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Objectives To define the elementary ultrasound (US) lesions in giant cell arteritis (GCA) and to evaluate the reliability of the assessment of US lesions according to these definitions in a web-based reliability exercise. Methods Potential definitions of normal and abnormal US findings of temporal and extracranial large arteries were retrieved by a systematic literature review. As a subsequent step, a structured Delphi exercise was conducted involving an expert panel of the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) US Large Vessel Vasculitis Group to agree definitions of normal US appearance and key elementary US lesions of vasculitis of temporal and extracranial large arteries. The reliability of these definitions on normal and abnormal blood vessels was tested on 150 still images and videos in a web-based reliability exercise. Results Twenty-four experts participated in both Delphi rounds. From originally 25 statements, nine definitions were obtained for normal appearance, vasculitis and arteriosclerosis of cranial and extracranial vessels. The ‘halo’ and ‘compression’ signs were the key US lesions in GCA. The reliability of the definitions for normal temporal and axillary arteries, the ‘halo’ sign and the ‘compression’ sign was excellent with inter-rater agreements of 91–99% and mean kappa values of 0.83–0.98 for both inter-rater and intra-rater reliabilities of all 25 experts. Conclusions The ‘halo’ and the ‘compression’ signs are regarded as the most important US abnormalities for GCA. The inter-rater and intra-rater agreement of the new OMERACT definitions for US lesions in GCA was excellent.

BACKGROUNDThe Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology is a tiered classification scheme that includes 6 diagnostic categories. Neoplasm, which is 1 of the 6 proposed categories, consists of benign neoplasm and neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential (NUMP). NUMP is reserved for a salivary gland neoplasm without clear distinction between benign and malignant. The objective of this study was to assess the risk of malignancy (ROM) of NUMP.METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted on 656 salivary gland fine‐needle aspiration specimens from 2010 to 2016. Cases that qualified as NUMP and had follow‐up surgical resections were reviewed and reclassified into basaloid neoplasm (BN) and salivary gland neoplasm with predominant oncocytic cell (SGNOC) groups. The ROM for each group was calculated. Fifty‐four salivary gland fine‐needle aspirations of NUMP that had surgical follow‐up were identified, which included 29 BNs and 25 SGNOCs.RESULTSHistologic follow‐up for the BN group identified 14 cellular pleomorphic adenomas, 5 basal cell adenomas, 2 benign cystadenomas, 3 adenoid cystic carcinomas, 3 epithelial and myoepithelial carcinomas, 1 basal cell adenocarcinoma, and 1 myoepithelial carcinoma. Histologic follow‐up for the SGNOC group revealed 7 nodular oncocytoses, 6 Warthin tumors, 5 oncocytomas, 1 sebaceous adenoma, 1 mucinous cystadenoma, 2 acinic cell carcinomas, 2 mucoepidermoid carcinomas, and 1 mammary analog secretory carcinoma. The ROM was calculated at 24.1% for the NUMP category overall (27.6% for BNs and 20.0% for SGNOCs).CONCLUSIONSThe ROM of the SGNOC group is similar to that of the BN group but lower than the ROM (35%) proposed by the Milan system. Cancer Cytopathol 2018. © 2018 American Cancer Society.

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate poly(GP), a dipeptide repeat protein, and neurofilament light chain (NfL) as biomarkers in presymptomatic C9orf72 repeat expansion carriers and patients with C9orf72‐associated frontotemporal dementia. Additionally, to investigate the relationship of poly(GP) with indicators of neurodegeneration as measured by NfL and grey matter volume.MethodsWe measured poly(GP) and NfL levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 25 presymptomatic C9orf72 expansion carriers, 64 symptomatic expansion carriers with dementia, and 12 noncarriers. We explored associations with grey matter volumes using region of interest and voxel‐wise analyses.ResultsPoly(GP) was present in C9orf72 expansion carriers and absent in noncarriers (specificity 100%, sensitivity 97%). Presymptomatic carriers had lower poly(GP) levels than symptomatic carriers. NfL levels were higher in symptomatic carriers than in presymptomatic carriers and healthy noncarriers. NfL was highest in patients with concomitant motor neuron disease, and correlated with disease severity and survival. Associations between poly(GP) levels and small grey matter regions emerged but did not survive multiple comparison correction, while higher NfL levels were associated with atrophy in frontotemporoparietal cortices and the thalamus.InterpretationThis study of C9orf72 expansion carriers reveals that: (1) poly(GP) levels discriminate presymptomatic and symptomatic expansion carriers from noncarriers, but are not associated with indicators of neurodegeneration; and (2) NfL levels are associated with grey matter atrophy, disease severity, and shorter survival. Together, poly(GP) and NfL show promise as complementary biomarkers for clinical trials for C9orf72‐associated frontotemporal dementia, with poly(GP) as a potential marker for target engagement and NfL as a marker of disease activity and progression.

ObjectiveIgG4‐related disease (IgG4‐RD) can cause fibroinflammatory lesions in nearly any organ, leading to organ dysfunction and failure. The IgG4‐RD Responder Index (RI) was developed to help investigators assess the efficacy of treatment in a structured manner. The aim of this study was to validate the RI in a multinational investigation.MethodsThe RI guides investigators through assessments of disease activity and damage in 25 domains, incorporating higher weights for disease manifestations that require urgent treatment or that worsen despite treatment. After a training exercise, investigators reviewed 12 written IgG4‐RD vignettes based on real patients. Investigators calculated both an RI score as well as a physician's global assessment (PhGA) score for each vignette. In a longitudinal assessment, 3 investigators used the RI in 15 patients with newly active disease who were followed up over serial visits after treatment. We assessed interrater and intrarater reliability, precision, validity, and responsiveness.ResultsThe 26 physician investigators included representatives from 6 specialties and 9 countries. The interrater and intrarater reliability of the RI was strong (0.89 and 0.69, respectively). Correlations (construct validity) between the RI and PhGA were high (Spearman's r = 0.9, P < 0.0001). The RI was sensitive to change (discriminant validity). Following treatment, there was significant improvement in the RI score (mean change 10.5 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 5.4–12], P < 0.001), which correlated with the change in the PhGA. Urgent disease and damage were captured effectively.DiscussionIn this international, multispecialty study, we observed that the RI is a valid and reliable disease activity assessment tool that can be used to measure response to therapy.