A case of primary racemose hemangioma with endobronchial lesions demonstrating recurrent hemoptysis initially treated with bronchial arterial embolization.

Primary racemose hemangioma of the bronchial artery (RHBA) is one of the causes of massive hemoptysis. A 72-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with recurrent hemoptysis. Bronchoscopy showed an endobronchial lesion, and the angiography of the right bronchial arteries indicated RHBA. Bronchial arterial embolization (BAE) was performed to prevent hemoptysis. Although the endobronchial lesion shrank after the first BAE, the lesion re-increased and caused massive hemoptysis. A thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy was performed, and hemoptysis did not recur. Therefore, in cases of RHBA where there is recurrent hemoptysis and the endobronchial lesions that remain after BAE, additional treatments should be considered.

Rapid identification of source of delayed hemobilia following endoscopic metallic stenting for malignant biliary obstruction.

Delayed hemobilia, a rare but potentially fatal complication of endoscopic metallic stenting for malignant biliary obstruction, requires prompt identification of the source of bleeding and subsequent embolization. However, hemobilia is characteristically intermittent, and computed tomography (CT) often fails to show pseudoaneurysms or extravasations. In particular, because the posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery (PSPDA) runs alongside the common bile duct for its whole length, it is readily obscured by metallic artifacts in that duct, such as stents, making identification of the source of bleeding by CT difficult. We have encountered three patients with delayed hemobilia from the PSPDA following endoscopic biliary stenting for malignant biliary obstruction in whom no extravasation or pseudoaneurysms were detected by contrast-enhanced CT during bleeding. However, when we identified that the PSPDA had a smaller diameter than in previous CTs in all three cases, we suspected that the PSPDA was the source of the bleeding. No extravasation or pseudoaneurysms were detected with celiac arteriography or superior mesenteric arteriography; however, extravasation and pseudoaneurysms were detected by direct PSPDA angiography. Hemostasis was achieved through embolization. Detecting a large decrease in the diameter of the PSPDA on contrast-enhanced CT during biliary bleeding may help to identify the source of that bleeding.

Massive ascites caused by intra-pancreatic arterioportal fistula: a rare complication of chronic pancreatitis.

An 86-year-old man with a long-term habit of ethanol consumption was admitted due to massive transudate ascites and leg edema. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a dilated main pancreatic duct and atrophied pancreatic parenchyma, leading to the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis. Moreover, the portal vein was enhanced in the early arterial phase, which indicated the presence of an arterioportal fistula. The fistula was located between the posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery and the portal vein near a pancreatic retention cyst. Transarterial coil embolization dramatically improved the ascites. Arterioportal fistula and ensuing ascites should be recognized as a complication of chronic pancreatitis.

Randomized prospective trial comparing clinical outcomes 3 years after surgery by Marcy repair and Prolene Hernia System repair for adult indirect inguinal hernia.

PURPOSE: The use of mesh in the surgical repair of adult indirect inguinal hernias is widely recommended in Western countries, but no randomized controlled trials have so far been reported in Japan. The purpose of the present randomized prospective trial was to compare a mesh method with non-mesh method for surgical repair of primary adult indirect inguinal hernias in which the diameter of the internal inguinal ring was up to 3.0 cm (I-1 or I-2 of Japanese Hernia Society Classification). METHODS: Patients with a primary unilateral inguinal hernia and I-1 or I-2 surgical findings were randomized to undergo either Marcy repair or Prolene Hernia System repair. Primary endpoints were recurrence, infection, and pain, with follow-up continued for 3 years postoperatively. RESULTS: Ninety-one of 479 patients with an inguinal hernia during the study period did not meet the exclusion criteria, and 46 were allocated to Marcy repair and 45 were allocated to Prolene Hernia System repair. No recurrence was observed in either group, and no significant differences were identified between the groups in any of the primary endpoints. CONCLUSION: This randomized prospective trial of I-1 and I-2 inguinal hernias suggests that Marcy repair is not inferior to PHS repair. A large-scale randomized controlled trial appears warranted to confirm whether to use mesh for Japanese adult I-1 and I-2 hernias.

Nationwide surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of pathogens isolated from surgical site infections (SSI) in Japan.

To investigate the trends of antimicrobial resistance in pathogens isolated from surgical site infections (SSI), a Japanese surveillance committee conducted the first nationwide survey. Seven main organisms were collected from SSI at 27 medical centers in 2010 and were shipped to a central laboratory for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. A total of 702 isolates from 586 patients with SSI were included. Staphylococcus aureus (20.4 %) and Enterococcus faecalis (19.5 %) were the most common isolates, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.4 %) and Bacteroides fragilis group (15.4 %). Methicillin-resistant S. aureus among S. aureus was 72.0 %. Vancomycin MIC 2 µg/ml strains accounted for 9.7 %. In Escherichia coli, 11 of 95 strains produced extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (Klebsiella pneumoniae, 0/53 strains). Of E. coli strains, 8.4 % were resistant to ceftazidime (CAZ) and 26.3 % to ciprofloxacin (CPFX). No P. aeruginosa strains produced metallo-ß-lactamase. In P. aeruginosa, the resistance rates were 7.4 % to tazobactam/piperacillin (TAZ/PIPC), 10.2 % to imipenem (IPM), 2.8 % to meropenem, cefepime, and CPFX, and 0 % to gentamicin. In the B. fragilis group, the rates were 28.6 % to clindamycin, 5.7 % to cefmetazole, 2.9 % to TAZ/PIPC and IPM, and 0 % to metronidazole (Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron; 59.1, 36.4, 0, 0, 0 %). MIC90 of P. aeruginosa isolated 15 days or later after surgery rose in TAZ/PIPC, CAZ, IPM, and CPFX. In patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score ≥3, the resistance rates of P. aeruginosa to TAZ/PIPC and CAZ were higher than in patients with ASA ≤2. The data obtained in this study revealed the trend of the spread of resistance among common species that cause SSI. Timing of isolation from surgery and the patient's physical status affected the selection of resistant organisms.

Diffusion weighted imaging in the detection of upper urinary tract urothelial tumors.

PURPOSE: Diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides information about the biophysical properties of tissues such as cell organization and density. DW imaging (DWI) is becoming important in the assessment of malignant tumors. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the capability and reliability of DWI in the evaluation of upper urinary tract urothelial tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DWI was performed in seventeen patients with upper urinary tract urothelial tumor, previously diagnosed by either CT or retrograde pyelography. An histological evaluation was performed after surgical resection. Each MRI was carried out using a 1.5T superconductive magnet MRI system. DWI images were obtained with b value of 1000 s/mm(2) under normal breathing. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were measured. RESULTS: In nine patients with renal pelvis tumors and seven patients with ureteral tumors, the lesions were shown as high-signal intensity in the corresponding region on DWI. In one patient with carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the ureter, the lesion was not depicted with DWI. The mean ADC value of the tumor was 1.125 + or - 0.217 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s and was significantly lower than those of the renal parenchyma (1.984 + or - 0.238 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s, p < 0.01) and the urine (2.941 + or - 0.315 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the renal pelvic and ureteral tumors except CIS were shown clearly with DWI. Although further studies are required, DWI may take the place of invasive retrograde urography for detecting tumors of the upper urinary tract.

Diffusion weighted imaging in the detection of upper urinary tract urothelial tumors

Purpose: Diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides information about the biophysical properties of tissues such as cell organization and density. DW imaging (DWI) is becoming important in the assessment of malignant tumors. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the capability and reliability of DWI in the evaluation of upper urinary tract urothelial tumors. Materials and methods: DWI was performed in seventeen patients with upper urinary tract urothelial tumor, previously diagnosed by either CT or retrograde pyelography. An histological evaluation was performed after surgical resection. Each MRI was carried out using a 1.5T superconductive magnet MRI system. DWI images were obtained with b value of 1000 s/mm2 under normal breathing. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were measured. Results: In nine patients with renal pelvis tumors and seven patients with ureteral tumors, the lesions were shown as high-signal intensity in the corresponding region on DWI. In one patient with carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the ureter, the lesion was not depicted with DWI. The mean ADC value of the tumor was 1.125 ± 0.217 x 10-3 mm2/s and was significantly lower than those of the renal parenchyma (1.984 ± 0.238 x 10-3 mm2/s, p < 0.01) and the urine (2.941 ± 0.315 x 10-3 mm2/s, p < 0.01). Conclusions: In our study, the renal pelvic and ureteral tumors except CIS were shown clearly with DWI. Although further studies are required, DWI may take the place of invasive retrograde urography for detecting tumors of the upper urinary tract.

Assessment of treatment efficacy in radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma: Comparison between multiplanar reconstruction by multi-detector row CT and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography by Truagent detection mode.

PURPOSE: We compared the image of multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) by multi-detector row CT (MDCT) and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) by Truagent Detection Modetrade mark after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma to assess treatment efficacy. METHODS: We examined 16 nodules in 15 patients who underwent CEUS just before and on the day following RFA, and then CT-MPR by MDCT 5 or 6 days after RFA. We measured the lengths of the major and minor axes at the maximal necrotic area, which were thought to correspond to similarly shaped images on both CT-MPR and CEUS. RESULTS: There are significant positive correlations in the lengths of the major and minor axes at the maximal necrotic area as measured on CT-MPR and CEUS. The differences in the lengths of the major and minor axes between CT-MPR and the parenchymal phase of CEUS were smaller than those between CT-MPR and the late vascular phase of CEUS. CONCLUSION: Our study showed a non-enhanced area of CT-MPR 5 or 6 days after RFA was similar to that of the parenchymal phase of CEUS on the day following RFA, and so it is possible to assess the treatment efficacy by CEUS on the day following RFA.