Detection Of Recurrence In Patients Research Articles

Role of narrow band imaging in detecting recurrence in patients of squamous cell carcinoma larynx and hypopharynx who underwent radiotherapy/chemo-radiotherapy

BackgroundNarrow band imaging (NBI) is an emerging modality that enhances the accuracy of detection of head and neck malignancies by visualisation of aberrant neoangiogenesis in malignant tissue using narrow bandwidth light in blue and green spectrum. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of NBI in detecting recurrence in patients with Squamous cell carcinoma larynx and hypopharynx who have undergone Radiotherapy/Chemoradiotherapy (RT/CTRT). The aim of the study was to (a) determine the role of NBI in follow-up of patients with carcinoma of larynx and hypopharynx previously treated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy, (b) determine the role of NBI as the initial investigatory tool of choice in detecting local recurrence and compare with other modalities like fibreoptic laryngoscopy (FOL), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography- Computed Tomography (PETCT). MethodsProspective multicentric study at ENT departments of tertiary care centres in Delhi, Bangalore and Pune in India was conducted from Jan 2019 to Sep 2022. Thirty-four consecutive patients diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) larynx/hypopharynx who underwent chemo/radiotherapy were scheduled for NBI 12 weeks after completion of therapy with FOL and PETCT/MRI and followed up 03 monthly for 02 years. NBI/FOL/PETCT or MRI and Histopathological Examination (HPE) were compared. ResultsNBI was found to be 100% sensitive and 96% specific with a positive predictive value of 85% and negative predictive value of 100% respectively with a diagnostic accuracy of 97%. ConclusionNBI along with FOL increases the sensitivity of detection of recurrence in patients of laryngeal/hypopharyngeal cancer post-chemo/radiotherapy.

Association of preoperative and postoperative circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) with PIK3CA gene mutation with risk of recurrence in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer

BackgroundCirculating tumour DNA (ctDNA), contains tumour-specific gene mutation in blood circulation and could aid in postoperative risk stratification of non-metastatic breast cancer. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of detecting PIK3CA gene mutations in ctDNA in the preoperative (preop) and postoperative period (postop), and its prognostic significance in patients with breast cancer. MethodsA cohort of patients with breast cancer undergoing curative surgery with available blood samples preoperatively and postoperatively (Post op) at either Post op time period; week 1–2, week 3–4 or weeks 5–12 were enrolled. PIK3CA gene mutations at exons 9 and 20 were detected in ctDNA with High resolution melting (HRM) PCR and Allele specific fluorescence probe-based PCR. ResultsA total of 62 patients (age, median (IQR), 51.50 (45.0–65.0) years), with a median follow-up of 90 months (interquartile range (IQR),60–120 months) were enrolled. In total, 25 (40.3%) and 22 (35%) patients with breast cancer had detectable PIK3CA gene mutations in ctDNA in preoperative and postoperative period, respectively. PIK3CA gene mutations in ctDNA in postoperative period (hazard ratio (H.R: 18.05, p = 0.001) were a negative prognostic factor for recurrencefree survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) (H.R: 11.9, p = 0.01) in patients with breast cancer. Subgroup analysis of ctDNA indicate that positive ctDNA in both preoperative/postoperative period and post op period only were found to have prognostic effect on RFS and OS (RFS; p < 0.0001, O·S; p = 0.0007). Moreover, ctDNA-based detection preceded clinical detection of recurrence in patients with an average lead time of 12 months (IQR:20–28.5 months) across all the breast cancer subtypes. ConclusionWe highlighted the prognostic ability of ctDNA in patients with breast cancer in perioperative period. However, future prospective studies are needed to assess the utility of ctDNA in clinical practice

Patient-reported outcomes from the BESPOKE CRC study.

54 Background: BESPOKE CRC is a multicenter, prospective, observational study that investigates the clinical utility of ctDNA for optimal use of adjuvant chemotherapy and early detection of recurrence in patients (pts) with surgically resected CRC. The perceived utility and impact ctDNA testing results have on pts’ anxiety about cancer recurrence is not entirely known. Herein, we formally report perceived utility and dimensions of well being that pts getting ctDNA testing reported. Methods: A total of 1792 pts with stages I–IV CRC were enrolled and followed for a median of 16.6 months with serial ctDNA analysis using a personalized, tumor-informed assay (SignateraTM, Natera, Inc.). An optional survey was collected at the time of enrollment and at 4 and 12 weeks (w), and 6, 12, 18 and 24 months (m) post-resection. The survey included: (1) Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), (2) Fear of Cancer Recurrence (FCR-4), (3) National Comprehensive Cancer Network Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Colorectal Symptom Index-19 items (NCCN-FACT FCSI-19 version 2), and (4) ctDNA utility questionnaire (perceived utility and impact of ctDNA test results on pts’ anxiety about recurrence). The score ranges were: HADS: 0 (no) to 21 (valid) anxiety/depression; FCR-4: 0 (minimal) to 20 (maximum) fear of cancer recurrence; FCSI-19: 0 (severely symptomatic) to 76 (asymptomatic); ctDNA utility: 5=strongly agree, 4=agree, 3=neutral, 2=disagree, 1=strongly disagree. Results: A total of 1129/1123/1125/1136 responses from 414/413/413/418 pts were received for HADS/FCR-4/FCSI-19/ctDNA questionnaires, respectively. When compared between ctDNA-negative and -positive pts, FCR-4 and FCSI-19 surveys revealed marginal numerical differences in pts’ mean FCR-4/FCSI-19 scores, although statistically significant (FCR-4: 9.1 vs 10.4, p&lt;0.01; FCSI-19: 58.6 vs. 53.8, p&lt;0.001). No significant differences in the anxiety and depression scores (HADS) were found between ctDNA-negative and -positive pts. Irrespective of the ctDNA result, 89% of the responders said they valued the additional information received from ctDNA results, and 86% said they would continue using the ctDNA test to monitor cancer. Regardless of the ctDNA results, 74% of pts reported feeling they were receiving the right treatment after receiving their results. ctDNA results reduced anxiety about cancer recurrence in 62% of pts. Notably, ctDNA-negative pts felt less anxious of recurrence compared to ctDNA-positive pts (average score 4.01 vs 3.57, p&lt;0.0001). Conclusions: Most responders valued the information they received through the personalized, tumor-informed ctDNA tests and would continue ctDNA testing. Pts with ctDNA positive results felt slightly more anxious about CRC recurrence, while ctDNA-negative pts reported reduced anxiety levels. Our results for the first time show the important dimensions of pt well being and perceived utility of ctDNA testing in pts with CRC. Clinical trial information: NCT04264702 .

Enhancing local recurrence detection in patients with high-grade soft tissue sarcoma: value of short-term Ultrasonography added to post-operative MRI surveillance

BackgroundLimited data exist on the optimal postoperative surveillance protocol for high-grade soft tissue sarcoma, particularly regarding the optimal imaging modality and imaging interval for detecting local recurrence. This study aimed to assess the benefit of short-term postoperative ultrasonography (USG) for detecting local recurrence in patients with high-grade soft tissue sarcoma.MethodsPatients with newly diagnosed high-grade soft tissue sarcoma who underwent surgical resection between January 2010 and June 2020 were included. Short-term USG was added to the follow-up protocol as a surveillance tool alongside routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The primary outcome was the additional detection rate of short-term USG compared with routine MRI surveillance for early local recurrence detection. Subgroup analysis was performed to evaluate factors influencing USG detection rate. The additional detection rate of short-term USG for detection of metastatic lymph nodes was also evaluated. The secondary outcome was the false referral rate of short-term USG.ResultsIn total, 198 patients (mean age ± standard deviation: 52.1 ± 15.8 years; 94 women) were included. Local recurrence occurred in 20 patients (10.1%; 20/198). Short-term USG detected local recurrence in advance of routine MRI visits in 7 out of 198 patients, resulting in an additional detection rate of 3.5% (95% CI: 1.7–7.1%). Subgroup analysis showed no significant difference in the short-term USG detection rate based on initial tumor characteristics, and receipt of radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Short-term USG additionally detected five of seven patients with metastatic lymph nodes [2.5% (95% CI, 1.1–5.8%, 5/198)]. The false referral rate of short-term USG was 3.5% (95% CI: 1.7–7.1%; 7/198).ConclusionsShort-term USG as part of postoperative surveillance for high-grade soft tissue sarcoma can enhance early detection of local tumor recurrence and metastatic lymphadenopathy. Early detection of local tumor recurrence could lead to a prompt surgical resection and aid in local disease control.

Unexplained increases in serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels in colorectal cancer patients during the postoperative follow-up period: an analysis of its incidence and longitudinal pattern

Background Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) monitoring facilitates the detection of recurrence in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) after resection. False-positive CEA has been reported in CRC patients with certain comorbidities or smokers. However, limited information is currently available on the frequency of and changes in falsely elevated CEA levels in patients without these conditions. Materials and methods We retrospectively examined CRC patients who underwent surgical resection at our hospital between 2001 and 2017, had no recurrence for at least five years, and were free of known factors that may increase CEA. Postoperative CEA levels were retrieved until 2 years before the last contact. For comparison, we similarly selected patients who developed recurrence after resection of CRC during the same period, and CEA levels at initial presentation, at nadir, and at the time of recurrence were reviewed. The patterns of elevated CEA (>5 ng/ml) were classified as transient, repeated, or persistent based on longitudinal changes. The relationships between CEA and carbohydrate antigen 19-9, transaminases, creatinine, and C-reactive protein were examined. Results CEA elevation occurred in 90 (20%) out of 446 eligible patients without recurrence at least once during the mean postoperative period of 50.5 months, whereas CEA was >5 ng/ml in 117 (53%) of 221 patients when they developed recurrence. Twenty-seven patients without recurrence showed a transient elevation in CEA, 45 repeated elevations, and 18 a persistent elevation; the frequency of a high preoperative CEA level increased in this order. The majority (98%) of false elevations ranged between 5 and 15 ng/ml. CEA was not associated with other laboratory data. Conclusions Unexplained CEA elevations were observed in 20% of recurrence-free CRC patients after surgery, and were classified into three patterns based on longitudinal changes. A more detailed understanding of patient-specific fluctuations in CEA will prevent unnecessary imaging studies and reduce medical costs.

SAT526 Limited Utility of Routine Neck Ultrasound Follow-up in Advanced Stage Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Abstract Disclosure: V. Munro: None. S. Mustafa: None. F.S. Siddiqi: None. M. Rajaraman: None. S.A. Imran: None. Background: Most guidelines recommend periodic cervical ultrasound (US) for ongoing surveillance of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). While recent studies do not support routine US surveillance in low-risk DTC, to date, no study has assessed the clinical utility of cervical US in advanced DTC. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of our hospital DTC registry using the following criteria: a) AJCC stage III and IV, b) minimum follow-up of &amp;gt;4 years since total thyroidectomy +/-I-131 ablation, and c) at least one US per 3 years of follow-up. Patients with hemithyroidectomy only or positive anti-thyroglobulin antibody at the initial visit were excluded. Two years after initial treatment, patients were categorized by Dynamic Risk Stratification (DRS) as excellent, indeterminate, biochemically incomplete, or structurally incomplete response. Data obtained at each visit included: treatment response, thyroglobulin (TG) level, and US findings. Results: A total of 114 patients (85 AJCC stage III and 29 stage IV patients) met the inclusion criteria. Mean age (yrs) at diagnosis was 59, and 67% were female. Mean duration of follow-up was 8.5 years. Based on DRS, 73 patients had excellent response, 28 indeterminate, 8 biochemically incomplete, and 5 structurally incomplete. Recurrence or progression was detected in 20 patients (17.5%): 5 excellent response, 6 indeterminate, 5 biochemically incomplete, and 4 structurally incomplete. Recurrence sites included cervical region (14), distant metastases (5) and both (1). The TG rose from a mean of 4.76 ng/mL at baseline to 40.37 ng/mL at time of recurrence/progression. In those with structurally incomplete disease, US demonstrated progression in all 4 patients. However in other DRS categories, only 5/10 had definite US abnormalities. Of those without recurrence, 4 patients (4.3%) had false positive TG (mean baseline TG 0.08 rose to 11.8 ng/ml) without clinical/radiologic recurrence whereas the rate of false positive US abnormalities was 32% (37/114). The sensitivity and specificity of US vs. TG in diagnosing recurrence was 45% and 60% vs 100% and 95.7%, respectively. Conclusion: Our study suggests that routine cervical US surveillance after initial DRS does not improve the detection of recurrence in patients with excellent, indeterminate, or biochemically incomplete disease, and has a high false positive rate. Therefore, we suggest TG should be considered the mainstay of surveillance and any further imaging guided by DRS status and change in TG. Presentation Date: Saturday, June 17, 2023

The Diagnostic Value of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Patients with Elevated Thyroglobulin/Thyroglobulin Antibody Levels and Negative Iodine Scintigraphy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The objective of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) in detecting recurrence in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) who have negative whole-body scans (WBSs) but elevated serum thyroglobulin (Tg) or thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) levels. Methods: This systematic review/meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis for Diagnostic Test Accuracy criteria (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews registration number: CRD42022340924). A comprehensive search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases identified articles reporting the diagnostic accuracy of FDG PET/CT for the detection of recurrence in patients with DTC with negative WBS and elevated serum Tg or TgAb levels published between January 2012 and June 2023. Meta-analyses were performed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of FDG PET/CT on the total target population as well as on subgroups stratified by serum Tg or TgAb, and thyrotropin (TSH) stimulation status at the time of FDG PET/CT. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) framework was applied to evaluate the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations to facilitate translation of the meta-analysis results into practical recommendations for clinical guidelines. Results: A total of 24 studies involving 1988 patients were included for analysis. The overall pooled sensitivity and specificity values were 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.83-0.92; I2 = 75%) and 0.84 (CI = 0.80-0.89; I2 = 44%), respectively. Subgroup analyses revealed no significant differences in the diagnostic accuracy of FDG PET/CT in patients stratified by serum Tg or TgAb levels, and TSH stimulation status at the time of PET/CT. Treatment plans were changed following FDG PET/CT imaging in 40% (CI = 34-47%; I2 = 39%) of cases. The quality level of evidence for using FDG PET/CT was moderate in both sensitivity and specificity according to the GRADE system. Conclusion: There is moderate quality evidence demonstrating the high diagnostic accuracy of FDG PET/CT in detecting recurrence in patients with DTC with negative WBS and elevated serum Tg or TgAb levels. This evidence corroborates the current guidelines' endorsement of FDG PET/CT as a diagnostic tool in such patients.

The timing and methods for detection of recurrence in patients with head and neck cancer

Background Early detection of head and neck cancer recurrence after curative treatment is crucial for effective salvage treatment. Objective We aimed to examine the timing and method that allowed early detection of recurrence in each primary and recurrence site. Materials and methods We enrolled 440 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx who underwent curative treatment focusing on surgery at our hospital between 2009 and 2018. We examined the timing and diagnostic method (clinical examination, patient symptoms, or imaging examination) for HNSCC recurrence according to the primary and recurrence sites. Results Recurrence was observed in 133 patients. In all primary sites, regional recurrence occurred significantly earlier than local and distant recurrences. Local recurrence occurred later in the larynx than in other primary sites. Furthermore, the clinical examination had a higher ratio of detection of local recurrence in the larynx than in the other primary site. Regardless of the primary site, more than half of the regional recurrences and most of the distant recurrences were detected by imaging examination. Conclusions and significance Imaging examination is preferable for achieving early detection of regional and distant recurrences.

Abstract P5-04-04: Does reducing the frequency of regularly scheduled physical examinations affect recurrence detection in patients with early breast cancer?

Abstract Purpose: Follow-up care of patients with early breast cancer (EBC) usually includes routinely scheduled physical examinations. While ASCO guidelines recommend a physical exam every three to six months for the first three years, there is little evidence to support this schedule. Health care systems continue to be challenged to meet the future growth in demand from increasing numbers of diagnosed patients and long-term survivors, scarcity of health care workers, and the need to control health care costs. Despite recognition that new follow-up models are needed, there continues to be no generally accepted well follow-up strategy. We evaluated recurrence detection patterns of patients transferred into a single centre survivorship program that follows ASCO recommendations. Methods: Consecutive patients with EBC referred to the Wellness Beyond Cancer Program (WBCP) between February 1, 2013, and January 1, 2019, who had breast cancer recurrence, were reviewed. Descriptive analyses were used to present patients and disease characteristics stratified by type of recurrence and mode of cancer detection. Results: Of 206 recurrences, 135 were distant recurrences (65.5%), 41 were ipsilateral breast recurrences (19.9%), and 30 were contralateral new breast cancers (14.6%). Patient reported symptoms lead to the detection of the majority of distant recurrences (125/135, 92.6%). The most common symptoms of recurrence were bone pain (24.8%), dyspnea/cough (13.1%), abdominal pain (10.7%). Ipsilateral breast recurrences were both quite frequently detected by patients (22/41, 53.7) and by routine mammographic surveillance (17/21, 41.5%). Contralateral breast cancers were primarily detected by imaging 83.3% (25/30). Only 2/206 (1.14%) recurrences/new primaries were detected by a healthcare provider at routinely scheduled follow-up visits. There was a statistical difference in recurrence detection between image detected vs. self-detected in the following factors: grade 3 (26.5% vs 51%, p &amp;lt; 0.007), triple negative breast cancer (3.9% vs. 15.1%, p=0.03), and HER2 disease (18.4% vs. 9.8%, p= 0.04). Conclusions: Despite regularly scheduled in-person follow-up visits following ASCO guidelines, healthcare providers rarely detect recurrences. Our data suggests that 30,000 – 35, 000 follow-up visits were required for the healthcare providers to detect these 2 recurrences. This leads to further need for proper survivorship programs with patient and provider education, and concentration on targeted surveillance. Provided patients attend regular screening tests, our data points to less frequent in-person follow-up being associated with non-inferior breast cancer-related outcomes. Future prospective studies are required looking at different models of follow-up. SABCS Abstract Table Citation Format: Ana-Alicia Beltran-Bless, Bader I. Alshamsan, Mashari Alzahrani, John Hilton, Kelly-Anne Baines, Vicky Samuel, Gregory R. Pond, Lisa Vandermeer, Mark Clemons, Gail Larocque. Does reducing the frequency of regularly scheduled physical examinations affect recurrence detection in patients with early breast cancer? [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-04-04.

Earlier Recurrence Detection Using Routine FDG PET-CT Scans in Surveillance of Stage IIB to IIID Melanoma: A National Cohort Study of 1480 Patients.

The effect of routine imaging in melanoma surveillance is unknown. In 2016, Denmark was the first country in the world to implement routine imaging with positron emission tomography-computed tomography with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG PET-CT) in a nationwide, population-based surveillance program.This study aimed to determine the impact of surveillance with routine FDG PET-CT on hazard, cumulative incidence, and absolute risk of overall, locoregional, and distant recurrence detection in patients with stage IIB to IIID cutaneous melanoma. This retrospective, population-based, nationwide cohort study used prospectively collected data from five national health registries to compare hazard, cumulative incidence, and absolute risk of recurrence in patients with cutaneous melanoma diagnosed in 2008-2010 (cohort 1, followed with clinical examinations) and patients with cutaneous melanoma diagnosed in 2016-2017 (cohort 2, followed with clinical examinations and routine FDG PET-CT at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months). The study included 1480 patients with stage IIB to IIID cutaneous melanoma. Cumulative incidences of overall and distant recurrence were higher in cohort 2, with a peak difference at three years (32.3 % vs 27.5 % and 25.8 % vs. 18.5 %, respectively). The hazard of recurrence was higher in cohort 2 during the first two years, with hazard rates for overall and distant recurrence of 1.16 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93-1.44) and 1.51 (95 % CI, 1.16-1.96), respectively. The patterns persisted in absolute risk estimates. Patients with stage IIB to IIID melanoma followed with routine FDG PET-CT had a 51 % increased hazard of distant recurrence detection within the first two years of surveillance. Future studies must determine whether this earlier recurrence detection translates into improved survival.

The oncological characteristics of non-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-expressing primary prostate cancer on preoperative PSMA positron emission tomography/computed tomography.

The oncological characteristics of non-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-expressing primary prostate cancer on preoperative PSMA positron emission tomography/computed tomography.

Potential values of circulating tumor cell for detection of recurrence in patients of thyroid cancer: a diagnostic meta-analysis

BackgroundSeveral studies have reported that circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are a promising marker for the diagnosis of thyroid cancer (TC) with recurrence or distant metastasis (DMs). However, some studies emerged with conflicting results. Therefore, we provide a meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic performance of CTC for detection of recurrence in patients of TC.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane library with the keywords “thyroid cancer” and “circulating tumor cells”. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment were performed independently by two reviewers. The summary receiver operating characteristic curve (SROC) and other parameters were adopted to summarize the overall test performance. The sensitivity of CTCs in the detection of recurrent TC was reviewed. All analyses were performed by STATA 12.0 and Meta-disc software.ResultsFor CTCs expressing epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), seven studies were included in our meta-analysis. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio were 0.71 (95% CI: 0.63–0.78), 0.89 (95% CI: 0.84–0.94), and 26.75 (95% CI: 9.11–78.53); 0.78 (95% CI: 0.65–0.89), 0.88 (95% CI: 0.76–0.96), and 40.01 (95% CI: 10.49–152.63) for CTCs expressing thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR). The area under the SROC for EpCAM and TSHR were both 0.91.ConclusionCTC was a reliable marker for the diagnosis of TC patients with recurrence and DMs, and the sensitivity of CTCs expressing TSHR was higher than that of EpCAM. Additional research is warranted in order to establish uniformity in international guidelines, make up the drawbacks of conventional diagnostic methods and to prevent futile surgery.

Will COVID-19 directives to reduce regularly scheduled physical examinations affect recurrence detection in patients with early breast cancer?

1532 Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly reduced routinely scheduled in person assessment and examination of early breast cancer patients (EBC). To assess if this is likely to impact the detection of recurrent disease, we reviewed recurrence patterns of EBC patients enrolled in a survivorship program that adheres to ASCO guidelines. Methods: Charts of EBC patients transferred through a single center Wellness Beyond Cancer Program (WBCP) and who subsequently had a breast cancer recurrence between February 1, 2013 and January 1, 2019 were reviewed. Patient, tumor and treatment characteristics were evaluated. Results: Of 206 patients eligible for the current study, 41 patients had ipsilateral breast recurrences (19.9%), 135 had distant recurrences (65.5%) and 30 had contralateral new breast cancers (14.6%). Ipsilateral breast recurrences were detected by the patient in 53.7% (22/41) and by routine imaging in 41.5% (17/21). The majority of distant recurrences (125/135, 92.6%) were detected via patient-reported symptoms. Contralateral breast primaries were detected by patients 16.7% (5/30) or by routine imaging (83.3%, 25/30). Only 2/206 (1.14%) recurrences/new primaries were detected by healthcare providers at routinely scheduled follow-up visits. There was a statistical difference in recurrence detection between image detected vs. self-detected in the following factors: grade 3 (26.5% vs 51%, p &lt; 0.007), triple negative breast cancer (3.9% vs. 15.1%, p = 0.03), HER2 disease (18.4% vs. 9.8%, p = 0.04). Conclusions: Despite following ASCO follow-up guidelines for routinely scheduled follow-up appointments with physical examination, healthcare providers rarely detect recurrence disease. While reduced in person visits may affect other aspects of follow-up (e.g., toxicity management), it appears unlikely, provided patients attend regular screening tests, that reduced in-person follow-up is associated with worse breast cancer-related outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. [Table: see text]

Vaginal vault smear cytology in detection of recurrence after hysterectomy for early cervical cancer

ObjectiveTo determine the role of vaginal vault cytology as a surveillance tool for the detection of recurrence in patients with early stage cervical cancer treated with hysterectomy without adjuvant therapy.MethodsA...

Current imaging techniques in large vessel vasculitis

Instrumental imaging modalities play an important role in the diagnosis, evaluation of treatment efficacy and early detection of recurrences in patients with large vessel systemic vasculitis (SV). There’s no currently available universal imaging modality yielding comprehensive information about large vessels regardless all spectacular progress in rheumatology with associated significant insights into SV pathogenesis, innovative therapeutic strategies and broadened diagnostic approaches. Therefore, standardization of instrumental methods in order to accurately assess the disease activity and recognize timely its’ relapse remains a pending issue in management of patients with large vessel SV.Published in 2018 the EULAR (European League Against Rheumatism) guidelines highlighted a wide range of problems concerning visualization of large vessel lesions in SV, resultant from a systematic analysis of up-to-date scientific achievements and clinical experience. The intent of this publication is to summarize the potential of available imaging modalities for patients with large vessel SV in the context of main provisions in the EULAR guidelines and discuss some controversial issues

Head-to-Head Comparison of 68Ga-FAPI-46 and 18F-FDG PET/CT for Evaluation of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Single-Center Exploratory Study.

68Ga-conjugated fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (68Ga-FAPI) has become an attractive agent for PET. This study aimed to compare 68Ga-FAPI-46 PET/CT with 18F-FDG PET/CT for detecting primary cancer and metastatic lesions in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods: Twelve patients and 28 patients with HNSCC underwent 68Ga-FAPI-46 and 18F-FDG PET/CT for initial staging and recurrence detection, respectively. The concordance and diagnostic accuracy of both tracers were analyzed. Semiquantitative parameters, including SUVmax, SUVmean, and tumor-to-background ratio, were compared. Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) expression tumor volume and total lesion FAP expression of 68Ga-FAPI-46 were compared with metabolic tumor volume and total lesion glycolysis of 18F-FDG, respectively. Differences between semiquantitative parameters were analyzed using paired t testing. Results:68Ga-FAPI-46 PET/CT was 83.3% and 96.4% concordant with 18F-FDG PET/CT for initial staging and recurrence detection, respectively. Eighteen lesions had histopathologic validation, and both tracers displayed 100% sensitivity, 50% specificity, and 94.4% accuracy for lesion-based analysis. FAP expression tumor volume was greater than metabolic tumor volume (P < 0.05), but no significant differences were observed for the other parameters. Conclusion:68Ga-FAPI-46 PET/CT showed good concordance with, and comparable diagnostic performance to, 18F-FDG PET/CT for initial staging and recurrence detection in HNSCC patients.

Utility of Blue Light Cystoscopy for Post-bacillus Calmette-Guérin Bladder Cancer Recurrence Detection: Implications for Clinical Trial Recruitment and Study Comparisons.

The utility of blue light cystoscopy (BLC) in patients receiving bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) during post-treatment cystoscopy is not well understood. Our objective was to determine if BLC improves recurrence detection in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) undergoing BCG. Using the prospective multi-institutional Cysview® Registry (2014-2019), patients with NMIBC who received BCG within 1 year prior to BLC were identified. Primary outcomes were recurrences and whether lesions were detected on white light cystoscopy (WLC), BLC or both. We calculated the percentage of cystoscopies with recurrences that were missed with WLC alone. The cystoscopy-level BLC false-positive rate was the proportion of cystoscopies with biopsies only due to BLC suspicious lesions without recurrence. Of 1,703 BLCs, 282 cystoscopies were in the analytic cohort. The overall recurrence rate was 45.0% (127). With only WLC, 13% (16/127) of recurrences would have been missed as 5.7% (16/282) of cystoscopies performed had recurrence only identified with BLC. Among 16 patients with recurrence missed with WLC, 88% (14) had carcinoma in situ. The cystoscopy-level BLC false-positive rate was 5% (15). BLC helped detect recurrences after recent BCG that would have been missed with WLC alone. Providers should consider BLC for high-risk patients undergoing BCG and should discuss the risk of false-positives with these patients. As clinical trials of novel therapies for BCG-unresponsive disease increase and there are no clear guidelines on BLC use for post-treatment cystoscopies, it is important to consider how variable BLC use could affect enrollment in and comparisons of these studies.

Spectrum of 18F-FDG PET/CT extranodal findings in lymphoma

Abstract Background Extranodal lymphoma can be the primary presentation or secondary to systemic involvement of lymphoma. Positron emission tomography with computer tomography (FDG-PET/CT) is useful in detecting extranodal sites during staging, treatment response assessment or recurrence detection in patients with lymphoma. Objective To demonstrate the PET/CT imaging appearances of extranodal lymphoma. Methods A descriptive retrospective study, conducted at Ain Shams University hospitals on 40 Patients with different types of lymphoma enrolled in this study over a period of six months starting from December 2018 to May 2019 at Ain shams university hospitals. Results The 40 patients involved in this study showed 58 extranodal lesions in 19 different extra-lymphatic sites, where the most frequently impacted sites were bone and bone marrow (20.7%) while supraglottic larynx, oesophagus and para vertebral sites are the least affected (1.7% each). Conclusion Knowledge of the imaging appearances of extranodal lymphoma can aid in the differential diagnosis of mass lesions encountered in tissues throughout the body on PET/CT.

Imaging surveillance for the detection of ipsilateral local tumor recurrence in patients who underwent oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery with acellular dermal matrix: abbreviated MRI versus conventional mammography and ultrasonography

BackgroundTo evaluate the usefulness of surveillance-abbreviated magnetic resonance imaging (AB-MRI) for the detection of ipsilateral local tumor recurrence (LTR) in patients who underwent oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery (BCS) with acellular dermal matrix (ADM) by comparing its diagnostic performance with that of mammography (MG) and ultrasonography (US).MethodsThe postoperative MG, US, and AB-MRI findings of the ipsilateral breast and pathological results of 324 patients who underwent oncoplastic BCS using ADM were reviewed. The cancer detection rate (CDR), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) for biopsy, accuracy, and area under the curve (AUC) for each imaging modality were calculated.ResultsA total of 8 ipsilateral LTRs were diagnosed, and most cancers (87.5%) were stage 0 or 1 (median size of invasive cancer, 1.44 cm; range, 0.7–2 cm). The CDRs of MG, US, MG + US, and AB-MRI were 0.009, 0.012, 0.015, and 0.025 per woman, respectively. Three cancers were detectable on only AB-MRI, and the additional CDR of AB-MRI was 0.010. The sensitivity and specificity of MG, US, MG + US, and AB-MRI were 37.5%, 50%, 62.5%, and 100% and 99.7%, 98.4%, 98.1%, and 97.8%, respectively. The PPVs for biopsy were 75%, 44.4%, 45.5%, and 53.3%, respectively. The AUC was significantly higher for AB-MRI (0.989) than for MG alone (0.686, P = 0.0009), US alone (0.742, P = 0.009), and MG + US (0.803, P = 0.04). A total of 66.7% of cancers visible on only AB-MRI were located at the deep posterior portion of the excision cavity, which might have been missed with MG or MG + US due to masking by the ADM filler.ConclusionAB-MRI can improve the detection of ipsilateral LTR despite postoperative changes caused by ADM fillers compared to conventional MG and US. Patients who undergo BCS with ADM can be candidates for AB-MRI surveillance considering improved cancer detection and high sensitivity.

Physiological MRI of microvascular architecture, neovascularization activity, and oxygen metabolism facilitate early recurrence detection in patients with IDH-mutant WHO grade 3 glioma

PurposeThis study aimed to determine the diagnostic performance of physiological MRI biomarkers including microvascular perfusion and architecture, neovascularization activity, tissue oxygen metabolism, and tension for recurrence detection of IDH-mutant WHO grade 3 glioma.MethodsSixty patients with IDH-mutant WHO grade 3 glioma who received overall 288 follow-up MRI examinations at 3 Tesla after standard treatment were retrospectively evaluated. A conventional MRI protocol was extended with a physiological MRI approach including vascular architecture mapping and quantitative blood-oxygen-level-dependent imaging which required 7 min extra data acquisition time. Custom-made MATLAB software was used for the calculation of MRI biomarker maps of microvascular perfusion and architecture, neovascularization activity, tissue oxygen metabolism, and tension. Statistical procedures included receiver operating characteristic analysis.ResultsOverall, 34 patients showed recurrence of the WHO grade 3 glioma; of these, in 15 patients, recurrence was detected one follow-up examination (averaged 160 days) earlier by physiological MRI data than by conventional MRI. During this time period, the tumor volume increased significantly (P = 0.001) on average 7.4-fold from 1.5 to 11.1 cm3. Quantitative analysis of MRI biomarkers demonstrated microvascular but no macrovascular hyperperfusion in early recurrence. Neovascularization activity (AUC = 0.833), microvascular perfusion (0.682), and oxygen metabolism (0.661) showed higher diagnostic performance for early recurrence detection of WHO grade 3 glioma compared to conventional MRI including cerebral blood volume (0.649).ConclusionThis study demonstrated that the targeted assessment of microvascular features and tissue oxygen tension as an early sign of neovascularization activity provided valuable information for recurrence diagnostic of WHO grade 3 glioma.