An atypical radiographic appearance of a cardiac myxoma: case report and review of the literature.

Cardiac myxomas are the most common primary cardiac tumours in adults. They usually present as a solitary, solid mass in the left atrium. Their most common radiographic appearance is that of a hypodense lesion on computed tomography (CT) and inhomogeneous lesion (hypo to isointense on T1 sequences and hyperintense on T2 sequences) on magnetic resonance (MR) with some contrast enhancement. However, different patterns are recognized due to secondary changes within the tumour. We present a case of a 60-year-old man with a hypervascular myxoma. The lesion was a sessile mass located in the left atrium and rigidly attached to the interatrial septum. On CT and MR, it showed vivid contrast enhancement due to intratumoural flush of arterial blood form branches of dominant left circumflex artery and a possible fistula to the left atrium. Furthermore, we review the literature for different atypical radiographic appearances of myxomas.

Accuracy of Computed Tomography in the Assessment of Milan Criteria in Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Despite worldwide debate on optimal selection of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for liver transplantation, the Milan criteria remain the benchmark for comparisons. Moreover, morphologic tumor features are universally considered important in pretransplant patient evaluation. The aim of this study was to establish the diagnostic accuracy of multiphasic computed tomography (CT) in assessing HCC burden before liver transplantation with special reference to Milan criteria fulfillment. METHODS: This retrospective study was based on a data from 27 HCC patients after liver transplantation with available CT performed within 30 days pretransplant. CT results were compared with explant pathology with respect to Milan criteria fulfillment, tumor number, and diameter of the largest tumor. RESULTS: Out of 19 patients within the Milan criteria on CT, 3 fell beyond the criteria on explant pathology with a gross underestimation rate of 15.8%. Out of 8 patients beyond the Milan criteria on CT, 3 were within the criteria on explant pathology with a gross overestimation rate of 37.5%. Regarding tumor number, CT was accurate only in 14 patients (51.9%), while overestimation and underestimation occurred in 5 (18.5%) and 8 (29.6%) patients, respectively. Overestimation and underestimation of largest tumor size by at least 1 cm occurred in 4 (14.8%) and 7 (25.9%) patients, respectively. DISCUSSION: Multiphasic CT is associated with a remarkable risk of both under- and overestimation of HCC burden before transplantation. Transplant eligibility should not be solely based on CT results.

Role of 16-multidetector computerized tomography in evaluation of graft failure risk in patients with pancreatic graft thrombosis after simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Thrombosis of the pancreatic graft vessels is a common complication in patients after pancreas transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of 16-multidetector computerized tomography (16-MDCT) with volume rendering (VR) and maximum intensity projection (MIP) reconstruction as a predicting method of pancreatic graft loss after simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation. METHODS: Within 6-8 days after combined kidney-pancreas transplantation, MDCT was performed in 60 patients. Secondary reconstructions were obtained with the application of VR and MIP algorithms. Vessel anastomosis, extra- and intrapancreatic arteries, venous morphology, and enhancement of graft's parenchyma were evaluated. The stenosis grade of pancreatic graft vessels and the areas of graft parenchyma malperfusion were evaluated. RESULTS: Thrombosis of pancreatic graft vessels was recognized in 26 patients (43%), however only one-half of them required graftectomy. There were 17 cases of large vessel thrombosis and 9 cases of small intragraft vessel thrombosis. In 13 (86.6%) out of 15 recipients parenchymal malperfusion resulted in graft lost. It appeared that vessel narrowing >40% was a threshold for pancreatic graft loss with sensitivity and false positive values of 100% and 9%, respectively. For parenchyma nonenhancement >60% the sensitivity and false positive values of 100% and 0% were significantly associated with pancreatic graft loss (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Vascular occlusion of >40% and necrosis >60% of parenchymal volume correspond with pancreatic graft loss.

Computed tomographic angiography criteria in the diagnosis of brain death-comparison of sensitivity and interobserver reliability of different evaluation scales.

INTRODUCTION: The standardized diagnostic criteria for computed tomographic angiography (CTA) in diagnosis of brain death (BD) are not yet established. The aim of the study was to compare the sensitivity and interobserver agreement of the three previously used scales of CTA for the diagnosis of BD. METHODS: Eighty-two clinically brain-dead patients underwent CTA with a delay of 40 s after contrast injection. Catheter angiography was used as the reference standard. CTA results were assessed by two radiologists, and the diagnosis of BD was established according to 10-, 7-, and 4-point scales. RESULTS: Catheter angiography confirmed the diagnosis of BD in all cases. Opacification of certain cerebral vessels as indicator of BD was highly sensitive: cortical segments of the middle cerebral artery (96.3 %), the internal cerebral vein (98.8 %), and the great cerebral vein (98.8 %). Other vessels were less sensitive: the pericallosal artery (74.4 %), cortical segments of the posterior cerebral artery (79.3 %), and the basilar artery (82.9 %). The sensitivities of the 10-, 7-, and 4-point scales were 67.1, 74.4, and 96.3 %, respectively (p<0.001). Percentage interobserver agreement in diagnosis of BD reached 93 % for the 10-point scale, 89 % for the 7-point scale, and 95 % for the 4-point scale (p=0.37). CONCLUSIONS: In the application of CTA to the diagnosis of BD, reducing the assessment of vascular opacification scale from a 10- to a 4-point scale significantly increases the sensitivity and maintains high interobserver reliability.

Dynamic evaluation of stasis filling phenomenon with computed tomography in diagnosis of brain death.

INTRODUCTION: Stasis filling, defined as delayed, weak, and persistent opacification of proximal segments of the cerebral arteries, is frequently found in brain dead patients. This phenomenon causes a major problem in the development of reliable computed tomographic angiography (CTA) protocol in the diagnosis of brain death (BD). The aim of our study was to characterize stasis filling in the diagnosis of BD. To achieve this, we performed a dynamic evaluation of contrast enhancement of the cerebral and extracranial arteries in patients with BD and controls. METHODS: Study population included 30 BD patients, who showed stasis filling in computed tomographic perfusion (CTP) series. Thirty patients, after clipping of an intracranial aneurysm, constituted the control group. The study protocol consisted of CTA, CTP, and angiography. Time-density curves (TDCs) of cerebral and extracranial arteries were generated using 40-s series of CTP. RESULTS: Cerebral TDCs in BD patients represented flat curves in contrast to TDCs in controls, which formed steep and narrow Gaussian curves. We found longer time to peak enhancement in BD patients than in controls (32 vs. 21 s; p < 0.0001). In BD patients, peak enhancement in the cerebral arteries occurred with a median delay of 14.5 s to peak in extracranial arteries, while no delay was noted in controls (p < 0.0001). Cerebral arteries in BD patients showed lower peak enhancement than controls (34.5 vs. 81.5 HU; p < 0.0001). In all BD patients, CTP revealed zero values of cerebral blood flow and volume. Angiography showed stasis filling in 14 (46.7 %) and non-filling in 16 (53.3 %) cases. CONCLUSION: A confrontation of stasis filling with CTP results showed that stasis filling is not consistent with preserved cerebral perfusion, thus does not preclude diagnosis of BD.

Treatment of early hepatic artery thrombosis after liver transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Early hepatic artery thrombosis remains one of the major causes of graft failure and mortality in liver transplant recipients. It is the most frequent severe vascular complication after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) accounting for >50% of all arterial complications. Most patients need to be considered for urgent liver retransplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 911 OLTs in 862 from 1989 to 2011, we observed 23 cases (2.6%) of acute early hepatic artery thrombosis. Seventeen patients were qualified immediately for liver retransplantation, and 6 underwent endovascular therapies, including intra-arterial heparin infusion or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with stent placement. RESULTS: Among patients who were assigned to early liver retransplantation, 11/17 survived with 3 succumbling due to postoperative complications, including 1 portal vein thrombosis, and 3 succumbling on the waiting list. All patients who underwent endovascular therapy survived with an excellent result obtained in 1 who underwent treatment<24 hours after arterial thrombosis. In 2 patients we achieved a satisfactory result not requiring retransplantation, but 3 patients assigned to endovascular treatment>24 hours after arterial thrombosis needed to be reassigned to liver retransplantation because of poor results of endovascular treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment efforts should be made to rescue liver grafts through urgent revascularization depending on the patient's condition and the interventional expertise at the transplant center, reserving the option of retransplantation for graft failure or severe dysfunction.

Computed tomographic angiography and perfusion in the diagnosis of brain death.

INTRODUCTION: According to Polish brain death (BD) criteria, instrumental confirmatory tests should be used in certain clinical situations, particularly any case for which clinical examinations seem inadequate. Electrophysiological tests are often unavailable. Therefore, cerebral perfusion testing is the method of choice with four-vessel digital subtraction angiography (DSA), the gold standard. Unfortunately, DSA is an expensive and invasive examination that requires an experienced neuroradiologist and the availability of an angiography suite. Recently, multirow computed tomographic devices became available, even in smaller hospitals in Poland. Despite this fact, computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and computed tomographic perfusion (CTP) are not accepted in BD diagnosis protocols in Poland because of limited experience and a lack of widely accepted criteria. In this situation, we started a multicenter trial to determine the accuracy of CTA and CTP to confirm BD. METHODS: We examined 24 patients who fulfilled standard clinical BD criteria. We recognized the absence of brain perfusion in CTA examination following the criteria proposed by the French Society of Neuroradiology, namely, the absence of opacification of M4 middle cerebral artery segments (M4-MCA) and of deep cerebral veins. RESULTS: In all of our patients, CTA showed absence of opacification of M4 segments and of deep cerebral veins. In addition, three patients had CTA showing weak opacification of A2 segments of the anterior cerebral artery (A2-ACA) and M2 or M3-MCA. Opacification of the basilar artery or of the posterior cerebral arteries was not noted in any case. In all patients, CTP revealed zero values of regional cerebral blood volume and regional cerebral blood flow. Conventional angiography confirmed cerebral circulatory arrest in all 24 cases. CONCLUSION: CTA and CTP seem to be promising radiological examinations for the diagnosis of BD. They may be noninvasive alternatives to conventional cerebral angiography, and to the other instrumental confirmatory tests, that are unavailable or inadequate.

Usefulness of 16-row multidetector computed tomography with volume rendering and maximum intensity projection reconstruction as a monitor pancreatic graft vessel patency during the early postoperative period.

Thrombosis of the pancreatic graft vessels is the most common complication after transplantation. It leads to loss of 5% to 8% of grafts during the early postoperative period. The aims of this study were to evaluate the usefulness of 16-row multidetector computed tomography (16-MDCT) with volume rendering (VR) and maximum intensity projection (MIP) reconstruction to monitor pancreatic graft vessel patency during the early postoperative period and the efficacy of a heparin infusion as a treatment for graft thrombosis. Among 40 consecutive simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant recipients, 16-MDCT was performed at 6 to 8 days after the operation. Secondary reconstructions were obtained with VR and MIP algorithms to evaluate the morphology and patency of the extra- and intrapancreatic arteries and veins. In cases of thrombosis, every patient was treated with an infusion of unfractionated heparin. In 15 recipients, thrombosis of the large vessels was detected by 16-MDCT. Heparin infusions saved five pancreatic grafts (5/15; 33.3%), but the other 10 pancreatic grafts were removed. In another four recipients (4/40; 10%) the thrombi were localized only in small intrapancreatic vessels. Treatment with heparin infusion was successful in 3/4 (75%) cases with patent vessels upon control computed tomography examination. We compared the efficacy of heparin treatment depending on the diameter of the thrombosed vessel, observing a significant difference (5/15 vs 3/4; P < .01; chi-square). 16-MDCT with secondary reconstruction by application of VR and MIP algorithms was an efficient method to visualize not only large pancreatic graft arteries and veins but also intrapancreatic parenchymal vessels. In cases of thrombosis of small intrapancreatic vessels, unfractionated heparin infusion significantly decreased graft loss.

Renal artery aneurysms: presentation of five cases.

We are presenting clinical characteristics, management and follow-up of five consecutive patients with renal artery aneurysm. Renal artery aneurysms are relatively uncommon, they rarely give rise to clinical manifestations and they are usually found incidentally. However with the introduction of Doppler ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, the diagnosis of renal artery aneurysms became more frequent.

Two-stage transjugular intrahepatic porta-systemic shunt for patients with cirrhosis and a high risk of portal-systemic encephalopathy patients as a bridge to orthotopic liver transplantation: a preliminary report.

AIM: Placement of a transjugular intrahepatic porta-systemic shunt (TIPS) is a therapeutic option for the management of bleeding esophageal varices. However, the procedure is associated with an increased risk of portal-systemic encephalopathy (PSE). In this study, a two-stage modification of the standard TIPS technique was introduced for the management of variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients with a high risk of PSE before liver transplantation. METHODS: The modified procedure was applied to four patients with cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and ascites. Two had a history of encephalopathy after variceal bleeding; the other two were encephalopathic at the time of the first stage of the modified procedure. In the first stage, a 6-mm diameter intrahepatic shunt was created using a Palmaz-Schatz stent. One month later, in the second stage, the lumen of the shunt was expanded to a diameter of 10 mm. RESULTS: Both stages of this TIPS procedure were undertaken without any associated adverse events. In particular, neither stage was followed by a deterioration of neurologic status. From completion of the second stage to undertaking orthotopic liver transplantation (a period of 2 to 6 months), no rebleeding from esophageal varices occurred. CONCLUSIONS: A two-stage TIPS procedure to reduce portal hypertension enables a more gradual adaptation to post-TIPS hemodynamic and metabolic changes than occurs after creation of a conventional TIPS. A two-stage TIPS procedure may be the method of choice for treating bleeding from esophageal varices in patients who have a high risk of developing PSE and give them a chance for liver transplantation.

Imaging of pancreatic transplant vessels and anastomoses with 16-row multidetector computed tomography.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of 16-row multidetector computed tomography (16-MDCT) in the assessment of the potency of arterial and venous vessels in combined kidney-pancreas transplant and detection of transplant-related complications. Fifteen patients underwent a combined kidney-pancreatic transplantation. On the seventh day after the operation, we performed 16-MDCT in arterial and portal venous phase to evaluate vessels, anastomotic sites, and pancreatic parenchymal vascularization as well as peripancreatic fluid collections. We visualized the pancreatic vessels and anastomosis sites in all cases. In 12 recipients, there were no abnormal findings as regards the patency of the arterial and venous vessels and the vascularization of the pancreatic parenchyma. In two patients, complete arterial thrombosis of the body and tail pancreatic graft vessels was recognized at 2 weeks after transplantation, resulting in graft removal. Thrombi were localized in the distal part of anastomoses. None of the patients had venous thrombosis. One recipient had stenosis of the venous anastomosis. Peripancreatic fluid collections were observed in seven patients. In conclusion, 16-MDCT is an efficient method to estimate pancreatic transplant vessels, localize thrombi, and detect other transplant-related complications.

A solution to organ shortage: vascular reconstructions for pancreas transplantation.

Multiorgan harvesting (MOH) accounts for approximately 40% of all organ procurements in Poland. Simultaneous procurement of the pancreas and liver necessitates division of the vessels supplying both organs. Therefore, reconstruction of the pancreas vasculature is mandatory for proper function of the transplanted organ. The aim of this study was to present various methods of vascular reconstruction to prepare the pancreas for transplantation. Between January 1999 and April 2005, among 42 whole pancreas transplantations, 35 came from MOH necessitating arterial reconstruction. In 32 cases, the splenic artery (SA) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) were sewn into a single trunk using the common iliac arterial bifurcation. Occasionally, the iliac Y-graft was unsuitable for vascular reconstruction due to atherosclerosis or iatrogenic injury. Therefore, the SA was anastomosed to the side of the SMA in two cases. In one case we utilized the brachiocephalic trunk bifurcation. Portal vein elongation employed an external iliac vein procured from the donor in all 35 cases. Good perfusion was achieved in all transplanted pancreata. During the early follow-up period, two venous and one arterial thromboses were noted. No negative effects of pancreatic vessel reconstruction were observed in postoperative graft function. Reconstruction of the pancreas vasculature did not affect the long-term function of the allograft while significantly increasing the available donor organ pool.

Simultaneous endovascular exclusion of thoracic aortic aneurysm with open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of aneurysms at multiple sites within the aorta is problematic. METHODS: Between March 2002 and June 2003 in the Department of General, Vascular and Transplant Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw six patients with coexisting abdominal and descending thoracic aortic aneurysms underwent simultaneous open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair and endoluminal thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) repair. The indication for a combined procedure was a diagnosed descending TAA and AAA with no significant risk factors for open aortic surgery or technical contraindications for endovascular treatment of TAA. RESULTS: One patient died in the peri-operative period while the other five patients all recovered well after surgery and were discharged with both aneurysms excluded. CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment of TAA combined with a simultaneous open AAA repair is an efficient and relatively safe treatment modality in patients with TAA and AAA disqualified from endovascular repair. The fact that thoracotomy is not a necessity significantly lowers the complication rate in these patients.

Anatomical alteration of the vascular tree observed during living related liver transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: The number of available cadaveric donor organs has reached a plateau. One current solution has been to increase number of living related liver transplantations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Since October 1999 in the Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw, 40 living related liver transplantation have been carried out. RESULTS: In 31 (77.5%) cases, a normal arterial supply was observed: the common hepatic artery arose from a celiac trunk. In two cases (5.0%), there was a partial arterial blood supply by the right accessory hepatic artery originating from the superior mesenteric artery. In two cases (5.0%), a right hepatic artery arose completely from the superior mesenteric artery (replaced artery). In one case (2.5%), a common hepatic artery originated from the superior mesenteric artery. In two cases (5.0%), an accessory left segmental artery originated from the left gastric artery. In two cases (5.0%), the function of an absent left hepatic artery was assumed by a replaced left hepatic artery originating from the left gastric artery. In two (5.0%) cases, there were two separate ducts draining the right hemiliver. There were two (5.0%) cases of an accessory duct draining segment IV, originating within the confluence of the right and left hepatic ducts. In one (2.5%) case, the common hepatic duct showed a trifurcation. CONCLUSION: During harvesting from a living donor knowledge of anatomical variants must be used to optomize the liver graft.

The impact of experience of a transplantation center on the outcomes of orthotopic liver transplantation.

The so-called learning factor has been disregarded for many years in analyzing the causes of surgical complications and post-operative mortality; it is also the case for OLT. In our center until April 2003, 209 OLT were performed in 196 patients. We evaluated the impact of experience of the transplantation team on the outcomes of liver transplantation. Thirty-four patients died (mortality rate, 16%) and 1-year survival rate, 64%. Mortality rates varied during different periods of observation due to increasing experience of the transplantation team. The causes of mortality were assessed for a series of 34 patients: it was 75% at the beginning of transplantation procedures while recent deaths have not recently exceeded 10% of cases.

Vascular complications after liver transplantation.

Vascular complications following liver transplantation is reviewed based upon literature data and our own results. Our study conclusions are mostly based on literature data, because our center does not have the liver transplantation experience of other centers worldwide. Thus, we may conclude, that the number and character of complications does not differ from those reported by other centers. The enbloc technique used in liver harvesting minimizes the risk of arterial damage in case of vascular anomalies. Recipient retransplantation is the most effective treatment method in cases of hepatic arterial occlusion. Doppler ultrasound examinations are effective to monitor vascular blood flow in the transplanted liver.

[Histopathological investigation of the transjugular intrahepatic portocaval shunt (TIPS)]. / Badanie histopatologiczne wewnatrzwatrobowego zespolenia wrotno-systemowego (TIPS).

The aim of the study was to investigate the histological structure of the artificial channel connecting one of the portal vein branches with the hepatic vein, as an effect of the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). The livers of six patients were investigated. In 4 of them recurrent variceal bleedings were an indication for TIPS, in the remaining 2 patients--intractable ascites. In all cases portal hypertension was due to liver cirrhosis. All patients were estimated as Child-Pugh group C. The period from the stent implantation to the moment of investigation ranged from 1 to 7 months. 2 livers were removed at the time of liver transplantation, 4 were procured at the autopsy. All shunts were patent and in none of the 6 cases dislocation of the stent occurred. The wall of the intrahepatic shunts was lined by a granulation tissue (pseudointima) covered with a layer of endothelial cells. No thrombosis, mechanical damage of the stent or extensive hypertrophy of pseudointima were found.