Evaluation of liver tumors using acoustic radiation force impulse elastography and correlation with histologic data.

OBJECTIVES: Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) technology represents an innovative method for the quantification of tissue elasticity. The aims of this study were to evaluate elasticity by ARFI in both liver tumors and background liver tissue and to compare ARFI measurements with histologic data in liver tumors and background liver. METHODS: Seventy-nine tumors were prospectively studied: 43 benign and 36 malignant. Acoustic radiation force impulse measurements for each tumor type were expressed as mean ± standard deviation for both liver tumors and background liver; ARFI data were also correlated with histologic data. RESULTS: For liver tumors, the mean stiffness values were 1.90 ± 0.86 m/s for hepatocellular adenoma (n = 9), 2.14 ± 0.49 m/s for hemangioma (n = 15), 3.14 ± 0.63 m/s for focal nodular hyperplasia (n = 19), 2.4 ± 1.01 m/s for hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 24), and 3.0 ± 1.36 m/s for metastasis (n = 12). Important variations were observed within each tumor type or within a single tumor. These variations could have been due to necrosis, hemorrhage, or colloid. There was no statistically significant difference between the benign and malignant groups. Regarding background liver, it was possible to observe pathologic abnormalities in histologic analyses or liver function tests to explain the ARFI data. The degree of fibrosis was not the only determinant of liver stiffness in background liver; other factors such as portal embolization, sinusoidal obstruction syndrome caused by chemotherapy, and cholestasis, also could have interfered. CONCLUSIONS: Acoustic radiation force impulse elastography could not allow differentiation between benign and malignant tumors. This study provides a better understanding of the correlation between ARFI and histologic data for both tumors and background liver.

Real-time volumetric MRI thermometry of focused ultrasound ablation in vivo: a feasibility study in pig liver and kidney.

MR thermometry offers the possibility to precisely guide high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for the noninvasive treatment of kidney and liver tumours. The objectives of this study were to demonstrate therapy guidance by motion-compensated, rapid and volumetric MR temperature monitoring and to evaluate the feasibility of MR-guided HIFU ablation in these organs. Fourteen HIFU sonications were performed in the kidney and liver of five pigs under general anaesthesia using an MR-compatible Philips HIFU platform prototype. HIFU sonication power and duration were varied. Volumetric MR thermometry was performed continuously at 1.5 T using the proton resonance frequency shift method employing a multi-slice, single-shot, echo-planar imaging sequence with an update frequency of 2.5 Hz. Motion-related suceptibility artefacts were compensated for using multi-baseline reference images acquired prior to sonication. At the end of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed for macroscopic and microscopic examinations of the kidney, liver and skin. The standard deviation of the temperature measured prior to heating in the sonicated area was approximately 1 °C in kidney and liver, and 2.5 °C near the skin. The maximum temperature rise was 30 °C for a sonication of 1.2 MHz in the liver over 15 s at 300 W. The thermal dose reached the lethal threshold (240 CEM(43) ) in two of six cases in the kidney and four of eight cases in the liver, but remained below this value in skin regions in the beam path. These findings were in agreement with histological analysis. Volumetric thermometry allows real-time monitoring of the temperature at the target location in liver and kidney, as well as in surrounding tissues. Thermal ablation was more difficult to achieve in renal than in hepatic tissue even using higher acoustic energy, probably because of a more efficient heat evacuation in the kidney by perfusion.

Percutaneous internal fixation with Y-STRUT® device to prevent both osteoporotic and pathological hip fractures: a prospective pilot study.

BACKGROUND: We studied Y-STRUT® (Hyprevention, France), a new percutaneous internal fixation device, in combination with bone cementoplasty to prevent hip fracture. METHODS: Between February 2013 and February 2015, a total of 16 femoral necks in 4 osteoporotic and 12 oncologic patients have been considered for prophylactic consolidation in this prospective multicentre pilot study involving 4 different hospitals. These consolidations were performed percutaneously under fluoroscopic guidance using Y-STRUT®, a dedicated internal fixation device. For osteoporotic patients, orthopaedic surgeons performed the prophylactic consolidations immediately after surgical treatment of a hip fracture (same anaesthesia) in the opposite side. For oncologic patients, without current hip fracture but considered at risk (Mirels score ≥8), interventional radiologists performed the procedures. We report the preliminary results of feasibility, safety and tolerance of these preventive consolidations using Y-STRUT®. RESULTS: Four patients (mean 83 years old) had prophylactic consolidation because of a severe osteoporosis (mean T-score -3.30) resulting in first hip fractures. Ten patients (mean 61 years old) were treated because of impending pathological fractures (mean Mirels score 9) related to femoral neck osteolytic metastases. All the procedures were performed with success. Wound healing was achieved in all cases with no access site complication. Radiographic exams performed at 3 months follow-up revealed that Y-STRUT® was well integrated in the bone. For the osteoporotic cohort, mean pain was 0.9 ± 0.7 at 3 weeks. For the oncologic cohort, it decreases from 3.6 ± 2.9 at baseline to 2.4 ± 0.9 at 2 months. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results demonstrate the feasibility and safety of Y-STRUT® implantation as well as the tolerance of the device.

A Novel Implant for the Prophylactic Treatment of Impending Pathological Fractures of the Proximal Femur: Results from a Prospective, First-in-Man Study.

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively evaluate a novel implant, Y-STRUT® (Hyprevention, Pessac, France), designed to provide prophylactic reinforcement of the proximal femur in metastatic patients. METHODS: Ten patients presenting lytic lesions of the proximal femur were to be treated. The device consisted of two components implanted in the proximal femur, combined with bone cement. Patients were followed at 2, 6 and 12 months to record technical feasibility, safety and efficacy parameters of the procedure. RESULTS: All patients (62 years, 67% male) presented a pertrochanteric lesion shown on imaging with an average Mirels' score of 9.42 (range 8-11). Procedures were performed by interventional radiologists, under general anesthesia in 97 ± 28 min, with 9.2 ± 3.1 ml of cement injected. Hospitalization duration was 2.3 ± 1.4 days. A median follow-up of 237 days (range 24-411) was reported. Wound healing was achieved in all patients, with no case of wound infection, bleeding, leakage or inflammation. Among the patients evaluated, 86% could resume walking at hospital discharge. Visual Analogue Scale decreased from 3.6 ± 2.9 before treatment to 1.3 ± 0.8 at 1 year. OHS-12 score increased from 30 ± 10 at baseline to 37 ± 6 at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this first-in-man study conducted in patients with metastatic bone disease show the feasibility and the safety of the intervention, with a short hospitalization, when performed following the operating instructions. Initial data showing pain-level diminution and increase in OHS-12 score indicate that both symptomatic and functional conditions of the patients were improved 1 year after the implantation of this novel implant. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4, Case Series.

Decidualized ovarian mass mimicking malignancy.

Deciduosis classically occurs in the context of known endometriosis in the pelvis, most commonly in the ovaries, but also in the peritoneum. However, ovarian deciduosis outside the context of endometriosis is rare and makes diagnosis difficult, especially as the sonographic appearance suggests a malignant process. We report a case of decidualized ovarian mass in a patient without prior history of endometriosis that mimicked an ovarian malignancy. MRI may be a useful imaging modality to monitor these lesions and guide management. Consultation with a multidisciplinary team accustomed to such conditions will help to tailor the management to each individual.

Bronchopleural fistula after radiofrequency ablation of lung tumours.

The present article describes two cases of bronchopleural fistula (BPF) occurring after radiofrequency ablation of lung tumors. Both procedures were carried out using expandable multitined electrodes, with no coagulation of the needle track. After both ablations, ground-glass opacities encompassed the nodules and abutted the visceral pleura. The first patient had a delayed pneumothorax, and the second had a recurrent pneumothorax. Both cases of BPF were diagnosed on follow-up computed tomography chest scans (i.e., visibility of a distinct channel between the lung or a peripheral bronchus and the pleura) and were successfully treated with chest tubes alone. Our goal is to highlight the fact that BPF can occur without needle-track coagulation and to suggest that minimally invasive treatment is sufficient to cure BPFs of this specific origin.