Utility of a 3D Roadmap During Balloon-occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration for Gastric Varices.

OBJECTIVE: We describe our initial clinical experience regarding the use of a 3D roadmap during balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) in three patients. METHODS: Between June 2016 and July 2016, three BRTO procedures were performed in three patients with gastric varices. Preprocedural intravenous dynamic CT was performed, and portal venous phase CT images were postprocessed to obtain volume rendering (VR) images. A 3D roadmap was developed by overlaying the VR images onto the real-time X-ray fluoroscopy images. This 3D roadmap was used for interventional guidance during the BRTO procedure. RESULTS: Using a 3D roadmap, the catheterization of the gastrorenal shunt was successfully accomplished. In addition, in all three patients, the sclerosant could reach the gastric varices without the administration of iodinated contrast medium. Fluoroscopy time and the iodinated contrast dose administered in the present cohort were also substantially lower than in our previous cohorts that did not use a 3D roadmap. CONCLUSION: Using a 3D roadmap during BRTO enables easier and faster catheter manipulation, thereby helping to reduce both radiation exposure and the need to administer iodinated contrast medium.

Interventional radiology peer, a newly developed peer-review scoring system designed for interventional radiology practice.

PURPOSE: Existing diagnostic radiology peer-review systems do not address the specificities of interventional radiology (IR) practice. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of a specifically developed interventional peer review method, IR Peer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of a prospectively encoded pilot database aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of IR Peer in a multiphysician practice was performed. This scoring system used morning peer review of selected IR cases from the previous day in the form of a five-item questionnaire and an ordinal answer scale that grades reviewers' agreement with imaging findings, procedural/technical management, early outcomes, and follow-up plan. Patient lists from IR Peer and morbidity and mortality (M&M) conferences were compared to evaluate the amount of overlap and capability of IR Peer to help detect adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: A total of 417 consecutive reviews of IR attending physician cases by peers were performed in 163 consecutive patients over 18 months, and 94% of cases were reviewed by two or three IR attending physicians. Each question was answered 99%-100% of the time. Answers showed disagreement in 10% of cases (2% by a single reviewer, 8% by several), most related to procedural technique. Overall AE incidence was 1.8%. IR Peer contributed 10.7% of cases to the M&M list. CONCLUSIONS: IR Peer is feasible, relevant, and easy to implement in a multiphysician IR practice. When used along with other quality-assurance processes, it might help in the detection of AEs for M&M; the latter will require further confirmatory research.

Real-time MR imaging guidance for percutaneous core biopsy of US- and CT-negative lesion.

Biopsies traditionally are performed under ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), or fluoroscopic guidance. In situations in which lesions are difficult to visualize with US or CT guidance, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging often can provide better imaging results. The authors describe a case in which a recurrent calf mass not well visualized under fluoroscopy, CT, or US was identified on MR imaging. In the absence of real-time needle visualization, percutaneous interventions under MR guidance have been limited by prohibitively long imaging times. A novel guidance system providing real-time MR guidance of needle position was used to procure a core biopsy specimen of the lesion.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the axial skeleton for detecting bone metastases in patients with high-risk prostate cancer: diagnostic and cost-effectiveness and comparison with current detection strategies.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic performance, costs, and impact on therapy of one-step magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the axial skeleton (MRIas) for detecting bone metastases in patients with high-risk prostate cancer (PCa). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-six consecutive patients with high-risk PCa prospectively underwent MRIas in addition to the standard sequential work-up (SW) of bone metastases (technetium-99m bone scintigraphy [BS] completed with targeted x-rays [TXR] in patients with equivocal BS findings and with MRI obtained on request [MRIor] in patients with inconclusive BS/TXR findings). Panel review of initial and 6-month follow-up MRI findings, BS/TXR, and all available baseline and follow-up clinical and biologic data were used as the best valuable comparator to define metastatic status. Diagnostic effectiveness of MRIas alone was compared with each step of the SW. Impact of MRIas screening on patient management and costs was evaluated. RESULTS: On the basis of the best valuable comparator, 41 patients (62%) had bone metastases. Sensitivities were 46% for BS alone, 63% for BS/TXR, 83% for BS/TXR/MRIor, and 100% for MRIas; the corresponding specificities were 32%, 64%, 100%, and 88%, respectively. MRIas was significantly more sensitive than any other approach (P < .05, McNemar). MRIas identified metastases in seven (30%) of 23 patients considered negative and eight (47%) of 17 patients considered equivocal by other strategies, which altered the initially planned therapy. Economic impact was variable among countries, depending on reimbursement rates. CONCLUSION: MRIas is more sensitive than the current SW of radiographically identified bone metastases in high-risk PCa patients, which impacts the clinical management of a significant proportion of patients.

Screening carotid sonography before elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery: who needs it.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether selection criteria for performing carotid sonographic screening before elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery can decrease the number of negative examinations without overlooking patients with significant carotid disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A history of peripheral vascular disease, a prior cerebrovascular event, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, cervical carotid disease, left main coronary disease, and patient sex were criteria prospectively gathered for 295 consecutive patients undergoing screening carotid sonography before elective coronary artery bypass surgery. Logistic regression modeling was used to determine if any single criterion or combination of criteria could be applied to decrease the number of screening examinations without sacrificing detection of significant (> or = 50% cross-sectional narrowing) carotid stenosis. RESULTS: Smoking, diabetes, hypertension, a previous cerebrovascular event, peripheral vascular disease, left main coronary artery disease, and a history of cervical carotid disease were associated with significant carotid disease (chi-square test) in our subject population. Logistic modeling showed that the probability of detecting significant carotid disease increases 2.98 times for each additional selection criterion present. Possessing at least one selection criterion would still yield 100% examination sensitivity while increasing specificity to 30.0%. CONCLUSION: Selection criteria should be applied when choosing patients for carotid sonographic screening before elective coronary artery bypass surgery. This approach would decrease the number of noncontributory examinations but would have little effect on the detection of significant carotid stenosis in this target population.

The influence of angiography table shields and height on patient and angiographer irradiation during interventional radiology procedures.

PURPOSE: To quantify the influence of angiography table height on patient and angiographer irradiation, as compared with other routine protective measures such as the use of protective shields hanging at the tableside and from the ceiling of angiography suites. METHODS: An experimental study was carried out in which a phantom (substitute for a human body) placed on the angiography table was irradiated by pulsed fluoroscopy. Entrance exposure rates were measured at the phantom surface (surrogate of patient skin exposure by incident X-ray beam) and at 60 cm from the phantom (analog to angiographer skin exposure by scatter). Exposure rates were measured at levels corresponding to the knees, testes, waist, xyphoid appendix, shoulders, and eyes of an angiographer 178 cm tall. Measurements were repeated at angiography table heights of 85, 95, 105, and 110 cm from the floor, with and without protective shields. RESULTS: Moving the table from its highest to lowest position increased by 32% the phantom entrance exposure but decreased scatter to the angiographer. Scatter to the angiographer could be reduced most by using the protective shields (30-105 times less), but low table heights provided relatively more important protection (412-1121 muSv/hr reduction, or 15-72% scatter reduction) when shields were not used (e.g., for unprotected regions of the angiographer's body such as the hands). CONCLUSION: Working at lower table heights provides a little additional protection to exposed body parts of angiographers, at the cost of somewhat higher patient exposure. Although small, this incremental protection could be clinically relevant in the long term. The choice of table position should be a compromise based on multiple factors, including at least patient exposure, scatter to angiographers, and angiographer comfort.

Microcoil embolization for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

PURPOSE: To assess outcomes after microcoil embolization for active lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. METHODS: We retrospectively studied all consecutive patients in whom microcoil embolization was attempted to treat acute lower GI bleeding over 88 months. Baseline, procedural, and outcome parameters were recorded following current Society of Interventional Radiology guidelines. Outcomes included technical success, clinical success (rebleeding within 30 days), delayed rebleeding (>30 days), and major and minor complication rates. Follow-up consisted of clinical, endoscopic, and pathologic data. RESULTS: Nineteen patients (13 men, 6 women; mean age +/- 95% confidence interval = 70 +/- 6 years) requiring blood transfusion (10 +/- 3 units) had angiography-proven bleeding distal to the marginal artery. Main comorbidities were malignancy (42%), coagulopathy (28%), and renal failure (26%). Bleeding was located in the small bowel (n = 5), colon (n = 13) or rectum (n = 1). Technical success was obtained in 17 patients (89%); 2 patients could not be embolized due to vessel tortuosity and stenoses. Clinical follow-up length was 145 +/- 75 days. Clinical success was complete in 13 (68%), partial in 3 (16%), and failed in 2 patients (11%). Delayed rebleeding (3 patients, 27%) was always due to a different lesion in another bowel segment (0 late rebleeding in embolized area). Two patients experienced colonic ischemia (11%) and underwent uneventful colectomy. Two minor complications were noted. CONCLUSION: Microcoil embolization for active lower GI bleeding is safe and effective in most patients, with high technical and clinical success rates, no procedure-related mortality, and a low risk of bowel ischemia and late rebleeding.