Long-term clinical and angiographic outcome from angioplasty and stenting for intracranial stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Severe intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) is a major cause of stroke. Although percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) treatment methods have increased over the last decade as alternative therapies, there is debate regarding the best method of treatment, with medical and surgical therapies often suggested. METHODS: We analyzed the long-term follow-up results from 5 years of intracranial stenting for intracranial stenosis from three stroke centers. The primary endpoints were early stroke complications or death within 30 days after stent insertion, and the secondary endpoint was a recurrent stroke between 30 days and 60 months. Correlating factors and Kaplan-Meier survival curves for recurrent stroke and in-stent restenosis (ISR) were also obtained. RESULTS: Seventy-three PTAS in 71 patients were examined in this study. The primary and secondary endpoints were all 8.2% (n = 6), and restenosis was 13.7% (n = 10) during the 5-year follow-up. The primary endpoints were significantly frequent in the high National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and early stent (≤ 7 days after dual antiplatelet medication) groups. Secondary endpoint and ISR were identically frequent in the younger age group and in the presence of tandem stenosis in other major intracranial arteries. The cumulative probability of recurrent stroke and ISR at 60 months was 16.4% and 14.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that PTAS is safe and effective for major ICAS. Reducing the early complication rate is still an important factor, despite the fact that long-term stroke recurrence was low.

Chemoembolization of the left inferior phrenic artery in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: radiographic findings and clinical outcome.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiographic findings of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) supplied by the left inferior phrenic artery (LIPA) and the safety and efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) of the LIPA. From September 2002 until August 2004, 11 patients with LIPA supplying HCC were identified and successfully treated with TACE of all LIPAs. LIPA collateral vessels may supply HCC, particularly when the tumors are in the left lobe of the liver in patients who have undergone previous TACE procedures. In this setting, such collateral vessels should be sought on preprocedural imaging. These LIPA collateral vessels may be safely embolized with very good clinical results.

Supplemental transcatheter arterial chemoembolization through a collateral omental artery: treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of supplemental transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) through the extrahepatic collateral omental artery (OA) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: We studied 21 patients with extrahepatic collaterals of the OA, among 1,512 patients with HCC who had undergone angiography. HCCs supplied by collateral OAs were located at: segment IV in seven, segment V in five, segment III in three, segment VI in three and segment VIII in three patients (Couinaud classification of segments). On preoperative CT scans, every HCC was abutting the liver surface. Adjacent omental infiltration or engorgement was noted in 11 patients. Celiac and hepatic arteriograms showed hypertrophy of the feeding OA in all patients. TACE of the OA was performed in 19 patients with an emulsion of iodized oil and doxorubicin hydrochloride. Embolization with gelatin sponge particles was added in five patients. RESULTS: Collaterals of the OA to the HCC were found on the first to seventeenth sessions of TACE. On follow-up CT scans, five patients showed complete uptake of iodized oil in the tumor. Partial uptake of iodized oil was noted in 13 patients and no uptake in one patient. There was no serious complication that related to the omental embolization, such as omental or bowel ischemia. The cumulative survival rates from the time of the TACE of the OA were 81% at 6 months and 68% at 12 months. CONCLUSION: TACE of the OA is safe and has a potential therapeutic effect in the treatment of HCC.