Confirmation of the systematic presence of tin particles in fallopian tubes or uterine horns of Essure implant explanted patients: A study of 18 cases with the same pathological process.

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between local and systemic symptoms and the wear of the tin weld of Essure implants. DESIGN: study of a series of cases. SETTINGS: Two French hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen patients explanted by hysterectomy and salpingectomy for removal of their Essure implants between September 2019 and July 2020, have had a common anatomopathological process. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: anatomopathological examination by optical microscopy and mineralogical analysis of the fallopian tube or uterine horn with scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX). Evaluation of local and systemic symptoms with a questionnaire. Examination of blood metal assays (nickel, chromium, and tin). RESULTS: anatomopathological examination highlights foreign body granulomas, fibrosis, adenomyosis, nonspecific inflammation, cysts and myomas in the Fallopian tubes, uterine horns, or both and mentions the presence of foreign bodies in seven cases. SEM-EDX analyses showed, systematically, the presence of tin particles integrated in the wall near the weld, generally in clusters, and with a size ranging from about one micron to several dozen microns. The questionnaire shows that the most frequent local symptoms were pelvic pain, urinary disorders, bleeding, and pains during intercourse. The most common systemic symptoms were: asthenia, visual disturbances, amnesia, giddiness, dorsal pains, headaches, and joint pains. The majority of local and systemic symptoms decreased after explantation, but sometimes incompletely. Before explantation, high levels of nickel, tin and chromium were observed in 11/17, 1/7 and 2/17 patients. After explantation, tin levels were high in 3/11 patients. CONCLUSIONS: our new anatomopathological process systematically demonstrates the presence of tin particles in tissue near the weld. These particles could be responsible for granulomatous inflammations as well as local symptoms. Many of the systemic symptoms are consistent with chronic organotin poisoning but further studies are needed to find out whether tin from the solder can be converted to organotin in the patients' bodies.

[Ring melanoma revealed by spontaneous hyphema]. / Mélanome annulaire révélé par un hyphéma spontané.

INTRODUCTION: Ring melanoma is a rare form of uveal melanoma characterized by the circumferential involvement of the ciliary body. Unilateral chronic and refractory glaucoma is a classic circumstance of diagnosis. OBSERVATION: We report a case of ring melanoma revealed by acute intraocular hypertonia secondary to spontaneous hyphema. Iris and iridocorneal angle were diffusely invaded by the tumor. The fundus was masked but B-scan ultrasonography revealed a voluminous ciliochoroidal tumor. The patient had been enucleated. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of ring melanoma. The tumor involved angle structures. The patient died 1 year later because of metastasis. DISCUSSION: Acute or chronic ocular hypertonia is a classic but rare circumstance of uveal melanoma diagnosis. Many mechanisms exist: neovascular glaucoma, secondary angle closure, involvement of angle structures, and trabecular obstruction by tumor cells or pigment. Acute intraocular hypertonia secondary to hyphema is more exceptional. Our observation highlights that apart from the classic situation of acute angle closure glaucoma, intraocular hypertonia requires meticulous fundus examination, if necessary using B-scan ultrasonography.

The additional value of intraoperative angiography in infragenicular reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of preoperative intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (IADSA) to predict the feasibility of infragenicular reconstruction and site of the distal anastomosis. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University Hospital MATERIALS: 45 patients with 50 ischaemic limbs, considered potential candidates for infragenicular reconstruction. CHIEF OUTCOME MEASURES: Pre-reconstruction intraoperative angiography (IOA) was used as the gold standard. Analysis of angiograms was performed blindly and independently by a single observer. In patients who ultimately underwent primary amputation, exploration and attempted angiography of the crural and ankle vessels was performed to verify the IADSA findings. MAIN RESULTS: There was 87% accuracy (kappa = 0.66) between IADSA and IOA in differentiating between a normal, stenosed and occluded tibial artery and there was 86% accuracy (kappa = 0.67) in determining the adequacy of run-off into the pedal arch. IADSA had a positive predictive value of 100% to determine the feasibility of reconstruction but a negative predictive value of only 73%. After excluding those patients tha IADSA deemed non-reconstructable, IADSA had a positive predictive value of 97% to determine the correct artery and 92% to determine the correct segment of artery for distal anastomosis. CONCLUSIONS: IADSA could not determine when reconstruction was not possible, but in those deemed reconstructable by IADSA, the surgeon can confidently expose the appropriate artery at the appropriate level knowing the pedal run-off status in 86% of patients. IADSA should not be used to exclude reconstruction (i.e. pre-reconstruction IOA is still required in these patients) but for the remainder, IADSA can be used to plan surgical strategy without recourse to IOA.

Percutaneous nephrostomies.

A review was made of 127 percutaneous nephrostomies (PCN) in 106 patients with benign (74 patients) and malignant (32 patients) urinary tract obstruction. Data on underlying aetiology, complications, subsequent management and long-term management are presented. The study confirms that PCN is an effective and safe method of providing temporary or prolonged urinary diversion in obstruction. Its use in pelvic malignancy should be determined by the likelihood of obtaining worthwhile prolonged palliation in individual patients.

The treatment of colorectal hepatic metastases by continuous local infusion of interleukin-2.

Patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer appear to be resistant to most forms of therapy. Recent reports suggest synergism between systemically administered recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with responses documented in the treatment of advanced colonic tumours albeit with significant toxicity. Local continuous infusion of rIL-2 into selected sites may reduce toxicity and increase efficacy. We have assessed the feasibility of continuously infusing rIL-2 into the region of a hepatic metastasis in 3 patients via a catheter placed within the liver under ultrasound guidance in a regimen including systemic rIL-2 and 5FU.

A prospective study of the value of conventional CT, dynamic CT, ultrasonography and arteriography for staging renal carcinoma.

The value of dynamic CT scanning for staging renal carcinoma was studied prospectively in 28 patients and the results compared with those of ultrasonography, arteriography and conventional CT. Arteriography correctly staged 48% of tumours; ultrasonography and conventional CT correctly staged 50% and dynamic CT correctly staged 72%. Dynamic CT staged renal carcinoma more accurately than ultrasonography, conventional CT or arteriography and it is suggested that arteriography should be restricted to specific indications such as the mapping of arterial anatomy and therapeutic renal artery embolisation.

Localization of lower gastrointestinal bleeding using in vivo technetium-99m-labelled red blood cell scintigraphy.

Technetium-99m-labelled red blood cell scintigraphy was used in the investigation of 41 patients with major rectal haemorrhage. Red cells were labelled in vivo with technetium-99m pertechnetate and serial scans (0-36 h) were taken using a large field gamma camera. Twenty-two men and 15 women, mean age 71.3 years (range 32-91 years), and four children were studied. Forty-three scans were performed in all and there were 31 positive and 12 negative results. In each case the accuracy of the scan in localizing the bleeding site was checked either by independent investigations or at laparotomy. A definite bleeding site was identified in 30 cases and red cell scintigraphy correctly localized 29 of these (sensitivity 97 per cent). In the remaining 13 cases a bleeding site was not identified by any of the independent investigations and in this group there were two false positive scans (specificity 85 per cent). The investigation had a high predictive value when both positive (94 per cent) and negative (92 per cent). These data suggest that technetium-99m-labelled red cell scintigraphy should be used more widely in the investigation of patients with suspected lower gastrointestinal haemorrhage.

Prospective study of routine scrotal ultrasonography in urological practice.

The value of routine scrotal ultrasonography has been evaluated in a prospective study of 109 men with scrotal symptoms or signs. Ultrasonography had a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 99% for testicular tumour. Clinically useful information was provided in 53% of patients and 8% might have avoided surgery if the ultrasound report had been heeded. Ultrasonography did not provide any additional information in patients with scrotal pain and an entirely normal scrotum clinically, and in those with epididymal cysts in whom the testis was palpably normal. If these 2 groups had been excluded from routine scrotal ultrasonography there would have been a 25% reduction in the number of examinations without any reduction in diagnostic yield.

Technetium labelled red blood cell scintigraphy in the diagnosis of intestinal haemorrhage.

99m-Technetium labelled red blood cell scintigraphy was used in the investigation of 15 adult patients with suspected small or large bowel bleeding requiring at least five units of blood (mean 14.3 units) and one neonate with rectal bleeding. Scintigraphy was found to be an accurate method of detecting the site of haemorrhage and was superior to angiography. This technique may be of particular value in patients with profuse colonic haemorrhage when the view at colonoscopy is poor.

Phlebography in the salage of dialysis fistulae.

Provision of long-term satisfactory vascular access for haemodialysis is an increasing problem. The functional life of an arteriovenous fistula can be greatly extended by an active salvage policy to which radiology makes an invaluable contribution. Forty-seven consecutive patients with vascular access problems were studied, 11 undergoing forearm phlebography and 36 phlebography of a malfunctioning fistula. Of the 11 patients with forearm phlebograms, only one patient had a fistula constructed that was not used for dialysis, despite demonstration of a patent forearm venous system; and in three patients operation was avoided after demonstration of inadequate veins. Only three of the 36 fistulograms failed to give useful information, whereas in seven patients operation was avoided by demonstration of a normal fistulogram.