Objective: Soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) may be useful in the diagnosis and detection of early stage mesothelioma. We investigated the SMRP upfront predictive role for mesothelioma in asbestos-exposed workers. Methods: A total of 1,715 subjects underwent a first visit and were invited for a follow-up after 1 and 2 years, with a clinical examination and blood sampling. SMRP was measured by an ELISA assay. Results: Median SMRP at the first visit was 0.45 [interquartile range (IQR) i.e. 25th-75th percentile: 0.30-0.67 nmol/l]. In all, 1,676 subjects (97.8%) were followed up for a median period of 47.1 months. SMRP was measured at the first visit and at both follow-up visits in 1,536 subjects. At follow-up, 3 subjects were diagnosed with an epithelioid mesothelioma. In these cases, SMRP at the first visit ranged from 0.17 to 0.52 nmol/l. Malignant pleural mesothelioma was diagnosed 9-17 months after the last SMRP evaluation. No SMRP variation was observed during the follow-up. Other 61 miscellaneous cancers were diagnosed (median SMRP at first visit: 0.50 nmol/l, IQR: 0.34-0.71 nmol/l). Conclusions: Our results did not support the usefulness of SMRP as an early marker for the detection of the disease for a time interval of 1 year.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Measurement of the vestibular aqueduct on CT scans of the temporal bone is important for the detection of large vestibular aqueduct syndrome; typically this is done in the axial plane. We sought to determine the usefulness of reformats performed in the 45°oblique plane for evaluating the vestibular aqueduct. In addition, we provide reference measurements for the vestibular aqueduct in the 45°oblique plane.

Objectives Traditionally, facet joint injections (FJI) are performed under fluoroscopic or computed tomography (CT) guidance, mainly due to the deep anatomical location and the presence of bony landmarks. Fusion imaging technology, which couples the ultrasound scan with the corresponding CT or magnetic resonance (MR) image obtained from the diagnostic examination and reformatted in real time according to the ultrasound scanning plane, allows to combine the panoramic view and the elevated anatomical detail of MR or CT with the ease of use of ultrasound without patient exposure to ionizing radiation. Methods Thirty eight patients (24 females; mean age ± SD: 64 ± 9 years) received MR fusion-assisted ultrasound-guided FJI of 1 ml of a mixture of local anaesthetic and corticosteroid using a ultrasound machine (Logiq E9, GE Healthcare) equipped with a GPS-enhanced fusion imaging technology which couples real-time B-mode images with those of the previous recent diagnostic MR examination. Low-dose CT needle positioning confirmation was performed in the first 28 patients. Patients' pain was recorded using a visual analogue scale (VAS), at baseline and at 2, 4 and 8 weeks.Results All fusion imaging-guided injections were performed successfully. Out of 112, 96 FJI had optimal intraarticular needle positioning (accuracy: 85.7%). Patients VAS significantly decreases after the procedure with no differences among who received CT needle positioning control and who did not receive it. No major complications were observed. Conclusions Ultrasound needle guidance with MR fusion assistance allows for safe and effective injection of degenerative facet joint disease.Keywords Facet joint Á Injection Á Fusion imaging Á Ultrasound Á Magnetic resonance Sommario Obiettivi Tradizionalmente, le iniezioni delle faccette articolari (FJI) sono state eseguite sotto guida fluoroscopica o tomografia computerizzata (TC), principalmente a causa della posizione anatomica profonda e la presenza di reperi ossei. L'imaging di fusione permette di accoppiare le immagine ecografiche con quelle TC o di risonanza magnetica (RM) corrispondenti, ottenute da un precedente esame diagnostico e riformattate in tempo reale in base al piano di scansione ecografico. Questa tecnica permette di coniugare la visione panoramica e l'elevato dettaglio anatomico della RM o TC con la praticità della guida ecografica senza ulteriore esposizione del paziente a radiazioni ionizzanti. Metodi Trentotto pazienti (24 femmine, età media ± DS: 64 ± 9 anni) hanno ricevuto FJI guidata da fusione ecografia-RM di 1 ml di una miscela di anestetico locale e corticosteroide utilizzando una apparecchiatura ecografica (Logiq E9, GE Healthcare) dotata di tecnologia fusion. Nei (2017( ) 20:23-31 DOI 10.1007 primi 28 pazienti il posizionamento dell'ago è stato confermato mediante esame TC a bassa dose. Il dolore dei pazienti è stato registrato utilizzando una scala analogica visiva (VAS), al tempo 0 e dopo 2, 4 e 8 settimane.Risultati Tutte le iniezioni fusion guidate sono state esegui...

The soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP), a candidate marker for screening of subjects with asbestos exposure, is influenced by some individual and clinical factors. The aim of this study was to quantify the role of age, smoking, weight, presence of diseases and exposure to asbestos on serum SMRP levels in a large series of subjects exposed to asbestos, possible candidates for mesothelioma screening. One thousand seven hundred and four participants underwent clinical examination and were interviewed on medical anamnesis, occupation, smoking and weight. SMRP was measured by an ELISA assay. Overall, median SMRP was 0.4 (IQR 25-75: 0.3-0.7) nmol/l. It was higher in current smokers and in subjects with a cumulative asbestos exposure >50 ff/cc/years than in all the other subjects (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). SMRP was positively correlated with age (ρ = 0.11, p < 0.001) and, inversely, with BMI (ρ = -0.15, p < 0.001). SMRP was lower in healthy subjects (n = 1,217: median 0.4 nmol/l) than in subjects with malignant tumors (n = 118: 0.5 nmol/l; p = 0.01), asbestos-related pleural lesions (plaques or thickenings, n = 152: 0.6 nmol/l; p < 0.001) and other benign diseases (n = 182: 0.5 nmol/l; p = 0.04). Multivariate analysis revealed significant predictors of increased SMRP: age >57 years, current smoking, a positive anamnesis for cancer and for asbestos-related pleural lesions, and BMI < 25. Some clinical and demographic variables are associated with serum SMRP levels. The degree of these associations is low, nevertheless they should be accounted for in the interpretation of SMPR as a candidate marker predictive of mesothelioma. The potential predictive value of serum SMRP in screening/surveillance programs must be validated in prospective studies.

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