Coronary CTA using currently available technology is a reliable imaging alternative to invasive angiography with excellent sensitivity and negative LR for the detection of significant coronary stenoses in patients undergoing cardiac valve surgery. The specificity of coronary CTA may be decreased against the background of AS (Computed Tomography Angiography for the Detection of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients Referred for Cardiac Valve Surgery: A Meta-Analysis; CRD42015016213).

Automated computed tomography plaque analysis may be applied as a noninvasive tool to differentiate CTO from SO.

Background: Thermal dose in clinical hyperthermia reported as cumulative equivalent minutes (CEM) at 43 C (CEM43) and its variants are based on direct thermal cytotoxicity assuming Arrhenius 'break' at 43 C. An alternative method centered on the actual time-temperature plot during each hyperthermia session and its prognostic feasibility is explored. Methods and materials: Patients with bladder cancer treated with weekly deep hyperthermia followed by radiotherapy were evaluated. From intravesical temperature (T) recordings obtained every 10 secs, the area under the curve (AUC) was computed for each session for T > 37 C (AUC > 37 C) and T ! 39 C (AUC ! 39 C). These along with CEM43, CEM43(>37 C), CEM43(!39 C), T mean , T min and T max were evaluated for bladder tumor control. Results: Seventy-four hyperthermia sessions were delivered in 18 patients (median: 4 sessions/patient). Two patients failed in the bladder. For both individual and summated hyperthermia sessions, the T mean , CEM43, CEM43(>37 C), CEM43(!39 C), AUC > 37 C and AUC ! 39 C were significantly lower in patients who had a local relapse. Individual AUC ! 39 C for patients with/without local bladder failure were 105.9 ± 58.3 C-min and 177.9 ± 58.0 C-min, respectively (p ¼ 0.01). Corresponding summated AUC ! 39 C were 423.7 ± 27.8 C-min vs. 734.1 ± 194.6 C-min (p < 0.001), respectively. The median AUC ! 39 C for each hyperthermia session in patients with bladder tumor control was 190 C-min. Conclusion: AUC ! 39 C for each hyperthermia session represents the cumulative time-temperature distribution at clinically defined moderate hyperthermia in the range of 39 C to 45 C. It is a simple, mathematically computable parameter without any prior assumptions and appears to predict treatment outcome as evident from this study. However, its predictive ability as a thermal dose parameter merits further evaluation in a larger patient cohort.

Purpose To determine predictive factors associated with a good response (GR) to and efficacy of low-dose radiotherapy (LDRT) in patients with greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS). Methods Patients with GTPS were irradiated on a linear accelerator with 0.5–1.0 Gy per fraction to a total dose of 3.0–4.0 Gy per series. The endpoint was subjective good response (GR) to treatment 2 months after completion of the last LDRT series, defined as complete pain relief or marked improvement assessed using the von Pannewitz score. A positive response to steroid injection (SI) was defined as pain relief of at least 7 days. Patient and treatment-related characteristics were evaluated with respect to LDRT outcomes. Results Outcomes were assessed for 71 peritrochanteric spaces (PTSs; 65 patients, 48 females, with mean age of 63 [44–91] years). Prior SI had been given to 55 (77%) PTSs and 40 PTSs received two series of LDRT. Two months after completion of LDRT, GR was reported in 42 PTSs (59%). Two series of LDRT provided a significantly higher rate of GR than one series (72.5 vs. 42% PTSs, p = 0.015). Temporary pain relief after prior SI predicted GR to LDRT compared with PTSs which had not responded to SI (73 vs. 28% PTSs, p = 0.001). A regional structural abnormality, present in 34 PTSs (48%), was associated with a reduction of GR to LDRT (44 vs. 73% PTSs, p = 0.017). Conclusion LDRT is an effective treatment for GTPS. Administration of two LDRT series, prior response to SI, and absence of structural abnormalities may predict significantly better treatment outcomes.