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14
result(s) for
"Abufara, Alaa"
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Complex immunotherapy-mediated response patterns depicted on serial 18F-FDG PET imaging of Hodgkin lymphoma patient undergoing pembrolizumab therapy
2025
Over the past decade, the role of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in assessing treatment response for lymphoma patients undergoing immunotherapy has been extensively investigated. The advent of immunotherapy has challenged the utility of the established Lugano criteria, prompting the development of novel immunotherapy-specific response criteria now employed in clinical practice. Following 18F-FDG PET/CT evaluation after up to eight immunotherapy cycles, patients are typically transitioned to conventional imaging modalities if immunotherapy continuation is warranted. This case report illustrates the application of serial 18F-FDG PET/CT in monitoring a 67-year-old patient with Hodgkin lymphoma receiving immunotherapy, revealing complex, atypical response patterns unresolved by existing criteria. Notably, two episodes of pseudoprogression occurred at two distinct time points, one during cycle 5 and the other during cycle 22. Furthermore, an immunotherapy-enhanced abscopal effect was seen during radio-immunotherapy, leading to short-term disease remission. Our findings suggest that 18F-FDG PET/CT provides superior predictive value in delineating heterogeneous response patterns, thereby informing critical decisions regarding immunotherapy cessation or adjunctive therapeutic interventions.
Journal Article
An Unusual Case of Oligometastases in a Patient with Renal Cell Carcinoma: Insights from 18F-FDG PET/CT
by
Al-Rabi, Kamal
,
Abdlkadir, Ahmed Saad
,
Abufara, Alaa
in
Cartilage
,
Computed tomography
,
Conflicts of interest
2024
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a significant cause of mortality worldwide. To date, many atypical metastatic sites have been observed and reported in patients with RCC. However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no reported cases of thyroid cartilage metastasis in the context of RCC metastasis. Herein, we present the case of a 68-year-old man who developed left arm pain that led to an RCC diagnosis. First, evaluation by PAN-computed tomography (CT) denoted right kidney RCC and identified left humeral metastasis. Subsequently, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT (18F-FDG PET/CT) was performed after right nephrectomy and left humeral lesion excision and fixation. Interestingly, few intramedullary hypermetabolic lesions were observed in addition to a single intensely hypermetabolic thyroid cartilage lesion indicative of oligometastases. This case underscores the importance of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the evaluation of RCC disease for baseline staging and beyond.
Journal Article
Predictors of Venous Thromboembolism in Patients With Testicular Germ Cell Tumors: A Retrospective Study
2021
Malignancy, including testicular tumors, significantly increases the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). In this study, we search for predictors that may help identify subgroups of patients at higher risk of VTE. Patients with confirmed diagnosis of testicular germ cell tumor and proven VTE were identified. Clinical and pathological features possibly associated with VTE were reviewed. A total of 322 patients, median age (range) 31 (18-76) years were identified. Tumors were mostly non-seminoma (n = 194, 60.2%), node-positive (n = 130, 40.4%) and 58 (18.0%) had metastatic disease at diagnosis. Venous thromboembolism were confirmed in 27 (8.4%) patients; however, rates were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in patients with node-positive (18.5%), metastatic disease (22.4%), and those with high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (21.3%). Rates were also significantly higher among those who received multiple lines of chemotherapy (27.5%) compared to those who received one line (13.8%) or none (<1.0%), P < 0.001. Patients with testicular tumors and high tumor burden, including nodal involvement, high LDH or metastatic disease, and those treated with multiple lines of chemotherapy have significantly higher rates of VTE.
Journal Article
The Application of the ThroLy Risk Assessment Model to Predict Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
2021
Background
Patients with aggressive lymphomas are at higher risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). ThroLy is a risk assessment model (RAM) derived to predict the occurrence of VTE in various types of lymphomas. In this study, we assess the clinical application of ThroLy RAM in a unified group of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
Methods
Hospital databases were searched for patients with DLBCL and radiologically-confirmed VTE. Items in the ThroLy RAM, including prior VTE, reduced mobility, obesity, extranodal disease, mediastinal involvement, neutropenia and hemoglobin < 10.0 g/dL, were retrospectively reviewed.
Results
A total of 524 patients, median age 49 (range: 18-90) years were included. Patients had high disease burden; 57.3% with stage III/IV and 34.0% with bulky disease. All were treated on unified guidelines; 63 (12.0%) had primary refractory disease. Venous thromboembolic events were reported in 71 (13.5%) patients. Among 121 patients with high (> 3) ThroLy score, 22.3% developed VTE compared to 8.4% and 12.4% in those with low and intermediate risk scores, respectively (P = .014). Simplifying the ThroLy model into two risk groups; high-risk (score ≥ 3) and low risk (score < 3) can still segregate patients; VTE developed in 44 (17.2%) high-risk patients (n = 256) compared to 27 (10.1%) in the low-risk group (n = 268), P = .038. Neutropenia, a component of the ThroLy, was encountered in only 14 (2.7%) patients.
Conclusions
ThroLy RAM can identify patients with DLBCL at high risk for VTE. Model can be modified by dividing patients into two, rather than three risk groups, and further simplified by omitting neutropenia.
Journal Article
Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma Presenting as a Solitary Fourth Ventricular Mass: A Case Report
2024
The occurrence of primary fourth ventricular lymphoma is an exceptionally uncommon phenomenon. Here, we present a case of lymphoma in the fourth ventricle in a 30-year-old male who presented with progressive headache and vertigo over the last one month of his presentation. Preoperative MRI revealed a space-occupying lesion of the fourth ventricle. Pathological analysis following complete resection confirmed the lesion as primary central nervous system lymphoma. The patient underwent chemotherapy following the MTR (methotrexate, temozolomide, and rituximab) protocol with four months of uneventful follow-up, indicating no disease recurrence. Therefore, clinicians are advised to consider the potential presence of lymphoma as part of the differential diagnosis for space-occupying lesions, especially when there is a combination of clinical deterioration and rapid imaging progression.
Journal Article
Thromboembolic events in cancer patients on active treatment with cisplatin-based chemotherapy: another look
2018
Background
The risk of thromboembolic events is higher among cancer patients, especially in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Cisplatin-based regimens claim to be associated with a very high thromboembolic rate. In this study, we report on our own experience with thrombosis among patients on active cisplatin-based chemotherapy.
Methods
Medical records and hospital databases were searched for all the patients treated with any cisplatin-based regimen for any kind of cancer. Thrombosis was considered cisplatin-related if diagnosed any time after the first dose and up to 4 weeks after the last. The Khorana risk assessment model was performed in all cases.
Results
A total of 1677 patients (65.5% males, median age: 50 years) treated with cisplatin-based regimens were identified. Head and neck (22.9%), lung (22.2%), lymphoma and gastric (11.4% each) were the most common primary tumors. Thromboembolic events were reported in 110 (6.6%); the highest was in patients with gastric cancer (20.9%) and the lowest in patients with head and neck cancers (2.3%) and lymphoma (1.6%). Thrombosis included deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in 69 (62.7%), pulmonary embolism (PE) in 18 (16.9%) and arterial thrombosis in 17 (15.6%). A majority (51.1%) of the patients had stage IV disease and only 16% had stage I or II.
In a multivariate analysis, significantly higher rates of thrombosis were associated with gastric as the primary tumor, advanced-stage disease, female sex but not age, and the Khorana risk score or type of cisplatin regimen. While the presence of CVC was significantly associated with the risk of thrombosis (
p
< 0.0001) in the univariate analysis, and such significance was lost in the multivariate analysis (odds ratio, 1.098; 95%CI, 0.603–1.999,
p
= 0.7599).
Conclusions
Thromboembolic events in cancer patients on active cisplatin-based chemotherapy were commonly encountered. Gastric cancer, regardless of other clinical variables, was associated with the highest risk.
Journal Article
The Application of Current Proposed Venous Thromboembolism Risk Assessment Model for Ambulatory Patients With Cancer
by
Abu-Nasser, Mahmoud
,
Ibrahim, Alaa
,
Salam, Murad
in
Ambulatory Care
,
Cancer therapies
,
Chemotherapy
2018
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a commonly encountered problem in patients with cancer. In recent years, cancer treatment paradigm has shifted with most therapy offered in ambulatory outpatient settings. Excess of half VTEs in patients with cancer occur in outpatient settings without prior hospitalization, where current practice guidelines do not recommend routine prophylaxis. Risk assessment models (RAMs) for VTE in such patients were recently introduced. This study aims to assess the practical application of one of these models in clinical practice. Medical records and hospital electronic database were searched for patients with cancer having VTE. Known risk factors were collected, and risk assessment was done using the Khorana RAM. Over a 10-year period, 346 patients developed VTE in ambulatory settings. Median age was 57 and 59.0% were females. Lower extremities were involved in 196 (56.6%), while 96 (27.7%) had pulmonary embolism. Most (76.6%) patients had stage IV disease, only 9.0% had stage I or II disease. Only 156 (45.1%) patients were on active chemotherapy, for whom Khorana risk assessment score was calculated. In these patients, high risk was identified in 31 (19.9%) patients, while 81 (51.9%) had intermediate risk and 44 (28.2%) had low risk. No patients were on prophylaxis prior to VTE. Most ambulatory patients with cancer who developed VTE were not on chemotherapy, and many of those who were on active treatment had low Khorana risk scores. This illustrates the need to modify the model or develop a new one that takes into consideration this group of patients.
Journal Article
An Unusual Case of Oligometastases in a Patient with Renal Cell Carcinoma: Insights from 18 F-FDG PET/CT
2024
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a significant cause of mortality worldwide. To date, many atypical metastatic sites have been observed and reported in patients with RCC. However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no reported cases of thyroid cartilage metastasis in the context of RCC metastasis. Herein, we present the case of a 68-year-old man who developed left arm pain that led to an RCC diagnosis. First, evaluation by pan-computed tomography (CT) denoted right kidney RCC and identified left humeral metastasis. Subsequently,
F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT (
F-FDG PET/CT) was performed after right nephrectomy and left humeral lesion excision and fixation. Interestingly, few intramedullary hypermetabolic lesions were observed in addition to a single intensely hypermetabolic thyroid cartilage lesion indicative of oligometastases. This case underscores the importance of
F-FDG PET/CT in the evaluation of RCC disease for baseline staging and beyond.
Journal Article
An Unusual Case of Oligometastases in a Patient with Renal Cell Carcinoma: Insights from .sup.18F-FDG PET/CT/Renal Hucreli Karsinomlu Bir Hastada Olagandisi Bir Oligometastaz Olgusu: .sup.18F-FDG PET/BT'nin Faydasi
by
Al-Rabi, Kamal
,
Abdlkadir, Ahmed Saad
,
Abufara, Alaa
in
Carcinoma, Renal cell
,
CT imaging
,
Diagnosis
2024
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a significant cause of mortality worldwide. To date, many atypical metastatic sites have been observed and reported in patients with RCC. However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no reported cases of thyroid cartilage metastasis in the context of RCC metastasis. Herein, we present the case of a 68-year-old man who developed left arm pain that led to an RCC diagnosis. First, evaluation by pan-computed tomography (CT) denoted right kidney RCC and identified left humeral metastasis. Subsequently, [.sup.18]F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT ([.sup.18]F-FDG PET/CT) was performed after right nephrectomy and left humeral lesion excision and fixation. Interestingly, few intramedullary hypermetabolic lesions were observed in addition to a single intensely hypermetabolic thyroid cartilage lesion indicative of oligometastases. This case underscores the importance of [.sup.18]F-FDG PET/CT in the evaluation of RCC disease for baseline staging and beyond.
Journal Article
From Despair to Hope: First Arabic Experience of 177Lu-PSMA and 161Tb-PSMA Therapy for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
2024
The objective of this retrospective study is to assess the effectiveness and safety of two beta-emitting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) radioligands, [177Lu]Lu and [161Tb]Tb, in heavily treated patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). A total of 148 cycles of beta-emitting PSMA radioligand therapy were given to 53 patients at a specialized cancer care center in Amman, Jordan. This treatment was offered following the exhaustion of all prior treatment modalities. Approximately half of the cases (n = 26) demonstrated an initial partial response to PSMA radioligand therapy. Moreover, roughly one-fourth of the patients (n = 13) exhibited a sustained satisfactory biochemical response, which qualified them to receive a total of six PSMA radioligand therapy cycles and maintain continued follow-up for additional treatment cycles. This was reflected by an adequate prostate-specific antigen (PSA) decline and a concomitant partial response evident on [68Ga]Ga-PSMA positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging. A minority of patients (n= 18; 34%) experienced side effects. Generally, these were low-grade and self-limiting toxicities. This study endorses previous research evidence about PSMA radioligand therapy’s safety and efficacy. It also provides the first clinical insight from patients of Arab ethnicity. This should facilitate and promote further evidence, both regionally and internationally.
Journal Article