 4.42). Similar results were found for PJF. Neither parameter was associated with other mechanical complications, reoperations, or patient-reported outcome measures.
CONCLUSIONS
UIV screw angle was more strongly associated with development of PJK/F compared with tilt angle. Overall, these modifiable parameters are directly under the surgeon's control and can mitigate the development of PJK/F.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Surgeons may consider selecting a UIV with a neutral or kyphotically directed UIV tilt angle when performing ASD surgery with a UIV in the lower thoracic or lumbar region, as well as use UIV screw angles that are caudally directed, for the purprose of decreasing the risk of developing PJK/F.
PubMed: 38886012
DOI: 10.14444/8607 -
Cureus May 2024Cardiac angiosarcoma is a malignant cardiac tumour. We present the case of a young patient in his mid-30s with recurrent pericardial effusion. He had flu-like symptoms a...
Cardiac angiosarcoma is a malignant cardiac tumour. We present the case of a young patient in his mid-30s with recurrent pericardial effusion. He had flu-like symptoms a month earlier and had shortness of breath, lethargy, and tightness in his throat for the past ten days. Echocardiography demonstrated global pericardial effusion > 4 cm with tamponade features, and the patient was blue-lighted to our hospital. He underwent emergency pericardiocentesis, and > 1 litre of pericardial fluid was drained. Computed tomography of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis revealed small-volume ascites and moderate right-sided pleural effusion, with associated lobar collapse. The patient presented to the hospital with global pericardial effusion requiring emergency pericardiocentesis three weeks later and underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging demonstrating global pericardial effusion and a 48 × 26 mm pericardial space mass adjacent to the right atrium. He underwent surgical resection of the tumour, followed by chemotherapy, and tolerated the treatment well. The patient is currently under follow-up.
PubMed: 38883119
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60460 -
Cureus May 2024Groove pancreatitis (GP) is an uncommon form of chronic pancreatitis (CP) that affects the area between the duodenum, the head of the pancreas, and the common bile duct...
Groove pancreatitis (GP) is an uncommon form of chronic pancreatitis (CP) that affects the area between the duodenum, the head of the pancreas, and the common bile duct (CBD), which is known as the pancreaticoduodenal groove. Our case is based on a 68-year-old male with a past medical history of alcohol use disorder and a 50-pack-year smoking history who presented with nausea, vomiting, and poor oral intake. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis showed gastric outlet obstruction due to a 6.0 cm mass in the pancreatic groove and the second portion of the duodenum, with dilation of the pancreatic, intrahepatic, and extrahepatic biliary ducts. In order to rule out malignancy and evaluate the acute symptoms, the patient underwent an open pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Pathologic findings and negative tumor markers confirmed GP. This case highlights a rare form of CP that symptomatically and radiographically mimics malignancy, but is benign.
PubMed: 38883107
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60471 -
Cureus May 2024Chondrosarcomas are malignant cartilaginous tumors that usually affect the pelvic bone and long bones. Primary chondrosarcomas of the skull are rare, with the cranial...
Chondrosarcomas are malignant cartilaginous tumors that usually affect the pelvic bone and long bones. Primary chondrosarcomas of the skull are rare, with the cranial vault being an even more unusual localization. We report a case of a 75-year-old man presenting with headaches and outgrowth of the parietal scalp. CT scan of the head showed an extracranial cystic well-rounded mass originating at the parietal suture and eroding through the adjacent parietal bone. The patient underwent an en bloc surgical resection of the mass, and histological examination confirmed a grade I chondrosarcoma.
PubMed: 38883079
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60398 -
Cureus May 2024Pericardial effusion, a clinical condition characterized by an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pericardial cavity, has multiple etiological factors. One of the...
Pericardial effusion, a clinical condition characterized by an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pericardial cavity, has multiple etiological factors. One of the prominent causes is malignant effusion. The patient is a 69-year-old female with a past medical history of Crohn's disease, melanoma status post-resection, and osteoarthritis. She presented with complaints of abdominal discomfort, shortness of breath on exertion, and lower extremity swelling for the past 2-3 days. She was recently discharged four days before this visit after being treated for a viral infection. A physical examination was significant for tachycardia, muffled heart sounds, abdominal distention, and bilateral lower extremity swelling. Labs were in the normal range except for elevated liver enzymes and sodium of 130 mmol/L. A chest X-ray revealed a small bilateral effusion; a bedside echocardiogram showed an ejection fraction greater than 70% and a large pericardial effusion >2 cm, consistent with cardiac tamponade. Emergent pericardiocentesis was performed with the drainage of 250 milliliters of hemorrhagic fluid, which was sent for diagnostic studies. Post-procedure echo on the next day showed an EF of 35-40% and no recurrent pericardial effusion. The workup for connective tissue disease was negative except for elevated antinuclear antibodies (ANA). CT of the abdomen and pelvis revealed gastric wall thickening with no solid organ mass. Her pericardial fluid studies were consistent with exudative etiology and positive for atypical lymphoid cells, leading to the diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Malignant pericardial effusion is common due to solid organ malignancy; however, it is rare with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We present an intriguing case where pericardial effusion was the precursor to the eventual diagnosis of DLBCL, highlighting the complexity and diverse manifestations of this lymphoma subtype.
PubMed: 38882999
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60418 -
Gynecologic Oncology Reports Aug 2024•MPNST is an uncommon sarcoma of the nerve sheath that is rarely found in the female reproductive tract.•Preoperative uterine mass imaging should include pelvic MRI...
•MPNST is an uncommon sarcoma of the nerve sheath that is rarely found in the female reproductive tract.•Preoperative uterine mass imaging should include pelvic MRI and thorough evaluation of imaging by an expert pelvic MRI radiologist.•Metastatic MPNST has a poor prognosis and systemic treatment options lack efficacy.
PubMed: 38881559
DOI: 10.1016/j.gore.2024.101422 -
The Journal of Obstetrics and... Jun 2024Endometriosis, affecting 6%-10% of women of reproductive age, can lead to severe symptoms such as chronic pelvic pain and infertility. Among its rarer manifestations is...
Endometriosis, affecting 6%-10% of women of reproductive age, can lead to severe symptoms such as chronic pelvic pain and infertility. Among its rarer manifestations is abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE), which has been increasingly reported following cesarean deliveries. This case discusses a 39-year-old woman who presented with a 13-year history of cyclical pain at her cesarean section scar, exacerbated over the last year by the development of a painful abdominal mass. Medical evaluations indicated endometriosis at the scar, with further investigations including ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging showing involvement of the rectus abdominis muscle. Elevated tumor markers HE4 and CA-125, along with a biopsy, confirmed adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent extensive surgical treatment, including the resection of the mass, hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and lymphadenectomy. Pathology confirmed moderately differentiated infiltrative adenocarcinoma originating from endometriosis. Despite the absence of postoperative chemotherapy, the patient showed no recurrence, emphasizing the effectiveness of comprehensive surgical management. This case highlights the critical importance of recognizing the potential for malignant transformation in AWE, particularly following cesarean deliveries, and underscores the necessity for vigilant monitoring and personalized treatment strategies. The management of AWE, especially when malignant transformation is suspected, necessitates a multidisciplinary approach similar to that used in ovarian cancer, focusing on rigorous surgical intervention and the potential for adjuvant therapies.
PubMed: 38880948
DOI: 10.1111/jog.16000 -
Nutrition in Clinical Practice :... Jun 2024Body mass index (BMI) is criticized for being unjust and biased in relatively healthy racial and ethnic groups. Therefore, the current analysis examines if BMI predicts...
BACKGROUND
Body mass index (BMI) is criticized for being unjust and biased in relatively healthy racial and ethnic groups. Therefore, the current analysis examines if BMI predicts body composition, specifically adiposity, in a racially and ethnically diverse acutely ill patient population.
METHODS
Patients admitted with SARS-CoV-2 having an evaluable diagnostic chest, abdomen, and/or pelvic computed tomography (CT) study (within 5 days of admission) were included in this retrospective cohort. Cross-sectional areas (centimeters squared) of the subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) were quantified. Total adipose tissue (TAT) was calculated as sum of these areas. Admission height and weight were applied to calculate BMI, and self-reported race and ethnicity were used for classification. General linear regression models were conducted to estimate correlations and assess differences between groups.
RESULTS
On average, patients (n = 134) were aged 58.2 (SD = 19.1) years, 60% male, and racially and ethnically diverse (33% non-Hispanic White [NHW], 33% non-Hispanic Black [NHB], 34% Hispanic). Correlations between BMI and SAT and BMI and TAT were strongest revealing estimates of 0.707 (0.585, 0.829) and 0.633 (0.534, 0.792), respectively. When examining the various adiposity compartments across race and ethnicity, correlations were similar and significant differences were not detected for TAT with SAT, VAT, or IMAT (all P ≥ 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the routine use of applying BMI as a proxy measure of total adiposity for acutely ill patients identifying as NHW, NHB, and Hispanic. Our results inform the validity and utility of this tool in clinical nutrition practice.
PubMed: 38877983
DOI: 10.1002/ncp.11164 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2024A 55-year-old male patient developed a mass in the left inguinal area with left lower limb swelling and first visited a local hospital 3 months earlier because of...
CASE REPORT
A 55-year-old male patient developed a mass in the left inguinal area with left lower limb swelling and first visited a local hospital 3 months earlier because of unrelieved pain. An MRI scan suggested left suprapubic branch and left acetabular bone destruction, abnormal soft tissue signals within the iliopsoas muscle of the anterior edge of the left iliac bone, and enlarged lymph nodes in the left iliac fossa and left inguinal region. The patient subsequently underwent left pelvic lesion open biopsy and inguinal lymph node resection biopsy. According to pathological reports, the left inguinal mass was considered to be a malignant tumor of cutaneous accessory origin (pilomatrix carcinoma) with extensive vitreous changes. The suprapupubis branch mass was considered to be a bone metastatic pilomatrix carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) revealed a PDL1 combined positive score (CPS) of 8. DNA next-generation sequencing (NGS) showed L65Rfs*53 mutation. The patient received three cycles of gemcitabine and nedaplatin. However, the lesion progressed.
CONCLUSION
Chemotherapy is not effective for treating pilomatrix carcinoma. PDL1 antibodies and CDK4/6 inhibitors might be treatment options for pilomatrix carcinoma.
Topics: Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; B7-H1 Antigen; Skin Neoplasms; Pilomatrixoma; Mutation; Hair Diseases
PubMed: 38873609
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1337400 -
Radiology Case Reports Aug 2024Retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma (RPLMS) is rare and usually presents as a large abdominal mass with poor clinical symptoms. Radiological findings of an RPLMS arising in...
Retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma (RPLMS) is rare and usually presents as a large abdominal mass with poor clinical symptoms. Radiological findings of an RPLMS arising in the pelvis of a woman resemble those of adnexal tumors. Herein, we present a case of RPLMS mimicking an adnexal tumor which was differentiated from having an ovarian origin as the right ovarian vein was passing through the tumor but there was no direct vascular connection with the tumor. Therefore, it is important to identify the ovarian vein to distinguish between these tumors.
PubMed: 38872746
DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.2024.04.066