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Pucci A, Rossetti M, Lenzi C, Buja LM. The Cardiovascular Pathologist in the Aortic Team. Cardiovasc Pathol 2024:107649. [PMID: 38703970 DOI: 10.1016/j.carpath.2024.107649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Aortic diseases require a multidisciplinary management for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up with better outcomes in referral centers using a team-based approach. The setting up of a multi-disciplinary aortic team for the discussion of complex cases has been already proposed; it is also supported by the ACC/AHA. Surgeons and radiologists, more or less other physicians such as cardiologists, geneticists, rheumatologists/internal medicine specialists and pathologists are involved into such a team. The role of the cardiovascular pathologist is to examine the aortic specimens, to diagnose and classify the aortic lesions. Herein, the role of the pathologist in the aortic team is discussed and the pathobiology of aortic diseases is reviewed for reference by pathologists. The aortic specimens are mainly obtained from emergency or elective surgical procedures on the thoracic aorta, less frequently from organ/tissue (including cardiac or heart valve) donors, post-mortem procedures or abdominal aortic surgery. In the last decade, together with the progress of medical sciences, the histological definitions and classifications of the aortic pathology are undergoing thorough revisions that are addressed to an etiopathogenetic approach because of possible clinico-pathological correlations, therapeutic and prognostic impact. Pathologists may also have an important role in research and teaching. Therefore, histological analyses of the aortic specimens require adequate sample processing and pathologist expertise because histology contributes to definite diagnosis, correct management of patients and even (in genetic diseases) families, but also to research in the challenging field of aortopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Pucci
- Department of Histopathology, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Martina Rossetti
- Department of Histopathology, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Lenzi
- Department of Histopathology, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - L Maximilian Buja
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA
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Tang K, Ford B, Grasso SL, Swisher J. Infectious aortitis and managing it at a community military hospital. BMJ Case Rep 2024; 17:e257509. [PMID: 38538095 PMCID: PMC10982747 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2023-257509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Infectious aortitis is a rare disease process which can be of fungal, viral or bacterial aetiology. This disease process is often incidentally found during concomitant infectious processes, likely due to haematogenous spread. Common sources are from cardiac, genitourinary and gastroenterologic sources. CT imaging of the aorta is essential in identifying physiological changes-wall thickness changes, ectasia and stenosis. We present a case of a female in her early 60s with a medical history of cardiomyopathy with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, who was initially admitted for acute cholecystitis complicated by the development of gallstone pancreatitis. Imaging evaluation incidentally noted findings consistent with aortitis with a penetrating ulcer, and blood cultures were positive for Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia, confirming her diagnosis of infectious aortitis. She was started on intravenous antibiotics, required preoperative nutritional optimisation, and subsequently underwent an open aortic resection and aortoiliac reconstruction with rifampin-soaked Dacron graft.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Tang
- General Surgery, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Brandon Ford
- General Surgery, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Samuel L Grasso
- General Surgery, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Jonathan Swisher
- General Surgery, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas, USA
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Kihara H, Uchi T, Konno S, Takenaka S, Kameda H. Comprehensive Management of Takayasu Arteritis Using Immunologic and Antithrombotic Interventions With Cerebral Circulation Support: A Case Report. Cureus 2023; 15:e45137. [PMID: 37711274 PMCID: PMC10497371 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
A 20-year-old woman with bilateral common carotid artery stenosis was diagnosed with Takayasu arteritis (TA). She suffered from a recurrent stroke, and repeated transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) occurred due to middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis. The clinical course indicated that TA contributed to MCA stenosis despite the negative results for serological inflammation markers. Immunotherapy with tocilizumab and methotrexate effectively reduced disease activity and improved symptoms. Bed rest and hydration prevented further TIAs and ischemic stroke progression. Long-term monitoring of neurological symptoms and angiography findings is essential to evaluate disease severity and treatment efficacy in TA patients with negative inflammatory markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideo Kihara
- Neurology, Toho University Ohashi Medical Center, Tokyo, JPN
| | - Takafumi Uchi
- Neurology, Toho University Ohashi Medical Center, Tokyo, JPN
| | - Shingo Konno
- Neurology, Toho University Ohashi Medical Center, Tokyo, JPN
| | - Sayaka Takenaka
- Rheumatology, Toho University Ohashi Medical Center, Tokyo, JPN
| | - Hideto Kameda
- Rheumatology, Toho University Ohashi Medical Center, Tokyo, JPN
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Koch V, Abt J, Gruenewald LD, Eichler K, D’Angelo T, Martin SS, Albrecht MH, Thalhammer A, Booz C, Yel I, Bernatz S, Mahmoudi S, Harth M, Derwich W, Vogl TJ, Gray D, Gruber-Rouh T, Jung G. Systematic evaluation of imaging techniques and baseline characteristics in patients with suspected vasculitis. Eur J Radiol Open 2022; 9:100445. [PMID: 36262692 PMCID: PMC9574707 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejro.2022.100445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To assess the diagnostic value of different imaging modalities in distinguishing systemic vasculitis from other internal and immunological diseases. Methods This retrospective study included 134 patients with suspected vasculitis who underwent ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) between 01/2010 and 01/2019, finally consisting of 70 individuals with vasculitis. The main study parameter was the confirmation of the diagnosis using one of the three different imaging modalities, with the adjudicated clinical and histopathological diagnosis as the gold standard. A secondary parameter was the morphological appearance of the vessel affected by vasculitis. Results Patients with systemic vasculitis had myriad clinical manifestations with joint pain as the most common symptom. We found significant correlations between different imaging findings suggestive of vasculitis and the final adjudicated clinical diagnosis. In this context, on MRI, vessel wall thickening, edema, and diameter differed significantly between vasculitis and non-vasculitis groups (p < 0.05). Ultrasound revealed different findings that may serve as red flags in identifying patients with vasculitis, such as vascular occlusion or halo sign (p = 0.02 vs. non-vasculitis group). Interestingly, comparing maximal standardized uptake values from PET/CT examinations with vessel wall thickening or vessel diameter did not result in significant differences (p > 0.05). Conclusions We observed significant correlations between different imaging findings suggestive of vasculitis on ultrasound or MRI and the final adjudicated diagnosis. While ultrasound and MRI were considered suitable imaging methods for detecting and discriminating typical vascular changes, 18F-FDG PET/CT requires careful timing and patient selection given its moderate diagnostic accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitali Koch
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany,Correspondence to: University Hospital Frankfurt, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Julia Abt
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Leon D. Gruenewald
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Katrin Eichler
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Tommaso D’Angelo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University Hospital Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Simon S. Martin
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Moritz H. Albrecht
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Axel Thalhammer
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Christian Booz
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ibrahim Yel
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Simon Bernatz
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Scherwin Mahmoudi
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Marc Harth
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Wojciech Derwich
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Thomas J. Vogl
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Daphne Gray
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Tatjana Gruber-Rouh
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Georg Jung
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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