Lymphatic Embolization for the Management of Post-operative Chyle Leaks Following Solid Tumor Resection in Pediatric Patients.

BACKGROUND: Chyle leaks are a common post-operative complication following solid-tumor resection in pediatric patients. Current treatments for persistent chyle leaks are limited, leading many patients to experience prolonged hospitalization, nutritional deficits and/or delays in cancer therapies. Lymphatic embolization is an emerging treatment option for chyle leaks, however, limited reports exist of its use in pediatric populations. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of pediatric patients (<18) who underwent lymphangiogram with intent for lymphatic embolization for the management of chyle leaks following solid-tumor resection between 2017 and 2022. RESULTS: Seven patients underwent a total of 11 attempted lymphatic embolization procedures after current standard of care treatments failed to resolve the leak. Lymphangiograms identified a chyle leak in 6 of 7 patients and embolization had a technical success rate of 73%. The complication rate was 9% and complications were limited to one episode of inadvertent gastric wall perforation that did not result in a gastric leak. Lymphatic embolization was ultimately associated with chyle leak resolution in 100% of patients within a median of 24 days, however, repeat embolization was required in 5 of 7 patients (83%). CONCLUSION: Lymphatic embolization appears to be a safe and effective treatment for persistent chyle leaks in pediatric patients, leads to a direction reduction in chyle output, and has high rates of technical and clinical success. Complete resolution of the chyle leak may require multiple embolization procedures. Further work is needed to determine whether earlier intervention may offer benefit for the management of pediatric chyle leaks. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Classification of lower extremity venous malformations and risk of knee involvement: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Venous malformation (VM) is the most common vascular anomaly in the lower extremity. VMs can be classified as focal, multifocal, or diffuse types. Intraarticular VM (IA-VM) of the knee portends morbidity. Association of the lower extremity VM type with IA-VM is not well defined. OBJECTIVE: To classify a large cohort of lower extremity, nonsyndromic VMs by type and determine associations with IA-VM. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study. RESULTS: We assessed 156 patients with nonsyndromic, lower extremity VM; 71 (46%) were focal and 85 (54%) were diffuse type VM, and 97 (62%) were IA-VM. Of diffuse VMs, 26 (31%) were Bockenheimer and 59 (69%) were localized subtypes. Pure VM had a significantly elevated risk of IA-VM (relative risk [RR], 2.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42-3.89). IA-VM was more common in diffuse (73%) versus focal (49%) types. Risk of IA-VM in diffuse type VM was significantly elevated (RR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.13-1.94). One hundred percent of diffuse Bockenheimer type VM had IA-VM, and this subtype had the highest risk (RR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.56-2.14) of IA-VM. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective, single-institution study. CONCLUSIONS: Intraarticular involvement of the knee should be considered in all lower extremity VMs. Pure VM and the Bockenheimer diffuse VM subtype had the highest risk of IA-VM.

Contemporary Management of Vascular Anomalies of the Head and Neck-Part 1: Vascular Malformations: A Review.

Importance: Vascular anomalies of the head and neck are relatively rare lesions. Management is challenging because of the high likelihood of involvement of functionally critical structures. Multiple modalities of treatment exist for vascular anomalies of the head and neck, including medical therapies, sclerotherapy and embolization procedures, and surgery. This review focuses on the accurate diagnosis and the relative roles of the various therapeutic options. Observations: Vascular anomalies are classified by the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies into 2 major groups: vascular tumors and vascular malformations. Vascular tumors encompass proliferative lesions ranging from infantile and congenital hemangiomas to kaposiform hemangioendothelioma. Alternatively, vascular malformations are embryologic errors in vasculogenesis. This article focuses on the management of vascular malformations. The 3 primary vascular malformation subclassifications are lymphatic, venous, and arteriovenous. The burden of disease, diagnosis, and current management options are discussed in detail for each subtype. Conclusions and Relevance: Most vascular malformations of the head and neck require a multidisciplinary approach. Available medical, interventional radiologic, and surgical interventions are constantly evolving. Optimization of function and cosmesis must be balanced with minimization of treatment-associated morbidity. Otolaryngologists-head and neck surgeons must remain up to date regarding options for diagnosis and management of these lesions.

Endovascular Treatment of Congenital Arterioportal Fistulas.

PURPOSE: To characterize anatomy of congenital arterioportal fistulas (CAPF) and correlate this with technique and outcomes of transcatheter embolization (TCE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review was conducted of children with CAPF that underwent TCE in a 10-year period. Medical records, imaging and procedure details were reviewed. TCE was performed via transarterial (n = 5), portal (n = 5) or patent ductus venosus (n = 1) approach. Embolic agents used were coils (n = 10), Onyx (n = 1) and Amplatzer septal occluder (n = 1). RESULTS: A total of 7 patients were included (4 female). Median age at treatment was 4 months (2 month-3 year). Most common symptoms were GI bleeding (n = 4), anemia (n = 4) and ascites (n = 3). Hepatopetal flow was seen in all on pre-procedure sonography. On angiography, a simple lesion, with direct fistulous connections, from hepatic arterial (HA) branches to portal venous (PV) system was seen in 3. A complex lesion with multiple connections was identified in 4. In simple lesions, cessation of shunting was achieved in 1 procedure, with embolization of afferent vessels. In complex lesions, multiple procedures were required in 3 of 4 patients. All 4 with complex connections required embolization of the aneurysmal PV segment. There were no major complications. Two minor complications were noted: localized biliary leak in 1 and femoral pseudoaneurysm in 1. There was resolution of symptoms in 6. CONCLUSIONS: TCE is effective as primary treatment of CAPF. Patients with simple arteriovenous connections can be treated with embolization of afferent vessels, but children with multiple complex connections usually require embolization of the dilated PV segment.

Combined glue embolization and excision for the treatment of venous malformations.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate safety, technical success, and clinical outcomes of treatment for venous malformations using n-BCA glue embolization immediately prior to excision. Sixty three patients (22 male, 41 female; mean age 12 years (range 1-25)) who underwent 70 procedures for extremity and trunk venous malformations were reviewed. Indications for treatment included pain (100%), swelling (22%), and diminished range of motion (16%). Thirty seven patients (59%) had undergone prior stand-alone interventional or surgical treatment but were persistently symptomatic. Safety, technical and clinical success were retrospectively assessed. RESULTS: Embolization was technically successful in 100% of patients. Mean lesion size was 3.0 × 2.9 × 5.7 cm. Three patients (5%) underwent planned, second stage procedures for lesions intentionally not treated at the first procedure. Four patients (6%) underwent an unplanned, second stage procedure for residual disease after the primary operation. Mean and median follow-up duration were 18 and 17 months, respectively (range 3 to 35 months). Symptomatic improvement was achieved in 58 patients (92%), of whom 41 (65%) reported complete elimination of pain. There were no recognized instances of nontarget embolization or other complications of the interventional procedure. One patient required additional surgery for wound dehiscence and one patient developed an abscess requiring incision and drainage. Minor surgical complications included surgical site skin infections (n = 5) and numbness (n = 1). Mean and median surgical blood loss volumes were 131 mL and 10 mL, respectively. One patient required perioperative blood transfusion. CONCLUSIONS: Extremity and truncal venous malformations can be safely and effectively treated in a single-stage fashion using glue embolization immediately preceding excision.

Outcomes of Locoregional Tumor Therapy for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunts.

PURPOSE: Locoregional therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be challenging in patients with a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). This study compares safety and imaging response of ablation, chemoembolization, radioembolization, and supportive care in patients with both TIPS and HCC. METHODS: This retrospective study included 48 patients who had both a TIPS and a diagnosis of HCC. Twenty-nine of 48 (60%) underwent treatment for HCC, and 19/48 (40%) received best supportive care (i.e., symptomatic management only). While etiology of cirrhosis and indication for TIPS were similar between the two groups, treated patients had better baseline liver function (34 vs. 67% Child-Pugh class C). Tumor characteristics were similar between the two groups. A total of 39 ablations, 17 chemoembolizations, and 10 yttrium-90 radioembolizations were performed on 29 patients. RESULTS: Ablation procedures resulted in low rates of hepatotoxicity and clinical toxicity. Post-embolization/ablation syndrome occurred more frequently in patients undergoing chemoembolization than ablation (47 vs. 15%). Significant hepatic dysfunction occurred more frequently in the chemoembolization group than the ablation group. Follow-up imaging response showed objective response in 100% of ablation procedures, 67% of radioembolization procedures, and 50% of chemoembolization procedures (p = 0.001). When censored for OLT, patients undergoing treatment survived longer than patients receiving supportive care (2273 v. 439 days, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Ablation appears to be safe and efficacious for HCC in patients with TIPS. Catheter-based approaches are associated with potential increased toxicity in this patient population. Chemoembolization appears to be associated with increased toxicity compared to radioembolization.

Postembolization syndrome after hepatic transarterial chemoembolization: effect of prophylactic steroids on postprocedure medication requirements.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of prophylactic use of dexamethasone and scopolamine on analgesic and antiemetic agent requirements after transarterial chemoembolization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 148 patients underwent 316 rounds of chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma at a single institution over a 17-month period. Patient charts were retrospectively reviewed for demographic data, procedural technique, and use of analgesic and antiemetic medications. Patients were grouped into three categories: group A received steroid prophylaxis before and after the procedure, group B received steroid prophylaxis before the procedure only, and group C received no steroid prophylaxis. RESULTS: Analysis was performed on 125 patients undergoing 252 procedures. Demographics were similar among groups. Overall, 86 (68.8%) were male, and mean age was 62 years (range, 39-82 y). Ninety-one patients (75%) had Child-Pugh class A cirrhosis and 25% had Child-Pugh class B cirrhosis. Dexamethasone was not significantly associated with decreased analgesic agent use (P = .6). Group A patients used significantly fewer antiemetic agents (Δ = 0.89; P = .007) compared with group C. A transdermal scopolamine patch was not associated with reduced use of antiemetic agents (P = .3). Age was inversely associated with analgesic (P <.001) and antiemetic agent use (P = .004). Men received significantly fewer antiemetic agents than women (P = .002), whereas there was no significant difference in analgesic agent use (P = .7). CONCLUSIONS: The use of steroids did not affect analgesic agent use and had a minor effect on antiemetic requirements. The use of a scopolamine patch was not associated with reduced antiemetic agent use.

Gadolinium-based contrast media and the development of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in patients with renal insufficiency.

Gadolinium-based contrast media are important tools in diagnostic and interventional radiology that are particularly useful in patients with renal insufficiency. Recent reports in which exposure to gadolinium compounds has been linked to the development of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in this patient population, however, are quite concerning. It is of great importance that radiologists be aware of this serious disease and exercise caution when considering the use of gadolinium-based contrast media in patients with moderate (glomerular filtration rate, <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) to severe (glomerular filtration rate, <15 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) renal disease.