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- Ultrasound Requested by General Practitioners or for Symptoms Unrelated to the Thyroid Gland May Explain Higher Prevalence of Thyroid Nodules in FemalesPublication . Germano, A; Schmitt, W; Almeida, P; Mateus-Marques, R; Leite, VBackground: A higher prevalence of thyroid nodules/carcinoma in females is well-known from the literature. The reasons for this difference are not fully explained. We intended to assess gender variation in the referral for ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules, to study reasons for gender referral differences, and to assess differences in nodules characteristics between genders. Methods: Included were 272 consecutive patients, with 290 nodules submitted to FNA. Patients were questioned on the reason why ultrasound (US) examination was required. Electronic medical records were reviewed. Nodules' ultrasound/cytological characteristics were assessed. Variables studied: referral cause; referral pattern (hospital-specialist versus general-practitioner); number of nodules; age, thyroid function; nodule size, TIRADS classification, resistive index, Doppler pattern, Bethesda categorisation. Variables were compared between males and females referred for FNA. Significant variables were assessed with logistic regression. Results: Of the 272 patients, 215(79%) were women with a female:male referral ratio for FNA of 3.8:1. Non-parametric statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between genders in: thyroid function, nodule size, referral pattern and referral cause. Nodule size and thyroid function tests became non-significant in logistic regression. Cause and referral pattern remained significantly associated with gender. Referral by a general-practitioner was associated with a 2.6-fold increase in odds of referring a female. Causes unrelated to the thyroid were associated with a 3.2-fold increase in odds of female reference. Conclusions: A referral bias might be responsible for the higher rate of thyroid nodules in female patients, both due to referral by general practitioners and due to causes indirectly related to the thyroid gland.
- Normal Ultrasound Anatomy and Common Anatomical Variants of the Thyroid Gland Plus Adjacent Structures - A Pictorial ReviewPublication . Germano, A; Schmitt, W; Carvalho, M; Marques, RHigh-resolution ultrasound is considered the best imaging technique for evaluating the thyroid gland, as it is accessible, non-invasive, and highly sensitive concerning the detection and characterization of thyroid nodules. However, a background knowledge of the normal ultrasound anatomy of the thyroid gland, adjacent structures, and its anatomical variants is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis in daily practice. Through this pictorial review, we intend to.
- Thoracic lipomas simulating metastasisPublication . Cabral, P; Baptista, M
- Interstitial Lung Disease Induced by Crizotinib in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.Publication . Tereso, A; Carreto, L; Baptista, M; Almeida, MAThe treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer shifted with the development of molecular-targeted therapies, like the tyrosine kinase inhibitors. One example of tyrosine kinase inhibitors is crizotinib, an anaplastic lymphoma tyrosine kinase inhibitor, which targets an echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like-4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene fusion. This mutation is found in only 2% to 7% of non-small-cell lung cancer cases. Although these new therapies have shown promising results, the occurrence of interstitial lung disease as a side effect could be problematic. As the diagnosis of drug-related-interstitial lung disease is difficult to make, computed tomography is an important diagnostic tool. The recognition of computed tomography manifestations of tyrosine kinase inhibitors -induced interstitial lung disease is the key for an early recognition and management of this pulmonary toxicity. We aim to raise awareness of tyrosine kinase inhibitors-induced interstitial lung disease, by reporting the first case of a Portuguese patient treated with crizotinib for non-small-cell lung cancer who developed drug-induced interstitial lung disease.
- Ultrasound requested by general practitioners or for symptoms unrelated to the thyroid gland may explain higher prevalence of thyroid nodules in females.Publication . Germano, A; Schmitt, W; Almeida, P; Mateus-Marques, R; Leite, VBACKGROUND: A higher prevalence of thyroid nodules/carcinoma in females is well-known from the literature. The reasons for this difference are not fully explained. We intended to assess gender variation in the referral for ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules, to study reasons for gender referral differences, and to assess differences in nodules characteristics between genders. METHODS: Included were 272 consecutive patients, with 290 nodules submitted to FNA. Patients were questioned on the reason why ultrasound (US) examination was required. Electronic medical records were reviewed. Nodules' ultrasound/cytological characteristics were assessed. Variables studied: referral cause; referral pattern (hospital-specialist versus general-practitioner); number of nodules; age, thyroid function; nodule size, TIRADS classification, resistive index, Doppler pattern, Bethesda categorisation. Variables were compared between males and females referred for FNA. Significant variables were assessed with logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 272 patients, 215(79%) were women with a female:male referral ratio for FNA of 3.8:1. Non-parametric statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between genders in: thyroid function, nodule size, referral pattern and referral cause. Nodule size and thyroid function tests became non-significant in logistic regression. Cause and referral pattern remained significantly associated with gender. Referral by a general-practitioner was associated with a 2.6-fold increase in odds of referring a female. Causes unrelated to the thyroid were associated with a 3.2-fold increase in odds of female reference. CONCLUSIONS: A referral bias might be responsible for the higher rate of thyroid nodules in female patients, both due to referral by general practitioners and due to causes indirectly related to the thyroid gland.
- Ultrasound requested by general practitioners or for symptoms unrelated to the thyroid gland may explain higher prevalence of thyroid nodules in females.Publication . Germano, A; Schmitt, W; Almeida, P; Mateus-Marques, R; Leite, VBACKGROUND: A higher prevalence of thyroid nodules/carcinoma in females is well-known from the literature. The reasons for this difference are not fully explained. We intended to assess gender variation in the referral for ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules, to study reasons for gender referral differences, and to assess differences in nodules characteristics between genders. METHODS: Included were 272 consecutive patients, with 290 nodules submitted to FNA. Patients were questioned on the reason why ultrasound (US) examination was required. Electronic medical records were reviewed. Nodules' ultrasound/cytological characteristics were assessed. Variables studied: referral cause; referral pattern (hospital-specialist versus general-practitioner); number of nodules; age, thyroid function; nodule size, TIRADS classification, resistive index, Doppler pattern, Bethesda categorisation. Variables were compared between males and females referred for FNA. Significant variables were assessed with logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 272 patients, 215(79%) were women with a female:male referral ratio for FNA of 3.8:1. Non-parametric statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between genders in: thyroid function, nodule size, referral pattern and referral cause. Nodule size and thyroid function tests became non-significant in logistic regression. Cause and referral pattern remained significantly associated with gender. Referral by a general-practitioner was associated with a 2.6-fold increase in odds of referring a female. Causes unrelated to the thyroid were associated with a 3.2-fold increase in odds of female reference. CONCLUSIONS: A referral bias might be responsible for the higher rate of thyroid nodules in female patients, both due to referral by general practitioners and due to causes indirectly related to the thyroid gland.
- Ultrasound requested by general practitioners or for symptoms unrelated to the thyroid gland may explain higher prevalence of thyroid nodules in females.Publication . Germano, A; Schmitt, W; Almeida, P; Mateus-Marques, R; Leite, VBACKGROUND: A higher prevalence of thyroid nodules/carcinoma in females is well-known from the literature. The reasons for this difference are not fully explained. We intended to assess gender variation in the referral for ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules, to study reasons for gender referral differences, and to assess differences in nodules characteristics between genders. METHODS: Included were 272 consecutive patients, with 290 nodules submitted to FNA. Patients were questioned on the reason why ultrasound (US) examination was required. Electronic medical records were reviewed. Nodules' ultrasound/cytological characteristics were assessed. Variables studied: referral cause; referral pattern (hospital-specialist versus general-practitioner); number of nodules; age, thyroid function; nodule size, TIRADS classification, resistive index, Doppler pattern, Bethesda categorisation. Variables were compared between males and females referred for FNA. Significant variables were assessed with logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 272 patients, 215(79%) were women with a female:male referral ratio for FNA of 3.8:1. Non-parametric statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between genders in: thyroid function, nodule size, referral pattern and referral cause. Nodule size and thyroid function tests became non-significant in logistic regression. Cause and referral pattern remained significantly associated with gender. Referral by a general-practitioner was associated with a 2.6-fold increase in odds of referring a female. Causes unrelated to the thyroid were associated with a 3.2-fold increase in odds of female reference. CONCLUSIONS: A referral bias might be responsible for the higher rate of thyroid nodules in female patients, both due to referral by general practitioners and due to causes indirectly related to the thyroid gland.
- Scrotal Cystocele by Computed Tomography and Ultrasound.Publication . Penha, D; Pinto, E; Costa, A
- Two-dimensional visualization and measurement of the fetal optic chiasm: improving counseling for antenatal diagnosis of agenesis of the septum pellucidum.Publication . Viñals, F; Ruiz, P; Corre, F; Pereira, POBJECTIVE: To develop an objective method for visualizing and measuring the fetal optic chiasm (OC) using transvaginal two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound in the coronal plane and to report measurements in fetuses with agenesis of the septum pellucidum (SP). METHODS: This was a prospective cross-sectional study of 115 morphologically normal fetuses in low-risk pregnancies, between 21 and 30 weeks' gestation. The OC was measured in a coronal plane at the level of the third ventricle and was seen as a horizontally aligned dumbbell-shaped structure of moderate echogenicity. In addition, OC measurements from eight fetuses with agenesis of the SP and complete follow-up were compared with the reference range. RESULTS: OC measurements were obtained in 110/115 normal fetuses and showed that OC increases linearly with gestational age. Our method of measurement demonstrated good intraobserver repeatability and excellent interobserver reproducibility. Among the eight fetuses with agenesis of the SP, five had normal OC measurements and five had normal vision postnatally. Pregnancy continued to term in all cases and the follow-up period varied from 6 months to 7 years. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that it is possible to visualize and measure the OC directly on a 2D ultrasound coronal plane. In fetuses with agenesis of the SP, the morphology and width of the OC visual pathway could prove a relevant tool for assessing its development. It would also help in the difficult task of providing antenatal counseling when faced with the diagnosis of agenesis of the SP.
- Off-Label Use of Ultrasound Contrast Agents for Intravenous Applications in Children: Analysis of the Existing LiteraturePublication . Rosado, E; Riccabona, MOBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to collect and analyze the published data related to intravenous (IV) use of ultrasound (US) contrast agents in children. METHODS: We searched the literature to collect all of the published studies reporting the IV administration of a second-generation US contrast agent in children. RESULTS: We analyzed 9 case series and 5 case reports, as well as 5 individual cases, of pediatric contrast-enhanced US use reported in a study group that also included adults. We found that 502 children underwent contrast-enhanced US examinations (mean age, 9.7 years; range, 1 day-18 years). Most patients (89%) were injected with the sulfur hexafluoride contrast agent SonoVue (Bracco SpA, Milan, Italy). The mean dose used was 1.5 mL (range, 0.1-9.6 mL). Only 10 patients (2%) had adverse reactions related to the contrast agent administration: 1 life-threatening anaphylactic shock and 9 mild transitory adverse effects. We additionally found 38 papers in which the study groups included at least 1 child; thus, we obtained a total of 540 reported cases of off-label use of IV US contrast agents in children. The most frequent target organ was the liver, and most indications were related to space-occupying lesion characterization and abdominal evaluations after blunt trauma. Some studies also evaluated the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced US in different clinical scenarios and found very good accuracy. Concordance between contrast-enhanced US imaging and the respective reference-standard imaging methods ranged between 83% and 100% in different studies. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the idea that the IV use of US contrast agents in children is safe, feasible, diagnostically robust, and effective.