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A concept map that helps me to understand all the questions and the impact of a separate non-tumor lesion domain:

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Decision Tree for Non-tumor Lesion Modeling: Target vs Non-Target for Study Intervention
Decision Tree for Non-tumor Lesion Modeling: Target vs Non-Target for Study Intervention


Question 1: just because something is considered as a lesion, does that mean that it should be mapped to the lesion domains?


Example 1: Mapping the entire cardiovascular abnormality identification process in CV.

Two aneurysms are identified in the thoracic and abdominal regions, one is considered as "target" for study treatment and the other "non-target" for study treatment. 

CVREFID provides the unique identifier for each identified aneurysm.

CVLNKID will link the CV records to other domain datasets, such as RS and CC for disease response to treatment and clinical classification data (data not shown).

CVGRPID is used to group data for target and non-target aneurysms.

Dataset2


ROW

Aneurysm TU, TR and RS modeling Concept Map

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Case 1 - Subject has both TAA and AAA

The subject had a chest CT scan and an abdominal CT scan.

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titlecv.xpt
NamePR

...

STUDYID

DOMAIN

USUBJID

...

CVSEQ

...

CVLNKID

...

CVGRPID

...

CVREFID

...

CVTESTCD

CVTEST

CVLOC

CVORRES

CVORRESUCVSTRESCCVSTRESNCVSTRESUCVRESLOCCVRLODTL

CVMETHOD

VISITNUM

VISIT

CVDTC

1ABCCVABC

...

-1231

...



TR

...

ABNIND

...

Abnormality Indicator

...

Thoracic Region

...

Y

...


Y

...

Y

...




CT SCAN

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1BASELINE

TU Approach 1: TU result location findings are modeled as variables.

An evaluator examines the images of the thoracic and abdominal regions produced by the CT scan and decides whether TAA and AAA are present as well as their locations. Note for viewing simplicity, some variables are omitted from the table below.

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Status
colourRed
titleIssue (CT/Domain)

Note the TUTEST here is: Aneurysm Location Identification, TUORRES = Located.

  •  should TUTEST be: Lesion Location Identification, and TULNKID = Aneurysm 1?

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titlecv.xpt
NameTU

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hi1styleblue
hi210,11,12,13
hi12,4,6,8
hi3TURESLOC
hi2styleyellow
hi3styleBOLD
tableidTU1

...

Row

...

STUDYID

...

DOMAIN

...

USUBJID

...

TUGRPID

...

TUTEST

...

TULOC

...

TUORRES

...

TUMETHOD

...

VISITNUM

...

VISIT

...

TUDTC

...

2020-04-27
2ABCCVABC-1232A1TargetTR- AneurysmABNEXAMExamination for AbnormalityThoracic RegionAneurysm
AneurysmAneurysm
Thoracic AortaAortic Arch to Descending aorta

CT SCAN

1BASELINE2020-04-27
3ABCCVABC-1233

ARABNINDAbnormality IndicatorAbdominal regionY
YY


CT SCAN

1BASELINE2020-04-27
4ABCCVABC-1234
Non-TargetAR-AneurysmABNEXAMExamination for AbnormalityAbdominal regionAneurysm
AneurysmAneurysm
Infrarenal aortaproximal to the iliac bifurcation

CT SCAN

1BASELINE2020-04-27
5ABCCVABC-1235A1TargetTR- AneurysmABNROIDAbnormality (Role) Identification
Target for study intervention
Target for study interventionTarget for study intervention


CT SCAN

1BASELINE2020-04-27
6ABCCVABC-1236
Non-TargetAR-AneurysmABNROIDAbnormality (Role) Identification
Non-target for study intervention, monitor progression
Non-target for study intervention, monitor progressionNon-target for study intervention, monitor progression


CT SCAN

1BASELINE2020-04-27

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7ABC

...

CVABC-123

...

7A1

...

Target

...

TR- AneurysmLENGTHLength
4cm44cm

...



CT SCAN

1BASELINE2020-04-27

...

8ABC

...

CVABC-123

...

8

...

A1

...

CT SCAN

...

TargetTR- AneurysmMAXLDIAMaximal Luminal Diameter
5cm55cm

CT SCAN

1BASELINE2020-04-27

...

9ABC

...

CVABC-123

...

9
Non-TargetAR-AneurysmLENGTHLength
2

...

Dissection Location Identification

...

cm22cm

CT SCAN

1BASELINE2020-04-27

...

10ABC

...

CVABC-123

...

10

...


Non-TargetAR-Aneurysm

...

...

CT SCAN

...

MAXLDIAMaximal Luminal Diameter
2.5cm2.52.5cm

CT SCAN

1BASELINE2020-04-27

...

Dissection Location Identification

...

CT SCAN

...

CT SCAN

...

CT SCAN

...

CT SCAN

...

CT SCAN

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TU Approach 2 - treating result location findings as individual tests

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titlecv.xpt
NameTU

...


The TU/TR/RS domains were created for tumors which in themselves don't belong in any body system domains (tumor can grow and spread to any place), hence they are in their own domains. At some point, non-tumor lesion was added to TU/TR. SDTM now has body-system domains, it then begs the question whether a separate non-tumor lesion domain is needed, when most "lesions" and things that could be considered as lesions, can go into their respective body-system domains. Can the body system domains offer the "unique lesion identifier" through the use of, GRPID, REFID, or other identifier variables?


Question 2: how do you map lesions that are non-target for study treatment?

TU/TR/RS were originally built to assess tumor response to "study" treatment. Both "target" and "non-target" tumors receive the same study treatment, are then tracked and evaluated.  "Target" and "non-target" tumor properties are mapped to TR and their responses to treatment are mapped to RS. Depending on the criteria used,  "Target" and "non-target" tumor responses to treatment are evaluated a little differently.  "Non-target" in the tumor context, does NOT mean, "not treated by study intervention".

In the CV data element projects, non-target is used to describe a lesion that will NOT be treated by a study intervention. Such a lesion may be untreated, managed by a non-study drug, or treated with a non-study device or procedure. This type of data has also been mapped into TU and TR, is this correct? If TU/TR are built to house lesion response to study treatment type of data, then I think the CV modeling is incorrect, and if so, how do we deal with it?


Example 2: Observed abnormality that's a lesion, but "non-target" for study intervention, it is not treated and continuously monitored.

A small aneurysm is revealed by the abdomen CT scan. This aneurysm is small and is considered as "non-target" for study intervention, it is untreated and continuously monitored. Not sure whether this can be mapped to TU/TR, hence mapped to CV.

Dataset wrap
titlecv.xpt
Namecv


Dataset2
hi3TURESLOC
hi2styleyellow
hi3styleBOLD


ROW

STUDYID

DOMAIN

USUBJID

CVSEQCVGRPIDCVLNKGRPCVLNKIDCVTESTCD

CVTEST

CVLOC

CVORRES

CVORRESUCVSTRESCCVSTRESNCVSTRESUCVRESLOCCVRLODTL

CVMETHOD

VISITNUM

VISIT

CVDTC


CVTUFLAG
1ABCCVABC-1231

ARABNINDAbnormality IndicatorAbdominal regionY
YY

...

hi1style#fffae5
hi24,10,14
hi13,9,13
hi2style#e3fcef
tableidtu1

...

Row

...

STUDYID

...

DOMAIN

...

USUBJID

...

TUGRPID

...

TUTEST

...

TUORRES

...

TULOC

...

TUMETHOD

...

VISITNUM

...

VISIT

...

TUDTC

...




CT SCAN

1BASELINE2020-04-27

2ABC

...

CVABC-1232

...

NON-TARGET
AR-Aneurysm

...

...

Thoracic Aorta

...

CT SCAN

...

Aortic Arch to Descending aorta

ABNEXAMExamination for AbnormalityAbdominal regionAneurysm
AneurysmAneurysm
Infrarenal aortaproximal to the iliac bifurcation

...

CT SCAN

1BASELINE2020-04-27

...



3ABC

...

CVABC-1233

...

NON-TARGET

...

Aortic Arch to Descending aorta


AR-AneurysmABNROIDAbnormality (Role) Identification
Non-target for study intervention, monitor progression
Non-target for study intervention, monitor progressionNon-target for study intervention, monitor progression

...




CT SCAN

1BASELINE2020-04-27

...



4ABC

...

CVABC-1234

...

NON-TARGET
AR-AneurysmLENGTHLength
2cm22cm

...



CT SCAN

1BASELINE2020-04-27

...



5ABC

...

CVABC-1235NON-TARGET
AR-AneurysmMAXLDIAMaximal Luminal Diameter
2.5

...

Dissection Location

...

Descending aorta

cm2.52.5cm

...



CT SCAN

1BASELINE2020-04-27



Nsvmeta

...

Domain

...

CV

...


Variable

...

Label

...

Type

...

Role

...

Origin

...

CT SCAN

...

Infrarenal aorta

...

CT SCAN

...

CVTUFLAGFlag for TU, TR or RS DatatextNon-Standard Record QualifierCRF




Example 3: Observed abnormality that's also a lesion and "target" for study intervention

The chest CT revealed a large aneurysm in the thoracic aorta which is "target" for study intervention. Note the use of the NSV TUFLAG to show that this abnormality is also considered as a target lesion for study intervention, tracking and/or disease response to treatment assessment. When the TUFLAG is marked with Y, measurements of the lesion should be represented in TU, TR and/or RS.

Dataset wrap
titlecv.xpt
Namecv


Dataset2
tableidCV 2


ROW

STUDYID

DOMAIN

USUBJID

CVSEQ

CVGRPIDCVLNKGRPCVLNKIDCVTESTCD

CVTEST

CVLOC

CVORRES

CVSTRESCCVSTRESNCVRESLOCCVRLODTL

CVMETHOD

VISITNUM

VISIT

CVDTC


CVTUFLAG
1ABCCVABC-1231

TRABNINDAbnormality IndicatorThoracic regionYYY

...

Proximal to the iliac bifurcation

...

CT SCAN

...

Proximal to the iliac bifurcation

...

CT SCAN

...

Dissection Location

...

Infrarenal aorta

...

CT SCAN

...

Dissection Location Detail

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Proximal to the iliac bifurcation

...



CT SCAN

1BASELINE2020-04-27

...



2ABC

...

CVABC-123

...

Dissection Location Detail

...

Proximal to the iliac bifurcation

2TARGETA1TR-AneurysmABNEXAMExamination for AbnormalityThoracic regionAneurysmAneurysmAneurysmThoracic AortaAortic Arch to Descending

...

aorta

CT SCAN

1BASELINE2020-04-27

Diameters of the identified aneurysms are measured and are mapped to TR. LNKID is used to link TU and TR.

...

Status
colourRed
titleIssue (Domain)

Note for Tumor Findings, it is recommended not to populate TRLOC because locations of tumors have been identified in TU. Should this rule be followed for non-tumor lesion?

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titlecv.xpt
NameTR

...

hi1styleaqua
hi1TRLOC
tableidTR1

...

Row

...

STUDYID

...

DOMAIN

...

USUBJID

...

TRLNKID

...

TRTEST

...

TRORRES

...

TRMETHOD

...

VISITNUM

...

VISIT

...

CVDTC

...

The dissected descending aorta (LNKID =Dissection 1) is classified based on the Stanford Aortic Dissection System as type B.

Note: This test was originally created as a CVTEST, based on SDTMIG 3.4, this is now considered as a grading scale and therefore should now be represented as CC/RS. Note the RSTEST still takes the original CV domain terminology naming convention, it does not comply with QRS rules.

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titlecv.xpt
NameRS

...

Row

...

STUDYID

...

DOMAIN

...

USUBJID

...

RSLNKID

...

RSTEST

...

RSORRES

...

VISITNUM

...

VISIT

...

CVDTC

...

Info
titleQuestions and Thoughts

The results for TU, TUORRES = target, non-target, or new target. This convention was designed for tumor assessment. Target and non-target have very specific definitions depending on the tumor under study. Generally for solid tumor, according to RECIST:

Measurable lesions - lesions that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension with longest diameter  20 mm using conventional techniques or 10 mm with spiral CT scan.

  • All measurable lesions up to a maximum of five lesions per organ and 10 lesions in total, representative of all involved organs should be identified as target lesions and recorded and measured at baseline.

Non-measurable lesions - all other lesions, including small lesions (longest diameter <20 mm with conventional techniques or <10 mm with spiral CT scan), i.e., bone lesions, leptomeningeal disease, ascites, pleural/pericardial effusion, inflammatory breast disease, lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis, cystic lesions, and also abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques.

  • All other lesions (or sites of disease) should be identified as non-target lesions and should also be recorded at baseline. Measurements of these lesions are not required, but the presence or absence of each should be noted throughout follow-up.

Since TU is also shared by Lesion Identification, to have a result as "target" is misleading and doesn't always apply to non-tumor settings. When you say there is a target aneurysm, what does that mean? Target for treatment and response evaluation? what is the criteria that makes it a target? Usually an aneurysm larger than 5cm requires surgery. Does that mean the ones that are smaller than 5 cm are considered "non-target"? and non-target for what? surgery not needed? The values for TU responses right now, doesn't make sense for non-tumor lesion identification process.

Case 2 - Subject has AAA but TAA is not found

The subject had a MRI that scanned his torso, from chest to abdomen. Should PRLOC be "torso", or "chest" and "abdomen"? The places where you point the probe to, are they locations of the procedure?

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titlecv.xpt
NamePR

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hi1styleaqua
hi1PRLOC
tableidPR1

...

Row

...

STUDYID

...

DOMAIN

...

USUBJID

...

PRTRT

...

VISIT

...

The MRI scan produced cross-sectional images of the thoracic and abdominal regions of the subject. The evaluator then examined the MRI images of the thoracic region and abdominal region, and found the presence of a large AAA, and an aneurysm in the left renal artery, but the absence of TAA.

Because when a large AAA is found, the chance of a TAA (or an aneurysm developed elsewhere) is high (the reverse holds true as well), in the presence of a diagnosed large AAA or TAA, it is recommended to also screen for the other. A TAA is synchronous if diagnosed within 2 years from the diagnosis of an AAA. All TAAs diagnosed at a later date were considered metachronous and must have had prior chest imaging that did not show the presence of TAA. 

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titlecv.xpt
NameTU

...



3ABCCVABC-1233TARGETA1TR-AneurysmABNROIDAbnormality (Role) Identification
Target for study interventionTarget for study interventionTarget for study intervention

CT SCAN

1BASELINE2020-04-27
Y
4ABCCVABC-1234

TRABNINDAbnormality IndicatorThoracic regionYYY

CT SCAN

1BASELINE2020-04-27

5ABCCVABC-1235TARGETA1TR-AneurysmABNEXAMExamination for AbnormalityThoracic regionAneurysm decreased in sizeAneurysm decreased in size

Aneurysm decreased in size

Thoracic AortaAortic Arch to Descending aorta

CT SCAN

3VISIT 22020-05-27



Nsvmeta
DomainCV


VariableLabelTypeRoleOrigin
CVTUFLAGFlag for TU, TR and/or RS DatatextNon-Standard Record QualifierCRF



Shows the TU representation of the target lesions:

Dataset wrap
titlecv.xpt
NameTU


Dataset2


Row

STUDYID

DOMAIN

USUBJID

TUSEQTULNKIDTUTESTCD

TUTEST

TULOC

TULOCDTL

TUORRES

TUSTRESC

TUMETHOD

VISITNUM

VISIT

TUDTC

1ABCTUABC-1231TR-Aneurysm
Lesion (Role) IdentificationThoracic AortaAortic Arch to Descending aortaTargetTarget

CT SCAN

1BASELINE2020-04-27



Show the diameter measurements of the target lesion in TR at two visits:

Dataset wrap
titlecv.xpt
NameTR


Dataset2


Row

STUDYID

DOMAIN

USUBJID

TRSEQTRLNKIDTRTESTCD

TRTEST

TRORRES

TRORRESU

TRSTRESC

TRSTRESN

TRSTRESU

VISITNUM

VISIT

TUDTC

1ABCTRABC-1231TR-AneurysmLENGTHLength4cm44cmcmBASELINE2020-04-27
2ABCTRABC-1232TR-AneurysmMAXLDIAMaximal Luminal Diameter5cm55cmcmBASELINE2020-04-27
3ABCTRABC-1233TR-AneurysmLENGTHLength2cm22cmcmVISIT 22020-05-27
4ABCTRABC-1234TR-AneurysmMAXLDIAMaximal Luminal Diameter3cm33cmcmVISIT 22020-05

...

hi1styleaqua
hi13,5
tableidTU3

...

Row

...

STUDYID

...

DOMAIN

...

USUBJID

...

TUGRPID

...

TUTEST

...

TUORRES

...

TULOC

...

TUMETHOD

...

VISITNUM

...

VISIT

...

TUDTC

...

ABC

...

Located

...

Located

...

The problem with the way TU is set up now, which is originally designed for tumor identification, and you only care about "already identified tumors", is that it only allows the creation of positive records. It doesn't allow the creation of a "pertinent negative" record. If I were to model case 2 in TU the way TU is designed now, I would lose the ability to represent the negative record for the Thoracic Region as shown above because an aneurysm is not identified in this region.  This is also in part, due to the fact that the location where an object is found, is mapped to PRLOC instead of TULOC, thusly not allowing the representation of imaging location in findings.

In the original DUKE data element, the responses provided for TAA and AAA, and all other types of aneurysms all have the responses: present, absent and unknown.

The example below models TAA and AAA according to the current TU domain structure. Note i am unable to map the negative identification record.

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titlecv.xpt
NameTU

...

Row

...

STUDYID

...

DOMAIN

...

USUBJID

...

TUTEST

...

TUORRES

...

TULOC

...

TUMETHOD

...

VISITNUM

...

VISIT

...

TUDTC

...

Target

...

-27




What goes into TULOC?

After all this, i struggle with what values should go into TULOC. When a CT scans the chest, it produces cross-sectional images of the chest/thorax and everything in it. You can view the images in three angles: a) axial view (you are looking at the picture of the thorax from the direction of head to toe), b) the coronal view (you are looking at the images of the thorax as if you are standing in front of the person),  c) sagittal view (you are looking at the picture of the thorax from the side). Hence TULOCs are populated with Thoracic Region and Abdominal Region for now. Especially in the axial view, as you move from cross-sectional images of the thorax to images of the abdomen, you are looking at sectioned images of the thoracic region to abdominal region, there is no mistake about which region you are looking at because the anatomy of both regions are so different and clearly sperpated. I think it is not wrong to populate TULOC with chest and abdomen as well, they are just not the most precise anatomical terms.

Image Modified

Info
titleQuestions and Thoughts

Imaging modality for the CV-imaging project:

Coronary angiography:

  1. Done on the chest area, the probe rotates around the chest of the subject, but there is no such a thing as "chest Coronary angiography", it is simply called Coronary angiography.
  2. Creates images of the entire coronary artery system.
  3. We don't record PRLOC = chest for this procedure

Thransthoracic Echocardiogram (TTE):

  1. Done on the chest and upper abdominal wall. The transducer is placed on various parts of the chest and upper belly to create ultrasonic views different views of the heart. Again, there is no such a thing as chest TTE.
  2. Creates images of the heart.
  3. We don't record PRLOC = Chest and upper abdomen for this procedure

Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE):

  1. Transducer is inserted into the Esophagus.
  2. Creates images of the heart.
  3. We don't record PRLOC = Esophagus

Cine Angiography:

  1. Done on the chest, again the probe is placed on top of the chest.
  2. Creates images of the entire coronary artery system.

In addition, i just recently took a family member to have a Thyroid Ultrasound:

  1. The ultrasound probe moved around her neck
  2. Creates images of the thyroid gland. In this case would you argue that PRLOC is thyroid or neck?

Referring to Richard M's email:

LOC in the interventions class is "Anatomical focus of an intervention - at which part of the body an intervention is being made". This also my understanding as well.

  • The "injection" intervention has an anatomical focus - the anatomical site of injection.
  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (also known as angioplasty with stent), has an anatomical location where the procedure occurs, intervenes and alters the abnormal structure of the location - i.e. in the RIGHT POSTERIOR DESCENDING ARTERY (PRLOC), the angioplasty breaks up the blockage and inserts a stent.
  • Brachytherapy places radioactive material inside a location of the body to kill cancer cells, e.g. prostate. The procedure occurs, intervenes and alters the abnormal structure of the location.

It is easy to pinpoint a location for invasive/treatment type interventions and this aligns with my understanding of how PRLOC should be used.

However, for "diagnostic imaging" procedures, where the imaging probe is placed (i.e. neck, chest, abdomen, head, etc.), Is this really the location where a intervention is "made"?