Congenital Adrenal Neuroblastoma With and Without Cystic Change: Differentiating Features With an Emphasis on the of Value of Ultrasound

MR Imaging of the Fetal Genitourinary Tract

Fetal MR imaging overcomes many of the technical barriers of ultrasound and is an important diagnostic tool for fetal genitourinary (GU) anomalies. It is suited for evaluation of GU anomalies because of the fluid-sensitive sequences and superior soft tissue contrast. Often GU malformations are part of a multisystem genetic or congenital condition, and imaging the entire fetus with MR adds additional clarity about the extent of disease. It adds confidence to diagnoses of renal agenesis, urinary tract dilation, cystic disease, and tumors. It is particularly useful to delineate anatomy in complex GU malformations. This additional information guides counseling.

Application of Machine Learning and Deep EfficientNets in Distinguishing Neonatal Adrenal Hematomas From Neuroblastoma in Enhanced Computed Tomography Images

Background

The aim of the study was to employ a combination of radiomic indicators based on computed tomography (CT) imaging and machine learning (ML), along with deep learning (DL), to differentiate between adrenal hematoma and adrenal neuroblastoma in neonates.

Methods

A total of 76 neonates were included in this retrospective study (40 with neuroblastomas and 36 with adrenal hematomas) who underwent CT and divided into a training group (n = 38) and a testing group (n = 38). The regions of interest (ROIs) were segmented by two radiologists to extract radiomics features using Pyradiomics package. ML classifications were done using support vector machine (SVM), AdaBoost, Extra Trees, gradient boosting, multi-layer perceptron (MLP), and random forest (RF). EfficientNets was employed and classified, based on radiometrics. The area under curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was calculated to assess the performance of each model.

Results

Among all features, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression selected nine features. These radiomics features were used to construct radiomics model. In the training cohort, the AUCs of SVM, MLP and Extra Trees models were 0.967, 0.969 and 1.000, respectively. The corresponding AUCs of the test cohort were 0.985, 0.971 and 0.958, respectively. In the classification task, the AUC of the DL framework was 0.987.

Conclusion

ML decision classifiers and DL framework constructed from CT-based radiomics features offered a non-invasive method to differentiate neonatal adrenal hematoma from neuroblastoma and performed better than the clinical experts.

Pediatric Abdominal Masses: Imaging Guidelines and Recommendations

Pediatric abdominal masses are commonly encountered in the pediatric population, with a broad differential diagnosis that encompasses benign and malignant entities. The primary role of abdominal imaging in the setting of a suspected pediatric abdominal mass is to establish its presence, as nonneoplastic entities can mimic an abdominal mass, and to identify characteristic imaging features that narrow the differential diagnosis. In the setting of a neoplasm, various imaging modalities play an important role to characterize the mass, stage extent of disease, and assist in presurgical planning. The purpose of this article is to discuss a practical imaging algorithm for suspected pediatric abdominal masses and to describe typical radiological findings of the commonly encountered abdominal masses in neonates and children with emphasis on imaging guidelines and recommendations.

Eye oscilations with neurological implications in pediatric age

INTRODUCTION

Eye oscillations, both nystagmic and non-nystagic, can occur from birth. Most correspond to infantile nystagmus that dubates in the first six months of life, which include idiopathic, sensory, latent, or overt latent motor nystagmus. Those associated with neurological diseases or syndromes correspond to approximately 33%, their identification and correct evaluation being important given the potential visual and vital complications.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We made a systematic review of the literature on supranuclear gaze control mechanisms and the main ocular oscillations with possible neurological implications, both in childhood. With this, we intend to assess if there are already established clinical-anatomical associations, and to propose a protocol on the complementary studies to be carried out in these cases.

RESULTS

There are still anatomical pathways involved in supranuclear gaze control that are not fully clarified and understood. Besides, except in the case of nystagmus in seesaw and upbeat, we did not find anatomical explanations for their pathogenesis. The need for complete neuro-ophthalmological physical examinations and the request for additional tests in children who present ocular oscillations with neurological characteristics are clear.

CONCLUSIONS

Supranuclear gaze control follows a complex neurological network that still needs to be studied better. With a better dissection of the same we could try to understand why the ocular oscillations that we studied have these specific forms of presentation. As for the complementary requests, the request for neuroimaging tests is practically constant, making the others according to the specific case before which we find ourselves.

Ultrasound of the adrenal gland in children

Ultrasound is the modality of choice in the evaluation of neonates and young children with suspected adrenal lesions including adrenal haemorrhage and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. It is also the initial imaging modality in children presenting with an upper abdominal mass, which may be adrenal in origin. Topic discussion: This paper shows adrenal anatomy and demonstrates how the sonographic features change with age. It reviews the imaging features of congenital adrenal lesions, as well as benign and malignant conditions affecting the adrenal gland in childhood. Discussion and Conclusion: Ultrasound is a useful primary imaging modality in the assessment of the adrenal gland in children. Knowledge of the changes of the adrenal gland with age is important when assessing the adrenal gland. Ultrasound is also useful for assessing abdominal masses. However, it cannot differentiate adrenal masses, therefore correlation with biochemical findings, multimodality imaging, and histology is usually required.

Imaging of solid congenital abdominal masses: a review of the literature and practical approach to image interpretation

Fetal abdominal tumors are rare, usually benign, and cause a great deal of anxiety for expectant parents and the physicians counseling them. In this paper the author reviews the most common fetal abdominal tumors in the liver (hemangioma, mesenchymal hamartoma, hepatoblastoma, metastases) and the kidney (congenital mesoblastic nephroma, Wilms tumor, malignant rhabdoid tumor, and clear cell sarcoma), and suprarenal mass lesions (adrenal neuroblastoma, adrenal hemorrhage, and subdiaphragmatic extralobar pulmonary sequestration). The author describes the imaging approach, imaging appearance and differentiating features of tumors, and differences between fetal and childhood appearances of tumors.

Congenital Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor diagnosed during childhood and gives rise to various heterogeneous tumors along the sympathoadrenal axis. Congenital neuroblastoma accounts for 5% of total neuroblastoma cases diagnosed annually, with the majority of cases diagnosed in the first month after birth. Interestingly, neonates demonstrate a unique disease trajectory compared with children older than 1 year of age. This article will provide information on the pathogenesis and variable clinical presentation of congenital neuroblastoma, along with the biological prognostic factors that predict long-term outcomes in affected neonates.

Cutaneous ultrasound and its utility in pediatric dermatology. Part I: Lumps, bumps, and inflammatory conditions

High-frequency ultrasonography represents a promising tool for pediatric dermatologists. It is a non-invasive diagnostic technique that is particularly appealing when working with children. It can be easily performed at the patient's bedside, avoiding diagnostic delays, sedation, or multiple visits. It represents a useful adjunct to clinical examination and can enhance our understanding of cutaneous diseases. Patient cooperation and limited training and experience are the main challenges for cutaneous ultrasonography in pediatric dermatology. This review describes cutaneous ultrasonography and the nuances of its use in the pediatric setting, followed by the ultrasonographic findings of cutaneous lumps, bumps, and inflammatory dermatoses commonly encountered in pediatric patients.

[Imaging of abdominal tumors in childhood and adolescence : Part II: relevant intra-abdominal and retroperitoneal tumor entities]

Abdominal and pelvic tumors in children and adolescents can be manifested intra-abdominally and also often in the retroperitoneum. The most important pediatric primary retroperitoneal space-occupying lesions are nephroblastoma (Wilms' tumor) and neuroblastoma, whereby imaging plays a decisive role in the diagnostics and differentiation of the two entities. Benign tumors of the mesentery and gastrointestinal tract occur more frequently in children than malignant lesions. The benign entities include lipoma, polyps and vascular tumors, such as lymphatic malformations. Of the malignant sarcomas, abdominal rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) occur relatively often in childhood and adolescence. The most frequent pediatric abdominal lymphoma is Burkitt's lymphoma, an aggressive subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Relevant tumor entities in childhood are also germ cell tumors, which originate from the genitals (gonadal) or can be extragonadally manifested. The benignancy or malignancy of germ cell tumors ranges from benign teratomas to highly malignant entities, such as yolk sac tumors. The germ cell tumors, just as all pediatric abdominal mass lesions, show a broad spectrum of tumor aggressiveness, malignancy and therefore also prognosis and mortality for the affected children and adolescents.

Adrenal hemorrhage in newborn: how, when and why- from case report to literature review

Background

Neonatal adrenal hemorrhage is a relatively uncommon condition (0.2–0.55%). Various risk factors have been reported in addition to birth asphyxia, such as sepsis, coagulation disorders, traumatic delivery, and perinatal injuries. Adrenal hemorrhage usually affects the right adrenal gland (about 70% of cases) while it involves the bilateral adrenal gland only in 10% of cases. In most cases, the event is asymptomatic but, in others, it may be so devastating to determine death by bleeding or adrenal insufficiency.

Case presentation

A case of bilateral neonatal adrenal hemorrhage, with adrenal insufficiency, but with no important risk factors and favorable evolution in a male infant.

Conclusions

This case emphasizes the importance of keeping a non-interventional attitude, avoiding early surgery but carrying out a serial sonographic follow-up. Serial ultrasound monitoring is the most reliable approach during conservative management.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13052-019-0651-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Management of adrenal masses in patients with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a genetic overgrowth and cancer predisposition syndrome, associated with both benign and malignant adrenal findings. Literature review and an institutional case series elucidate the wide spectrum of adrenal findings in BWS patients. The altered expression of the 11p15 region is likely related to adrenal gland hyperplasia and growth dysregulation. Given the absence of guidelines for managing adrenal findings in BWS, we propose a systematic approach to adrenal findings in BWS patients, to allow for maximum detection of potentially malignant pathology without posing additional risk to patients.