Characterization of histological subtypes of clear cell renal cell carcinoma using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS).

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to analyze the histological subtypes of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) examined by means of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and a second generation blood pool agent (SonoVue®, Bracco, Milan, Italy) during the pre-operative phase. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 29 patients with histologically proven subtypes of clear cell RCC were examined. A total of three patients were diagnosed with highly differentiated clear cell RCC, 21 out of 29 cases with moderately differentiated clear cell RCC and five out of 29 patients had insufficiently differentiated clear cell RCC. An experienced radiologist examined the patients with CEUS. The following parameters were analyzed: maximum signal intensity (PEAK), time elapsed until PEAK is reached (MTT), local blood flow (RBF), area under the time intensity curve (AUC) and the signal intensity (SI) during the course of time. For the groups all comparisons are made based on healthy renal parenchyma. RESULTS: In the clear cell RCC significant differences (significance level p < 0.05) between cancerous tissue and the healthy renal parenchyma were noticed in all four parameters. Therefore, the clear cell RCC stands out due to its reduced blood volume. However, it reached the PEAK reading relatively rapidly and its signal intensity was always lower than that of the healthy renal parenchyma. In the arterial phase retarded absorption of the contrast agent was observed, followed by fast washing out of the contrast agent bubbles.In all three histological subgroups no significant differences were noticed in PEAK and SI. However, the diagrams showed the possible bias, that the group of the insufficiently differentiated clear cell RCC had the highest PEAK-value and the highest signal intensity when compared with highly and moderately differentiated clear cell RCC. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that CEUS may be an additional tool for non-invasive characterisation and differentiation of the three histological subtypes of clear cell RCC. Furthermore, it seems to have an additional diagnostic value in daily clinical.

Parametric imaging of clear cell and papillary renal cell carcinoma using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS).

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyse clear cell and papillary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) examined with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and a second generation blood pool agent (SonoVue®, Bracco, Milan, Italy) before clinical intervention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 41 patients with histologically proven subtypes of RCC were examined. 29 patients had a clear cell RCC and 12 patients showed a papillary RCC. Average size in the clear cell RCC group was 6.07 cm and 1.88 cm in the papillary RCC group. An experienced radiologist examined all patients with CEUS. The following parameters were analysed: maximum signal intensity (PEAK), time elapsed until PEAK is reached (MTT), local blood flow (RBF), area under the time intensity curve (AUC) and the signal intensity (SI) during the course of time. For both groups all comparisons were made based on healthy renal parenchyma. RESULTS: In the clear cell RCC significant differences (significance level p < 0.05) between cancerous tissue and the healthy renal parenchyma were noticed in all four parameters. The clear cell RCC showed a significant reduced blood volume. It reached the PEAK reading relatively rapidly and its signal intensity was always lower than that of the healthy renal parenchyma. In the arterial phase retarded absorption of the contrast agent was observed, followed by fast washing out of the contrast agent bubbles.In the papillary RCC group, significant findings as to PEAK and RBF as well as a slightly significant difference as to AUC were recorded. The papillary RCC had a lower blood supply and reached its PEAK reading later. Its signal intensity was also reduced. The signal intensity of papillary NCC was significantly lower compared with clear cell RCC; absorption and washing out of the contrast agent was delayed. CONCLUSION: CEUS seems to be an useful additional method to clinically differentiate between clear cell and papillary RCC. In daily clinical use, patients with contraindication for other imaging methods, especially the magnetic resonance imaging, might particularly benefit from this method.

[Surgical treatment of gastric outlet obstruction].

Today surgery for peptic ulcer disease is largely restricted to the treatment of complications. About two-thirds of operations for complicated peptic ulcer disease are due to perforations, about one-third of operations are necessary to stop peptic ulcer bleeding, despite endoscopic treatment. In rare cases, peptic ulcer penetration requires surgery. Approximately 1-2% of patients with peptic ulcer disease develop gastric outlet obstructions (GOO), and about 80% of GOO due to peptic ulcer disease are caused by duodenal ulcers. Through retrospective analysis authors make it one's aim to investigate indications, methods of treatment and outcome of treated patients, based on contemporary principles. Over a 12 year period (1993-2004) in the third surgical clinic of the Emergency Medicine Institute "Pirogov" a total of 126 patients presenting GOO are operated. There is a 4:1 male to female ratio. The middle age group is the most frequently affected (58.7%). The following operations have been done: Resection of the stomach--122 (Bilroth I--109: Billroth II--13). Gastro-entero anastomosis--2; Gastro-entero anastomosis with Vagotomia truncularis --2. The main factors to influence mortality are the presence of serious concurrent medical illnes and age above 70 years (average age of dead patients--76.3 year). Follow-up between 1 to 5 years is done according to Vizic on 40 resected patients. Authors accept resection of the stomach as a method of choice for treatment of GOO. The highly per cent of reconstruction according to Billroth 1 (86.5%) is realized by modification Haberer-Andreoiu (60 patients). Preserving the normal passage through the duodenum decreases frequency of postresection syndromes (97.5% excellent results according to Vizic).