18F choline PET/CT in the preoperative staging of prostate cancer in patients with intermediate or high risk of extracapsular disease: a prospective study of 130 patients.

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate the potential value of fluorocholine (FCH) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in the preoperative staging of patients with prostate cancer who had intermediate or high risk of extracapsular disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board approval and written informed consent were obtained. Overall, 132 patients with prostate cancer (mean age, 63 years +/- 7 [standard deviation]) were enrolled between October 2003 and June 2008. Two patients were subsequently excluded. In 111 patients, radical prostatectomy with extended pelvic lymph node (LN) dissection was performed. Patients were categorized into groups with intermediate (n = 47) or high (n = 83) risk of extracapsular extension on the basis of their Gleason scores and prostate specific antigen levels. Imaging was performed with an integrated PET/CT system after injection of 4.07 MBq FCH per kilogram of body weight with acquisition of dynamic images in the pelvis and whole-body images. Statistical analysis was performed on a per-patient basis. RESULTS: Significant correlation was found between sections with the highest FCH uptake and sextants with maximal tumor infiltration (r = 0.68; P = .0001). Overall, 912 LNs were histopathologically examined. A per-patient analysis revealed the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of FCH PET/CT in the detection of malignant LNs were 45%, 96%, 82%, and 83%, respectively. For LN metastases greater than or equal to 5 mm in diameter, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 66%, 96%, 82%, and 92%, respectively. In 13 patients, 43 bone metastases were detected. Early bone marrow infiltration was detected with only FCH PET in two patients. FCH PET/CT led to a change in therapy in 15% of all patients and 20% of high-risk patients. CONCLUSION: FCH PET/CT could be useful in the evaluation of patients with prostate cancer who are at high risk for extracapsular disease, and it could be used to preoperatively exclude distant metastases. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: http://radiology.rsna.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1148/radiol.09090413/-/DC1.

Endovascular repair of isolated iliac artery aneurysms.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate a 12-year experience with endovascular repair of isolated iliac artery aneurysm (IAA). METHODS: From August 1997 through July 2009, 91 patients (81 men; mean age 71 years, range 31-90) underwent endovascular treatment for isolated IAA at our department. Of these, 77 patients received stent-grafts either alone or in combination with coils or an Amplatzer vascular plug (n = 2); 1 patient received a Smart stent combined with coils, and 13 patients were treated with coil embolization only. The aneurysms were classified according to location: type I = common iliac artery (CIA), type II = internal iliac artery (IIA), type III = CIA and IIA, and type IV = external iliac artery with/without CIA and/or IIA involvement. RESULTS: Primary technical success was 90.1% for all aneurysm types and 93.6%, 80%, 88.8%, and 93.3% for types I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Secondary technical success was 96.7% for all types and 97.8%, 95%, 100%, and 93.3%, respectively, for each type. Clinical success was 93.4% for all types and 97.8%, 85%, 100%, and 86.7%, respectively, by type. Complications in 18 (19.8%) patients included 7 type I endoleaks, 3 type II endoleaks, 2 enlarged aneurysm sacs (incomplete embolization), 5 cases of buttock claudication, and 2 stent-graft thromboses. Two patients were converted to open surgery; 10 underwent secondary interventions. Mortality rates were 1.1% (n = 1) at 30 death days and 23.1% (n = 21) over a mean follow-up of 45.9 months (no aneurysm-related death). Cumulative overall survival was 97.7% at 1 year and 47.6% at 10 years. Freedom from aneurysm-related complications was 88.6% at 1 year and 83.5% at 5 years. CONCLUSION: Endovascular repair of isolated IAA is a safe and minimally invasive alternative to surgery. However, it may be associated with several complications and must, therefore, be carefully planned.

Endovascular management of inadvertent subclavian artery catheterization during subclavian vein cannulation.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively review a 9-year experience with endovascular management of inadvertent subclavian artery catheterization during subclavian vein cannulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 2000 through July 2009 (109 months), 13 patients underwent endovascular management of inadvertent subclavian artery catheterization. All catheters were still in situ, including one 7-F catheter, six 8-F catheters, and six large-bore 10-11-F catheters. Treatment was performed with an Angio-Seal device (n = 6) or balloon catheters (n = 7) and by additional stent-graft placement (n = 4). RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 27.3 months (range, 0.4-78 months). The 30-day mortality rate was 7.7% and the late mortality rate was 46.1%. Primary technical success was achieved in nine patients (69.2%), in four with the use of a compliant balloon catheter and in the other five with an Angio-Seal device. Complications required additional stent-graft placement in four patients (30.8%), one because of stenosis after Angio-Seal device deployment and three as a result of insufficient closure of the puncture site by balloon tamponade. Stent-graft repair was successful in all four patients, for a primary assisted technical success rate of 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular techniques offer a less invasive alternative to surgery. The present limited experience shows that the use of the Angio-Seal device is not without risks, whereas balloon tamponade is not always reliable in closing the puncture site. Stent-graft placement may be required in patients in whom balloon tamponade fails or in whom the use of the Angio-Seal device is contraindicated.

Intra-arterial haemodynamic changes during cerebral three-dimensional rotational angiography.

Three-dimensional rotational angiography (3DRA) is useful for detecting, classifying and planning treatment for intracranial aneurysms. Prolonged contrast material (CM) injection, required for 3DRA, might cause blood pressure changes in the selectively catheterized artery. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent and clinical relevance of haemodynamic changes in the selected artery during 3DRA. Twenty-five consecutive patients with intracranial aneurysms were prospectively examined with 3DRA (18 ml, 3 ml/s power injector) for planning treatment. Intra-arterial pressure was measured in the internal carotid or vertebral artery by using a pressure guidewire. Mean and systolic blood pressure acquired by the guidewire (Pd) and fractional flow reserve (FFR) were measured before, during and after CM injection. The extent of Pd and FFR changes was evaluated by Student's t-test and linear regression analysis and their clinical relevance with the limits-of-agreement analysis. Mean systolic Pd and FFR increased significantly (P<0.001) from 105.2+/-22 mmHg and 0.98+/-0.04, respectively, at the baseline to 118.1+/-23 mmHg and 1.09+/-0.12, respectively, during injection and decreased thereafter to baseline. The correlation between mean and systolic Pd during injection and at baseline was moderate (r(2)=0.47 and 0.63, respectively) but remained significant (P=0.001 and <0.001, respectively). Moderate bias and range of agreement were found for systolic Pd (12.8+/-29.2 mmHg) and FFR (0.1+/-0.24). Selective CM injection during 3DRA causes a temporary but clinically tolerable increase in blood pressure and pressure gradient.

The value of 18F-DOPA PET-CT in patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma: comparison with 18F-FDG PET-CT.

The purpose of this prospective study was to compare the value of DOPA PET-CT with FDG PET-CT in the detection of malignant lesions in patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Twenty-six consecutive patients (10 men, 16 women, mean age 59 +/- 14 years) with elevated calcitonin levels were evaluated in this prospective study. DOPA and FDG PET-CT modalities were performed within a maximum of 4 weeks (median 7 days) in all patients. The data were evaluated on a patient- and lesion-based analysis. The final diagnosis of positive PET lesions was based on histopathological findings and/or imaging follow-up studies (i.e., DOPA and/or FDG PET-CT) for at least 6 months (range 6-24 months). In 21 (21/26) patients at least one malignant lesion was detected by DOPA PET, while only 15 (15/26) patients showed abnormal FDG uptake. DOPA PET provided important additional information in the follow-up assessment in seven (27%) patients which changed the therapeutic management. The patient-based analysis of our data demonstrated a sensitivity of 81% for DOPA PET versus 58% for FDG PET, respectively. In four (4/26) postoperative patients DOPA and FDG PET-CT studies were negative in spite of elevated serum calcitonin and CEA levels as well as abnormal pentagastrin tests. Overall 59 pathological lesions with abnormal tracer uptake were seen on DOPA and/or FDG PET studies. In the final diagnosis 53 lesions proved to be malignant. DOPA PET correctly detected 94% (50/53) of malignant lesions, whereas only 62% (33/53) of malignant lesions were detected with FDG PET. DOPA PET-CT showed superior results to FDG PET-CT in the preoperative and follow-up assessment of MTC patients. Therefore, we recommend DOPA PET-CT as a one-stop diagnostic procedure to provide both functional and morphological data in order to select those patients who may benefit from (re-)operation with curative intent as well as guiding further surgical procedures.

Traumatic fistula between the middle meningeal artery and the sphenoparietal sinus.

PURPOSE: Post-traumatic fistulas between the middle meningeal artery and the cranial venous system are extremely rare. We describe clinical presentation and successful endovascular management of a case of post-traumatic fistula between the middle meningeal artery and the sphenoparietal sinus. METHODS: A 53-year-old man was admitted with multiple brain contusions and a temporoparietal fracture after a head trauma. On day 3 after trauma he developed unilateral signs of a cavernous sinus syndrome. Digital subtraction angiography showed a fistula between the middle meningeal artery and the sphenoparietal sinus. RESULTS: The fistula was occluded by endovascular coil embolization, resulting in complete remission of the clinical symptoms. CONCLUSION: A high index of suspicion is necessary to detect subtle signs of venous congestion of the cavernous sinus in an intubated patient. Angiography is the diagnostic modality of choice and should include the selective investigation of the external carotid artery vascular territory. Endovascular therapy provides minimal invasive and definitive treatment of this rare condition.

Endovascular therapy of distal anterior cerebral artery aneurysms-an effective treatment option.

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment of APAs is associated with relatively high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to illustrate the technical achievements of endovascular procedures in the distal anterior cerebral artery area, technical difficulties and how they can be overcome, and the outcome of endovascular treatment of APAs. METHODS: Between 1997 and 2006, of 49 patients with APAs at our institution, 29 were treated endovascularly (4.1% of all endovascularly treated aneurysms; F:M = 3.8; mean age, 52.8 +/- 11.5 years), and 12 were treated surgically. Twenty-one (72.4%) of the endovascularly treated patients had a subarachnoid hemorrhage. The mean observation period was 25 +/- 22.8 months. RESULTS: In 27 (93.1%) cases, complete occlusion of the aneurysm was achieved. The intervention led to 5 (17.2%) cases of minor complications with no neurologic deficits: 2 thromboembolisms, 1 local thrombus, 1 occlusion, and 1 recurrent hemorrhage. Mortality related to the intervention was 3.4%. There was no morbidity associated with the elective procedures. The dome-to-neck ratio is the main predictor of reperfusion. The most important factor impairing the outcome in terms of the GOS status is the presence of an intraparenchymal hematoma, followed by thrombembolic complications. CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment of APAs is feasible, safe, and effective. Mortality and morbidity are comparable with surgical therapy. An intraparenchymal hematoma has a severe negative influence on the patient's condition after rehabilitation. In these cases, surgical intervention should be considered. In case of incomplete occlusion of the aneurysm, prompt reintervention is required.

Language and arithmetic--a study using the intracarotid amobarbital procedure.

The intracarotid amobarbital procedure is used as a standard procedure in presurgical evaluation to assess hemispheric lateralization of language and memory, but has not been applied to investigate numerical processing. Patients with medically intractable epilepsy (n=20) were consecutively recruited during a presurgical evaluation programme. All 14 patients with left-lateralized language showed better arithmetic performance with the left hemisphere (intracarotid amobarbital procedure right), while five out of six patients with bilateral or right-hemispheric language representation showed better performance with the right hemisphere (intracarotid amobarbital procedure left). Furthermore, in patients with left-lateralized language, an interaction between intracarotid amobarbital procedure and type of arithmetic operation was found. The study suggests a close association between language lateralization and hemispheric specialization for arithmetic processing.

Impact of 18F-choline PET/CT in prostate cancer patients with biochemical recurrence: influence of androgen deprivation therapy and correlation with PSA kinetics.

UNLABELLED: We evaluated the potential of (18)F-fluoromethyldimethyl-2-hydroxyethyl-ammonium (FCH) PET/CT in the detection of recurrent disease or distant metastases and correlated its diagnostic accuracy with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in prostate cancer patients with biochemical evidence of recurrence. Furthermore, the influences of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and its duration on (18)F-FCH PET were assessed in this study. METHODS: This prospective study included 250 prostate cancer patients with PSA relapse who underwent (18)F-FCH PET/CT. At the time of (18)F-FCH PET/CT imaging, the mean PSA level was 46.9 ± 314.7 ng/mL and 55.2% (138/250) of patients were receiving ADT. Overall, ADT was performed on 67.2% (168/250) of patients after initial treatment. Imaging was performed on an integrated PET/CT system. Acquisition started 1 min after intravenous injection of (18)F-FCH (4.07 MBq/kg of body weight) with dynamic PET images in the pelvic region during 8 min (1 min/frame) followed by a static semi-whole-body acquisition. The final diagnosis of positive PET lesions was based on histopathology or a consensus of clinical findings, additional imaging, or follow-up imaging modalities. RESULTS: (18)F-FCH PET/CT was able to correctly detect malignant lesions in 74% (185/250) of patients but was negative in 26% (65/250). In 28% of patients, only 1 lesion was detected (69/250); from these, 65.2% (45 patients) had a local recurrence, 18.8% (13 patients) a single lymph node, and 15.9% (11 patients) a solitary bone metastasis. The sensitivity of the (18)F-FCH PET was significantly higher (P = 0.001) in patients with ongoing ADT (85%; confidence interval, 80%-91%) than in patients without ADT (59.5%; confidence interval, 50%-69%). (18)F-FCH PET sensitivity was 77.5%, 80.7%, 85.2%, and 92.8% for the trigger PSA levels of more than 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 ng/mL, respectively. Scan sensitivity was 33% in patients with a trigger PSA level of less than 0.3 ng/mL and 77% in patients with a trigger PSA level of greater than 0.3 ng/mL, respectively (P = 0.001). Using a binary logistic regression analysis model, we showed trigger PSA and ADT to be the only significant predictors of positive PET findings. CONCLUSION: (18)F-FCH PET/CT proved its potential as a noninvasive 1-stop diagnostic modality enabling us to correctly detect occult disease in 74% of patients and to differentiate localized from systemic disease. In patients with biochemical recurrence, it also guides to an optimal treatment approach after initial treatment. Trigger PSA and ADT are the 2 significant predictors of (18)F-FCH-positive PET lesions. ADT seems not to impair (18)F-FCH uptake in hormone-refractory prostate cancer patients.

The use of F-18 choline PET in the assessment of bone metastases in prostate cancer: correlation with morphological changes on CT.

AIM: F-18 fluor choline-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FCH-PET/CT) has emerged as a new diagnostic tool for the imaging of prostate cancer. In this study, we have evaluated the potential role of FCH-PET/CT for the assessment of bone metastases in patients with prostate cancer. Furthermore, we assessed the pattern of metabolic uptake by FCH in relation to morphologic changes on CT. METHODS: Seventy men with biopsy-proven prostate cancer underwent FCH-PET/CT for preoperative staging or follow-up evaluation. Thirty-two patients were evaluated preoperatively, and 38 patients were referred for postoperative evaluation of suspected recurrence or progression based on clinical algorithms. PET imaging consisted of a dynamic PET/CT acquisition of the pelvic region during 8 min (1 min frames) starting 1 min after i.v. injection of 4.07 MBq/kg/bw FCH, which was followed immediately by a semi-whole body acquisition. RESULTS: Overall, 262 lesions showed increased uptake on FCH-PET. Two hundred ten lesions (210 of 262) were interpreted as bone metastases. The mean of maximum standardized uptake value (SUV(max)) in all malignant lesions was 8.1 +/- 3.9. Forty-nine lesions (24%) had no detectable morphological changes on CT-probably due to bone marrow metastases. Fifty-six sclerotic lesions (having a Hounsfield unit (HU) level of more than 825) were interpreted as highly suspicious for metastatic bone disease on CT and/or other imaging modalities such as the bone scan, but showed no FCH uptake. There was a significant correlation between tracer uptake as assessed by SUV and the density of sclerotic lesions by HU (r = -0.52, p < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of FCH-PET/CT in detecting bone metastases from prostate cancer was 79%, 97%, and 84%, respectively. CONCLUSION: FCH-PET/CT showed promising results for the early detection of bone metastases in prostate cancer patients. We have found that a HU level of above 825 is associated with an absence of FCH uptake. Almost all of the FCH-negative sclerotic lesions were detected in patients who were under hormone therapy, which raises the possibility that these lesions might no longer be viable. However, clarification and the prognostic value of such lesions require further research.

The use of F-18 choline PET in the assessment of bone metastases in prostate cancer: correlation with morphological changes on CT.

AIM: F-18 fluor choline-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FCH-PET/CT) has emerged as a new diagnostic tool for the imaging of prostate cancer. In this study, we have evaluated the potential role of FCH-PET/CT for the assessment of bone metastases in patients with prostate cancer. Furthermore, we assessed the pattern of metabolic uptake by FCH in relation to morphologic changes on CT. METHODS: Seventy men with biopsy-proven prostate cancer underwent FCH-PET/CT for preoperative staging or follow-up evaluation. Thirty-two patients were evaluated preoperatively, and 38 patients were referred for post operative evaluation of suspected recurrence or progression based on clinical algorithms. PET imaging consisted of a dynamic PET/CT acquisition of the pelvic region during 8 min (1-min frames) starting 1 min after i.v. injection of 4.07 MBq/kg/bw FCH which was followed immediately by a semi whole body acquisition. RESULTS: Overall, 262 lesions showed increased uptake on FCH-PET. Two hundred ten lesions (210/262) were interpreted as bone metastases. The mean standardized uptake values (SUV) in all malignant lesions was 8.1 +/- 3.9. Forty-nine lesions (24%) had no detectable morphological changes on CT-probably due to bone marrow metastases. Fifty-six sclerotic lesions (having a Hounsfield unit (HU) level of more than 825) were interpreted as highly suspicious for metastatic bone disease on CT and/or other imaging modalities such as the bone scan but showed no FCH uptake. There was a significant correlation between tracer uptake as assessed by SUV and the density of sclerotic lesions by HU (r = -0.52, p < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of FCH-PET/CT in detecting bone metastases from prostate cancer was 79%, 97%, and 84%, respectively. CONCLUSION: FCH-PET/CT showed promising results for the early detection of bone metastases in prostate cancer patients. We have found that a HU level of above 825 is associated with an absence of FCH uptake. Almost all of the FCH-negative sclerotic lesions were detected in patients who were under hormone therapy, which raises the possibility that these lesions might no longer be viable. However, clarification and the prognostic value of such lesions require further research.

Detection of bone metastases in patients with prostate cancer by 18F fluorocholine and 18F fluoride PET-CT: a comparative study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective study was to compare the potential value of (18)F fluorocholine (FCH) and (18)F fluoride positron emission tomography (PET)-CT scanning for the detection of bony metastases from prostate cancer. METHODS: Thirty-eight men (mean age, 69+/-8 years) with biopsy-proven prostate cancer underwent both imaging modalities within a maximum interval of 2 weeks. Seventeen patients were evaluated preoperatively, and 21 patients were referred for post-operative evaluation of suspected recurrence or progression based on clinical algorithms. The number, sites and morphological patterns of bone lesions on (18)F FCH and (18)F fluoride PET-CT were correlated: Concordant lesions between the two modalities with corresponding changes on CT were considered to be positive for malignancy; discordant lesions were verified by follow-up examinations. The mean follow-up interval was 9.1 months. RESULTS: Overall, 321 lesions were evaluated in this study. In a lesion-based analysis, a relatively close agreement was found between these two imaging modalities for detection of malignant bone lesions (kappa=0.57), as well as in a patient-based analysis (kappa=0.76). Sixteen malignant sclerotic lesions with a high density were negative in both (18)F FCH and (18)F fluoride PET-CT [mean Hounsfield unit (HU), 1,148+/-364]. There was also a significant correlation between tracer intensity by SUV and density of sclerotic lesions by HU both in (18)F FCH PET-CT (r= -0.28, p < 0.006) and (18)F fluoride PET-CT (r= -0.20, p<0.05). The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of PET-CT in the detection of bone metastases in prostate cancer was 81%, 93% and 86% for (18)F fluoride, and 74% (p=0.12), 99% (p=0.01) and 85% for FCH, respectively. (18)F FCH PET-CT led to a change in the management in two out of 38 patients due to the early detection of bone marrow metastases. (18)F fluoride PET-CT identified more lesions in some patients when compared with (18)F FCH PET-CT but did not change patient management. CONCLUSION: FCH PET-CT may be superior for the early detection (i.e. bone marrow involvement) of metastatic bone disease. In patients with FCH-negative suspicious sclerotic lesions, a second bone-seeking agent (e.g. (18)F fluoride) is recommended. (18)F fluoride PET-CT demonstrated a higher sensitivity than (18)F FCH PET-CT, but the difference was not statistically significant. Furthermore, (18)F fluoride PET could be also negative in highly dense sclerotic lesions, which presumably reflects the effect of treatment. It will be important to clarify in future studies whether these lesions are clinically relevant when compared with metabolically active bone metastases.

Clinical outcome of endovascular therapeutic occlusion of the celiac artery.

OBJECTIVE: Endovascular occlusion of the celiac artery can be performed along with occlusion of a celiac trunk aneurysm or stenting of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm to prevent a type II endoleak. Because only a few individual cases have been previously available for study, the aim of this study was to examine the technical details, clinical course, and outcome of this procedure based on a group of patients. METHODS: This retrospective study included 10 patients who underwent endovascular occlusion of the celiac artery between 1998 and 2006 (female/male = 1:4, mean age, 62.5 +/- 9.8 years). There were five aneurysms of the celiac artery, two cases each of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms and dissecting thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms, and one mycotic pseudoaneurysm of the aorta. The mean follow-up period was 21.4 +/- 29.1 months. RESULTS: The celiac artery was successfully occluded in all cases, along with exclusion of the celiac artery aneurysm or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm, respectively. The pancreaticoduodenal arteries were the main collateral pathways, but other anastomoses and, especially, vascular variations of the celiac artery and its territory were also significant. In one patient, abdominal angina was treated by percutaneous angioplasty and stenting of the superior mesenteric artery. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular occlusion of the celiac artery is both safe and feasible. Some vascular variations may make occlusion of the celiac trunk impossible. Liver function disorder is a relative contraindication for this procedure.

An uncommon coronary artery fistula causing survived sudden cardiac death in a young woman.

Although most patients suffering from a coronary artery fistula remain asymptomatic during childhood and adolescence, many of them develop complications in adulthood due to volume overload, endocarditis or ischemia. Here we present a young woman surviving a sudden cardiac death due to myocardial ischemia with subsequent ventricular fibrillation caused by thrombosis of a coronary artery fistula deriving from the left main coronary artery. Parts of the thrombus had been embolized into the circumflex artery causing posterior myocardial infarction. The thrombosis might have been initiated by local compression from a round extracardiac mass of 3 cm with liquid and solid content located between the vena cava superior and the ascending aorta. This structure was suspected to be a hematoma which had been caused by a blunt thoracic trauma while playing soccer 2 weeks before.

Does stent overlap influence the patency rate of aortoiliac kissing stents?

PURPOSE: To determine if the position of kissing stents in the distal aorta has any influence on the patency rate. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of 41 patients (22 men; median age 60.8 years, range 44-86) electively treated for atherosclerotic aortoiliac occlusive disease with angioplasty and kissing stents between January 1997 and January 2005. Two patient groups were defined by reviewing postinterventional anteroposterior radiograms: (1) patients in whom the proximal end of the kissing stents overlapped more than half of their angiographic width within the aorta ("crossing" group) and (2) patients in whom the proximal ends of the stents overlapped half of their width or less ("non-crossing" group). RESULTS: At 2 years, the primary and assisted primary patency rates by life-table analysis were 60.8% and 69.4%, respectively, for the 35 patients included in the life-table analysis. There was no significant difference between the 16-patient "crossing" group and the 19-patient "non-crossing" group in terms of the baseline demographic, morphological, and procedural variables. The primary and assisted primary patency rates at 2 years for the "non-crossing" group were significantly higher (94.1% and 100%, respectively) compared to 33.2% and 45.3%, respectively, for the "crossing" group (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Failure of kissing stents in the aortic bifurcation may be significantly increased by the overlap of the free proximal stent ends in the distal aorta.

Endotoxin and its binding proteins in chronic liver disease: the effect of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting.

BACKGROUND: Gut-derived endotoxin is insufficiently cleared by the diseased liver, and thus, is elevated in plasma of patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Endotoxin action might be modified by binding to soluble CD14 (sCD14) and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), both of which have not yet been sufficiently studied in CLD. METHODS: Endotoxin, sCD14 and LBP have been determined in peripheral blood of 72 patients and 39 control subjects, and in portal and hepatic venous blood of 12 patients during transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) implantation. RESULTS: Peripheral endotoxin (average 3-fold increased compared to controls), LBP, and sCD14 plasma levels were elevated in chronic liver disease irrespective of Child stage m, preserve/absence of cirrhosis or aetiology. LBP, and sCD14. Furthermore, endotoxin levels in the portal vein (38.1 +/- 6.1 pg/ml) were only slightly elevated compared to the hepatic vein (29.2 +/- 4.4 pg/ml), and peripheral endotoxin levels did not increase after TIPS. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased hepatocellular function rather than hepatic blood shunting might be responsible for endotoxemia. The elevation in LBP and sCD14 levels may be a consequence of endotoxemia.

Investigation of cerebrovascular disease with MR angiography: comparison of volume rendering and maximum intensity projection algorithms--initial assessment.

We assessed the clinical utility of the volume-rendering (VR) algorithm as a postprocessing technique of intracranial magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for the evaluation of cerebrovascular disease in comparison with the maximum intensity projection (MIP) algorithm. VR and MIP images were compared with digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Volume-rendered views improved the perceptibility of intracranial vasculature and consequently augmented diagnostic confidence, improved the characterization of underlying vascular pathologies, and facilitated image interpretation. Volume rendering has the potential to expand the role of cerebral MRA in the diagnostic investigation and treatment planning of cerebrovascular disease.

Volume-rendered multidetector CT angiography: noninvasive follow-up of patients treated with renal artery stents.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the role of multidetector CT (MDCT) angiography with volume rendering for estimating the patency of renal artery stents. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In 16 patients, 16 renal artery stents were evaluated with MDCT renal angiography and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). CT data were evaluated using multiplanar volume reformations and the volume-rendering algorithm with three different volume-rendered parameter settings (low-to-high, high-to-low, and high-low-high opacity transfer functions: VR(LH), VR(HL), and VR(VE), respectively). Targeted images of each stent were rendered in paraaxial and paracoronal planes and were interactively interpreted. The overall restenosis severity was measured on postprocessed paraaxial and paracoronal images and compared with that obtained on DSA using linear regression analysis. Image quality and lumen delineation on rendered images were also compared using Wilcoxon's signed rank test. RESULTS: Eight restenoses were identified on DSA. Correlations between restenosis severity measured with DSA and those measured with MDCT were significant (p < 0.001). Volume rendering with VR(HL) allowed the best correlation with DSA (reviewer 1, r(2) = 0.86; reviewer 2, r(2) = 0.94) and was significantly better than multiplanar volume reformations (p = 0.028). Overall image quality was high with all rendering techniques and with no significant differences (p > 0.59, for all comparisons). Stent lumen was well delineated with volume-rendering modalities; however, VR(HL) was significantly better than VR(LH) (p = 0.033). CONCLUSION: Volume-rendered MDCT angiography enabled high-quality three-dimensional reproducible evaluation of the patency of implanted renal artery stents. Volume rendering with VR(HL) achieved the best performance.

Percutaneous management of a hepatic artery aneurysm: bleeding after liver transplantation.

In this article we present an unusual case of hepatic artery aneurysm bleeding due to a hepatic artery thrombosis after liver transplantation. The patient developed a recurrent hepatic artery thrombosis leading to severe graft failure in four consecutive liver transplantations. While being evaluated for a fifth transplant, stabilization of the clinical situation was attempted by interventional therapy. The first intervention was to place a stent into the hepatic artery to prevent further ischemic damage. This failed to improve graft function, but unfortunately led to the development of a pseudoaneurysm at the distal end with a subsequent rupture into the biliary tree. Bleeding was treated successfully by direct puncture and coil embolization of the aneurysm. In addition, the patient demonstrated a hemodynamically relevant portal vein stenosis on the CT scan. Stenting of the portal vein markedly improved graft function. After extensive investigations, a paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria was found to be the underlying cause of the recurrent hepatic artery thrombosis. Here we suggest that hepatic artery aneurysm bleeding is a rare but potentially fatal complication that can be successfully treated by percutaneous coil embolization. Additionally, we propose that stenting of the portal vein can lead to a significant improvement of the graft perfusion even though the hepatic artery remained occluded.