Background: Osteosarcomas are rare malignancies (<1% of all cancers) that produce an osteoid matrix. Osteosarcomas are the second most frequent type of primary bone tumor after multiple myeloma and the most prevalent primary bone tumor in children. The spectrum of imaging findings of these malignancies varies significantly, reflecting different histological subtypes. For instance, conventional osteosarcoma typically presents with a mixed radiological pattern (lytic and bone mineralization) or with a completely eburneous one; aggressive periosteal reactions such as sunburst, Codman triangle, and soft-tissue components are frequently displayed. On the other hand, telangiectatic osteosarcoma usually presents as a purely lytic lesion with multiple fluid–fluid levels on MRI fluid-sensitive sequences. Other typical and atypical radiological patterns of presentation in other subtypes of osteosarcomas are described in this review. In addition to the characteristics associated with osteosarcoma subtyping, this review article also focuses on imaging features that have been associated with patient outcomes, namely response to chemotherapy and event-free and overall survivals. This includes simple semantic radiological features (such as tumor dimensions, anatomical location with difficulty of radical surgery, occurrence of pathological fractures, and presence of distant metastases), but also quantitative imaging parameters from diffusion-weighted imaging, dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, and 18F-FDG positron emission tomography and radiomics approaches. Other particular features are described in the text. Overall, this comprehensive literature review aims to be a practical tool for oncologists, pathologists, surgeons, and radiologists involved in these patients’ care.
Background: To evaluate the segmental distribution of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) according to Couinaud’s anatomical division in cirrhotic patients. Methods: Between 2020 and 2021, a total of 322 HCC nodules were diagnosed in 217 cirrhotic patients who underwent computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the evaluation of suspicious nodules (>1 cm) detected during ultrasound surveillance. For each patient, the segmental position of the HCC nodule was recorded according to Couinaud’s description. The clinical data and nodule characteristics were collected. Results: A total of 234 (72.7%) HCC nodules were situated in the right lobe whereas 79 (24.5%) were detected in the left lobe (p < 0.0001) and only 9 nodules were in the caudate lobe (2.8%). HCC was most common in segment 8 (n = 88, 27.4%) and least common in segment 1 (n = 9, 2.8%). No significant differences were found in the frequencies of segmental or lobar involvement considering patient demographic and clinical characteristics, nodule dimension, or disease appearance. Conclusions: The intrahepatic distribution of HCC differs among Couinaud’s segments, with segment 8 being the most common location and segment 1 being the least common. The segmental distribution of tumour location was similar to the normal liver volume distribution, supporting a possible correlation between HCC location and the volume of hepatic segments and/or the volumetric distribution of the portal blood flow.
Background/Objectives: Clear cell sarcoma (CCS) is a very uncommon, aggressive soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) with a dismal prognosis. In the current literature, there are very limited data focused on the radiological features of CCS. Our study’s objective was to describe CCS pre-treatment’s peculiar imaging characteristics (MRI above all) and to assess if some radiologic features may predict patients’ outcomes with regard to the occurrence of distant metastases. Methods: Our single-center experience includes all the patients with a histological diagnosis of CCS and available radiological and clinical data: 14 patients (8M, 6F, mean age 39.4 years old) were included. The available pre-treatment MRI or contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) studies were examined using an analytical grid that incorporated characteristics from the most recent STS research. The occurrence of metastatic disease was matched with radiological features from baseline imaging studies. Results: MRI was available in 13 patients and CECT in 1 patient. The mean longest diameter (LD) was 50.5 mm ± 29.2. In 10 cases (71.4%), the tumor was deeply seated. MRI revealed a slightly high signal intensity (SI) on T1-WI and a high SI on T2-WI in every subject. At baseline, metastases were already present in 5/14 (35.7%) patients, 3 more developed metastases during the following 5 years (8/14, 57.1%), and 2 additional developed late-onset metastasis after more than 5 years from the diagnosis (total of 10/14 metastatic patients 71.4%). LD and metastasis at diagnosis were significantly correlated (Pearson correlation = 72%, p-value = 0.004). A pre-treatment LD > 4 cm was significantly associated with the development of distant metastases within 5 years from diagnosis and in subsequent follow-up (p = 0.0003). LD > 4 cm represents an increase in risk of metastatic disease within 5 years and during the course of follow-up (OR = 195.00, 95%CI: 3.36–11285.55, p = 0.01). The presence of MRI signs of macroscopic necrosis represented an increase in risk of metastatic disease within 5 years (OR = 15.00, 95%CI: 1.03–218.31—p = 0.04). Conclusions: The identification of MRI features of aggressive biology is a key element for an early referral to sarcoma centers. In our study, a LD > 4 cm and the presence of MRI signs of macroscopic necrosis at the baseline images resulted in being a predictor of metastatic disease.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and clear cell renal carcinoma are both frequent cancers, especially in patients with risk factors such as cirrhosis in the first case or genetic mutations such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome in the second case; however, their synchronous appearance is very rare especially in young patients with no apparent predisposing factors. We describe the case of a 33-year-old woman with acute pain onset in right hypochondrium. The ultrasound (US) imaging and the contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of the abdomen revealed 2 abdominal masses: one in the VI-VII segments of the liver and the other one in the right kidney. The chest CECT study, acquired for staging purpose, detected multiple micronodules with patchy peri-bronchial distribution at both lungs. At the histological examination, the tumor arising from the right kidney was finally diagnosed as clear cell renal carcinoma, whereas the tumor arising from the right lateral hepatic lobe as HCC. The histological examination of lung lesions revealed sarcoidosis granulomas. The patient is still being followed up for the occurrence of lung and lymph node metastases from HCC 14 months later.