Radiologe最新文献

Background: Neurologic, pulmonary, cardiac and gastrointestinal functional disorders can persist in the post-acute phase and constitute a long COVID syndrome, also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV‑2 infection (PASC). Some patients develop persistent and debilitating symptoms despite a relatively mild illness at onset and they are known as COVID-19 long haulers.

Objective: Presentation of symptoms, signs and biomarkers present in patients previously affected by COVID-19 and discussion of possible underlying mechanisms and consequences.

Methods: Existing literature and reported cases as well as expert opinions are analyzed and discussed.

Results: Long COVID affects survivors of COVID-19 at all levels of disease severity, even in mild to moderate cases and younger adults who did not require respiratory support, hospitalization or intensive care. A challenging aspect is that many long haulers never had laboratory confirmation of COVID-19, raising skepticism that the persistent symptoms have a physiological basis. On the other hand, some symptoms seen in post-acute COVID-19 may occur as a consequence of critical illness or as a side effect of treatment.

Conclusion: Given that COVID-19 is a new disease, it is not possible to determine how long these effects will last. Long-term monitoring of post-acute COVID-19 symptoms and screening for frequent comorbid conditions are essential.

Radiation therapy and more recently, drug-based molecular therapy in particular, are a central component of modern oncology. Both forms of therapy are suitable for effectively treating tumors with comparatively low systemic side effects. Nevertheless, even these treatment approaches have side effects, which are triggered by the toxicity of the radiation and by the immunomodulatory effects of the administered drugs. The pneumotoxic potential of these forms of therapy is reflected in the development of interstitial pneumonitis, which can transition into fibrotic changes in the lung structure. The clinical diagnosis of the disease is made more difficult as the symptoms are nonspecific. Computed tomography (CT) is an excellent means of diagnosing the corresponding consolidations and to monitor them over time. Therefore, in the interdisciplinary context the radiologist plays a central role in the diagnostics of this disease.

Beyond pulmonary presentation, COVID-19 infection can manifest with a variety of both acute and chronic neurologic and neuropsychiatric (concomitant) symptoms and diseases. Nonspecific symptoms such as headache, fatigue, olfactory and gustatory disturbance have been reported more frequently, and severe disease such as encephalopathy, encephalitis, and cerebrovascular events have been reported relatively rarely. The heterogeneity of neurologic and neuropsychiatric presentations is large, as well as the range of recorded prevalences. Older patients, pre-existing neurologic and non neurologic comorbidities and severe COVID-19 disease were associated with increased risk of severe neurologic complications and higher in-hospital mortality. Probable neurotropic pathomechanisms of SARS-CoV‑2 have been discussed, but a multifactorial genesis of neurologic/neuropsychiatric symptoms and disease beyond these is likely.

Background: Diagnosis and treatment of primary prostate cancer (PCA) have undergone significant changes in the last few years due to modern imaging.

Objectives: Established and modern diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for detection and treatment of primary PCA are presented and discussed critically.

Materials and methods: Background knowledge and guideline recommendations on primary PCA are summarized and additional information from relevant publications is given.

Results: Modern imaging, in particular multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), has revolutionized the diagnostic work-up of primary PCA. Due to mpMRI, tumors are detected significantly better in both initial and re-biopsy with a significant reduction of overdiagnosis of clinically insignificant PCA. Therapeutic approaches such as active surveillance, radical prostatectomy and focal therapies are increasingly being planned and carried out relying on MR-imaging information concerning tumor extent and tumor aggressiveness. In addition, prostate-specific membrane antigen-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PSMA-PET/CT) has shown superiority in assessing patients with suspected biochemical recurrence and in primary staging of PCA compared to conventional imaging in terms of detection of metastases.

Conclusions: Modern imaging, especially mpMRI and PSMA-PET/CT, has added substantial benefits in modern diagnosis and treatment of primary PCA. Moreover, multiparametric ultrasound is also a promising addition to the radiological armamentarium in the management of primary PCA.

Background: Hybrid devices of MR-scanners and linear accelerators (MR-Linacs) represent a new and promising extension of radiotherapeutic options for prostate cancer. The potential advantage of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) over computed tomography (CT) for soft tissue contrast is well-known and leads to more consistent and smaller target volumes and improved normal tissue sparing.

Objectives: This article presents an overview of clinical experience, indications, advantages and challenges of utilizing a 1.5 T MR-Linac in the setting of radiotherapy of prostate cancer.

Results: All current indications for radiotherapy of prostate cancer can be treated with an MR-Linac. The advantages include daily MR-based imaging in treatment position and daily adaption of the treatment plan on current anatomy (adaptive radiotherapy). Additionally, functional MRI sequences might be exploited to enhance treatment individualization and response assessment. Ultimately treatment on an MR-Linac might further increase the therapeutic window. The limitations of using MR-Linac include treatment complexity and the duration of each session.

Conclusions: MR-Linacs expand the spectrum of radiotherapeutic options for prostate cancer. Increased precision can be reached with daily MRI-based target volume definition and plan adaption. Clinical studies are necessary to identify patient groups who would benefit most from radiotherapy on a MR-Linac.

Clinical/methodological issue: The detection of clinically significant prostate cancers while simultaneously avoiding over-diagnosing tumors with low malignant potential is a challenge in clinical practice.

Standard radiological methods: Multiparametric prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in accordance with the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) guidelines is accepted as standard-of-care with both urologists and radiologists.

Methodological innovations: The PI-RADS guidelines have been updated to version 2.1, including revised technical recommendations and changes to the scoring of lesions.

Performance: The PI-RADS guidelines have had great impact on the standardization of multiparametric prostate MRI and offer templates for structured reporting. This simplifies communication with the referring physician.

Achievements: The new version 2.1 of the guidelines represents an evolutionary improvement of the widely accepted version 2.0. Several aspects of reporting have been revised-however, some pre-known limitations persist, which will require further refinement in the future.

Clinical/methodological issue: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) of the prostate plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and local staging of primary prostate cancer.

Standard radiological methods: Image-guided biopsy techniques such as MRI-ultrasound fusion not only allow guidance for targeted tissue sampling of index lesions for diagnostic confirmation, but also improve the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer.

Methodological innovations: Minimally invasive, focal therapies of localized prostate cancer complement the treatment spectrum, especially for low- and intermediate-risk patients.

Performance: In patients of low and intermediate risk, MR-guided, minimally invasive therapies could enable local tumor control, improved functional outcomes and possible subsequent therapy escalation. Further study results related to multimodal approaches and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) by machine and deep learning algorithms will help to leverage the full potential of focal therapies for prostate cancer in the upcoming era of precision medicine.

Achievements: Completion of ongoing randomized trials comparing each minimally invasive therapy approach with established whole-gland procedures is needed before minimally invasive therapies can be implemented into existing treatment guidelines.

Practical recommendations: This review article highlights minimally invasive therapies of prostate cancer and the key role of mpMRI for planning and conducting these therapies.

Background: Not only is the evidence for multiparametric magnetic resonance prostatography clearly proven based on current research, the S3 guideline for prostate cancer recommends its use prior to invasive biopsy. Remuneration through the GKV does not occur.

Objectives: The negotiations concerning the inclusion in the EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) Catalogue of statutory health insurance funds take place in a highly politicized environment and under economic priorities. The routes that are possible in the complex registration procedure are described.

Materials and methods: Radiology associations (Berufsverband der Deutschen Radiologen [BDR] und Deutsche Röntgengesellschaft [DRG]) have supported their methods with evidence and quality assurance. Special contracts with health insurance funds, coordinated at the level of the federal states, pave the way and accelerate accreditation.

Results: The definition of the service according to the EBM, the recommendation concerning remuneration as well as supporting documents and a functional quality assurance system have been made available to the Joint Valuation Committee of physicians & health insurance funds as part of the application for approval.

Conclusions: Due to the nature of the system, the presented evidence and quality assurance, as well as the development of special contracts, have inevitably been transferred to radiology and the unified work of their associations. The imaging modality prostatography shows the advancement of radiological methods for dedicated multiparametric organ diagnostics.