1.The Thrombectomy Dilemma in Stroke Patients With Active Cancer: To Treat or Not to Treat?
Yohanna KUSUMA ; Mikiya BEPPU ; Beom Joon KIM ; Sung-Chun TANG ; Mikito HAYAKAWA ; Hiroshi YAMAGAMI ; Hiroyuki KAWANO ; Teruyuki HIRANO ; Shinichi YOSHIMURA ; Hamidon BASRI ; Richard LI ; Huy Thang NGUYEN ; Deidre Anne De SILVA ; Keun-Sik HONG ; Jiann-Shing JENG ; Than G. PHAN ; Henry MA ; Bernard YAN ;
Journal of Stroke 2026;28(2):218-227
Endovascular thrombectomy for acute large-vessel occlusion in patients with active cancer remains a difficult clinical decision. Multiple cohort studies and meta-analyses indicate that, when standard imaging and clinical criteria are applied, reperfusion success is high and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage is broadly comparable with non-cancer populations, arguing against categorical exclusion. At the same time, registries show lower 90-day functional independence and higher 90-day mortality in active-cancer cohorts—effects likely driven by malignancy-related systemic factors and pre-existing functional compromise rather than procedural harm. This narrative review synthesizes efficacy and safety signals, highlights decision-grade outcomes that are seldom reported—early neurological change, performance status around 90 days, and whether systemic anticancer therapy is started or resumed. It sets out a clinical–ethical–economic framework to support selection, consent, and aftercare, including a pragmatic pathway for under-resourced settings based on non-contrast computed tomography (CT) or single-phase CT angiography where advanced perfusion imaging or magnetic resonance imaging are unavailable. We outline an Asia–Pacific collaborative program designed to identify subgroups that may benefit from reperfusion and initiation of active cancer care.
2.Development of a shape-based algorithm for identification of asymptomatic vertebral compression fractures: A proof-of-principle study
Huy G. NGUYEN ; Hoa T. NGUYEN ; Linh T.T. NGUYEN ; Thach S. TRAN ; Lan T. HO-PHAM ; Sai H. LING ; Tuan V. NGUYEN
Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia 2024;10(1):22-27
Objectives:
Vertebral fracture is both common and serious among adults, yet it often goes undiagnosed. This study aimed to develop a shape-based algorithm (SBA) for the automatic identification of vertebral fractures.
Methods:
The study included 144 participants (50 individuals with a fracture and 94 without a fracture) whose plain thoracolumbar spine X-rays were taken. Clinical diagnosis of vertebral fracture (grade 0 to 3) was made by rheumatologists using Genant’s semiquantitative method. The SBA algorithm was developed to determine the ratio of vertebral body height loss. Based on the ratio, SBA classifies a vertebra into 4 classes: 0 = normal, 1 = mild fracture, 2 = moderate fracture, 3 = severe fracture). The concordance between clinical diagnosis and SBAbased classification was assessed at both person and vertebra levels.
Results:
At the person level, the SBA achieved a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 62% (95% CI, 51%–72%). At the vertebra level, the SBA achieved a sensitivity of 84% (95% CI, 72%–93%), and a specificity of 88% (95% CI, 85%–90%). On average, the SBA took 0.3 s to assess each X-ray.
Conclusions
The SBA developed here is a fast and efficient tool that can be used to systematically screen for asymptomatic vertebral fractures and reduce the workload of healthcare professionals.
3.Discordance between quantitative ultrasound and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in bone mineral density: The Vietnam Osteoporosis Study
Huy G. NGUYEN ; Khanh B. LIEU ; Thao P. HO-LE ; Lan T. HO-PHAM ; Tuan V. NGUYEN
Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia 2021;7(1):6-10
Objectives:
Calcaneal quantitative ultrasound measurement (QUS) has been considered an alternative to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) based bone mineral density (BMD) for assessing bone health. This study sought to examine the utility of QUS as an osteoporosis screening tool by evaluating the correlation between QUS and DXA.
Methods:
The study was a part of the Vietnam Osteoporosis Study that involved 1270 women and 773 men aged 18 years and older. BMD at the femoral neck, total hip and lumbar spine was measured using DXA. Osteoporosis was diagnosed based on the femoral neck T-score using World Health Organization criteria. Broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) at the calcaneus was measured by QUS. The concordance between BUA and BMD was analyzed by the linear regression model.
Results:
In all individuals, BUA modestly correlated with femoral neck BMD (r = 0.35; P < 0.0001) and lumbar spine BMD (r = 0.34; P < 0.0001) in both men and women. In individuals aged 50 years and older, approximately 16% (n = 92/575) of women and 3.2% (n = 10/314) of men were diagnosed to have osteoporosis. Only 0.9% (n = 5/575) women and 1.0% (n = 3/314) men were classified as “Low BUA”. The kappa coefficient of concordance between BMD and BUA classification was 0.09 (95% CI, 0.04 to 0.15) for women and 0.12 (95% CI, 0.03 to 0.22) for men.
Conclusions
In this population-based study, QUS BUA modestly correlated with DXA BMD, suggesting that BUA is not a reliable method for screening of osteoporosis.
4.Discordance between quantitative ultrasound and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in bone mineral density: The Vietnam Osteoporosis Study
Huy G. NGUYEN ; Khanh B. LIEU ; Thao P. HO-LE ; Lan T. HO-PHAM ; Tuan V. NGUYEN
Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia 2021;7(1):6-10
Objectives:
Calcaneal quantitative ultrasound measurement (QUS) has been considered an alternative to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) based bone mineral density (BMD) for assessing bone health. This study sought to examine the utility of QUS as an osteoporosis screening tool by evaluating the correlation between QUS and DXA.
Methods:
The study was a part of the Vietnam Osteoporosis Study that involved 1270 women and 773 men aged 18 years and older. BMD at the femoral neck, total hip and lumbar spine was measured using DXA. Osteoporosis was diagnosed based on the femoral neck T-score using World Health Organization criteria. Broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) at the calcaneus was measured by QUS. The concordance between BUA and BMD was analyzed by the linear regression model.
Results:
In all individuals, BUA modestly correlated with femoral neck BMD (r = 0.35; P < 0.0001) and lumbar spine BMD (r = 0.34; P < 0.0001) in both men and women. In individuals aged 50 years and older, approximately 16% (n = 92/575) of women and 3.2% (n = 10/314) of men were diagnosed to have osteoporosis. Only 0.9% (n = 5/575) women and 1.0% (n = 3/314) men were classified as “Low BUA”. The kappa coefficient of concordance between BMD and BUA classification was 0.09 (95% CI, 0.04 to 0.15) for women and 0.12 (95% CI, 0.03 to 0.22) for men.
Conclusions
In this population-based study, QUS BUA modestly correlated with DXA BMD, suggesting that BUA is not a reliable method for screening of osteoporosis.
5.Lean mass and peak bone mineral density
Huy G. NGUYEN ; Minh TD. PHAM ; Lan T. HO-PHAM ; Tuan V. NGUYEN
Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia 2020;6(4):212-216
Objectives:
The association between body composition parameters and peak bone mineral density is not well documented. The aim of this study is to assess the relative contributions of lean mass and fat mass on peak bone mineral density (BMD).
Methods:
The study involved 416 women and 334 men aged between 20 and 30 years who were participants in the population-based Vietnam Osteoporosis Study. Whole body composition parameters (eg, fat mass and lean mass) and BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The association between lean mass and fat mass and BMD was analyzed by the linear regression model using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO).
Results:
Peak BMD in men was higher than women, and the difference was more pronounced at the femoral neck (average difference: 0.123 g/㎠; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.105–0.141 g/㎠) than at the lumbar spine (average difference 0.019 g/㎠; 95% CI, 0.005–0.036 g/㎠). Results of LASSO regression indicated that lean mass was the only predictor of BMD for either men or women. Each kilogram increase in lean mass was associated with ∼0.01 g/㎠ increase in BMD. Lean mass alone explained 16% and 36% of variation in lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD, respectively.
Conclusions
Lean mass, not fat mass, is the main determinant of peak bone mineral density. This finding implies that good physical activity during adulthood can contribute to the maximization of peak bone mass during adulthood.
6.Lean mass and peak bone mineral density
Huy G. NGUYEN ; Minh TD. PHAM ; Lan T. HO-PHAM ; Tuan V. NGUYEN
Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia 2020;6(4):212-216
Objectives:
The association between body composition parameters and peak bone mineral density is not well documented. The aim of this study is to assess the relative contributions of lean mass and fat mass on peak bone mineral density (BMD).
Methods:
The study involved 416 women and 334 men aged between 20 and 30 years who were participants in the population-based Vietnam Osteoporosis Study. Whole body composition parameters (eg, fat mass and lean mass) and BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The association between lean mass and fat mass and BMD was analyzed by the linear regression model using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO).
Results:
Peak BMD in men was higher than women, and the difference was more pronounced at the femoral neck (average difference: 0.123 g/㎠; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.105–0.141 g/㎠) than at the lumbar spine (average difference 0.019 g/㎠; 95% CI, 0.005–0.036 g/㎠). Results of LASSO regression indicated that lean mass was the only predictor of BMD for either men or women. Each kilogram increase in lean mass was associated with ∼0.01 g/㎠ increase in BMD. Lean mass alone explained 16% and 36% of variation in lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD, respectively.
Conclusions
Lean mass, not fat mass, is the main determinant of peak bone mineral density. This finding implies that good physical activity during adulthood can contribute to the maximization of peak bone mass during adulthood.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail