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Biomedical subjects

F Ferrozzi

Publications and source records attributed to F Ferrozzi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Pancreatic metastases: CT assessment.

We report the CT appearance of pancreatic metastases and describe their features in relation to the originating primary tumor. We also discuss some limitations in their differential diagnosis and report some theories explaining the pathogenesis of their occurrence. A total of 20 cases (9 males and 11 females) of pancreatic metastases were diagnosed at staging or follow-up of oncologic patients. All patients were evaluated with CT before and after contrast medium administration and had subsequent pathologic confirmation. In 1 case metastases were located solely in the pancreas; in 6 there was only another metastatic location, and in the remaining 13 there was diffuse spread throughout the body. Two of our patients exhibited a multinodular metastatic involvement of the pancreas, 11 had a solitary nodule or mass, and the remaining 7 had a diffusely enlarged pancreas, without any signs of focal disease. All but one of the solitary lesions measured more than 4 cm. In 2 cases a metachronous malignancy was detected at follow-up. Primary malignancies were located: 6 in the lungs, 2 on the skin (melanomas), 3 in breasts, 2 in the ovaries, 3 in the colon, 1 in the stomach, 2 in the kidney, and 1 the thyroid. Our findings confirm the existence of three patterns of metastatization to the pancreas: large solitary masses, multinodular lesions, and diffuse enlargement of the pancreas without focal signs at CT. In contrast to other studies, the large solitary lesion was our most frequent encounter, therefore making differential diagnosis vs primary cancer difficult. Metastases tended to repeat the imaging pattern of the primary. Nevertheless, we wrongly diagnosed pancreatitis due to a small nondetected metastasis, pseudo-cystic mass as a mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, conglomerate of peripancreatic lymph nodes, and a solitary pancreatic mass diagnosed as primary pancreatic cancer. Thus, when faced with a solitary pancreatic lesion at follow-up, histologic diagnosis is strongly recommended. In 2 cases changes in aspect and size were related to therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Computed tomography of renal metastases.

Since the advent of CT, secondary neoplastic lesions of the kidneys have been detected with increasing frequency. After reviewing a large series of cases of renal metastases, we have been able to classify the CT findings into seven major categories that are discussed and illustrated in this article. The differential diagnoses between metastatic disease of the kidneys and other lesions such as renal infarctions, renal lymphoma, and primary malignancies are also considered.

Humans↗
PubMed1997

Effectiveness of very low doses of immunotherapy in advanced renal cell cancer.

Twenty-one nephrectomized patients with metastatic renal cell cancer were treated with recombinant interleukin 2 (rlL-2) and interferon alpha (rIFN alpha). rIL-2 was administered s.c. at a dose of 1 x 10(6) IU m(-2) every 12 h on days 1 and 2, followed by 0.5 x 10(6) IU twice daily on days 3-5; rIFN alpha-2 was given i.m. as 1.8 x 10(6) IU m(-2) on days 3 and 5 of each week for 4 consecutive weeks. The cycle was regularly repeated at 4-month intervals and continued ad libitum in patients showing some response and in patients with progressing disease. Of 20 patients evaluable for treatment response, one (5%) had a complete response and three (15%) showed partial response. Three patients (15%) achieved stable disease and 13 (65%) were evaluated as having progressive disease. The estimated actuarial 44-month survival rate was 44%. Toxicity was limited to WHO grades 1 and 2 only.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

The study of visual evoked potentials in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy identifies asymptomatic optic nerve involvement.

In the present study we have recorded visual evoked cortical potentials (VECP) in 88 patients affected by autoimmune thyroid disease and thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) without clinical signs of optic neuropathy. At the time of ophthalmological examination, 37 of these patients were hyperthyroid, 41 were euthyroid, and 8 were hypothyroid; 2 were not assessed. Twenty-nine normal subjects served as controls. We performed pattern reversal visual stimulation and recorded the amplitude and latency of the cortical electric response at 100 ms (P100 wave). There were no differences in the mean P100 amplitude of TAO patients and normal subjects. The mean P100 latency in patients was 105.6 +/- 0.5 ms, significantly higher than that in normal subjects (102.0 +/- 0.5 ms; P < 0.00003). Latency in euthyroid patients did not differ from that in either hypo- or hyperthyroid patients. The VECP test was positive (latency, > or = 110.0 ms) in 21 (23.8%) TAO patients. In patients with proptosis greater than 21 mm, latency was 106.7 +/- 0.7 ms, significantly higher than that in patients with normal Hertel measurements (104.3 +/- 0.6 ms; P < 0.01). Latency was not increased in patients with acute inflammatory signs compared to those with inactive eye disease and in patients with altered extrinsic motility. In patients with an abnormal visual field study, the mean latency was 110.3 +/- 1.5 ms, significantly higher than that in patients with a normal visual field (104.7 +/- 0.4; by t test, P < 0.000003). In conclusion, we observed a prolongation of the latency of the evoked cortical response in patients with TAO without subjective visual complaints and without optic nerve compression. We believe that the study of VECP in TAO is complementary to the study of the visual field in identifying early optic nerve dysfunction in the absence of decreased visual acuity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[Thyroid metastases: the echographic and computed tomographic aspects].

PURPOSE: The modern integrated approach to neoplastic diseases permits to detect metastatic lesions in uncommon sites, such as the thyroid gland. We reviewed the ultrasonographic (US) and Computed Tomographic (CT) patterns of secondary thyroid lesions, comparing imaging findings with primary tumor histopathologic diagnosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed a series of 10 thyroid metastases diagnosed from 1986 to 1995 at staging (4 cases) or follow-up (6 cases) examinations; in the latter, metastases were diagnosed 39 to 89 months (mean: 58 months) after the primary tumor. The patients were 7 women and 3 men, 55 to 94 years old (mean: 65 years). The final diagnosis was made at cytology (4 cases), histology (5 cases) or surgery (1 case). RESULTS: The primary tumors were breast cancer (2 cases), melanoma (2 cases), small cell lung cancer, bronchioalveolar carcinoma, mucoid stomach adenocarcinoma, renal carcinoma, colon carcinoma and leiomyosarcoma (1 case each). The thyroid lesion was unifocal in 6 patients and multifocal in 2; the gland was diffusely involved in 2 patients. Dysphagia was found in all patients. Thyroid function was normal in 6/7 patients and one had hyperthyroidism; normofunctional goiter was found in another patients. US showed focal or diffusely infiltrating hypoechoic lesions; likewise, inhomogeneously hypodense areas with mild contrast enhancement were observed at CT. Thyroid secondary lesions exhibited variable patterns when necrotic, hemorrhagic or calcific areas were included; correlations with primary tumor-pathogenetic and histologic features were often observed. Survival rate was 2-60 months (mean: 19 months). CONCLUSION: Since imaging findings in thyroid metastases are often not specific and sometimes atypical, fine needle biopsy of suspicious lesions should be carried out for both staging and follow-up.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[Thymic carcinoid: CT and MR findings].

PURPOSE: We studied the CT and MR appearance of thymic carcinoids and compared the morphostructural patterns of this tumor with those of other anterior mediastinal masses particularly involving the thymic area. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all the chest CT scans performed 1985-1996. Four patients (2 women and 2 men; age range: 25-51 years, mean: 36.5) had thymic carcinoid. MR findings were also available for 3 of 4 patients. The pathologic diagnosis was made in all cases, by CT-guided needle biopsy (1 case), by surgical biopsy (2 cases), or directly at surgery (1 case). RESULTS: CT showed capsulated, quite enhanced tumors with no local spread or distant metastases in 1 case; 2 tumors appeared as complex masses with necrotic components and calcifications, massively invading mediastinal structures; another case appeared as an infiltration of mediastinal fat and vessels with no definite tumor mass. Thrombosis of the superior vena cava and right atrium and some lung metastases were found in one case. MR signal was hypointense on T1 and PD images and inhomogeneously hyperintense on T2 images in all the 3 patients. One patient had Cushing syndrome and another mild adrenocortical hyperfunction. The other patients had no endocrine dysfunctions. Both the patients treated with surgery and subsequent irradiation are alive and free of relapse at 48 and 17 months, while the other 2 patients died 25 and 39 months after the diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The CT and MR patterns of thymic carcinoids are not specific because other mediastinal and particularly thymic tumors present similar patterns. However, a thymic carcinoid must be suspected when a thymic mass is associated with clinical laboratory findings of endocrine dysfunction.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Cystic fibrosis: MR assessment of pancreatic damage.

PURPOSE: To evaluate magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for assessment of pancreatic damage in cystic fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with cystic fibrosis and 12 control subjects underwent T1-weighted imaging for visual assessment for pancreatic hyperintensity and mixed spin-echo-inversion-recovery imaging for quantitative measurement of T1. Pancreatic insufficiency, pulmonary status, and genotype were recorded. Statistical correlation was conducted. RESULTS: Four patterns of pancreatic involvement were noted: diffuse hyperintensity with a lobular pattern, diffuse homogeneous hyperintensity without residual lobular pattern, hyperintensity with focal areas of sparing, and no structural or signal intensity changes. Statistically significant reduction of the T1 was noted in 21 patients compared with that of controls. Statistically significant correlation between T1 shortening and pulmonary clinical-radiologic compromise and pancreatic insufficiency was found. CONCLUSION: MR imaging may offer further indication of pancreatic and, indirectly, pulmonary damage during the clinical course of cystic fibrosis. A pattern of fibrofatty infiltration of the pancreas, of undetermined clinical significance, is reported.

Adolescent↗