Percutaneous transhepatic placement of plastic biliary stents: technical description and preliminary results.

PURPOSE: To describe a novel technique of percutaneous transhepatic (PTH) placement of a plastic biliary stent (PBS), report the feasibility and safety of the technique, and present the preliminary results of a pilot study that included 32 patients with symptomatic obstructive jaundice (SOJ) treated with the technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective, single-arm, single-center, pilot study of a cohort of patients with the diagnosis of benign or malignant obstructive jaundice that underwent PTH placement of a PBS to relieve the obstruction. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were included, 16 men and 16 women (age range, 35-88 years). There were 26 malignant and six benign lesions. Cholangiocarcinoma was the most common tumor (n=13, 40.6%), followed by pancreatic adenocarcinoma (n=6, 18.75%) and metastasis (n=5, 15.6%). A total of 35 PBSs were placed in 32 procedures. The bile duct was accessed and drained to the right side in 18 cases, to the left side in 14 cases, and bilaterally in three cases. Technical success was achieved in 100% and clinical success in 93.7% of cases. Using a modified Bismuth-Cortelle classification system, type I was observed in nine patients, type II in nine patients, type III in six patients, and type IV in eight patients. The mean follow-up was 426.1 days for the total sample, and 349.4 days for patients with malignancy. Two complications were observed: transient hemobilia and cholangitis. CONCLUSION: PTH placement of a PBS in patients with SOJ is feasible, safe, and effective.

Comparison of clinico-epidemiological and radiological features in paracoccidioidomycosis patients regarding serological classification using antigens from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis complex and Paracoccidioides lutzii.

Genotyping of the genus Paracoccidioides showed its diversity and geographical distribution. Four species constituting the Paracoccidioides brasiliensis complex and Paracoccidioides lutzii are etiological agents of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). However, there are no studies comparing the clinical and epidemiological aspects between PCM caused by the P. brasiliensis complex and by P. lutzii. Demographic and clinical data from 81 patients with PCM-confirmed by mycological and/or histopathological examination-from Mato Grosso do Sul state (Brazil) were studied. All patients underwent serology by immunodiffusion with antigens obtained from the P. brasiliensis complex (ExoPb and gp43) and Cell Free Antigens obtained from P.lutzii (CFAPl).The cases were classified regarding their serological profile into three groups: G1: PCM patients seropositive to ExoPb and/or gp43 and seronegative to CFAPl (n = 51), assumed to have PCM caused by P. brasiliensis complex; G2: PCM patients seronegative to gp43 and seropositive to CFAPl (n = 16), with PCM caused by P. lutzii; and G3: PCM patients seropositive to ExoPb or gp43 and seropositive to CFAPl (n = 14), with undetermined serological profile, was excluded from the analyses. The Fisher's exact test or the Mann-Whitney U test, and cluster analysis according to Ward's method and Euclidean distance were used to analyze the results. Patients with serological profile suggestive of P. lutzii lived predominantly in municipalities in the Central and Southern regions of the state, while those with serological profile indicative of the P. brasiliensis complex were distributed throughout the state. No differences were found between the two groups regarding gender, age, schooling, rural work, clinical form, severity, organs involved, intensity of pulmonary involvement, degree of anemia, erythrocyte sedimentation rate values, and therapeutic response. PCM patients with serological profile suggestive of P. lutzii and PCM patients with serological profile indicative of P. brasiliensis complex showed the same clinical and radiological presentations.

Assessment of Early Treatment Response With DWI After CT-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation of Functioning Adrenal Adenomas.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to establish the suitability of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) as a parameter for evaluating early treatment response after percutaneous ablation of functional adrenal adenomas. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventeen adult patients with functioning adrenal adenomas underwent radiofrequency ablation. Serum hormone levels were analyzed before and up to 6 months after ablation. MRI findings (nodule size in cm, signal intensity index, ADC maps, and nodule-to-muscle ADC ratio) were analyzed before and up to 30 days after ablation. A consensus review of all scans was performed by two attending abdominal imaging radiologists. The procedure was considered successful if serum hormone levels normalized and no contrast enhancement of the adrenal lesion was seen on follow-up MRI. RESULTS: Of 17 patients who underwent radiofrequency ablation, complete response was achieved in 16 patients with partial response in one patient. Of the four parameters of interest, only ADC maps and nodule-to-muscle ADC ratio showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This prospective study suggests that apparent diffusion coefficient values may help radiologists monitor early treatment response after CT-guided radiofrequency ablation of functioning adrenal adenomas.

Glutamine/glutamate metabolism studied with magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging for the characterization of adrenal nodules and masses.

PURPOSE: To assess glutamine/glutamate (Glx) and lactate (Lac) metabolism using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H-MRS) in order to differentiate between adrenal gland nodules and masses (adenomas, pheochromocytomas, carcinomas, and metastases). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. A total of 130 patients (47 men) with 132 adrenal nodules/masses were prospectively assessed (54 ± 14.8 years). A multivoxel system was used with a two-dimensional point-resolved spectroscopy/chemical-shift imaging sequence. Spectroscopic data were interpreted by visual inspection and peak amplitudes of lipids (Lip), choline (Cho), creatine (Cr), Lac, and Glx. Lac/Cr and Glx/Cr were calculated. Glx/Cr was assessed in relation to lesion size. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were observed in Glx/Cr results between adenomas and pheochromocytomas (P < 0.05), however, with a low positive predictive value (PPV). Glx levels were directly proportional to lesion size in carcinomas. A cutoff point of 1.44 was established for the differentiation between carcinomas larger versus smaller than 4 cm, with 75% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% PPV, and 80% accuracy. Lac/Cr results showed no differences across lesions. A cutoff point of -6.5 for Lac/Cr was established for carcinoma diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Glx levels are directly proportional to lesion size in carcinomas. A cutoff point of -6.5 Lac/Cr differentiates carcinomas from noncarcinomas.

Von Recklinghausen's disease with urogenital manifestation.

Neurofibromatosis or Von Recklinghausen's disease is a rare disease that affects the urogenital system in its visceral form. We report on one case where the patient had a recurring mass located in the vesicouterine space that caused irritative urinary symptoms, which was confirmed as uterine cervix neurofibroma following surgery and immunohistochemical study. We stress the importance of a wide resection of such tumors and the need for long-term follow-up due to the high recurrence index and the risk of malignant transformation.

Von Recklinghausen's disease with urogenital manifestation

Neurofibromatosis or Von Recklinghausen's disease is a rare disease that affects the urogenital system in its visceral form. We report on one case where the patient had a recurring mass located in the vesicouterine space that caused irritative urinary symptoms, which was confirmed as uterine cervix neurofibroma following surgery and immunohistochemical study. We stress the importance of a wide resection of such tumors and the need for long-term follow-up due to the high recurrence index and the risk of malignant transformation.