Transcatheter embolization for stomal varices: A report of three patients.

Stomal varices are rare and ectopic varices defined as dilated portosystemic collateral veins located in sites other than the gastro-esophageal region. These sometimes cause recurrent bleedings and can be life-threatening. Optimal treatments have yet to be established. We report 3 cases of repetitive bleeding stomal varices in which resolution of bleeding was obtained over the medium term with minimally invasive approaches including balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration and variceal embolization by ultrasound-guided direct puncture. Rebleeding did not occur in any patients within 2-15 months of follow-up. Serious complications over Clavien-Dindo grade I were not found.

A case of venous aneurysm of a splenorenal shunt.

A 66-year-old man presented with liver cirrhosis due to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and hyperammonemia. Contrast-enhanced CT showed a dilated and tortuous splenorenal shunt and a large venous aneurysm in the shunt. The venous aneurysm showed gradual enlargement over 10 years and worsening hyperammonemia, so balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration was performed. Under balloon occlusion, 5% ethanolamine oleate was injected from a microcatheter into the venous aneurysm, which was subsequently embolized with microcoils. Contrast-enhanced CT after the procedure showed complete thrombosis of the venous aneurysm. 10 months later, the venous aneurysm reduced in size, and hyperammonemia had improved.

Utility of low-dose gelatin sponge particles and 5% ethanolamine oleate iopamidol mixture in retrograde transvenous obliteration (GERTO) for gastric varices.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the utility of low-dose gelatin sponge particles and 5% ethanolamine oleate iopamidol (EOI) mixture in retrograde transvenous obliteration (GERTO) for gastric varices (GV). METHODS: 57 consecutive patients who underwent balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO) for GV were divided into three groups with Hirota's grade by balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous venography. Hirota's Grade 1 patients were assigned to G1 group and underwent treatment with 5% EOI. Grade ≥ 2 patients prior to August 2015 were G ≥ 2 group treated with 5% EOI, and those treated thereafter were GERTO group. The amount of EOI used per unit GV volume (EOI/GV ratio), the times to embolization and recurrence rate of GV were evaluated. RESULTS: The EOI/GV ratio was 0.66 ± 0.19 in G1, 1.5 ± 0.8 in G ≥ 2, and 0.58 ± 0.23 in GERTO (G ≥ 2 vs GERTO, p < 0.0001). The times to embolization were 26.5 ± 10.5 min for G1, 39.2 ± 26.8 for G ≥ 2, and 21.4 ± 9.4 for GERTO (G ≥ 2 vs GERTO, p = 0.005). The recurrence rate was not significantly different in any of the groups. CONCLUSION: GERTO was performed in lower amount of sclerosants and in less time compared to conventional B-RTO in Hirota's grade ≥2. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Feasibility of low-dose gelatin sponge particles and 5% EOI mixture as sclerosants for GV.

Utility of Coil-Assisted Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration II (CARTO-II) for the Treatment of Gastric Varices.

PURPOSE: To investigate the technical feasibility, safety and clinical outcomes of coil-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration II (CARTO-II) for gastric varices (GV). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six consecutive patients who had undergone CARTO-II between June 2016 and April 2018 were included in the study. In the CARTO procedure, coil embolization of the drainage vein is performed "before" injection of the sclerosant to replace the use of balloon catheter. In the CARTO-II procedure, coil embolization of the drainage vein was performed "after" injection of the sclerosant to prevent migration of the sclerosant. CARTO-II was performed with ethanolamine oleate iopamidol, and the balloon catheter was immediately removed after coil placement. Technical and clinical success rates, number of coils used, presence or absence of severe complications, timing of the procedure, and rate of GV recurrence after the procedure were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: In all patients, GV sclerosis, coil placement and removal of the balloon catheter were successfully completed. The technical success rate was 100%. No patients experienced severe complications such as coil migration or pulmonary embolization. The mean number of metallic coils used per procedure was 3.36. Mean length of the procedure was 132.8 min. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography after CARTO-II confirmed complete variceal thrombosis in all cases. The recurrence rate of GV during follow-up was 2.8% (mean follow-up, 207 days). CONCLUSION: CARTO-II was feasible and safe and could be performed relatively quickly. The number of coils used and the rate of GV recurrence were both low. CARTO-II may have an important role to play in the management of GV.

Usefulness of Venous Pressure Measurement in Endovascular Treatment of Budd-Chiari Syndrome: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective Therapeutic predictors derived from the venous pressure before therapy have not been identified for Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). The aim of this study was to determine whether or not measuring the distal pressure or pressure gradient was useful for predicting treatment efficacy in BCS. Methods We retrospectively analyzed seven consecutive patients diagnosed with symptomatic BCS at our hospital between 2008 and 2017. Distal and proximal venous pressures at occlusion sites of BCS were measured before treatment in all cases. The pressure gradient was defined as the difference between distal and proximal venous pressures. A receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was performed for venous pressures. Results Percutaneous old balloon angioplasty (POBA) was performed in seven cases, with technical success achieved in all cases (100%). No complications were encountered. The median primary patency was 574 (interquartile range, 439.5-1,056.5) days. The 1-year primary patency rate was 71.73%. Six cases (85.7%) showed resolution of symptoms, representing clinical success. The ROC analysis revealed a high distal pressure (area under the ROC curve = 0.83, cut-off=12 mmHg) as a predictor of treatment efficacy of POBA for symptomatic BCS. In addition, the pressure gradient was considered significant from a clinical perspective, because the 6 successful cases with resolution of symptoms showed a large pressure gradient (range, 8-21 mmHg) before treatment, whereas the failed case showed a relatively small pressure gradient (7 mmHg). Conclusion High distal pressure and a large pressure gradient might predict the treatment efficacy of balloon angioplasty for symptomatic BCS.

Risk factors for local recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization with drug-eluting beads (DEB-TACE).

PURPOSE: To identify the risk factors for local recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with drug-eluting beads (DEB-TACE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, 35 patients (27 males, 8 females; median age 73 years) with 116 tumors (median size 14 mm) treated with DEB-TACE from May 2014 to September 2018 were evaluated. Age, sex, etiology, Child-Pugh class, alpha-fetoprotein, des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin, previous conventional TACE, tumor location, tumor size, tumor number, contact with the liver surface, level of embolization, corona enhancement on CT during hepatic arteriography, vascular lakes, additional embolization with gelatin sponge particles, and supplying vessels on digital subtraction angiography (DSA) after embolization were analyzed. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that advanced age, female, large tumor, contact with the liver surface, and residual supplying vessels were significant risk factors for local recurrence (p = 0.012, 0.0013, 0.0023, 0.025, and < 0.001, respectively). On multivariate logistic analysis, large tumor, contact with the liver surface, and residual supplying vessels on DSA were significant risk factors for local recurrence (p = 0.0026, 0.038, and < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Large tumor size, contact with the liver surface, and residual supplying vessels on DSA were significant risk factors associated with local recurrence after DEB-TACE for HCC.

Selective Balloon-occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration for Gastric Varices.

Objective Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO) for gastric varices (GV) is associated with drawbacks including a postoperative increase in portal pressure and the risk of subsequent worsening of esophageal varices (EV). Selective B-RTO that embolizes only the varices may have the potential to minimize such risks. The aim of this study is to retrospectively compare the postoperative course of patients after selective B-RTO (Group S) and conventional B-RTO (Group B). Methods One hundred four patients treated from January 2007 to April 2012 were classified into Groups S (n=5) and B (n=99). In the univariate analysis, the volume of 5% ethanolamine oleate iopamiodol (EOI) administered at baseline and the GV blood flow on endoscopic ultrasound after B-RTO were considered as covariates. The rates of GV recurrence and EV aggravation was also compared between Groups B and S. Results In Group S, the volume of 5% EOI was significantly lower (Group S vs. Group B: 14.6±5.5 vs. 28.5±16.4 mL; p=0.0012) and the rate of EV aggravation was lower in comparison to Group B (p=0.045). However, in Group S, the rate of complete eradication of GV blood flow was significantly lower (Group S vs. Group B: 0% vs. 89.9%; p<0.001) and the rate of re-treatment for GV was higher in comparison to Group B (Group S vs. Group B: 60% vs. 1.0%; p<0.001). Conclusion Selective B-RTO for GV could minimize the risk of a worsening of EV or reduce the amount of sclerosants; however, the rate of recurrence was high in comparison to conventional B-RTO.

Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumour thrombosis: evaluating effectiveness of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score compared with the Child-Pugh classification.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the effectiveness of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score compared with the Child-Pugh classification in patients who received three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D CRT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumour thrombosis (PVTT) by analyzing toxicity and prognostic factors. METHODS: 56 consecutive patients who had locally advanced HCC with PVTT treated by 3D CRT between September 2007 and April 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The median survival time of all patients was 6.4 months. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis identified MELD score = 7.5 [area under the curve (AUC) 0.81] and Child-Pugh score = 6.5 (AUC 0.86) as the best cut-off values for predicting the incidence of complications over Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade 2. There was no significant difference in the discrimination power between the MELD score and the Child-Pugh score on comparison of the two ROC curves (p = 0.17). On multivariate analysis, age, MELD score and radiotherapy dose were significant prognostic factors for overall survival (p = 0.021, 0.038 and 0.006, respectively). In contrast, the Child-Pugh classification, tumour response, PVTT response and the number of prior interventional radiologic treatments were not significant on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the best MELD score cut-off value is 7.5 and that the MELD score is a better prognostic factor than the Child-Pugh classification in 3D CRT for HCC with PVTT. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: The MELD score is useful for predicting the risk of severe toxicities and the prognosis of patients treated with 3D CRT for PVTT.

Effective palliative radiofrequency ablation for tumors causing pain, numbness and motor function disorders: case series.

BACKGROUND: We present a case series of a palliative radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the tumors that lead to the resolution of pain and motor function disorders. RFA is widely used on tumors in various organs and often reported in good outcome. There are some reports that RFA was performed as a palliative treatment but a few reports of RFA that performed for lung tumor as a palliative treatment. This case series includes two cases, palliative RFA for a sacrum and a lung tumor. The results of this case series presented that a palliative RFA is effective in improving the symptoms of patients. CASE PRESENTATION: Case 1. A 64-year-old Japanese woman with a chordoma at her sacrum presented with pain in her left leg and claudication. Though operations, radiation therapy and GS-TAE (gelatin sponge-transarterial embolization, via the L5 lumbar artery) were performed, the size of the tumor leading pain and claudication increased. RFA was performed for the sacral tumor, and these symptoms resolved one year after the procedure. Case 2. A 68-year-old Japanese man with a leiomyosarcoma at the apex of left lung presented with pain and motor function disorders of the left upper limb. Dissemination in the pleura was appeared after the operation for a leiomyosarcoma at the mediastinum. Though radiation therapy and a second operation were performed, the tumor at the apex of the left lung increased and pain and numbness of the left upper limb were appeared after the second operation. RFA was performed for the left lung tumor, and the symptoms resolved 3 months after RFA. CONCLUSION: RFA is effective as a palliative treatment and has a potential to salvage the patients from the symptoms of the tumors when conventional palliative treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are difficult or contraindicated.

Detection of hepatocellular carcinoma: comparison of angiographic C-arm CT and MDCT.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy, sensitivity, and positive predictive value of C-arm CT with those of MDCT in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the cases of 50 patients with nodules of hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent biphasic MDCT and selective C-arm CT with flat-detector angiographic systems. We evaluated arterial phase C-arm CT images and the corresponding biphasic MDCT images of 59 hepatic areas in 50 patients. Three independent blinded observers rated both sets of images using a detection confidence scale. The diagnostic accuracy of the two techniques was compared on the basis of area under alternative free-response receiver operating characteristic curve (A(1)). Focal accumulation of iodized oil was the reference standard. RESULTS: Accuracy was significantly higher for C-arm CT (A(1) = 0.830) than for MDCT (A(1)= 0.618) for lesions smaller than 10 mm in diameter (p < 0.001), but the accuracy of the two techniques did not differ significantly for lesions measuring 10 mm or larger. C-arm CT was significantly more sensitive than MDCT in the detection of lesions 20 mm or smaller (74.1% vs 34.0% for lesions < 10 mm [p < 0.001]; 94.7% vs 77.1% for lesions 10-20 mm [p < 0.001]). The positive predictive values of the two techniques did not differ significantly irrespective of lesion size. CONCLUSION: Compared with biphasic MDCT, C-arm CT depicted hepatocellular carcinoma lesions smaller than 10 mm with more accuracy and those 20 mm and smaller with more sensitivity. The two techniques were equally accurate in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma lesions 10 mm in diameter and larger.

Identifying feeding arteries during TACE of hepatic tumors: comparison of C-arm CT and digital subtraction angiography.

OBJECTIVE: This study compares the diagnostic accuracy of C-arm CT with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in identifying tumor-feeding arteries during superselective transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three consecutive patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) underwent superselective TACE using a flat-detector angiographic system. Angiographic operators determined which feeding arteries were potentially supplying the target tumor. When two or more feeding arteries were possible, all were included. Superselective DSA and C-arm CT were sequentially performed for each studied artery. Four independent observers separately viewed the DSA and C-arm CT images and used a 5-point grading scale to determine whether a studied artery supplied the target tumor. Diagnostic performance was compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were calculated for arteries rated as definite or probable tumor feeders. Iodized oil accumulation on follow-up CT was the reference standard. RESULTS: We examined 58 possible feeding arteries in 33 patients. Among the studied arteries, follow-up CT confirmed that 33 were verified tumor-feeding arteries, and the remaining 25 were not. C-arm CT resulted in a significantly larger area under the ROC curve (A(z) = 0.995) compared with DSA (A(z) = 0.841). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of C-arm CT (96.9%, 97.0%, and 96.9%, respectively) were significantly higher than those for DSA (77.2%, 73.0%, and 75.4%). CONCLUSION: C-arm CT is superior to DSA for identifying tumor-feeding arteries during superselective TACE for HCC.

Systemic artery to pulmonary artery fistula associated with mitral regurgitation: successful treatment with endovascular embolization.

We present the case of a 60-year-old woman with symptomatic mitral regurgitation caused by a left-to-right shunt via anastomoses consisting of microfistulae, most likely of inflammatory origin, between the right subclavian artery and the right pulmonary artery. The three arteries responsible for fistulous formation, including the internal mammary, thyrocervical, and lateral thoracic arteries, were successfully occluded by transcatheter embolization using superabsorbent polymer microsphere (SAP-MS) particles combined with metallic coils. No complications have been identified following treatment with SAP-MS particles. This approach significantly reduced the patient's mitral regurgitation and she has remained asymptomatic for more than 4 years.

An animal model for type II endoleaks with use of a tsuzumi drum-shaped stent-graft.

PURPOSE: To create an animal model of type II endoleaks after endoluminal deployment of a specially designed stent-graft (SG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five swine were used. A tsuzumi drum-shaped SG consisting of a covered Z stent with its diameter narrowed at the center was deployed in the midthoracic aorta. In this way, a residual space (RS) was created between the aortic wall and the graft to simulate an aneurysm sac. A 5-F catheter was placed into the RS, and then aortography, RS angiography, and pressure measurements were performed. Follow-up was performed at 3 and 10 days after the procedure. Mean pressure indexes (MPIs) were calculated as the ratio of the mean RS pressure to the aortic pressure. Histologic examination was also performed. RESULTS: RSs with two or three pairs of intercostal arteries were successfully created in all cases. Aortography showed two type II endoleaks in five swine just after SG deployment and four type II endoleaks at 10 days. RS angiography showed circulation between the RS and the intercostal arteries in all cases. The mean MPI was 69.4% +/- 10.4% just after SG deployment and increased to 87.8% +/- 5.2% at 10 days. By gross examination, RS patency was retained. CONCLUSIONS: A swine model of type II endoleaks was successfully created endoluminally. This model does not require direct surgery to the aorta and its side branches and promises to be useful to study the mechanism of and therapy for type II endoleaks.

Pseudoaneurysm of the dorsal pancreatic artery with obstruction of the celiac axis after pancreatoduodenectomy: report of a case.

Pancreatoduodenectomy can be difficult in patients with obstruction of the celiac axis because of the development of collateral arteries around the head of the pancreas. Bleeding from a pseudoaneurysm is a rare and serious complication of pancreatoduodenectomy. We report a case of a pseudoaneurysm of an enlarged dorsal pancreatic artery, which formed as a result of obstruction of the celiac axis after pancreatoduodenectomy. We assumed that a weakness in the wall of this dorsal pancreatic artery caused by the dissection led to the formation of the aneurysm. Although transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) could not treat the aneurysm or stop bleeding from the aneurysm completely, it achieved transient hemostasis, whereby the patient's condition improved, making laparotomy safe. This case demonstrates that the dissection of arteries that have developed around the head of the pancreas must be considered in patients with obstruction of the celiac axis.

The influence of radiofrequency ablation on hepatic vessels in porcine liver.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The objective of this study was to clarify the influence of radiofrequency ablation on the portal and hepatic vein. METHODOLOGY: Hepatic radiofrequency ablation was performed on 18 swine (mean weight, 22 kg). The livers were removed immediately, 1 week or 3 weeks following ablation. Vessel patency and diameter were determined by computed tomography, and the severity of endothelial injuries was determined histopathologically. RESULTS: The patency rate for portal and hepatic veins with diameters less than 3.0 mm decreased sequentially. At three weeks following ablation, the patency rate for vessels with diameters more than 3.0 mm was significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to those with diameters less than 2.0 mm. In portal and hepatic veins contiguous to ablated hepatic parenchyma, the endothelium with intimal thickening was found at 1 to 3 weeks following ablation, although its detection rate was decreased until 3 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The portal and hepatic vein with diameters more than 3.0 mm in radiofrequency lesions maintained high patency. The endothelium seems to play an important role for maintaining vessels patency and the distal hepatic tissue following ablation. We believe that this maintained vascular patency may be the advantage of radiofrequency ablation over the PEIT.

Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration of gastric varices with gastrorenal shunt: long-term follow-up in 78 patients.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to evaluate the long-term clinical results after balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO) for gastric varices with spontaneous gastrorenal shunt. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 78 patients with cirrhosis and with gastric varices, successfully treated by B-RTO, were enrolled in this study. Recurrence and bleeding of gastric varices and worsening of esophageal varices were endoscopically evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the prognostic factors for worsening of esophageal varices and survival. RESULTS: Recurrence of gastric varices was found in two patients; the 5-year recurrence rate was 2.7%. Bleeding of gastric varices occurred in only one patient after B-RTO; the 5-year bleeding rate was 1.5%. Worsening of esophageal varices was observed in 29 patients, and the worsening rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 27%, 58%, and 66%, respectively. These esophageal varices were endoscopically treated to prevent rupture. Multivariate analysis showed the presence of esophageal varices before B-RTO was a prognostic factor for worsening (relative risk, 4.956). At a median follow-up of 700 days (range, 137-2,339 days), the survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 93%, 76%, and 54%, respectively. The prognostic factors associated with survival were presence of hepatocellular carcinoma (relative risk, 24.342) and the Child-Pugh classification (relative risk, 5.780). CONCLUSION: B-RTO is an effective method for gastric varices with gastrorenal shunt and provides lower recurrence and bleeding rates. We believe that B-RTO can become a standard treatment for gastric varices with gastrorenal shunt, although treatment of worsened esophageal varices may be necessary after B-RTO.