Effect of carotid artery stenting on ophthalmic artery flow patterns.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of carotid artery stenting on ophthalmic artery blood flow using transorbital color and spectral Doppler sonography and review the changes in relation to cerebral hemodynamics. METHODS: Twenty-eight consecutive patients with severe internal carotid artery stenosis (≥ 70%) who were scheduled for carotid stenting were included. Ophthalmic artery Doppler sonography was performed bilaterally before and after stenting. The flow direction, peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), pulsatility index (PI), and resistive index in the ophthalmic artery were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty male and 8 female patients with 10 right-sided and 18 left-sided stenoses were studied. The mean overall carotid stenosis ratio ± SD was 87.3% ± 9.9%. After stenting in the ophthalmic artery ipsilateral to the stenosis, significant increases in the PSV (-3.87 ± 48.81 to 46.70 ± 25.33 cm/s; P < .001), and EDV (-3.02 ± 16.31 to 11.24 ± 7.37 cm/s; P < .001) were detected, and the increase in the PI approached significance (1.40 ± 0.59 to 1.62 ± 0.52; P = .055). A change in the flow direction from retrograde to antegrade was noted in 11 patients (39%) after stenting, and in 1 patient with no detectable flow, reconstitution of flow was observed. Increases in the PSV and EDV (P= .03 for ΔEDV) were more pronounced in symptomatic patients than asymptomatic patients after stenting. CONCLUSIONS: Substantially decreased ophthalmic artery velocity and retrograde flow are suggestive of high-grade carotid artery stenosis (≳90%). Stenting improves ophthalmic artery perfusion and positively changes cerebral hemodynamics in high-grade carotid artery stenosis, especially in symptomatic patients, which can be monitored with ophthalmic artery Doppler sonography.

Intramesenteric steroid treatment for steroid- refractory gastrointestinal graft versus host disease.

UNLABELLED: Currently, steroid-refractory severe gastrointestinal (GI) graft versus host disease (GVHD) is among the most important complications of allogeneic transplantation, and as yet there is no standard approach to its treatment. Herein we report two cases with steroid-refractory GI GVHD that received intramesenteric steroid treatment. In both cases the frequency and volume of diarrhea resolved completely following intramesenteric methylprednisolone (MP) injection. In conclusion, intra-arterial steroid injection might be an alternative treatment approach for steroid-refractory GI GVHD. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None declared.

PATIENT AND STAFF DOSES FOR VARIOUS INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY AND CARDIOLOGY EXAMINATIONS IN TURKEY.

This study aims to determine the radiation doses of patients and staff during different interventional radiology and cardiology examinations. Dose measurements for interventional radiology examinations were performed in Ibn-i Sina Hospital of Ankara University using Siemens Artis-Zee medical imaging system. Patient dose measurement was carried out for interventional cardiology examinations in Cardiology Department of TOBB-ETU University, Medical Faculty Hospital using Philips Allura Centron interventional X-ray system. Patient doses were obtained in terms of kerma area product (KAP) and cumulative air kerma (CAK) from KAP meter attached to the angiography system. Performance tests of the angiography system were performed before patient dose measurements. Staff dose measurements were carried out with thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLD-100) placed in certain areas on the staff. Patient dose measurements were performed for 15 different interventional radiology examinations on a total of 431 patients and for four different cardiology examinations on a total of 299 patients. Monte Carlo based PCXMC 2.0 program was used to calculate patient effective doses. Lower extremity arteriography was the most common examination with a mean KAP value of 30 Gy cm2 and mean effective dose value of 1.2 mSv for total number of 194 patients. Mean KAP values calculated for coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention, electrophysiological procedures and radiofrequency cardiac ablation examinations were 62.8, 162.8, 16.7 and 70.6 Gy cm2, respectively. Radiologist, nurse and technician effective dose normalised to the unit KAP of patient dose were 0.15, 0.11 and 0.14 µSv Gy-1 cm-2. Similarly, cardiologist, nurse and technician effective dose normalised to the unit KAP of patient dose were 0.22, 0.15 and 0.09 µSv Gy-1 cm-2. Measured KAP and CAK values vary depending on the type and complexity of the examination. The measured staff doses during cardiac examinations were higher when compared with that measured for interventional radiology as expected.

Correlation between physical measurements and observer evaluations of image quality in digital chest radiography.

PURPOSE: The aim of this paper was to investigate the relationship between the physical and subjective (observer) image quality metrics in digital chest radiography. METHODS: Five digital radiography systems, four with indirect flat panel detector and one with storage phosphor-based computed radiography system, were used in the study. The physical image quality assessments were carried out using effective detective quantum efficiency (eDQE) metric and subjective performance of the digital radiography systems was evaluated in terms of inverse image quality figure (IQFinv ) derived from the contrast-detail (CD) diagrams using CDRAD 2.0 phantom and CDRAD phantom analyzer software. All measurements were performed for different tube voltages (70, 81, 90, 102, 110, and 125 kVp) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) phantom thicknesses. An anthropomorphic chest phantom and visual grading analysis (VGA) technique based on European image quality criteria for chest radiography were used for clinical image quality evaluation. RESULTS: The Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated for the investigation of the correlation between physical image quality and clinical image quality. The results showed strong positive correlation between the physical and clinical image quality findings. The minimum correlation coefficient was 0.91 (p < 0.011) for IQFinv vs VGA scores and 0.92 (p < 0.009) for IeDQE vs VGA scores. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm that clinical image quality can be predicted with both physical assessments and contrast-detail detectability studies.

Endovascular stent-graft treatment of a traumatic vertebral artery pseudoaneurysm and vertebrojugular fistula.

An endovascular intervention is a feasible alternative to the technically challenging conventional surgery for the treatment of traumatic vertebral arterial lesions. This report describes a rare case involving a 22-year-old patient with a traumatic vertebral arterial pseudoaneurysm and multiple arteriovenous fistulas which were successfully sealed using the endovascular stent-graft technique.

Effects of radiologists' skill and experience on patient doses in interventional examinations.

In this study, effects of radiologists' skill and experience on patient doses were investigated. Dose-area product and entrance surface doses of two groups of patients, one examined by a number of junior radiologists and another one by a senior radiologist, have been compared for the diagnostic interventional examinations of cerebral and lower limbs. Collimation of the X-ray beam and shortening the fluoroscopy times by the senior radiologist considerably reduced the patient doses for interventional cerebral examinations.

Embolization of benign and malignant bone and soft tissue tumors of the extremities.

PURPOSE: To reveal the effectiveness and reliability of preoperative, curative, and palliative embolization of benign and malignant bone and soft tissue tumors of the extremities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diagnostic angiography was performed on 35 patients (14 females, 40%; 21 males, 60%) between 6 and 70 years of age (mean, 32 years) who were referred to our digital subtraction angiography (DSA) unit between March 2000 and March 2004, and had extremity bone or soft tissue tumors. Among 17 patients who were initially assessed to be appropriate for angiographic embolization, DSA-assisted intra-arterial embolization was performed on 11 pre-operatively, and 6 curatively or palliatively. Effectiveness of the procedure was evaluated using imaging modalities, including angiography, X-ray, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging as well as with post-operative findings. RESULTS: Among the 11 patients that underwent pre-operative embolization, 10 showed a significant reduction in intra-operative and early post-operative bleeding. Additionally, manipulation and excision of the tumors during surgery were easier as a result. Partial or full remission occurred in 3 of 6 patients that underwent lesion embolization. Two other patients had surgical procedures after finding their lesions had increased in size. In one patient with stable lesion size, cranial metastasis was discovered later. CONCLUSION: Pre-operative, palliative, and curative selective/superselective intra-arterial embolization is an effective and potentially developing method for benign and malignant, hypervascularized bone and soft tissue tumors of the extremities, when it is performed by an experienced team with proper embolizing agents.

Dipyrone attenuates cerebral vasospasm after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage in rabbits.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the systemic administration of dipyrone in a triple subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) model of cerebral vasospasm in rabbits. METHODS: Experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage was induced in rabbits by injecting autologous arterial blood into the cisterna magna. Digital subtraction angiographies (DSA) were performed before and after the first experimental SAH, and at 30, 45, 60 minutes and 72 hours after the first drug administration to measure the diameter of basilar artery. Intracisternal blood injections were repeated 24 and 48 hours after the first injection. Dipyrone (N.=20) or 0.9% NaCl (N.=20) was administered intravenously after initial SAH induction and repeated at 8-hour intervals intramuscularly. After sacrificing by perfusion-fixation, basilar arteries were removed and sectioned for transmission electron microscopic (TEM) examination. RESULTS: The average basilar artery diameter measured by DSA was 724±19 µm in the control, and 686±29 µm in treatment group before SAH. After SAH, mean basilar artery diameters decreased to 71% and 68% of their basal values, respectively. Dipyrone significantly attenuated the basilar artery diameter at one and 72 hours after the first drug administration, in comparison to the control group. TEM studies showed more edema in the endothelial cells of the basilar arteries of the control group when compared to the treatment group. CONCLUSIONS: Dipyrone showed a beneficial effect in autologous blood-induced basilar artery vasospasm in rabbits. These data support the idea that dipyrone can be a potential candidate drug to be tested in patients suffering from cerebral vasospasm secondary to subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Direct contrast-enhanced 3D MR venography evaluation of upper extremity deep venous system.

PURPOSE: To investigate the diagnostic value of direct contrast-enhanced three dimensional magnetic resonance (3D MR) venography in mapping the deep venous system of the upper extremities and to plan potential interventional procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen cases with the diagnoses of end-stage renal disease with multiple hemodialysis catheter access were examined. Direct contrast-enhanced 3D MR venograms were obtained with 1.5 Tesla device with 3D-FSPGR pulse sequence and using body coil following the manual injection of gadolinium solution prepared by diluting 20 ml of contrast substance in 200 ml saline with a proportion of 1:10 through intravenous access opened symmetrically in antecubital fossa. In the workstation, evaluation was performed on three-dimensional images, two-dimensional multiplanar reformats and maximum-intensity projection method obtained from the source images. Intravenous DSA was performed on all the patients, and two radiologists evaluated MR venograms and conventional angiograms independently from each other. Results of MR venography and conventional angiography were then compared. RESULTS: In all cases, the MR venograms obtained were capable of supporting the diagnoses. Venous pathologies were found in 16 cases. In three cases central veins were evaluated to be patent. Results of MR venography and conventional angiography were consistent with each other (100% sensitivity and 100% specificity). CONCLUSION: Direct contrast-enhanced 3D MR venography is a well-tolerated sensitive technique in explaining the cause of the malfunctioning arterio-venous fistulas and in pre-surgical planning before placing new catheters or creating fistulas. It is possible to obtain high-quality images with this technique as an alternative to invasive angiography.

Tunneled catheters placed in bone marrow transplant patients: radiological and clinical follow-up results.

PURPOSE: To present the radiological and clinical follow-up results of 75 bone marrow transplant patients who underwent fluoroscopy-guided tunneled catheter placement between June 2001 and June 2004. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tunneled catheters were placed in 75 bone marrow transplant patients with fluoroscopic guidance. The left subclavian vein was used in 67 patients, whereas the right side was used in 9. RESULTS: The first attempt of catheter insertion was failed in 3 patients who then underwent contralateral catheter placement. No complications were noted during or immediately after the procedures. Late complications included 8 cases of infection, 2 cases of fibrin sheath formation, and 1 case of persistent hiccups, which began at the time of catheter insertion. Inadvertent catheter removal was noted in 4 cases. CONCLUSION: Fluoroscopy-guided central venous catheterization should be preferred over the anatomical landmark technique due to its higher technical success rate, shorter procedure time, and lower complication rate. When placing a central venous catheter, multiple factors should be considered, such as catheter type, number of lumens, duration and frequency of pertinent treatments, and patient needs. The procedural and early post-procedural complications were mostly related to the placement technique; however, the late complications could have been prevented by nurse care and patient education.

Ruptured aneurysm of the posterior spinal artery of the conus medullaris.

A case of a posterior spinal artery aneurysm of the conus medullaris is presented. The patient presented with severe lower back pain with radiation into the right leg. Spinal angiography was consistent with a partially thrombosed arteriovenous malformation (AVM) or an aneurysm. At operation a partially thrombosed aneurysm of the posterior spinal artery was found at the level of conus medullaris, which, after review of the literature, is the first case treated with total microsurgical excision.

Therapeutic Angiogenesis by Autologous Transplantation of Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells for Buerger's Patients with Retractable Limb Ischaemia: A Preliminary Report.

Bone marrow implantation into ischaemic limbs could enhance angiogenesis by supplying endothelialprogeniter cells and angiogenic cytokinesot factors. We investigated efficacy and safety of autologousimplantation of bonemarrow-mononuclearcells (BMMC)in patients with ischaemic limbs due to Buerger's disease. We commence daciinical study to test cell therapy with autologous BMMC in patients with ischaemic limbs at the University of Ankara School of Medicine. In order for the patients to qualify for BMMC implantation, they should have critical limb ischaemia define das ischaemic rest painin a limb with or without non healing ulcers, should not respond to previous iloprost infusions and smoking cessation six months prior to evaluation and should not be candidates for nonsurgicalor surgical revascularisation. Primaryend points were safety andfeasibility of the treatmentand total healing of the most importantlesion. Secondary endpoints were total relief of rest pain without the need for analgesies,change in peak walkingtime (PWT)at 12 weeks, improvements in ankle-brachial pressure index(ABI), transcutaneous oxygen saturation using pulse oximetry(SaO2),angiographic evidence of newcollatera lvesselformation, tissue perfusion in the affected extremity using Thallium perfusions cintigraphyW. hilepatients(meanage46.7: !: 10.3years)were undergeneraal naesthesiaw, eharvested bonemarrow(519: t 45.5mUfromtheposteridilriacspineA. fterredbloodcell(RBCd) epletiaannd volumereduction using a continuous flow cell separator,we achieved 91% RBC depletian and concentrated /~MMC to a final volume and concentration of 51.5: t io.1 mLand7.04: t 1.9 x ioe7/mL total nucleated cells, respectively W.eimplantedBMMC (mean12.16: t 4.3 x ioe8) within three hours after marrow aspiration by intramuscular injection into the gastrocnemiusmuscle of ischaemic legs. Isotonic saline were injected into the other extremityin as similar fashion as control. 13 Unilateral intramuscular administration of BMMC was not associated with any complications. The primary efficacy end point, total healing of the most importantlesion, was achieved in three patients. All patients were followed up for at least four weeks. The secondary measures; change in PWT(LlPWT)at 12 weeks, total relief of rest pain without the need of analgesics improved in three patjents. These improvements were sustained for 24 weeks in the first two patients. Digital subtraction angiographic studies before and 3 months after the BMMC implantation showed the presence of a new vascular collateral network across the affected arteries in three patients. Preliminary results of the presentedstudy are promising. Thus, bone marrow maybe a potential source of cells for Buerger'spatients with end-stage Iimbischaemia refractory to other medical treatment modalities.

Neurocognitive functions in children and adolescents with subclinical hypothyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: Hypothyroidism is a metabolic condition that can lead to cognitive and behavioral deficits in children and adolescents. However, there is less evidence about subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) as a risk factor for neuropsychological disorders in childhood. The aim of this study was to evaluate cognitive functions like active/passive attention, maintaining attention, and response inhibition in pediatric patients with SH. METHODS: Seventeen patients (between 7-17 years old) with SH were tested with the Stroop test, Verbal Fluency test and the sub-tests of the Wechsler intelligence scale for children-Revised (WISC-R). SH diagnosis was based on the mild increase of serum thyrotropin (TSH) level together with a normal serum free thyroxine level and an exaggerated TSH response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone. RESULTS: Out of seventeen cases, 10 (59%) were girls and 7 (41%) were boys. Six cases were obese and 5 were overweight. The children in the SH group, as compared to the control group, obtained significantly lower scores on both the Digit Span subtest of the WISC-R and the Stroop subtests, which are sensitive to attention. No significant differences were found between the SH group and the healthy controls in verbal fluency and encoding tests. CONCLUSION: In this study, pediatric patients with SH showed poor performance in tests measuring attention. Therefore, we want to stress the importance of close collaboration between pediatric endocrinology and child and adolescent psychiatry departments.

Stem cell therapy in spinal cord injury: in vivo and postmortem tracking of bone marrow mononuclear or mesenchymal stem cells.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to address the question of whether bone marrow-originated mononuclear cells (MNC) or mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) induce neural regeneration when implanted intraspinally. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study design included 4 groups of mice: Group 1, non-traumatized control group; Groups 2, 3 and 4 spinal cord traumatized mice with 1 g force Tator clips, which received intralesionally either no cellular implants (Group 2), luciferase (Luc) (+) MNC (Group 3) or MSC (Group 4) obtained from CMV-Luc or beta-actin Luc donor transgenic mice. Following the surgery until decapitation, periodical radioluminescence imaging (RLI) and Basso Mouse Scale (BMS) evaluations was performed to monitor neural activity. Postmortem immunohistochemical techniques were used to analyze the fate of donor type implanted cells. RESULTS: All mice of Groups 3 and 4 showed various degrees of improvement in the BMS scores, whereas there was no change in Groups 1 and 2. The functional improvement was significantly better in Group 4 compared to Group 3 (18 vs 8, p=0.002). The immunohistochemical staining demonstrated GFP(+)Luc(+) neuronal/glial cells that were also positive with one or more of these markers: nestin, myelin associated glycoprotein, microtubule associated protein or myelin oligodendrocyte specific protein, which is considered as indicator of donor type neuronal regeneration. Frequency of donor type neuronal cells; Luc + signals and median BMS scores were observed 48-64% and 68-72%; 44-80%; 8 and 18 within Groups III and IV respectively. DISCUSSION: MSCs were more effective than MNC in obtaining neuronal recovery. Substantial but incomplete functional improvement was associated with donor type in vivo imaging signals more frequently than the number of neuronal cells expressing donor markers in spinal cord sections in vitro. Our results are in favor of functional recovery arising from both donor MSC and MNCs, contributing to direct neuronal regeneration and additional indirect mechanisms.

Fast MRI evaluation of pulmonary progressive massive fibrosis with VIBE and HASTE sequences: comparison with CT.

PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) and half-Fourier-acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE) fast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences in the evaluation of pulmonary progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) in comparison with computed tomography (CT) imaging. If fast MRI is proven to be diagnostically significant, this modality can be used for diagnosis and follow-up studies of PMF patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two PMF lesions from 20 coal workers were evaluated. After CT imaging, patients underwent pre-contrast VIBE, contrast-enhanced VIBE, and HASTE MRI studies for detection and evaluation of the PMF lesions. Measurements of the three groups were evaluated with intra-class coefficients. Correlation levels between sizes, image quality, and artifact were evaluated with linear Pearson correlation analysis. RESULTS: There was almost perfect agreement among radiologists for lesion detection with kappa analysis. There was significant agreement between three MRI study groups and gold standard CT images. We found the best agreement values with contrast- enhanced VIBE images for lesion detection and image quality in comparison with CT imaging. Presence of artifact was also lowest with this protocol. CONCLUSION: With fast MRI sequences in pulmonary imaging, image quality has significantly improved being very close to that of CT studies. In this study, contrast-enhanced VIBE protocol provided the best depiction of PMF lesions. This protocol may be an alternative choice for CT, avoiding the use of iodinated contrast material and minimizing exposure to ionizing radiation for follow-up studies.

Performance analysis of 8-channel MDCT angiography in detection, localization, and sizing of intracranial aneurysms identified on DSA.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively analyze the performance of 8-channel multi-detector computed tomographic angiography (MDCTA) in detecting, localizing, and sizing intracranial aneurysms using conventional intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as the gold standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective search from November 2004 to August 2006 revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in 25 patients (13 females and 12 males, age range 21-73 years) who underwent both DSA and 8-channel MDCTA exams. Two independent reviewers compared both studies for the presence, location, and size of the aneurysm. RESULTS: A total of 35 aneurysms in 25 patients were identified on DSA, and 33 on MDCTA. MDCTA missed two 4-mm posterior communicating artery (PcoA) aneurysms. There was a mismatch in the location of two aneurysms. One aneurysm at PcoA on DSA was reported as a supraclinoid internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysm on MDCTA. The other on M2 bifurcation was reported as on M1. No size mismatch was noted. MDCTA had a 94% (33/35) aneurysm detection rate, 88% (31/35) aneurysm localization rate and 100% (33/33) sizing rate. CONCLUSION: MDCTA correlated perfectly with DSA in the detection of intracranial aneurysms of anterior communicating artery and middle cerebral artery; however, slightly lower performance was noted in the PcoA and ICA supraclinoid segment aneurysms.

Variations of patient doses in interventional examinations at different angiographic units.

PURPOSE: We analyzed doses for various angiographic procedures using different X-ray systems in order to assess dose variations. METHODS: Dose-area product (DAP), skin doses from thermoluminescent dosimeters and air kerma measurements of 308 patients (239 diagnostic and 69 interventional) were assessed for five different angiographic units. All fluoroscopic and radiographic exposure parameters were recorded online for single and multiprojection studies. Radiation outputs of each X-ray system were also measured for all the modes of exposure using standard protocols for such measurements. RESULTS: In general, the complexity of the angiographic procedure was found to be the most important reason for high radiation doses. Skill of the radiologist, management of the exposure parameters and calibration of the system are the other factors to be considered. Lateral cerebral interventional studies carry the highest risk for deterministic effects on the lens of the eye. Effective doses were calculated from DAP measurements and maximum fatal cancer risk factors were found for carotid studies. CONCLUSIONS: Interventional radiologists should measure patient doses for their examinations. If there is a lack of necessary instrumentation for this purpose, then published dose reports should be used in order to predict the dose levels from some of the exposure parameters. Patient dose information should include not only the measured quantity but also the measured radiation output of the X-ray unit and exposure parameters used during radiographic and fluoroscopic exposures.

Autologous bone-marrow mononuclear cell implantation for patients with Rutherford grade II-III thromboangiitis obliterans.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the efficacy and safety of autologous bone marrow-mononuclear cells (ABMMNC) implantation in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) due to thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease). METHODS: The study comprised 28 patients (25 men and 3 women) with a median age of 44 years (range, 25-54 years) who had thromboangiitis obliterans and unilateral critical limb ischemia, defined as ischemic rest pain in a limb with or without nonhealing ulcers. The patients received multiple injections of erythrocyte-depleted and volume-reduced ABMMNC into the gastrocnemius muscle, the intermetatarsal region, and the feet dorsum (n = 26) or forearm (n = 2) vs saline injections into the less ischemic contralateral limbs. The patients were nonresponders to previous Iloprost infusion and smoking cessation >or=6 months and were not candidates for nonsurgical or surgical revascularization. Primary end points were the total healing of the most important lesion while avoiding major or minor amputation, the relief of rest pain without the need for analgesics from baseline to 6 months' follow-up, and the safety and feasibility of the treatment. Secondary end points were the changes in ankle-brachial pressure index and peak walking time, the angiographic evidence of collateral vessel formation or remodeling, and the quality-of-life assessment. Two investigators blinded for treatment assignment performed image analyses. RESULTS: Unilateral intramuscular administration of ABMMNC was not associated with any complications. The mean follow-up time was 16.6 +/- 7.8 months (range, 7.6 to 33.8 months). Only one patient required toe amputation during follow-up. A change in the ankle-brachial pressure index >0.15 was achieved in 8 patients at 3 months and in 14 patients at 6 months compared with baseline values. At 6 months, patients demonstrated a significant improvement in rest pain scores (P < .0001), peak walking time (P < .0001), and quality of life (P < .0083). Total healing of the most important lesion was achieved in 15 patients (83%) with ischemic ulcers, and relief of rest pain without the need of narcotic analgesics improved in all patients. Digital subtraction angiography studies before and 6 months after the ABMMNC implantation showed vascular collateral networks had formed across the affected arteries in 22 patients (78.5%). CONCLUSIONS: ABMMNC implantation could be a safe alternative to achieve therapeutic angiogenesis in patients with thromboangiitis obliterans and critical limb ischemia refractory to other treatment modalities.

Gadodiamide as an alternative contrast agent in intravenous digital subtraction angiography and interventional procedures of the upper extremity veins.

PURPOSE: Patients with renal insufficiency or other contraindications to iodine-based contrast agents present a significant management dilemma when angiography or interventional procedures are required. We describe the use of gadolinium as an alternative contrast agent for intravenous digital subtraction angiography (IV-DSA) and interventional procedures of the upper extremity veins. METHODS: Sixteen patients with symptoms of with moderate renal insufficiency underwent digital subtraction angiography for upper extremity and subclavian venography. Angiographic studies were obtained using gadolinium as a contrast agent. In six patients we used stents. RESULTS: Diagnostic images were obtained in all cases. No patient suffered a complication related to the use of gadolinium, and no patient demonstrated worsened renal function after the procedure. CONCLUSION: In the setting of a contraindication to iodine-based contrast agents, gadolinium represents an important alternative contrast material that allows for the visualization of and interventional procedures in the upper extremity veins.

The role of contrast enhanced three-dimensional MR angiography in pulmonary sequestration.

Pulmonary sequestration is a relatively rare but clinically significant form of congenital broncho-pulmonary foregut malformation. It is characterized by a segment of non-functioning lung parenchyma that receives its blood supply from anomalous systemic arteries. This report shows the role of contrast enhanced three-dimensional MR angiography, which demonstrated abnormal feeding artery to the sequestered from the thoracic aorta with draining pulmonary veins.