CT-guided thoracic biopsy: evaluating diagnostic yield and complications.

INTRODUCTION: This study retrospectively evaluated CT-guided thoracic biopsies for diagnostic yield, accuracy and complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 384 patients (mean age 62.7 years; male/female = 251/133) who underwent 399 CT-guided thoracic biopsies were performed for evaluating diagnostic yield, accuracy and complications. Correlations between patients age, procedure factors (biopsy-needle size, number of passes, lesion-size, lesion-depth and traversed lung-length) and complications such as pneumothorax, haemothorax and haemoptysis were evaluated. A comparison between fine needle aspiration (FNA) group and core ± FNA group for diagnostic yield and complications was also performed. RESULTS: FNA was performed in 349 patients and core ± FNA in 50 patients. The biopsy samples were adequate in 91.9% and the diagnostic accuracy for malignant lesions was 96.8% with 95.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Pneumothorax (detected on CT) occurred in 139 cases (34.8%) and only 12 (3.0%) required insertion of an intercostals drain. Mild haemoptysis occurred in 13 patients (3.2%) and small haemothoraces in 2 patients. Pneumothorax occurrence was significantly associated with the traversed lung-length (>3mm), lesion-size (≤33 mm) and lesion-depth (≥60mm) (P <0.05). Haemoptysis occurrence was also significantly associated with traversed lunglength (>3mm) and lesion-size (≤33 mm) (P <0.05). There was no significant difference between diagnostic yield and complication rate between FNA and core ± FNA groups. CONCLUSION: CT-guided thoracic biopsy is a safe procedure with high diagnostic yield and low risk of significant complications. Traversed lung-length and smaller lesion size are associated with occurrence of pneumothorax and haemoptysis.

Endovascular management of traumatic thoracic aortic transection.

The conventional treatment of traumatic thoracic aortic transection is open surgical repair but it is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, particularly in patients with multiple injuries. We reviewed our experience of endovascular repair of traumatic thoracic aortic transection. Between March 2002 and December 2007, 7 patients (male 6, female 1; mean age 40 years) with multiple injuries secondary to blunt trauma underwent endovascular stenting. One patient required adjunctive surgery to facilitate endovascular stenting. Mean intensive care unit stay was 8.6 days (range, 3-16 days). Arterial access in all patients was obtained by femoral cut-down. The mean operating time was 122 min. Technical success was achieved in all cases. There was no mortality. One patient suffered a right parietal stroke, but none developed procedure-related paralysis. The mean follow-up period was 18.6 months (range, 6-48 months). There was no evidence of endoleak, stent migration, or late pseudoaneurysm formation on follow-up computed tomography. Endovascular stents can be used to treat traumatic thoracic aortic transection, with low rates of morbidity and mortality. Although early and midterm results are promising, the long-term durability of endovascular stenting for traumatic thoracic aortic transection remains unknown.

Percutaneous paraumbilical embolization as an unconventional and successful treatment for bleeding jejunal varices.

A 48-year-old Indian male with alcoholic liver cirrhosis was admitted after being found unresponsive. He was hypotensive and had hematochezia. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) showed small esophageal varices and a clean-based duodenal ulcer. He continued to have hematochezia and anemia despite blood transfusions. Colonoscopy was normal. Repeat EGD did not reveal any source of recent bleed. Twelve days after admission, his hematochezia ceased. He refused further investigation and was discharged two days later. He presented one week after discharge with hematochezia. EGD showed non-bleeding Grade 1 esophageal varices and a clean-based duodenal ulcer. Colonoscopy was normal. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed liver cirrhosis with mild ascites, paraumbilical varices, and splenomegaly. He had multiple episodes of hematochezia, requiring repeated blood transfusions. Capsule endoscopy identified the bleeding site in the jejunum. Concurrently, CT angiography showed paraumbilical varices inseparable from a loop of small bowel, which had herniated through an umbilical hernia. The lumen of this loop of small bowel opacified in the delayed phase, which suggested variceal bleeding into the small bowel. Portal vein thrombosis was present. As he had severe coagulopathy and extensive paraumbilical varices, surgery was of high risk. He was not suitable for transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt as he had portal vein thrombosis. Percutaneous paraumbilical embolization via caput medusa was performed on day 9 of hospitalization. Following the embolization, the hematochezia stopped. However, he defaulted subsequent follow-up.

Using whole genome amplification (WGA) of low-volume biopsies to assess the prognostic role of EGFR, KRAS, p53, and CMET mutations in advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

BACKGROUND: Progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from early- to late-stage may signify the accumulation of gene mutations. An advanced-stage tumor's mutation profile may also have prognostic value, guiding treatment decisions. Mutation detection of multiple genes is limited by the low amount of deoxyribonucleic acid extracted from low-volume diagnostic lung biopsies. We explored whole genome amplification (WGA) to enable multiple molecular analyses. METHODS: Eighty-eight advanced-stage NSCLC patients were enrolled. Their low-volume lung biopsies underwent WGA before direct sequencing for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), KRAS (rat sarcoma virus), p53, and CMET (mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor) mutations. Overall survival impact was examined. Surgically-resected tumors from 133 early-stage NSCLC patients were sequenced for EGFR, KRAS and p53 mutations. We compared the mutation frequencies of both groups. RESULTS: It is feasible for low-volume lung biopsies to undergo WGA for mutational analysis. KRAS and CMET mutations have a deleterious effect on overall survival, hazard ratios 5.05 (p = 0.009) and 23.65 (p = 0.005), respectively. EGFR and p53 mutations, however, do not have a survival impact. There also does not seem to be significant differences in the frequency of mutations in EGFR, KRAS, and p53 between early- and advanced-stage disease: 20% versus 24% (p = 0.48), 29% versus 27% (p = 0.75), 10% versus 6% (p = 0.27), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In advanced-stage NSCLC, KRAS, and CMET mutations suggest poor prognosis, whereas EGFR and p53 mutations do not seem to have survival impact. Mutations in EGFR, KRAS and p53 are unlikely to be responsible for the progression of NSCLC from early- to late-stage disease. WGA may be used to expand starting deoxyribonucleic acid from low-volume lung biopsies for further analysis of advanced-stage NSCLC.

An alternative approach to determining therapeutic choices in advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC): maximizing the diagnostic procedure and the use of low-volume lung biopsies.

BACKGROUND: Accurate mutational analysis, especially epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, of diagnostic biopsies from all Asian NSCLC patients is crucial to their clinical management, but faces problems. Here, we explore, within usual hospital constraints, the practicalities of incorporating mutational analysis in every newly diagnosed case of NSCLC, namely, maximizing tissue acquisition during the diagnostic procedure and determining the maximum quantity and quality of DNA sequence data available from these biopsies. METHODS: Sixty-eight Chinese patients were enrolled. Thirty-five underwent surgical resections for early-stage tumors. Thirty-three underwent diagnostic procedures, i.e., needle aspirates under bronchoscopic or computed tomographic/fluoroscopic guidance, or forceps biopsies via bronchoscopy. Separate samples for research purposes were obtained from these 33 patients during the diagnostic procedure. All samples were analyzed for mutations in EGFR exons 18 to 21, p53 exons 4 to 9, and Kras exon 2. RESULTS: No deaths occurred in this study. Success rates in obtaining sequence data from surgical samples versus low-volume samples for EGFR, p53, and Kras were 100% versus 85%, 100% versus 82%, and 100% versus 85%, respectively. Sequencing nine polymerase chain reaction products from each low-volume sample resulted in the exhaustion of all extracted DNA from three samples. CONCLUSIONS: Acquiring a separate low-volume lung biopsy sample for mutational analysis in lung cancer patients during the diagnostic procedure is feasible and may be a valuable complement to the usual diagnostic workflow in future.

Combined open and endovascular repair of acute type A aortic dissection.

A 62-year-old man with an acute Stanford type A dissection underwent successful emergent replacement of the ascending aorta. The patient was readmitted with a left pleural effusion and complex dissection in the arch and descending thoracic aorta. A hybrid surgical procedure was performed involving complete arch transposition, followed by arch and descending aortic stenting, with a good result. The surgical management and techniques are reviewed.

Contrast CT in localization of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Localization of the source of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding is of paramount importance in its management as it allows for planned segmental resection rather than a "blind" abdominal total colectomy. Various methods of localization with radionuclide scan, mesenteric angiography and colonoscopy have been utilized, but none has been shown to be superior to others. The recent use of contrast-enhanced multislice computed tomography (MSCT) has generated much interest as it is rapid, noninvasive and readily accessible, and allows for excellent reformation on different planes. These are clear advantages in an emergency setting for accurate localization prior to surgery. We report a case where the use of MSCT resulted in prompt and accurate localization in a patient who presented acutely with massive lower gastrointestinal bleed. We believe that contrast-enhanced MSCT has the potential of accurately localizing the source of bleeding in an emergency setting, and should be part of the algorithm in the management of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Aortic flap valve presenting as neurogenic claudication: a case report.

STUDY DESIGN: A case report of a patient who presented with pain in both lower limbs related with walking and standing as a result of an unusual vascular etiology. OBJECTIVES: To describe the pathology and treatment of an unusual case of vascular claudication. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Symptoms of neurogenic claudication may be mimicked by intermittent vascular claudication. Not infrequently, arterial disease coexists with spinal canal stenosis. Determination of correct diagnosis is the prerequisite for effective treatment. METHODS: The patient was a 64-year-old woman who presented with bilateral buttock pain spreading to the calves. The symptom was related to walking and climbing stairs and relieved by sitting down. MRI of the lumbosacral spine corroborated severe spinal stenosis at L3-L4 and L4-L5. Based on findings on physical examination of the peripheral pulses, an aortogram revealed a flap in the lumen functioning like a valve as the cause of her lower limb ischemic pain. RESULTS: The patient was managed by insertion of a self-expandable metallic stent with complete resolution of her symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: We report a case that was diagnosed as neurogenic claudication on clinical features and MRI evidence. However, subsequent to an aortogram the diagnosis was revised. Intermittent claudication is often difficult to distinguish from neurogenic claudication. There are no sensitive discriminators based on history alone. In the presence of poor or absent peripheral pulses, an arteriogram is necessary to ascertain the relative importance of the peripheral arterial circulation.

Feasibility of using low-volume tissue samples for gene expression profiling of advanced non-small cell lung cancers.

PURPOSE: The majority of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) present at an advanced clinical stage, when surgery is not a recommended therapeutic option. In such cases, tissues for molecular research are usually limited to the low-volume samples obtained at the time of diagnosis, usually via fine-needle aspiration (FNA). We tested the feasibility of performing gene expression profiling of advanced NSCLCs using amplified RNA from lung FNAs. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND RESULTS: A total of 46 FNAs was tested, of which 18 yielded RNA of sufficient quality for microarray analysis. Expression profiles of these 18 samples were compared with profiles of 17 pairs of tumor and normal lung tissues that had been surgically obtained. Using a variety of unsupervised and supervised analytical approaches, we found that the FNA profiles were highly distinct from the normal samples and similar to the tumor profiles. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that when RNA amplification is successful, gene expression profiles from NSCLC FNAs can determine malignancy and suggest that with additional refinement and standardization of sample collection and RNA amplification protocols, it will be possible to conduct additional and more detailed molecular analysis of advanced NSCLC using lung FNAs.