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- Jonsson, Gisli, et al.
(author)
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Spinal drain-related complications after complex endovascular aortic repair using a prophylactic automated volume-directed drainage protocol
- 2023
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In: Journal of Vascular Surgery. - : Elsevier BV. - 0741-5214 .- 1097-6809. ; 78:3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: A commonmeasure to lower the risk for spinal cord ischemia (SCI) during complex endovascular aortic repair (cEVAR) is prophylactic cerebrospinal fluid drainage (CSFD). This method has caused controversy because of drainrelated complications. Spinal drains are usually pressure directed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk of CSFD-related complications and SCI within the context of an automated volume-directed drain protocol.Methods: This is a retrospective, single-center study of all cEVARs with CSFD at a tertiary vascular center between January 2014 and December 2020. Demographics, complications, and spinal drain data were recorded. All drainages were volume based using an automatic drainage system (LiquoGuard7; Moller Medical GmbH). Spinal drain complications were categorized as disabling and nondisabling according to the modified Rankin scale. The primary end point was any CSFDrelated complication.Results: A total of 448 cEVAR patients were identified, of whom 147 (32.8%) had prophylactic CSFD. The mean age was 69 years (63% male). The most common pathology (61%) was thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm, and the most common procedure was branched EVAR (55.1%). Eighteen (12.2%) patients developed a CSFD-related complication, whereof three (2%) were disabling. Nineteen (13%) patients developed SCI: 12 (8.4%) paraparetic, 5 (3.4%) paraplegic, and 2 (1.4%) paresthesias. Of these, 13 (68%) had full reversal of symptoms, whereas 6 patients (4%) had residual symptoms and were deemed disabling. Drain-related complications were more common in patients with SCI (31.6%) compared with those without (9.4%, P 1/4 .014). In the latter group, only two patients (1.6%) developed a disabling drain-related complication.Conclusions: Selective use of prophylactic, automated volume-directed CSFD in patients at high risk for SCI was associated with a high incidence of complications and should be used with caution. Among those developing SCI, reversalwas achieved frequently with increased CSFD volume, but at the price ofmore bleeding complications. (J Vasc Surg 2023;78:575-83.)
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- Kontakis, Michael G., et al.
(author)
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Artificial disc replacement and adjacent-segment pathology : 10-year outcomes of a randomized trial
- 2022
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In: Journal of Neurosurgery. - : AMER ASSOC NEUROLOGICAL SURGEONS. - 1547-5654 .- 1547-5646. ; 36:6, s. 945-953
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Artificial disc replacement (ADR) is designed to preserve motion and thus protect against adjacent-segment pathology (ASP) and act as an alternative treatment to fusion surgery. The question remains, how well do ADR devices perform after 10 years of follow-up compared with fusion surgery in terms of patient satisfaction, sustainability, and protection against ASP?METHODS: This was the 10-year follow-up study of 153 participants who underwent ADR or fusion surgery after anterior decompression due to cervical degenerative radiculopathy (ISRCTN registration no. 44347115). Scores on the Neck Disability Index (NDI), EQ-5D, and visual analog scale for neck and arm pain were obtained from the Swedish Spine Registry and analyzed using ANCOVA. Information about secondary surgical procedures was collected from medical records and presented as Kaplan-Meier curves. MRI and flexion-extension radiography were performed, and ASP was graded according to the Miyazaki classification system.RESULTS: Ten participants were lost to follow-up, which left 143 participants (80 underwent ADR and 65 underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion). There were no differences between groups in terms of patient-reported outcome measures (10-year difference in NDI scores 1.7 points, 95% CI -5.1 to 8.5, p = 0.61). Nineteen (24%) participants in the ADR group compared with 9 (14%) in the fusion group underwent secondary surgical procedures. The higher reoperation rate of the ADR group was mainly due to 11 female participants with device loosening. The rates of reoperation due to ASP were similar between groups, which was confirmed with MRI assessment of ASP that also showed no differences between the groups (p = 0.21).CONCLUSIONS: This was the first 10-year follow-up study to compare ADR with fusion surgery and to provide MRI information for the assessment of ASP. The authors found no benefit of ADR over fusion surgery after anterior decompression for cervical degenerative radiculopathy.
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- Mosavi, Firas, et al.
(author)
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Whole-body diffusion-weighted MRI and (18)F-FDG PET/CT can discriminate between different lymphoma subtypes
- 2015
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In: Clinical Radiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0009-9260 .- 1365-229X. ; 70:11, s. 1229-1236
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AIM: To determine whether combined 2-[(18)F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose ((18)F-FDG) positron-emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) can be used for characterisation of different lymphoma subtypes, i.e., indolent versus aggressive lymphoma, and also to assess the prognostic value of different quantitative parameters of whole-body (WB) DWI and (18)F-FDG PET/CT.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pre-therapeutic WB magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including DWI and (18)F-FDG PET/CT were performed in lymphoma patients. Different quantitative DWI and (18)F-FDG PET/CT parameters were evaluated for characterisation of different lymphoma subtypes. These parameters were also correlated, both separately and in combination, against overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). A lesion-by-lesion analysis was performed for correlation analysis between maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax), mean standardised uptake value (SUVmean) and mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC).RESULTS: Fifty patients were included in the study and divided into three groups: Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), n=12; aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), n=29 (including 20 patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, DLBCL); and indolent NHL, n=9. Indolent NHL showed significantly lower mean ADC values than the other two lymphoma groups (p=0.013). Aggressive NHL had a higher SUVmax than HL. The OS analysis of all patients showed a relationship (p=0.006) between increased mean ADC and longer OS. A model with both SUVmean and mean ADC, strengthened the possibility to predict PFS; however, a separate analysis of the DLBCL patients showed that none of the quantitative parameters could predict OS or PFS.CONCLUSION: ADC can discriminate between indolent and aggressive NHL. This finding can be useful in assessing possible transformation from indolent to aggressive NHL. ADC, ADC/SUV, and SUV cannot predict OS/PFS independent of lymphoma subtype.
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- Mosavi, Firas, et al.
(author)
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Whole-Body Diffusion-Weighted MRI Compared With 18F-NaF PET/CT for Detection of Bone Metastases in Patients With High-Risk Prostate Carcinoma
- 2012
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In: American Journal of Roentgenology. - 0361-803X .- 1546-3141. ; 199:5, s. 1114-1120
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of whole-body diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) and 18F-NaF PET/CT for detection of bone metastases in patients with high-risk prostate cancer.SUBJECTS AND METHODS:Both patient- and lesion-based analyses were performed on 49 consecutive patients (median age, 67 years; age range, 57-80 years) with recently diagnosed high-risk prostate cancer. All patients underwent bone scintigraphy, whole-body MRI including DWI and 18F-NaF PET/CT before treatment. Bone scintigraphy, conventional MR images, and follow-up images were used as the standard of reference to evaluate 18F-NaF PET/CT and DWI.RESULTS:On patient-based analysis, five patients had skeletal metastases on reference imaging that both DWI and 18F-NaF PET/CT could verify, and 18F-NaF PET/CT and DWI showed false-positive findings in four and one patient, respectively. With lesion-based analysis, 18F-NaF PET/CT and DWI showed nine and five true-positive lesions, zero and four false-negative lesions, and seven and two false-positive lesions, respectively. Two patients with uncountable bone metastases were analyzed separately. In these patients, 18F-NaF PET/CT showed more bone metastases than did DWI.CONCLUSION:We believe 18F-NaF PET/CT is a sensitive modality for detection of bone metastases caused by prostate cancer. Whole-body DWI shows a higher specificity but lower sensitivity than 18F-NaF PET/CT. Future studies with a larger patient cohort along with analyses of costs and clinical availability are needed before implementation of these methods can be considered.
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- Mosavi, Firas, et al.
(author)
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Whole-body MRI including diffusion-weighted imaging compared to CT for staging of malignant melanoma
- 2013
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In: Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences. - : Uppsala Medical Society. - 0300-9734 .- 2000-1967. ; 118:2, s. 91-97
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background. Whole-body (WB) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), has been increasingly used for the detection of metastatic disease. Purpose. To assess the value of WB MRI including DWI compared to computed tomography (CT) for staging of malignant melanoma. A second aim was to assess the value of DWI in addition to conventional MR sequences for the detection of lesions. Material and methods. WB MRI with DWI and CT chest, abdomen, and pelvis were performed in 23 patients with histologically confirmed malignant melanoma. CT before and after the MRI examinations and the clinical follow-up was utilized as the standard of reference. Results. WB MRI and WB DWI detected 345 and 302 lesions, respectively, compared to 397 lesions with CT. The sensitivity of WB MRI and WB DWI varied considerably in different regions of the body. In the lungs, WB MRI and WB DWI showed 63% and 47% true-positive lesions, respectively. WB MRI and WB DWI detected 56 bone lesions in 12 patients compared to 42 lesions in 8 patients with CT. In addition, WB MRI and WB DWI could detect 68 lesions outside the field of view of CT in six patients. Conclusion. WB MRI is still not ready to replace CT for staging of malignant melanoma, especially in the thorax region. However, WB MRI is advantageous for detection of bone lesions and lesions outside the investigated volume of the conventional CT. When WB MRI is evaluated, both DWI and conventional MRI sequences must be scrutinized.
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- Mosavi, Firas, et al.
(author)
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Whole body MRI, including diffusion-weighted imaging in follow-up of patients with testicular cancer
- 2015
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In: Acta Oncologica. - 0284-186X .- 1651-226X. ; 54:10, s. 1763-1769
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Whole body (WB) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) has become increasingly utilized in cancer imaging, yet the clinical utility of these techniques in follow-up of testicular cancer patients has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of WB MRI with continuous table movement (CTM) technique, including multistep DWI in follow-up of patients with testicular cancer.PATIENTS AND METHODS: WB MRI including DWI was performed in follow-up of 71 consecutive patients (median age, 37 years; range 19-84) with histologically confirmed testicular cancer. WB MRI protocol included axial T1-Dixon and T2-BLADE sequences using CTM technique. Furthermore, multi-step DWI was performed using b-value 50 and 1000 s/mm(2). One criterion for feasibility was patient tolerance and satisfactory image quality. Another criterion was the accuracy in detection of any pathological mass, compared to standard of reference. Signal intensity in DWI was used for evaluation of residual mass activity. Clinical, laboratory and imaging follow-up were applied as standard of reference for the evaluation of WB MRI.RESULTS: WB MRI was tolerated in nearly all patients (69/71 patients, 97%) and the image quality was satisfactory. Metal artifacts deteriorated the image quality in six patients, but it did not influence the overall results. No case of clinical relapse was observed during the follow-up time. There was a good agreement between conventional WB MRI and standard of reference in all patients. Three patients showed residual masses and DWI signal was not restricted in these patients. Furthermore, DWI showed abnormally high signal intensity in a normal-sized retroperitoneal lymph node indicating metastasis. The subsequent (18)F-FDG PET/CT could verify the finding.CONCLUSION: WB MRI with CTM technique including multi-step DWI is feasible in follow-up of patients with testicular cancer. DWI may contribute to important added-value data to conventional MRI sequences regarding the activity of residual masses.
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9. |
- Mosavi, Firas
(author)
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Whole-Body MRI including Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in Oncology
- 2013
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Cancer is one of the major causes of worldwide mortality. Imaging plays a vital role in the staging, follow-up, and evaluation of therapeutic response in cancer patients. Whole-body (WB) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as a non-ionizing imaging technique, is a promising procedure to assess tumor spreading in a single examination. New MRI technological developments now enable the application of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the entire body. DWI reflects the random motion of water molecules and provides functional information of body tissues. DWI can be quantified with the use of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). The aim of this dissertation was to demonstrate the value of WB MRI including DWI in cancer patients.WB MRI including DWI, 18F-NaF PET/CT, and bone scintigraphy was performed on 49 patients with newly diagnosed, high-risk prostate cancer, for the purpose of detecting bone metastases. WB DWI showed higher specificity, but lower sensitivity compared to 18F-NaF PET/CT. In addition, WB MRI including DWI, and CT of the chest and abdomen was performed in 23 patients with malignant melanoma. We concluded that WB MRI could not completely supplant CT for the staging of malignant melanoma, especially with respect to the detection of lesions in the chest region. In this study, WB MRI and DWI were able to detect more bone lesions compared to CT, and showed several lesions outside the CT field of view, reinforcing the advantage of whole-body examination.WB MRI, including DWI, was performed in 71 patients with testicular cancer. This modality demonstrated its feasibility for use in the follow-up of such patients. WB MRI, including DWI, and 18F-FDG PET-CT, were carried out in 50 patients with malignant lymphoma. Both these imaging modalities proved to be promising approaches for predicting clinical outcomes and discriminating between different subtypes of lymphomas.In conclusion, WB MRI, including DWI, is an evolving technique that is continuing to undergo technical refinement. Standardization of image acquisition and analysis will be invaluable, allowing for more accurate comparison between studies, and widespread application of this technique in clinical practice. Both WB MRI, including DWI and PET/CT, have their particular strengths and weaknesses in the evaluation of metastatic disease. DWI and PET/CT are different functional techniques, so that combinations of these techniques may provide complementary and more comprehensive information of tumor tissue.
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10. |
- Sadeghi, Arian, 1977-, et al.
(author)
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Treatment of malignant melanoma patients with expanded tumor-infiltrating T cells and low dose IL-2
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- ABSTRACT Purpose: The prognosis for patients with metastasized malignant melanoma is very poor, and an effective therapy is warranted. Previous studies of adoptive T cell transfer have been encouraging, but have sometimes exhibited severe side effects. We sought to refine earlier applied protocols by using low-dose instead of high-dose IL-2 as a supporting cytokine. Experimental design: We evaluated the adoptive transfer of autologous T cells in combination with low-dose s.c. IL-2 in 28 melanoma patients with advanced disease. The patients had progressed on standard treatments. They were pretreated with high-dose chemotherapy for obtaining lymphodepletion to augment the anti-tumor function of the transferred T cells. Results: The objective response rate was18 %. One patient obtained a long-lasting complete remission and four patients a partial response. Tumor regression was demonstrated in six further patients (21 %) without reaching the RECIST criteria for a partial response. Conclusions: This is the first study in cancer patients with autologous T cell transfer combined with low-dose s.c. IL-2. The results are promising but modifications of the protocol are needed to increase the response rate.
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