The diagnosis of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is highly dependent on neuroimaging, and its imaging changes include lacune, lacunar infarction, white matter hyperintensity (WMH), perivascular space (PVS), cerebral microbleed, etc. In previous studies, the definitions of these imaging changes were quite different, resulting in misdiagnosis of lacuna, WMH and PVS. This comment will summarize the clinical, imaging, and pathological characteristics of CSVD, sort out the process and effectiveness of the gradually normalized diagnostic standards, and propose errors that should be avoided, aiming to improve the accuracy and consistency of clinical diagnosis and research.

BACKGROUND: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related non-Hodgkin lymphoma (AR-NHL) is a high-risk factor for morbidity and mortality in patients with AIDS. This study aimed to determine the prognostic factors associated with overall survival (OS) and to develop a prognostic nomogram incorporating computed tomography imaging features in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome-related non-Hodgkin lymphoma (AR-NHL). METHODS: A total of 121 AR-NHL patients between July 2012 and November 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical and radiological independent predictors of OS were confirmed using multivariable Cox analysis. A prognostic nomogram was constructed based on the above clinical and radiological factors and then provided optimum accuracy in predicting OS. The predictive accuracy of the nomogram was determined by Harrell C-statistic. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to determine median OS. The prognostic value of adjuvant therapy was evaluated in different subgroups. RESULTS: In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, involvement of mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes, liver, necrosis in the lesions, the treatment with chemotherapy, and the CD4 ≤100 cells/μL were independent risk factors for poor OS (all P < 0.050). The predictive nomogram based on Cox regression has good discrimination (Harrell C-index = 0.716) and good calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow test, P = 0.620) in high- and low-risk groups. Only patients in the high-risk group who received adjuvant chemotherapy had a significantly better survival outcome. CONCLUSION A survival-predicting nomogram was developed in this study, which was effective in assessing the survival outcomes of patients with AR-NHL. Notably, decision-making of chemotherapy regimens and more frequent follow-up should be considered in the high-risk group determined by this model.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nomograms ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies