Diagnostic Value of Computed Tomography Angiography in Suspected Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients With Respect to National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Score.

OBJECTIVE: Noncontrast computed tomography (NCCT) plus computed tomography angiography (CTA) is the standard imaging modality for acute stroke. We investigated whether there is an additional diagnostic value of supra-aortic CTA in relation to National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and resultant effective radiation dose. METHODS: In this observational study, 788 patients with suspected acute stroke were included and divided into 3 NIHSS groups: group 1, NIHSS 0-2; group 2, NIHSS 3-5; and group 3, NIHSS ≥ 6.Computed tomography scans were assessed for findings of acute ischemic stroke and vascular pathologies in 3 regions. Final diagnosis was obtained from medical records. Effective radiation dose was calculated based on the dose-length product. RESULTS: Seven hundred forty-one patients were included. Group 1 had 484 patients, group 2 had 127 patients, and group 3 had 130 patients. Computed tomography diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke was made in 76 patients. In 37 patients, a diagnosis of acute stroke was made based on pathologic CTA findings in case of an unremarkable NCCT. Stroke occurrence was the lowest in groups 1 and 2, with 3.6% and 6.3%, respectively, compared with 12.7% in group 3. If both NCCT and CTA were positive, the patient was discharged with a stroke diagnosis. Male sex had the highest effect on the final stroke diagnosis. The mean effective radiation dose was 2.6 mSv. CONCLUSIONS: In female patients with NIHSS 0-2, additional CTA rarely contains relevant additional findings decisive for treatment decisions or overall patient outcomes; therefore, CTA in this patient group might yield less impactful findings, and the applied radiation dose could be lowered by approximately 35%.

Breast Abscesses: Diagnosis, Treatment and Outcome.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to analyze diagnostic results, different treatment modalities, and the outcome of patients with breast abscesses treated at our institution in a multi-modality breast team, to determine whether minimally invasive treatments are successful. METHODS: 110 patients with mastitis and suspected breast abscesses at our institution between January 2000 and end of September 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Abscesses were diagnosed using ultrasonography (US), and the material obtained using US-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) was further examined. RESULTS: 29% of the patients were treated conservatively with antibiotics only, 51% were treated with US-guided FNA or drainage placement. 11% of the patients underwent additional surgery after minimally invasive treatment (i.e. conversion rate). 9% of the patients underwent primary surgery. Early complications occurred in 7% of patients treated minimally invasive but not in patients treated with surgery alone. Late complications occurred in 5% of patients who underwent minimally invasive treatments and in 30% of patients who underwent surgery. CONCLUSIONS: US-guided FNA as a minimally invasive therapy in combination with antibiotics was found to successfully treat most breast abscesses and, in cases where a larger volume of pus was involved, the placement of an additional drainage catheter was effective.

Massive bleeding of ruptured metastatic hepatic melanoma treated by transarterial embolization.

Although melanoma frequently metastasizes to the liver, its spontaneous rupture is rare. We report herein an unusual case of a 73-year-old man with rupture of multiple hepatic metastases from scalp melanoma and resulting massive intraperitoneal bleeding, which was successfully controlled by transarterial embolization.

Prospective respiratory-triggered multidetector row CT (MDCT) for abdominal examinations: initial experience with a prototype.

PURPOSE: To develop a prototype for prospective respiratory-triggered multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) for abdominal examinations and to assess its feasibility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The prototype consisted of the following components: an MDCT unit, personal computer (PC), and a respiratory motion detector in the form of a wearable belt with sensors to measure differences in pressure caused by breathing excursions. The registered signals were processed by the PC. The abdominal MDCT images of 10 healthy volunteers were obtained with an incremental axial technique in the expiration phase during normal breathing. Multiplanar reformations (MPR) were then performed. On the basis of the precision of these reconstructions, two radiologists then assessed the accuracy and applicability of the system. RESULTS: Coronal and sagittal MPR images from these prospective respiratory-gated examinations were found to be accurate. In particular, the continuity of borders and surfaces of scanned organs proved the exactness of the previously acquired respiration-correlated axial source images. CONCLUSION: This prototype is feasible to perform prospective respiratory-triggered abdominal MDCT examinations during normal respiration without breathhold. This system may be useful for patients with reduced compliance in holding their breath.

Endovascular therapeutic options for isolated iliac aneurysms with a working classification.

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate a variety of stent-grafting and embolization techniques and describe a new classification for endovascular treatment of isolated iliac artery aneurysms. A total of 19 patients were treated for isolated iliac aneurysms. Depending on the proximal iliac neck and the uni-/bilaterality of common iliac artery aneurysms (CIAA's) the patient may be treated by a tube (Type Ia) or a bifurcated stent-graft (Type Ib) in addition to internal iliac artery embolization. Neck anatomy is also critical in determining therapeutical options for internal iliac artery aneurysms (IIAA's). These are tube stent-grafting plus internal iliac branch embolization (Type IIa), coiling of afferent and efferent internal iliac vessels (Type IIb) and IIAA packing (Type IIc). The average length of stay for these procedures was 3.8 days. During the mean follow-up of 20.9 months, aneurysm size remained unchanged in all but 4 patients. Reinterventions were necessary in option Type Ib (3/8 pat.) and Type Ia (1/7 pat.) due to extender stent-graft migration (n = 2) or reperfusion leaks (n = 2). We conclude that Iliac artery aneurysms may be successfully and safely treated by a tailored approach using embolization or a combination of embolization and stent-grafting. Long-term CT imaging follow-up is necessary, particularly in patients treated with bifurcated stent-grafts (Type Ib).