Large pulmonary arteriovenous malformation lost to follow-up with 10 years of asymptomatic interval growth: A case report.

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, previously considered a rare condition, have been increasingly identified in asymptomatic patients over the past 2 decades. Usually congenital and associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, these fistulae result in right-to-left shunting of blood by abnormal communication of pulmonary arteries and veins lacking capillary beds. Clinical findings of right-to-left shunting in the presence of feeding and draining vessels identified on imaging confirm the diagnosis, for which the first-line therapy is embolization. This report highlights the presentation and management of a large asymptomatic PAVM detected incidentally in a patient who was lost to follow-up for 10 years and represented with acute hypoxic respiratory failure secondary to a viral infection with an interval increase of PAVM size.

Predicting pelvic congestion syndrome: Concomitant pelvic pain diagnoses do not affect venography or embolization outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: Pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) is a challenging diagnosis to make secondary to nonspecific presenting symptoms and imaging findings. This retrospective review aims to discern predictive factors which can guide the decision to perform catheter-based venography and prognosticate outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent catheter venography for PCS between January 2014 and December 2019 was performed. Multiple factors, including patient demographics, clinical history, pre-procedural imaging, venographic findings, and treatment outcomes 180 days post-procedure, were included in the analysis. Venographic findings were used to separate patients into two groups (positive or negative), with these factors compared across groups. Regression analysis controlled for the confounding effects of age and body mass index (BMI). Treated subjects were separated based on outcome (partial, no response, complete response, or technical failure), and comparisons were performed. RESULTS: Eighty patients were included in the initial analysis. Two patients were excluded due to prior embolization or portal hypertension. Seventy-eight patients were included in the final analysis. Sixty-two patients had positive findings, and 16 had no venographic findings to suggest PCS. A history of prior pregnancy was a significant predictor of positive venographic results (odds ratio = 5.99, P = 0.007). BMI was significantly lower in those with positive venographic results (P = 0.047). Presence of concomitant diagnoses did not affect venographic findings or treatment outcomes. No factors predicted treatment outcomes. Five of the treated patients had subsequent successful pregnancies. CONCLUSION: A lower BMI supports the decision to perform venography for suspected PCS. In addition, patients who carried concomitant potentially confounding diagnoses for chronic pelvic pain were found to have similar rates of venographic findings suggesting PCS, as well as similar treatment outcomes.

Evaluation of Splenic Artery Embolization Technique for Blunt Trauma.

INTRODUCTION: Evaluate outcomes and radiation exposure across different splenic artery embolization (SAE) techniques for splenic injuries secondary to blunt trauma. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients 18 years of age or older who underwent SAE for splenic injury after blunt trauma from January 2011 to June 2019. RESULTS: Sixty patients underwent angiography for splenic injury after blunt traumatic injury. Forty-four patients were embolized. Seventeen patients underwent proximal SAE, and 23 underwent distal SAE. Four patients had a combination of proximal and distal SAE. Eleven patients had subsequent major complications requiring splenectomy. There was no significant difference in major complication rate when comparing proximal SAE 29.4% versus distal SAE 21.7%. No significant difference was noted across the two groups with respect to age or grade of injury. There was a statistically significant difference (P = 0.004) in fluoroscopy time between the proximal 10.1 ± 4.2 min and distal group 17.8 ± 8.7 min. No statically significant difference was found in major complications when comparing coil versus gel foam embolization. CONCLUSION: Proximal SAE is associated with a significantly lower fluoroscopy time (P = 0.004). Complication rates are similar after proximal and distal SAE. No significant difference was found in major complication rates comparing coil versus gel foam embolization. Minor complications more commonly occurred after proximal embolization with gel-foam.

Sonographic Evaluation of Pelvic Venous Disorders.

ABSTRACT: Pelvic venous disorders are a group of interrelated conditions characterized by venous incompetence. These conditions often manifest with nonspecific symptoms that overlap with many gynecological, gastrointestinal, and urologic diseases. Clinical diagnosis can be difficult, and imaging can play a vital role in differentiating etiology. Sonographic evaluation is often the first step in evaluating these symptoms. Special attention to possible underlying pelvic venous disorders can reveal characteristic findings, support diagnosis, and guide treatment. Here we review pelvic congestion syndrome, nutcracker syndrome, May-Thurner syndrome, and other venous disorders, with a specific focus on sonographic findings and considerations.