Treatment of lymphatic malformations of head and neck with OK-432 sclerotherapy induce systemic inflammatory response.

Systemic immune responses after OK-432 (Picibanil) sclerotherapy in patients with head and neck lymphatic malformations (LM) were examined to achieve a better understanding of the mechanism of OK-432 sclerotherapy and to evaluate the long-term treatment outcome. Serum samples from 17 consecutive patients with head and neck LMs were collected during a total of 26 OK-432 treatment episodes. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukins (IL) 1ß, 6, 8, 10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, RANTES, immune protein (IP)-10 and macrophage chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 as well as blood leukocyte counts were determined. Clinical outcome of the treatment was evaluated at the last visit and from patient files. Elevated serum levels of IP-10 (means at baseline 702 ng/L, after 1 day 1180 ng/L, after 4 weeks 691 ng/L) were seen on day one after OK-432 sclerotherapy (p < 0.05). C-reactive protein and leukocyte counts 1 day after treatment differed statistically significantly (p < 0.05) from the baseline. No significant differences with other cytokines investigated were observed. Patients with macrocystic LM responded better than patients with microcystic LM (p = 0.01). The elevated levels of IP-10, C-reactive protein and leukocyte levels indicate that OK-432 sclerotherapy induces systemic immune responses in patients with LM. The mechanisms of OK-432 sclerotherapy are still not precisely understood, but the IP-10 elevation may reflect local antiangiogenetic properties of immunoactivation induced by OK-432.

Detection of intracranial aneurysms with two-dimensional and three-dimensional multislice helical computed tomographic angiography.

OBJECTIVE: Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) has become a diagnostic method for the detection of intracranial aneurysms in cases of subarachnoid bleeding. We sought to evaluate the detection of aneurysms with CTA with a novel multislice helical computed tomographic scanner. METHODS: Prospectively, 179 patients underwent multislice CTA, followed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) of both carotid arteries with or without the posterior circulation, DSA of one carotid artery with or without the posterior circulation, or DSA of the posterior circulation alone. The total number of carotid arteries studied was 298, and the number of vertebrobasilar arteries studied was 124. RESULTS: Of 178 aneurysms verified with DSA or intraoperatively, CTA failed to detect 7 aneurysms of 1 to 2 mm and 1 partially thrombosed, 4-mm aneurysm. The sensitivity and specificity of CTA for aneurysm detection were 0.96 and 0.97, respectively. CONCLUSION: The first generation of multislice computed tomographic technology does not improve CTA to surpass DSA for the detection of small aneurysms of 1 to 2 mm. In practice, however, CTA is superior as a fast noninvasive method without complications.