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Biomedical subjects

J Frija

Publications and source records attributed to J Frija.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Pancreatic and hepatic plasmocytomas: an exceptional case.

Extra medullary plasmocytoma (EMP) is a plasma cell proliferation of low frequency as compared to multiple myeloma which develops in the upper digestive and respiratory tracts and sometimes in the digestive tract. Other sites are possible but pancreatic or hepatic localizations are unusual with few cases being reported in the literature. This study describes an exceptional observation of pancreatic followed by hepatic plasmocytomas occurring after a long evolution of recurrent EMP. A review of the literature shows that the usual forms of treatment are surgery and radiotherapy. In our patient, this was possible for the pancreatic plasmocytoma, whereas the hepatic lesion was first treated with general polychemotherapy because of the tumour size and adverse prognostic factors. Surgery was then followed by recombinant interferon alpha therapy to obtain complete and hopefully prolonged remission.

Combined Modality Therapy↗

Residual mediastinal mass in malignant lymphoma: value of magnetic resonance imaging and gallium scan.

Following treatment for mediastinal lymphoma, residual masses are defined as a mass greater than 2 cm observed on the CT scan in the absence of other evolutive signs of lymphoma. In this study, we examined 55 patients with residual mediastinal mass after optimal therapy, using gallium scan (37 cases) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, 44 cases). The group comprised 41 subjects with Hodgkin's disease and 14 with non Hodgkin's lymphoma, stages I and II (32 cases) and stages III and IV (23 cases); 35 subjects (64%) having bulky mediastinal involvement at diagnosis. A negative gallium scan or fibrotic signal on MRI was correlated with complete remission in 48 cases (87%). In seven of these 48 patients, MRI was not conclusive with a high signal of indeterminate tissue following radiotherapy, but four of the seven had fibrotic tissue on biopsy and none relapsed. Positive gallium scan was observed in six cases. In conclusion, we suggest performing a gallium scan at the end of induction chemotherapy and when it is negative, treatment may be continued without surgical biopsy or salvage therapy. MRI is of value when it shows fibrotic tissue but can be inconclusive.

Adolescent↗

MR imaging of breast hemangioma in female infants.

Breast hemangioma in female infants is a rare benign lesion, prone to spontaneous regression. But when the lesion regresses there is a risk of breast atrophy if the breast bud is included in or very close to the hemangioma. A trial of corticosteroid therapy could be proposed to prevent this risk, but one must be sure that the breast bud is included in or very close to the hemangioma before treatment. We studied 4 children with breast hemangioma to evaluate the ability of MR Imaging in the diagnosis of breast bud inclusion. 0.5 Tesla axial Spin Echo T2-weighted images (TR = 2000 ms; TE = 120 ms) clearly depicted interface between high signal appearance of hemangioma and hypo-intensity of the breast bud: in our four patients we were able to determine whether or not the hemangioma involved the breast bud. Our preliminary study seems to demonstrate that MR imaging is a valuable imaging technique to determine which patients could be eligible for a trial of corticosteroid therapy.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Bone densitometry in patients with multiple myeloma.

PURPOSE, PATIENTS, AND METHODS: We performed dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in 10 selected patients with aggressive multiple myeloma in whom substantial tumor mass reduction was achieved after high-dose chemoradiotherapy followed by autologous blood stem cell transplantation. RESULTS: In most cases, bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine was initially low (Mean Z score: -2.69, SEM 0.76) and dramatically increased after treatment (mean increase 16.4%; 7.7% with 95% confidence interval 2.2 to 12.2, excluding one patient whose spine BMD increased by 94.8%). In contrast, skeletal roentgenograms, computed tomographic scans, and magnetic resonance imaging did not reveal any significant improvement of patients' bone lesions. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with multiple myeloma, bone densitometry could be a useful way to assess the efficacy of treatment on bone status.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Hodgkin's disease, clinical stages I, II A-B and IIIA. Results of brief chemotherapy followed by irradiation.

From October 1980 to September 1985, 152 patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) in clinical stages (CS) I, II A-B and IIIA were treated with combined modality therapy (CMT): brief chemotherapy (CT) followed by radiotherapy (RT). CS IA and IIA cases received 3 cycles of MOP, while CS IB, IIB and IIIA cases were randomly assigned to receive MOP or MOP alternating with ABVD (4 cycles). Irradiation was delivered according to the areas initially involved and response to CT. CS I and II subjects in complete remission (CR) received localized fields, whereas CS I, II and IIIA subjects in partial remission (PR) received extended fields, with subtotal nodal RT for CS I and II and CS IIIA without pelvic involvement and total nodal RT for CS I and II below diaphragm and CS IIIA with pelvic involvement. Following CT, CR was 60% (IA-IIA: 71.5%, IB-IIB: 37%, IIIA: 55.5%), PR 35.5% and failure 4.5%. After CT and RT, CR was 98% (IA-IIA: 100%, IB-IIB: 95.5%, IIIA: 94.5%). Responses were similar using MOP and MOP/ABVD regimens. Fifteen patients relapsed (10%) and 15 died, 11 due to HD and 4 due to other causes, while after 7 years overall survival and relapse free survival were respectively 87% and 82% (IA-IIA 90% and 85%, IB-IIB: 80% and 80%, IIIA: 87% and 62%). Results were equivalent irrespective of CT regimen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

The significance of a residual mediastinal mass following treatment for aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

The chest radiographs of 252 patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, prospectively treated according to one of three protocols of combination chemotherapy, were reviewed to determine the incidence and prognostic significance of mediastinal abnormalities following treatment. Residual mediastinal masses were defined as any abnormality, greater than 2 cm in diameter, that had initially responded to chemotherapy and then remained stable in size for at least three months after its maximal response, together with the disappearance of all other clinical and biological signs of active lymphoma. At the end of treatment, 21 (8%) patients had some residual mediastinal abnormality. The predominant histological pattern was the diffuse large cell subtype (p less than 0.001). Disease free survival and overall survival for these patients were similar to those observed among patients in complete remission without a persisting radiological mass after treatment. We conclude that mediastinal residual masses after completion of treatment for aggressive lymphoma are frequent and do not indicate a poorer prognosis. Such patients can be observed clinically without any need for additional chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Adult↗

Cardiopulmonary toxicity after three courses of ABVD and mediastinal irradiation in favorable Hodgkin's disease.

The combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in Hodgkin's disease has been associated with iatrogenic effects. Forty adult patients were studied to evaluate the early toxicity following three courses of ABVD (cumulative dose of doxorubicin [Adriamycin] 150 mg/m2, and bleomycin 60 mg) and mediastinal irradiation at 40 Gy. Cardiopulmonary toxicity was assessed from six months to three years after completion of irradiation. Of the 40 patients, all of whom were in complete remission from Hodgkin's disease, 6 experienced dyspnea on exertion. In studies related to Cardiac toxicity, the left ventricular ejection fraction ranged from 50 to 77% (mean 63%); 8 patients had a minor pericardial effusion, 4 had valvular calcification, and 6 had minimal cardiac abnormalities. With regard to pulmonary toxicity, CT scan showed a small pleural effusion with pleural thickening in 19 patients and mediastinal or apical fibrosis in 15 patients. The total pulmonary capacity value was low (less than 80%), in 19 patients, and decreased carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (less than 70%) was found in 10 patients. We conclude that early cardiac toxicity was absent despite the use of Adriamycin and mediastinal irradiation. Pulmonary toxicity was present but minor, and it may decrease with the use of smaller fraction sizes for mantle field irradiation.

Adolescent↗

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with cardiac presentation: evaluation and follow-up with echocardiography and MR imaging.

Cardiac presentation of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is rare and usually associated with a short survival. Two cases were documented and followed-up with echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The tumoral masses were accurately delineated by MRI. A non-delayed diagnosis ensued and, in association with a multiple drug antimitotic therapy, an improved prognosis obtained.

Adult↗

Surgical restaging of advanced Hodgkin's disease after first line chemotherapy.

47 patients with stages IIIB and IV Hodgkin's disease underwent laparotomy with splenectomy as restaging procedure after first-line chemotherapy (CT) which included 4 cycles of CT ABV/IMEP/PCAV/ABV. After surgical restaging (SR), all patients were scheduled to receive 2 additional cycles IMEP/PCAV followed by TNI 20 Gy and patients with residual clinical abnormality or positive restaging surgery received a 20 Gy boost to these areas. 11 patients (23.4%) were found to have active disease in the spleen (10 patients) and/or the lymph nodes (3 patients) after SR. In the spleen, foci of active disease had a size in millimeters and confirm the limits of clinical restaging. According to the response to CT, 5 of the 35 patients (14%) clinically restaged as good responders had active disease; 6 of the 12 patients (50%) clinically restaged as poor responders had active disease. SR is of interest in selected patients with slowly responding disease to determine the indication of an extended field RT for responding patients and salvage therapy for patients resistant to CT.

Adult↗

Value of imaging for the diagnosis of residual mediastinal mass in malignant lymphomas.

UNLABELLED: After optimal therapy, residual masses are defined as a mass greater than 2 cm of CT scann, and are present in 15 to 20% of mediastinal lymphomas. We prospectively studied 50 pts with gallium scan (32 cases) and a MRI (41 cases) after the diagnosis of residual masses. There were 38 Hodgkin's disease and 12 non Hodgkin lymphomas; stage I and II: 29 pts; stage III and IV: 21 pts; 32 cases had bulky mediastinal involvement at diagnosis. RESULTS: A negative gallium scan and/or a fibrotic signal on MRI was correlated with a complete remission in 43/50 cases. We observed 2 false positive with gallium scan and 7 cases were MRI was not conclusive with a high signal of indeterminate tissue. CONCLUSION: We propose to perform a gallium scan as soon as the residual mass is detected, than the follow up will be made an MRI. Surgical biopsy must be proposed only when both exams positive or not conclusive.

Adolescent↗

[Scanner in cardiac and vascular pathology].

Computerized tomography (CT) has become a routine examination, but it is not well suited to the study of vascular and cardiac pathology. However, CT scans are very useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of aortic aneurysms and dissections, in the postoperative follow-up of surgical cardiac patients and in some cardiac pathologies, such as thrombosis or tumors.

Aortic Dissection↗

Pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis and tuberous sclerosis: comparison of radiographic and thin-section CT findings.

Chest radiographs, thin-section computed tomographic (CT) scans, and results of pulmonary function tests in nine women with pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis and two women with pulmonary tuberous sclerosis were retrospectively evaluated. In all patients, CT demonstrated thin-walled cysts less than 20 mm in diameter scattered at random in all parts of the lungs. In eight patients, cysts larger than 20 mm in diameter were also present. Lung tissue between cysts appeared normal in all 11 patients, except one with septal lines and dependent alveolar areas of attenuation. CT showed cysts in three patients whose radiographs were normal, and it demonstrated that many lesions that appeared reticular on plain radiographs were actually cysts. CT findings correlated better with the diffusion capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide than did the plain radiographic findings. CT was more sensitive and more precise than radiography at showing the presence and morphology of lung abnormalities.

Adult↗

Artifacts on lung CT scans: removal with Fourier filtration.

A preliminary study was done of Fourier analysis of high-resolution computed tomographic (CT) images of normal pulmonary parenchyma. A two-dimensional fast Fourier transform was applied to 20 regions of interest (64 x 64 pixels) obtained from CT images of six lungs. A qualitative analysis of the spectra and the application of filters in the frequency domain allowed the characterization and removal of reconstruction artifacts. Selective application of a low-pass filter removed these parasitic frequencies and clearly enhanced the quality of the image.

Filtration↗