CONTEXT: Intra-arterial therapy with beta-irradiating yttrium (90Y) microspheres (Therasphere) has demonstrated significant therapeutic benefit in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
CONTEXT: Intra-arterial therapy with beta-irradiating yttrium (90Y) microspheres (Therasphere) has demonstrated significant therapeutic benefit in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Researchers led by Dr. Robert J. Lewandowski at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago tested the efficacy and safety of 90Y microspheres on unresectable colorectal metastases to the liver. Scientists evaluated response to treatment using CT and FDG-PET, comparing response between these two modalities.
RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients with unresectable hepatic colorectal metastases were treated with 90Y microspheres (target radiation doses of 135 to 150 Gy). Following Common Toxicity Criteria from the National Cancer Institute, researchers noted minimal toxicity from treatment. Metastatic lesions showed a higher percentage of favorable response when measured by FDG-PET imaging when compared with CT imaging (88% versus 35% for the first lobe and 73% versus 36% for the second lobe treated).
IMAGE: Top: Pre- (A) and post- treatment (B) CT demonstrates no significant change in size of multiple hepatic metastases. Bottom (same patient): (C) Pretreatment PET shows multiple cannonball hypermetabolic metastases, and (D) post-treatment PET shows near complete metabolic response. Patient had a 94% reduction in serum CEA levels.
IMPLICATIONS: Metastatic liver disease may be stabilized with minimal toxicity through the administration of 90Y. Compared with CT, FDG-PET scans enhance assessment of therapy by providing details on tumor's metabolic activity. Working with oncologists, a group of interventional radiologists hope to have their therapies included in more controlled studies, according to Lewandowski.
Leading Breast Radiologists Discuss the USPSTF Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations
May 17th 2024In recognition of National Women’s Health Week, Dana Bonaminio, MD, Amy Patel, MD, and Stacy Smith-Foley, MD, shared their thoughts and perspectives on the recently updated breast cancer screening recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
Multicenter CT Study Shows Benefits of Emerging Diagnostic Model for Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
May 15th 2024Combining clinical and CT features, adjunctive use of a classification and regression tree (CART) diagnostic model demonstrated AUCs for detecting clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) that were 15 to 22 percent higher than unassisted radiologist assessments.
CT Study: AI Algorithm Comparable to Radiologists in Differentiating Small Renal Masses
May 14th 2024An emerging deep learning algorithm had a lower AUC and sensitivity than urological radiologists for differentiating between small renal masses on computed tomography (CT) scans but had a 21 percent higher sensitivity rate than non-urological radiologists, according to new research.