Clinically Suspected Segmental Arterial Mediolysis of the Splanchnic Arteries: A Report of 2 Rare Cases.

BACKGROUND Segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) is an uncommon vascular pathology characterized by arteriopathy, mainly of medium-sized abdominal splanchnic vessels, without an atherosclerotic, inflammatory, infectious, or autoimmune underlying etiology. Segmental arterial mediolysis is clinically heterogeneous and symptoms may be completely nonspecific. The knowledge of radiological features of segmental arterial mediolysis and the exclusion of other pathologies should direct early diagnosis and refer patients for correct treatment. CASE REPORT In the last 2 years, we treated 2 different adult patients (an 89-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man) with spontaneous visceral bleeding, admitted to the Emergency Department due to acute onset of abdominal pain, anemia, and computed tomographic angiography (CTA) evidence of aneurysmatic, and stenotic alterations of splanchnic arteries. Based on clinical, laboratory, and radiological features, segmental arterial mediolysis was suspected. These 2 patients were referred to our Interventional Radiology Department and treated with super-selective transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), performed by a minimally invasive approach, allowing an immediate clinical improvement with regression of symptoms and avoiding major surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS In patients with clinical, laboratory, and radiological signs of acute and/or chronic abdominal bleeding and radiological findings suggesting segmental arterial mediolysis, mini-invasive endovascular treatment is a safe, extremely reliable, and secure procedure and appears to be the first-choice treatment when available. Since abdominal bleeding could have fatal consequences in these patients, timely diagnosis and endovascular therapy are essential to treat visceral vascular alterations due to segmental arterial mediolysis.

Prevalence of "high-riding" superior pericardial recesses on thin-section 16-MDCT scans.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of "high-riding" superior pericardial recess (HRSPR) on thin-section (1 mm) 16-multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred and fourteen consecutive chest CT scans obtained with a thin-section 16 MDCT were retrospectively evaluated. The prevalence and characteristic of HRSPR were analyzed. RESULTS: HRSPR was depicted in 21 patients (11 men and 10 women) (6.6%) who ranged in age from 28 to 72 years (mean age, 57 years). The extended recesses were rounded/oval shaped in five patients and triangular, spindle, half moon or irregular shaped in the other 16 patients. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest as HRSPRs are more frequently and better depicted on thinsection MDCT scans, and this improves the capability to distinguish this superior extension of the superior aortic recess from abnormal findings such as lymphadenopathy, cystic lesions, and aortic dissection.

Rare gastrointestinal lymphomas: The endoscopic investigation.

Gastrointestinal lymphomas represent up to 10% of gastrointestinal malignancies and about one third of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The most prominent histologies are mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. However, the gastrointestinal tract can be the site of rarer lymphoma subtypes as a primary or secondary localization. Due to their rarity and the multifaceted histology, an endoscopic classification has not been validated yet. This review aims to analyze the endoscopic presentation of rare gastrointestinal lymphomas from disease diagnosis to follow-up, according to the involved site and lymphoma subtype. Existing, new and emerging endoscopic technologies have been examined. In particular, we investigated the diagnostic, prognostic and follow-up endoscopic features of T-cell and natural killer lymphomas, lymphomatous polyposis and mantle cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, plasma cell related disease, gastrointestinal lymphomas in immunodeficiency and Hodgkin's lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract. Contrarily to more frequent gastrointestinal lymphomas, data about rare lymphomas are mostly extracted from case series and case reports. Due to the data paucity, a synergism between gastroenterologists and hematologists is required in order to better manage the disease. Indeed, clinical and prognostic features are different from nodal and extranodal or the bone marrow (in case of plasma cell disease) counterpart. Therefore, the approach should be based on the knowledge of the peculiar behavior and natural history of disease.

Endoscopic features of gastro-intestinal lymphomas: from diagnosis to follow-up.

Many progresses have been done in the management of gastrointestinal (GI) lymphomas during last decades, especially after the discovery of Helicobacter pylori-dependent lymphoma development. The stepwise implementation of new endoscopic techniques, by means of echoendoscopy or double-balloon enteroscopy, enabled us to more precisely describe the endoscopic features of GI lymphomas with substantial contribution in patient management and in tailoring the treatment strategy with organ preserving approaches. In this review, we describe the recent progresses in GI lymphoma management from disease diagnosis to follow-up with a specific focus on the endoscopic presentation according to the involved site and the lymphoma subtype. Additionally, new or emerging endoscopic technologies that have an impact on the management of gastrointestinal lymphomas are reported. We here discuss the two most common subtypes of GI lymphomas: the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue and the diffuse large B cell lymphoma. A general outline on the state-of-the-art of the disease and on the role of endoscopy in both diagnosis and follow-up will be performed.

Treatment of a celiac trunk aneurysm close to the hepato-splenic bifurcation by using hepatic stent-graft implantation and splenic artery embolization.

We present a case of a 73-year-old man in whom a celiac trunk aneurysm close to the hepato-splenic bifurcation was discovered and treated by using celiac-hepatic stent-grafts implantation and splenic artery embolization.

Interventional treatment of iatrogenic lesions and hepatic arteries.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the angiographic findings and the results of interventional treatment in iatrogenic lesions of the hepatic artery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve patients (6 men and 6 women), aged 46 to 75 years (mean age 56.3 years), with acute hepatic bleeding secondary to percutaneous, surgical or laparoscopic procedures, were diagnosed using angiography and treated with endovascular percutaneous procedures. RESULTS: Angiography revealed 7 pseudoaneurysms, 3 arterial lacerations, 1 arterio-portal fistula e 1 arterio-biliary fistula that were treated by Trans-catheter Arterial Embolization (TAE) (n=11) and stentgraft placement (n=1). Only one patient had a relapse two days after TAE and died of haemorrhagic shock. The other patients had a benign clinical course with an average follow-up of 9.6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Interventional radiological procedures are effective in the management of iatrogenic lesions of the hepatic arterial vessels since they are minimally invasive, have a high success rate, and a low incidence of complications compared to the more complex and dangerous surgical or laparoscopic options.