Track Sealing in CT-Guided Lung Biopsy Using Gelatin Sponge Slurry versus Saline in Reducing Postbiopsy Pneumothorax: A Prospective Randomized Study.

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of 2 track sealing techniques following computed tomography (CT)-guided lung biopsy using either gelatin sponge slurry (GSS) or saline to reduce the rate of postbiopsy pneumothorax. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, a total of 266 patients (median age, 66.2 years; range, 25.5-89.2 years; 150 men) were included between July 2019 and January 2023. The patients referred for a CT-guided lung biopsy, in whom the needle would pass through aerated lung, were randomly assigned to either the GSS sealing technique group (n = 132) or the saline track sealing technique (n = 134) in a 1:1 ratio. All biopsies were performed using a 19-gauge coaxial needle in a tertiary hospital by 1 of 4 interventional radiologists with varying levels of experience (F.C., L.G., P.L., C.V.). The outcomes were pneumothorax occurrence, pneumothorax-related intervention (simple aspiration and/or drainage), and biopsy-related hospital stay length. RESULTS: Pneumothorax rates were 12.1% in the GSS group and 24.6% in the saline group (P = .008). Hospital length of stay was significantly shorter in the GSS group (P = .003). The need for pneumothorax-related intervention did not reach statistical significance between the groups (6.8% vs 12.7%; P = .107). In the multiple logistic regression analysis, track sealing with GSS was a protective factor for pneumothorax (odds ratio [OR], 0.44; 95% CI, 0.22-0.87; P = .019), and emphysema was associated with higher risk of pneumothorax (OR, 2.67; 95% CI, 1.31-5.44; P = .007). CONCLUSIONS: Track sealing with GSS following a CT-guided lung biopsy is significantly more effective than saline in reducing postbiopsy pneumothorax and results in shorter hospital stay.

Matrix gla protein, a potential marker of tissue remodelling and physiological ageing of the gut in crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: The inactive dephosphorylated and uncarboxylated form of the matrix Gla protein (dp-ucMGP) has been shown to be increased in plasma of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Our aim was to assess if the plasmatic level of dp-ucMGP could reflect disease endoscopic activity, presence of strictures and cumulative structural bowel damage in Crohn's disease (CD) patients. METHODS: The plasmatic level of dp-ucMGP was measured in a monocentric cohort of prospectively recruited patients. The analysis was done by chemiluminescent immunoassay on blood samples collected the day of a planned ileocolonoscopy. In addition to classical clinical data (gender, age, body mass index (BMI), disease duration, current treatment), endoscopic data (disease location, Crohn's Disease Endoscopic Index of Severity (CDEIS), mucosal healing (MH), presence of 9 CD lesion types) and biological markers (faecal calprotectin and C-reactive protein (CRP)) were collected. The association between dp-ucMGP level and Lémann index was also investigated. Univariate linear regression was used to investigate the relationship between dp-ucMGP level and different parameters collected. RESULTS: A total of 82 ileocolonoscopies and dp-ucMGP assays were performed in 75 CD patients (45 females; 37 ileocolonic, 19 ileal and 19 colonic diseases) between October 2012 and November 2019. A total of 24 patients (29.3%) showed MH. The dp-ucMGP levels were not associated with MH, CDEIS, faecal calprotectin or CRP levels. Plasmatic dp-ucMGP levels increased significantly with age (p = 0.0032), disease duration (p = 0.0033), corticosteroids use (p = 0.019) and tended to increase in patients with intestinal strictures (p = 0.086) but not with the Lémann index. CONCLUSION: The significant increase of plasmatic dp-ucMGP levels with age, disease duration and the trend observed in patients with non-ulcerated strictures may suggest that this extracellular matrix protein could be a marker of tissue remodelling and physiological ageing of the gut.

[Thrombosis of portal cavernoma]. / Thrombose du cavernome porte.

Portal cavernoma thrombosis is a complication of portal cavernoma. We describe the case of a 74-year-old patient who presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain. The computed tomography scan showed a mass from the head of the pancreas to the hepatic hilum not enhanced after injection of iodinated contrast. There was no dilatation of the bile ducts. Abdominal magnetic resonance ruled out a tumour and confirmed a portal cavernoma thrombosis. In 50 % of cases the etiology of the portal cavernoma is unknown. It is often asymptomatic. It may be discovered in case of complications of portal hypertension. In rare cases the portal cavernoma can compress the bile ducts. To our knowledge, portal cavernoma thrombosis has only been described in one article. It is important to search for a thrombophilic disorder when such a complication is found. We share this case report in order to raise awareness in the medical community about this rare complication.

La thrombose de cavernome portal est une complication du cavernome porte. Nous décrivons le cas d'un patient de 74 ans qui s'est présenté aux urgences pour des douleurs abdominales. La tomodensitométrie montrait un syndrome de masse de la tête du pancréas jusqu'au hile hépatique non rehaussé après injection de produit de contraste iodé. Il n'y avait pas de dilatation des voies biliaires. Une imagerie par résonance magnétique abdominale a permis d'infirmer l'hypothèse d'une masse tumorale et d'affirmer une thrombose du cavernome porte. Dans 50 % des cas, l'étiologie du cavernome portal est inconnue. Il est souvent asymptomatique. Il peut être découvert en cas de complications à la suite d'une hypertension portale. Dans de rares cas, le cavernome portal peut comprimer les voies biliaires. À notre connaissance, la thrombose de cavernome portal n'a été décrite que dans un seul article. Il est important de rechercher un désordre thrombophilique quand une telle complication est retrouvée. Nous partageons ce cas clinique afin de sensibiliser la communauté médicale à cette rare complication.

Rare Case of Multifocal Alveolar Echinococcosis.

Teaching Point: Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis can mimic a slow-growing tumor, and multi-organ involvement is rare; imaging has a crucial role in diagnosing this zoonosis that is endemic in the southern part of Belgium.

Acute Pancreatitis with Pancreas Bifidum Mimicking Duodenitis on Computed Tomography.

Teaching Point: The bifid pancreas is an extremely rare congenital branching anomaly, knowledge of which is necessary in order to make the correct diagnosis in the event of associated pancreatitis.

Clinical and MRI Evolution After Local Injection of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Perianal Fistulae in Crohn's Disease: Results From a Prospective Monocentric Study.

BACKGROUND: Local injection of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells [MSCs] is effective in fistulizing perianal Crohn's disease [CD]. Less is known about bone marrow-derived MSCs and little is known about predictive factors of response and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] evolution of the fistulae after MSC injection. Our aims were to evaluate the safety and clinical outcome of bone marrow-derived MSC injection for perianal fistulizing CD, to evaluate the MRI evolution of the fistulae and to identify factors associated with fistula closure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All CD patients with perianal fistula and appropriate drainage with a seton without abscess at MRI were eligible. Clinical examination, biomarkers and pelvic MRI were performed at weeks 0, 12 and 48. The clinical outcome was assessed by closure of the treated external openings at clinical examination and MRI exploration. RESULTS: Sixteen patients with a median age of 49 years and a median duration of perianal CD of 8 months were included. No unexpected safety event occurred. At weeks 12 and 48, 9/16 and 8/16 patients had complete fistula[e] closure, respectively, whereas 11/16 patients had at least partial closure. At MRI, the degree of fibrosis increased significantly after MSC injection. In total, 86% of patients with >80% of fibrosis of the fistula tract at week 48 had fistula closure. Fistula closure at week 12 was predictive of fistula closure at week 48. The MAGNIFI-CD did not change significantly over time. CONCLUSION: Open-label injection of bone marrow-derived MSCs was safe and was effective in half of the patients in fistulizing perianal CD and induced significant MRI changes associated with favourable clinical outcome.

Granulomatous Prostatitis Mimicking Invasive Prostate Cancer.

Teaching Point: Benign granulomatous prostatitis mimics prostate cancer on MRI. Peculiar urological history of a patient undergoing prostate MRI helps sorting out that differential, such as a treatment with topic Bacilli Calmette-Guerin instillations.