Embolization with steel coils using a saline flush technique.

A method using saline flush to push Gianturco steel coils through catheters is described, and has been successfully used in 45 patients. The saline flush technique requires no precise matching of coils and catheters, solves problems associated with the conventional method and simplifies the coil embolization procedure.

Vascular anatomy of the pancreas and clinical applications.

The development of recent technology, especially the helical computed tomography (CT) scan, allows us to observe small peripancreatic vessels which previously could be demonstrated only by angiography (1), and therefore make three-dimensional (3-D) volume rendered CT angiographic reconstruction possible (2). The neighboring structures as well as the pancreatic vessels are clearly visualized on the axial CT scan. Therefore, it is necessary to define the peripancreatic vessels on the axial images, as well as on angiography to make an accurate diagnosis of pancreatic disease so that we can also estimate the dynamic flow of the peripancreatic vessels. In this chapter, I would like to use the cadaver dissections of pancreatic vessels to explain each pancreatic vessel based on previous anatomic and radiologic references and finally demonstrate the clinical cases in terms of the pancreatic vessels. The pancreatic arteries and veins are explained based on the anatomic and radiologic references. Principal pancreatic vessels are demonstrated on cadaver dissection. The pancreas head is supplied by the anterior and posterior pancreaticoduodenal arteries forming arcades in the pancreaticoduodenal sulcus and is drained by the pancreaticoduodenal veins. The pancreas body and tail are supplied by the dorsal, inferior, and caudate pancreatic arteries, and are drained by the inferior and left pancreatic veins. Clinical applications in terms of the pancreatic vessels such as basis for interpretation of the angiography and the CT scan, treatment of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, detection of small insulinoma are stated.

[Indications for the intra-arterial infusion of urokinase in the treatment of acute intestinal ischemia in patients with heart disease]. / Indikation der intraarteriellen Infusion der Urokinase in der Behandlung der akuten Darmischämie bei Patienten mit Herzerkrankungen.

The poor prognosis of acute mesenteric artery occlusion can be improved by reaching a rapid angiographic diagnosis and by instituting treatment at an early stage. In addition to operative embolectomy, success may be expected from the use of urokinase infused super-selectively into the superior mesenteric artery. This treatment is only likely to be successful if it is carried out within ten hours of the onset of clinical signs and symptoms. In patients with heart disease, angiography is recommended as soon as there is any suspicion of mesenteric occlusion, in order to confirm the diagnosis, localise the embolus and decide on the form of treatment. Urokinase treatment can be successful for embolic occlusion of the main branches or peripheral branches of the superior mesenteric artery. However, complete occlusion of the main superior mesenteric artery should be treated operatively. A contra-indication to urokinase therapy is occlusion due to infected emboli from an endocarditis.

Bone scanning in patients with breast carcinoma. Should it be a routine examination in every stage group?

Skeletal imaging using radionuclides has proved to be a sensitive method for the detection of early bony metastases from breast carcinoma. Recent studies have found a relatively low rate of abnormal scans in patients with Stage I and II breast cancers, and therefore it is open to question whether bone scanning should be part of the preoperative evaluation of any patient prior to breast surgery. We reviewed our experience with bone scans in 329 patients out of 406 histologically proven breast cancer patients to determine if any or all patients should have this procedure done routinely prior to breast surgery.

[Usefulness of dynamic thin section CT in detecting lymph node metastasis of lung cancer].

The diagnosis for metastatic lymph nodes of lung cancer by the conventional CT is done only by the size of nodes, therefore, its diagnostic accuracy is questionable. For the purpose of more qualitative diagnosis in order to elevate accuracy of metastatic nodes, we studied a new CT image (Dynamic Thin Section CT) by combining the Thin Section CT with the Dynamic CT, and reviewed on the image of histopathological positive nodes. Firstly, for the preoperative cases of lung cancer, the conventional CT was performed for the whole chest with 10 mm-thickness and 10 mm-interval. Secondary, among them, the Dynamic CT by bolus-injection at the sites of detected hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes was performed. For this method, the Thin Section CT with 2 mm-thickness was used, and the image-detected nodes were isolated by surgery. We studied 25 cases whose images were compared with the histological findings. By the conventional CT sensitivity were 35.7%, specificity 54.5%, and accuracy 44.0%, in regarding the shorter diameter over 1 cm as positive nodes, then under diagnosis were 36%, over diagnosis 20%. Morphological features were reviewed on the image of metastatic lymph nodes in the Dynamic Thin Section CT, and were (1) lump-like lymph nodes, (2) disappearance of the fatty plane around the lymph nodes or uneven and irregular margins, (3) irregular internal structures of enhanced lymph nodes. Moreover, small lymph nodes were clearly detected, and the size was exactly measured.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Lipiodol-CT for the detection of small hypovascular HCC].

To evaluate the diagnostic value of Lipiodol-CT for small hypovascular HCC, we injected 3 ml or less Lipiodol into the hepatic artery of patients with chronic liver disease and small SOL in the liver detected on echogram but not on angiogram. About seven days after injection CT was used to check for accumulation of Lipiodol in the liver SOL. We found that the sensitivity of this method for detection of hypovascular HCC is only 25%. We assume that Lipiodol does not accumulate in small hypovascular HCC lesions because they have little vascular stroma. Lipiodol-CT has high diagnostic value for the detection of small hypervascular daughter HCC lesions, but this method should not be relied on for the detection of small hypovascular HCC.

[Preoperative evaluation of digital subtraction pulmonary angiography in primary lung cancer].

The preoperative evaluation of the resectability for primary lung cancer was studied by using digital subtraction pulmonary angiography (DSA-PAG). Thirty operative cases with primary lung cancer performed DSA-PAG as preoperative test at random for 3 years from June 1985 were subjected in this study. The apparatus used is DSA device (Angiotoron) of a product of Siemens Co., Ltd. The findings obtained by DSA-PAG were retrospectively studied according to the surgical findings, operative modes and postoperative histopathological findings. Moreover, at the same time, usefulness of DSA-PAG was evaluated comparing its findings with preoperative enhanced CT interpretation. The useful findings were obtained in 10 cases of 30 cases (33%). Its contents were 2 cases with invasion of the left atrium, 2 cases with invasion of superior and inferior pulmonary vein, 5 cases with invasion of truncus pulmonary artery and 1 case with interlobar invasion. The findings in all cases were superior to those obtained by the enhanced CT. The decision of operative modes confirming invasion of tumor or metastatic lymph node is one of the important aims of the preoperative test. DSA-PAG can be carried out simply and safely on out-patient basis, additionally, favorable result can be especially obtained in invasion lesions of blood vessels of hilus regions. From the result, informations of regions unknown by preoperative CT were accurately obtained. As a rule, DSA-PAG should be performed by the preoperative routine test of primary lung cancer.

Lens exposure during brain scans using multidetector row CT scanners: methods for estimation of lens dose.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Some recent studies on radiation lens injuries have indicated much lower dose thresholds than specified by the current radiation protection guidelines. The purpose of this research was to measure the lens dose during brain CT scans with multidetector row CT and to assess methods for estimating the lens dose. MATERIALS AND METHODS: With 8 types of multidetector row CT scanners, both axial and helical scans were obtained for the head part of a human-shaped phantom by using normal clinical settings with the orbitomeatal line as the baseline. We measured the doses on both eyelids by using an RPLGD during whole-brain scans including the orbit with the starting point at the level of the inferior orbital rim. To assess the effect of the starting points on the lens doses, we measured the lens doses by using 2 other starting points for scanning (the orbitomeatal line and the superior orbital rim). RESULTS: The CTDIvols and the lens doses during whole-brain CT including the orbit were 50.9-113.3 mGy and 42.6-103.5 mGy, respectively. The ratios of lens dose to CTDIvol were 80.6%-103.4%. The lens doses decreased as the starting points were set more superiorly. The lens doses during scans from the superior orbital rim were 11.8%-20.9% of the doses during the scans from the inferior orbital rim. CONCLUSIONS: CTDIvol can be used to estimate the lens dose during whole-brain CT when the orbit is included in the scanning range.

The congenital anastomoses between hepatic arteries: angiographic appearance.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate congenital anastomoses between hepatic arteries demonstrated on angiography in ten patients and to correlate the anastomosis with types of hepatic arterial anatomy. We evaluated the types of the hepatic arterial anatomy based on Michels' classification for 720 patients and compared the anatomic types between the patients with the anastomoses (ten patients) and without the anastomoses (710 patients). The diameter of the anastomoses ranged from 1.5 to 3.0 mm (mean, 2.4 mm). Five anastomoses were classified as tortuous type and five as straight type. Based on Michels' classification for types of hepatic arterial anatomy, eight (80%) of ten patients with the congenital anastomoses were classified as type III (replaced right hepatic artery from superior mesenteric artery). The remaining two patients were classified as type IV (replaced right hepatic artery from superior mesenteric artery and replaced left hepatic artery from left gastric artery) and type VIIIa (replaced right hepatic artery from superior mesenteric artery and accessory left hepatic artery from left gastric artery). Eight (16%) of 48 patients who were classified as type III have the anastomoses. In conclusion, the congenital anastomoses were observed especially in patients with replaced right hepatic artery from superior mesenteric artery.

Precaval draining vein from paraesophageal varices: radiologic-anatomic correlation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the CT features of the precaval draining vein from paraesophageal varices in six patients with liver cirrhosis. We also assessed the anatomic nature of the vein. CONCLUSION: The precaval vein courses anteriorly to the inferior vena cava and drains into the right anterior aspect of the inferior vena cava. The diameter of the precaval vein ranged from 3 to 13 mm (mean, 6.5 mm). The precaval vein is anatomically identical to the anastomosis between the right and left inferior phrenic veins.

Hepatic falciform ligament artery: angiographic anatomy and clinical importance.

The hepatic falciform ligament artery (HFLA) was evaluated by angiography and also by dissections. Based on the findings, the mechanism of the post-chemoembolization skin rash was studied. A total of 340 liver cirrhosis patients who underwent hepatic artery chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma were reviewed in terms of the angiographic incidence of the HFLA, variations in its origin, and the incidence of skin rash. The HFLA was demonstrated in 26 (7.6%) of the 340 patients on angiography. Two HFLAs were observed in one patient. The origin was the middle hepatic artery (A4) in 16 cases, the superior branch of the middle hepatic artery in three, the inferior branch of the middle hepatic artery in two, the inferior branch of the left hepatic artery (A3) in three, and the confluence of A3 and A4 in three cases. There were no patients who developed post-chemoembolization skin rash. Two cadavers were dissected to investigate the anastomosis between the HFLA and the subcutaneous artery. Two different anastomoses were found: (1) direct and (2) via the ensiform branch of the internal thoracic artery. These were located at the lower and upper part of the falciform ligament, respectively. The distribution of a chemotherapeutic agent through these anastomoses is the likely cause of post-chemoembolization skin rash. If prophylactic embolization of the proximal portion of the HFLA using a metallic coil is performed, the skin rash will be prevented.

Veins of Retzius at CT during arterial portography: anatomy and clinical importance.

PURPOSE: To classify the veins of Retzius demonstrated at computed tomography (CT) during arterial portography (CTAP) on the basis of anatomic location and to evaluate the relationship between the frequency of CT visualization and associated disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors reviewed axial CTAP scans from 130 patients. Patients were classified into one of two groups: patients with liver cirrhosis (group 1 [n = 81]) and patients without liver cirrhosis (group 2 [n = 49]). RESULTS: The pathways of the veins of Retzius were classified as follows: (a) The ileocolic vein drained into the inferior vena cava (IVC) or the right renal vein through the right gonadal vein (n = 61); (b) the pancreaticoduodenal vein drained into the IVC (n = 8); (c) the proximal branches of the superior mesenteric vein drained into the left gonadal vein (n = 6); and (d) the ileocolic vein drained directly into the IVC (n = 5). The veins of Retzius were demonstrated in 41 (51%) of the 81 patients in group 1 and 26 (53%) of the 49 patients in group 2. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The veins of Retzius were demonstrated at CTAP in approximately 50% of patients with and 50% of patients without liver cirrhosis.