Treatment of adenomyosis, abdominal wall endometriosis and uterine leiomyoma with interventional radiology: A review of current evidences.

Interventional radiology shows promises in the field of women's health, particularly in pelvic interventions. This review article discusses the latest advancements in interventional radiology techniques for pelvic conditions affecting women including adenomyosis, abdominal wall endometriosis and uterine leiomyoma. Extraperitoneal endometriosis involving the abdominal wall may be treated by percutaneous thermal ablation, such as cryoablation, whereas uterine leiomyoma and adenomyosis can be managed either using percutaneous thermal ablation or using uterine artery embolization. Continued research and development in interventional radiology will further enhance the minimally-invasive interventions available for women's health, improving outcomes and quality of life for this large patient population of women.

Upper Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis: Etiologies, Diagnosis, and Updates in Therapeutic Strategies.

Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) is responsible for 4 to 10% of all deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Untreated UEDVT can lead to significant disability secondary to the postthrombotic syndrome. To date, there are no randomized trials specifically comparing different therapeutic strategies. Ultimately, optimal management of UEDVT depends on the underlying etiology, patient symptoms, and degree of thrombosis, with supporting evidence primarily extrapolated from lower extremity DVT data. This article will review the classification, presentation, and diagnosis of both primary and secondary UEDVT. In addition, it will discuss updates in clinical guidelines, anticoagulation, endovascular and surgical treatment strategies.

Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations: What the Interventional Radiologist Should Know.

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are abnormal connections between the pulmonary artery and pulmonary vein bypassing the normal capillary bed causing a right-to-left shunt. The majority (80-90%) of PAVMs are associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). PAVMs may be asymptomatic or present with symptoms of hypoxia, shortness of breath, migraines, sequelae of paradoxical embolization, or rupture. Transcatheter embolization has become the standard of care. This article will review the clinical presentation, workup, genetics, imaging findings, embolization, complications, and follow-up for patients with PAVMs.

Bronchial Artery Embolization.

Massive hemoptysis is a highly morbid medical condition with up to 75% mortality with conservative treatment. Bronchial artery embolization has emerged as the common treatment for both acute massive hemoptysis and chronic hemoptysis. This article will review the clinical presentation, bronchial artery anatomy, embolization procedure, complications, and expected outcomes.

Port malposition in the azygos vein resulting in a veno-broncho and broncho-esophageal fistula: A case report.

We present a case of a port malposition into the azygos vein resulting in both a broncho-esophageal and veno-bronchial fistula. While complications of central venous catheter malposition into the azygos vein are well documented in literature, these unique complications have not yet been described. This case underscores how utilizing state of the art technology like intra-cavity electrocardiography rather that reliance on fluoroscopy can help eliminate catheter malposition and its potential catastrophic consequences.

Image-Guided Targeted Prostate Biopsies.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States. Screening for prostate cancer has increased through the usage of prostate specific antigen and biopsies. Traditionally, prostate biopsies are done using transrectal ultrasound with 10-12 cores obtained in a sextant pattern. Advances in prostate imaging with multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging has led to image guided targeted prostate biopsies. This can be done with cognitive fusion, MRI-fusion, and in-bore MRI. This article will review the indications, techniques, and outcomes for targeted image guided prostate biopsies using in-bore MRI and MRI fusion.

Transjugular Liver Biopsy.

Transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) was first performed in 1970 and has since become a standard procedure in interventional radiology practices. TJLB can be used when a percutaneous liver biopsy is contraindicated, such as patients with ascites, coagulopathy, congenital clotting disorders or for patients undergoing concurrent evaluation for portal hypertension. While TJLB specimens tend to be smaller with less complete portal triads numerous studies have shown the samples to be adequate for diagnosis and staging. This article will review what the interventional radiologist needs to know about TJLB including indications/work-up, technical details, tips and tricks, and complications.

Postpartum hemorrhage - what the interventional radiologist should know.

Postpartum hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality around the world and can be caused by multiple etiologies. Distinguishing between the various etiologies that lead to PPH and identifying high risk features are crucial to implementing effective clinical management. In this review, the diagnostic imaging features and management principles of some of the most important causes of postpartum hemorrhage are discussed, with an emphasis on the pearls and pitfalls when minimally invasive treatment via interventional radiologic techniques are employed.

Ultrasound Guided Thyroid Biopsy.

Thyroid nodules are extremely prevalent among older adults, and pose a challenge due to the frequency in which they are incidentally encountered. Approximately 5% of all nodules are malignant. Ultrasound is the first line tool to evaluate thyroid nodules, and can help identify nodules that are high-risk for malignancy. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is an excellent low-risk procedure used to evaluate suspicious thyroid nodules and identify thyroid malignancy. It is performed with a 22-27-gauge needle under ultrasound guidance. Core needle biopsy (CNB) is usually not required; however, it can be helpful if FNA is non-diagnostic or inconclusive. On-site pathologist evaluation can help determine which patients need additional sampling. CNB is usually performed with a trocar technique using an 18-gauge biopsy device under ultrasound guidance. Complications from thyroid biopsy are rare, and the most common complications are discomfort, small to moderate hematoma, and insufficient sampling. Although rare, a rapidly expanding large hematoma can cause airway compression requiring intubation and surgery to preserve the airway and achieve hemostasis. Following biopsy, approximately 10.8% of thyroid nodules will require surgical excision.

Image Guided Bone Marrow Biopsy.

Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration are common diagnostic procedures used for the diagnosis and monitoring of multiple conditions including hematologic malignancies, non-hematologic malignancies, infection, and metabolic processes. While these procedures can be done on the inpatient floor or in clinic, imaging guidance has been utilized to improve patient safety. This article will review the patient work-up and considerations, as well as technique for performing both computed tomography and fluoroscopic guided bone marrow biopsies.

Assessing the Status of Mentorship Programs in Interventional Radiology Residency Training: Results of a 2018 Survey.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence and structure of mentorship programs in interventional radiology (IR) residency programs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 12-question anonymous survey was distributed via email to all 78 program directors (PDs) of United States IR residency programs. The survey included information about the presence or absence of a formal mentorship program at their institution, how the program functions, potential barriers to implementation, and future plans for mentorship. RESULTS: Twenty-three of 78 integrated IR residency PDs completed the survey (response rate 29.5%). Thirteen of 23 reports that they currently have a formal mentorship program in place and 11 of 13 report no direct departmental support for mentorship. Of those that do not have a mentorship program in place, 5 of 10 report that implementation is underway. These programs report that the absence of a mentorship program is due to a lack of dedicated time and financial support. While 8 of 23 PDs were unaware of the Society of Interventional Radiology Mentor Match program, 6of 23 were registered as mentors through it. Nearly all PDs reported interest in receiving mentoring resources from SIR with the most popular choices being a dedicated mentorship educational course at the SIR annual meeting and regular mentorship articles and practical tips in publications such as IR quarterly. CONCLUSIONS: Despite involvement of many IR PDs in mentorship, numerous residency programs lack a formal mentorship program. Of those with a program, most don't receive direct departmental support and those without a program cite lack of time and financial support as barriers to effective implementation.

Pediatric interventional radiology workforce survey: 10-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric interventional radiology is a distinct subspecialty differing from both pediatric diagnostic radiology and adult interventional radiology. We conducted a workforce survey in 2005 to evaluate the state of pediatric interventional radiology at that time. Since then there have been many advancements to the subspecialty, including the founding of the Society for Pediatric Interventional Radiology (SPIR). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the current state of the pediatric interventional radiology workforce and compare findings with those of the initial 2005 workforce survey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We sent a two-part survey electronically to members of SPIR, the Society for Pediatric Radiology (SPR), the Society of Chairmen of Radiology in Children's Hospitals (SCORCH) and the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR). Part 1 focused on individual practitioners (n=177), while part 2 focused on group practices and was answered by a leader from each group (n=88). We examined descriptive statistics and, when possible, compared the results to the study from 2005. RESULTS: A total of 177 individuals replied (a 331% increase over the first study) and 88 pediatric interventional radiology (IR) service sites responded (a 131.6% increase). Pediatric IR has become a more clinically oriented specialty, with a statistically significant increase in services with admitting privileges, clinics and performance of daily rounds. Pediatric IR remains diverse in training and practice. Many challenges still exist, including anesthesia/hospital support, and the unknown impact of the new IR residency on pediatric IR training, although the workforce shortage has been somewhat alleviated, as demonstrated by the decreased mean call from 165 days/year to 67.2 days/year. CONCLUSION: Pediatric interventional radiology practitioners and services have grown significantly since 2005, although the profile of this small subspecialty has changed and some challenges remain.

Depletion of peripheral macrophages and brain microglia increases brain tumor titers of oncolytic viruses.

Clinical trials have proven oncolytic virotherapy to be safe but not effective. We have shown that oncolytic viruses (OV) injected into intracranial gliomas established in rodents are rapidly cleared, and this is associated with up-regulation of markers (CD68 and CD163) of cells of monocytic lineage (monocytes/microglia/macrophages). However, it is unclear whether these cells directly impede intratumoral persistence of OV through phagocytosis and whether they infiltrate the tumor from the blood or the brain parenchyma. To investigate this, we depleted phagocytes with clodronate liposomes (CL) in vivo through systemic delivery and ex vivo in brain slice models with gliomas. Interestingly, systemic CL depleted over 80% of peripheral CD163+ macrophages in animal spleen and peripheral blood, thereby decreasing intratumoral infiltration of these cells, but CD68+ cells were unchanged. Intratumoral viral titers increased 5-fold. In contrast, ex vivo CL depleted only CD68+ cells from brain slices, and intratumoral viral titers increased 10-fold. These data indicate that phagocytosis by both peripheral CD163+ and brain-resident CD68+ cells infiltrating tumor directly affects viral clearance from tumor. Thus, improved therapeutic efficacy may require modulation of these innate immune cells. In support of this new therapeutic paradigm, we observed intratumoral up-regulation of CD68+ and CD163+ cells following treatment with OV in a patient with glioblastoma.