Feasibility and safety of percutaneous transhepatic endobiliary radiofrequency ablation as an adjunct to biliary stenting in malignant biliary obstruction.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility and safety of percutaneous transhepatic endobiliary radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with biliary stenting in palliative treatment of malignant biliary obstructions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients who had undergone percutaneous transhepatic endobiliary RFA as an adjunct to biliary stenting were included. There were 12 men and nine women with a mean age of 67±13.6 (SD) years (range: 34-86 years). Demographic data, procedure details and follow-up data including complications, survival time and stent patency time were documented. The median stent patency time and survival time, as well as the 30- day and 180-day cumulative survival and stent patency rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Twenty-four percutaneous transhepatic endobiliary RFA procedures were performed. There were no procedure-related major complications or death. Three patients who had developed stent reocclusion underwent a second endobiliary RFA, without insertion of a new stent. The most common complications were post-procedural pain and cholangitis. Overall survival and stent patency times ranged between 5-542 days and 5-251 days, respectively. The median survival time was 76 days (95%CI: 0-233 days) and stent patency time was 133 days (95% CI: 25-240 days). The 30- and 180- day cumulative stent patency rates were 75% and 34%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous transhepatic endobiliary RFA is a feasible, safe and cost-effective method in restoration of biliary drainage in patients with malignant biliary obstruction.

Evaluation of Oral Anticoagulant-Associated Intracranial Parenchymal Hematomas Using CT Findings.

PURPOSE: Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is one of the most serious and lethal complications of anticoagulants with a reported incidence of 5-18.5 %. Computed tomographic (CT) findings, should be carefully studied because early diagnosis and treatment of oral anticoagulant use-associated hematomas are vitally important. In the present study, CT findings of intraparenchymal hematomas associated with anticoagulant and antihypertensive use are presented. METHODS: This study included 45 patients (25 men, 20 women) under anticoagulant (21 patients) or antihypertensive (24 patients) treatment who had brain CT examinations due to complaints and findings suggesting cerebrovascular disease during July 2010-October 2013 period. CT examinations were performed to determine hematoma volumes and presence of swirl sign, hematocrit effect, mid-line shift effect, and intraventricular extension. RESULTS: The patients were 40-89 years of age. In four cases, a total of 51 intraparenchymal hematomas (42 cerebral, 7 cerebellar and 2 brain stem) were detected in multiple foci. Hematoma volumes varied from 0.09 to 284.00 ml. Swirl sign was observed in 87.5 and 63.0 % of OAC-associated ICHs and non-OAC-associated ICHs, respectively. In addition, hematocrit effect was observed in 41.6 % of OAC-associated and in 3.7 % of non-OAC-associated ICHs. Volume increases were observed in all 19 hematomas where swirl sign was detected, and follow-up CT scanning was conducted. Mortality of OAC-associated ICHs was correlated with initial volumes of hematoma, mid-line shift amount, and intraventricular extension. CONCLUSIONS: Detection of hematocrit effect by CT scanning of intracranial hematomas should be cautionary in oral anticoagulant use, while detection of swirl sign should be suggestive of active hemorrhage.

Magnetic resonance imaging findings of developmental venous anomalies.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated morphological features of developmental venous anomalies (DVAs) based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. The study also evaluated the factors affecting the visibility of DVAs on MRI. METHODS: We reviewed contrast-enhanced MRIs of 75 patients with DVA. The images were selected from 1,165 consecutive cranial MRIs. The images were examined for the DVA location, the number of collecting veins, the collecting vein diameter, drainage veins and sinuses, any accompanying parenchymal abnormalities or lesions, and the DVA visibility on MRI. RESULTS: DVAs prevalence was determined as 6.4 %. A total of 88 DVAs were observed. Single DVAs were observed in 65 patients, two were observed in 7 patients and three were observed in 3 patients. The DVA caputs had deep localization most frequently in 54.5 % of patients. A total of 98 collecting veins were identified, with a single vein identified in 80 DVAs. A statistically significant difference (p = 0.000) was found in the diameter of the collecting veins between DVAs that were the visible and nonvisible on noncontrast MRI. CONCLUSIONS: Most frequently, a single DVA was observed in the patients. A DVA caput could be located in the deep, subcortical, juxtacortical or deep + subcortical and juxtacortical + subcortical regions. Increasing collecting vein diameter increased visibility on noncontrast MRI, and small DVAs could be overlooked, even with contrast-enhanced MRI series if the images were not examined carefully.

Spontaneous Bilateral Carotid Artery Dissection: Diagnosis and Follow-up with MDCT. A Case Report.

Carotid artery dissection is usually unilateral. Rarely bilateral forms can be seen. Recent studies have shown the efficacy of computed tomography angiography (CTA) in the diagnosis of carotid dissection. Herein we report a case with bilateral carotid artery dissection diagnosis and follow-up which was carried out using mainly CTA.