Background Little is known about the symptoms glioma patients experience in the year before diagnosis, either or not resulting in health care usage. This study aimed to determine the incidence of... Show moreBackground Little is known about the symptoms glioma patients experience in the year before diagnosis, either or not resulting in health care usage. This study aimed to determine the incidence of symptoms glioma patients experienced in the year prior to diagnosis, and subsequent visits to a general practitioner (GP).Methods Glioma patients were asked to complete a 30-item study-specific questionnaire focusing on symptoms they experienced in the 12 months before diagnosis. For each indicated symptom, patients were asked whether they consulted the GP for this issue.Results Fifty-nine patients completed the questionnaires, 54 (93%) with input of a proxy. The median time since diagnosis was 4 months (range 1-12). The median number of symptoms experienced in the year before diagnosis was similar between gliomas with favourable and poor prognosis, i.e. 6 (range 0-24), as were the five most frequently mentioned problems: fatigue (n = 34, 58%), mental tiredness (n = 30, 51%), sleeping disorder (n = 24, 41%), headache (n = 23, 39%) and stress (n = 20, 34%). Twenty-six (44%) patients visited the GP with at least one issue. Patients who did consult their GP reported significantly more often muscle weakness (11 vs 3, p = 0.003) than patients who did not, which remained significant after correction for multiple testing, which was not the case for paralysis in hand/leg (10 vs 4), focussing (11 vs 6) or a change in awareness (9 vs 4).Conclusions Glioma patients experience a range of non-specific problems in the year prior to diagnosis, but only patients who consult the GP report more often neurological problems. Show less
Objective To determine the level of discrepancy between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and F-18-FDG PET-CT in detecting osseous metastases in patients with Ewing sarcoma. Methods Twenty patients... Show moreObjective To determine the level of discrepancy between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and F-18-FDG PET-CT in detecting osseous metastases in patients with Ewing sarcoma. Methods Twenty patients with histopathologically confirmed Ewing sarcoma between 2000 and 2017 who underwent F-18-FDG PET-CT and MRI within a 4-week range were included. Each imaging modality was evaluated by a separate observer. Reference diagnosis of each lesion was based on histopathology or consensus of an expert panel using all available data, including at least 6 months' follow-up. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were determined. Osseous lesions were analyzed on a patient and a lesion basis. Factors possibly related to false-negative findings were evaluated using Pearson's Chi-squared or Fisher's exact test. Results A total of 112 osseous lesions were diagnosed in 13 patients, 107 malignant and 5 benign. Seven patients showed no metastases on either F-18-FDG PET-CT or MRI. Forty-one skeletal metastases (39%) detected with MRI did not show increased F-18-FDG uptake on F-18-FDG PET-CT (false-negative). Lesion-based sensitivities and specificities were 62% (95%CI 52-71%) and 100% (48-100%) for F-18-FDG PET-CT; and 99% (97-100%) and 100% (48-100%) for MRI respectively. Bone lesions were more likely to be false-negative on F-18-FDG PET-CT if hematopoietic bone marrow extension was widespread and active (p = 0.001), during or after (neo)-adjuvant treatment (p = 0.001) or when the lesion was smaller than 10 mm (p < 0.001). Conclusion Although no definite conclusions can be drawn from this small retrospective study, it shows that caution is needed when using F-18-FDG PET-CT for diagnosing skeletal metastases in Ewing sarcoma. Poor contrast between metastases and active hematopoietic bone marrow, chemotherapeutic treatment, and/or small size significantly decrease the diagnostic yield of F-18-FDG PET-CT, but not of MRI. Show less
Wynants, L.; Smeden, M. van; McLernon, D.J.; Timmerman, D.; Steyerberg, E.W.; Calster, B. van; Topic Grp Evaluating Diagnosti 2019
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a safe and efficient alternative for surgical valve aortic replacement in patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis who are inoperable or... Show moreTranscatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a safe and efficient alternative for surgical valve aortic replacement in patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis who are inoperable or have a high risk for surgery. Randomised clinical trials have shown that TAVR is not inferior to surgical aortic valve replacement in intermediate-risk patients and ongoing trials will demonstrate the effects of TAVR in asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis patients and in patients with heart failure and moderate aortic stenosis. Continuous developments in procedural and post-procedural management along with increased operator experience and technical improvements and ongoing advances in imaging modalities (particularly in three-dimensional techniques), have reduced the procedural risks and the incidence of complications such as paravalvular aortic regurgitation. Importantly, proper selection of both patient and prosthesis, procedural guidance and follow-up of prosthesis performance remain paramount for the success of the TAVR. In all these steps, echocardiography plays a crucial role. An overview of the clinical applications and current role of echocardiographic techniques in patient selection, prosthesis sizing, periprocedural guidance and postprocedural follow-up will be provided in this review article. Show less
Czepiel, J.; Drozdz, M.; Pituch, H.; Kuijper, E.J.; Perucki, W.; Mielimonka, A.; ... ; Biesiada, G. 2019
Fibrous Dysplasia / McCune Albright syndrome (FD/MAS) represents a wide spectrum of diseases due to somatic gain-of-function mutations of the GNAS gene. The mutation leads to overactivity in the... Show moreFibrous Dysplasia / McCune Albright syndrome (FD/MAS) represents a wide spectrum of diseases due to somatic gain-of-function mutations of the GNAS gene. The mutation leads to overactivity in the target tissues and to a wide phenotype of clinical features that vary in severity and age of onset. The rarity of the disease and its variable presentation to multiple specialities often leads to misdiagnosis and inappropriate variability in investigations and treatments. To address this, our international consortium of clinicians, researchers, and patients' advocates has developed pragmatic clinical guidelines for best clinical practice for the definition, diagnosis, staging, treatment and monitoring for FD/MAS to empower patients and support clinical teams in both general and specialised healthcare settings. With the lack of strong evidence to inform care, the guidelines were developed based on review of published literature, long-standing extensive experience of authors, input from other healthcare professionals involved in the care of FD/MAS patients and feedback from patients and patient groups across the globe. This has led to the formulation of a set of statements to inform healthcare professionals, patients, their families, carers and patient groups of the best practice of care. It is anticipated the implementation of these recommendations will lead to improvement in the care of patients with FD/MAS internationally. Show less
Corstjens, P.L.A.M.; Hooij, A. van; Fat, E.M.T.K.; Alam, K.; Vrolijk, L.B.; Dlamini, S.; ... ; Geluk, A. 2019
This thesis about deep vein thrombosis consists of two parts. The studies described in the first part of this thesis aimed to improve the diagnostic management of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in... Show moreThis thesis about deep vein thrombosis consists of two parts. The studies described in the first part of this thesis aimed to improve the diagnostic management of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in general, and in diagnostic challenging circumstances specifically. First, a new diagnostic safety threshold for all future diagnostic studies in deep vein thrombosis was established, adjusted to the disease prevalence in the study population. Thereafter a new simpler clinical decision rule, as first step in the diagnostic management of DVT was designed, selecting 4 items of the Wells rule. In the following chapter’s, studies using the MRI technique: Magnetic Resonance Direct Thrombus Imaging (MRDTI) were described. This is a non-contrast enhanced MRI technique by which a thrombus can be visualized directly. This technique was applied to diagnose DVT in challenging circumstances: ipsilateral recurrent DVT, DVT in pregnant woman and upper extremity DVT. The second part of this thesis describes studies that aimed to improve the prognosis of DVT by evaluation of the persistence to prescribed therapy and predictors of the development of post thrombotic syndrome (PTS). Show less
Ortolan, A.; Lunteren, M. van; Ramiro, S.; Ramonda, R.; Landewe, R.B.M.; Dagfinrud, H.; ... ; Gaalen, F.A. van 2018
Studies in this thesis focused on the use of MRI in patients with early inflammatory arthritis. Studies were focused on: the diagnostic value of MRI, predictive value of MRI findings for the... Show moreStudies in this thesis focused on the use of MRI in patients with early inflammatory arthritis. Studies were focused on: the diagnostic value of MRI, predictive value of MRI findings for the development of erosions, associations between age and MRI findings, the use of MRI for the development of new disease activity scores and patient reported outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Show less
Research on the prevalence, diagnostic and prognostic value for treatment of personality pathology – i.e., both personality disorders and problematic personality characteristics – was... Show more Research on the prevalence, diagnostic and prognostic value for treatment of personality pathology – i.e., both personality disorders and problematic personality characteristics – was carried out within a mainly Dutch forensic mental health setting. Issues such as (dis)simulation and unintentional self-deception limit the utility of self-report instruments within a pre-trial setting. Personality disorders and psychopathic traits in suspected offenders in the Netherlands often lead to court rulings of enforced psychiatric treatment – an internationally unique situation. A prospective study on the predictive value of personality disorder isolated factors that can affect enforced treatment length, such as crime type and comorbidity, that can be a focus for policy makers and forensic mental health experts. Caution is advised when using self-report instruments within the forensic context, especially in the absence of response bias scales and in the case of (legal) incentives for certain outcomes. There is urgent need for international standardization of instruments and terminology and a test battery that is specifically designed for and validated within forensic populations. An increase in (detail of) digital registration of patient, treatment and risk characteristics is necessary for meaningful scientific research, a better assessment of personality and risks, fewer incidents, lower recidivism and shorter treatment. Show less
