Hepatic artery stenosis in liver transplantation: imaging and interventional treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Main purpose of our study is to demonstrate the spectral and color Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) findings that would indicate hepatic artery stenosis (HAS) after liver transplantation and to report our single center results. Moreover we want to establish role and limits of the different imaging techniques in detecting HAS, proposing a non invasive diagnostic approach and to depict indications and feasibility of endovascular treatment in the single patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study consisted of 222 patients who underwent liver transplantation between January 1999 and December 2009. DUS findings were correlated with multidetector computed tomography angiography (MDCTA) and angiographic results. RESULTS: HAS occurred in 21 cases (9.5%). In all cases diagnosis was performed by DUS. MDCTA quantified stenosis and showed an overall picture of splanchnic vascularization. Based on DUS and MDCTA data integration, in 9 cases we adopted the "wait and see" strategy. Moreover in 12 cases treatment was considered necessary. For hepatic artery stenosis, use of DUS criteria resulted in a sensitivity of 100% (20/20), a specificity of 99.5% (201/202), a positive predictive value (PPV) of 95% (20/21), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 100% (201/201), and an overall accuracy of 99.5% (221/222). CONCLUSION: Our study underline the role of DUS in early diagnosis of HAS: repeated evaluation of both direct and indirect signs increases NPV and sensitivity of DUS.

Switch from calcitriol to paricalcitol in secondary hyperparathyroidism of hemodialysis patients: Responsiveness is related to parathyroid gland size.

Paricalcitol is more effective than calcitriol in hemodialysis patients (HD) with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT), but it is not effective in some of them. We have investigated the relationship between paricalcitol responsiveness and parathyroid gland (PTG) size. Thirty HD with SHPT treated previously with calcitriol for at least 6 months were switched to paricalcitol (1:4 conversion ratio). Parathyroid gland number and size (maximum longitudinal diameter [MLD] of largest PTG) was measured by ultrasonography. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group A (MLD ≤9.0 mm [17 HD]); and group B (MLD >9.0 mm [13 HD]). They were defined responder if both the last 2 monthly determinations of inhibit parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were within the target (<300 pg/mL) according to National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative recommendations. Twenty-six and 20 HD completed 6-month and 12-month paricalcitol therapy, respectively. After 6 months of paricalcitol treatment, 23.5% HD of group A and 7.7% of group B were responders. At 12 months, 41.2 % of group A and 7.7% of group B were responders. Throughout paricalcitol therapy, serum calcium and phosphorus concentrations slightly increased in all HD but more significantly in group B. The baseline iPTH and MLD of the largest PTG were significantly correlated with final iPTH levels. Paricalcitol is more effective than calcitriol in SHPT, but the responsiveness to paricalcitol and hypercalcemia are related to PTG size. The measurement of MLD by ultrasonography may be useful for predicting responsiveness to paricalcitol, avoiding an unnecessary and expensive therapy.

[Ultrasound parameter-based response to treatment with new drugs for secondary hyperparathyroidism: a retrospective analysis in a single dialysis center]. / Risposta terapeutica ai nuovi farmaci dell'iperparatiroidismo secondario in relazione al grado ecografico di iperplasia paratiroidea: analisi retrospettiva in un singolo centro dialisi.

In hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) ultrasonography of the parathyroid glands allows to assess the glandular growth and to define the limits of medical treatment. The present retrospective study evaluated the relationship between parathyroid gland hyperplasia and the effectiveness of new drugs. Fifty-three patients with SHPT (iPTH > 400 pg/mL) after treatment with oral calcitriol were included in the study. These patients underwent parathyroid ultrasonography and sequential therapy with intravenous calcitriol (first step), paracalcitol (second step), and paracalcitol + cinacalcet (third step). Patients with median PTH < 300 pg/mL during the period of therapy and follow-up were considered responders. The therapeutic response was correlated with ultrasound parameters (number of parathyroid glands, maximum longitudinal diameter, structural score, and vascular score). Four (10%) of 41 patients treated with IV calcitriol, 7 (27%) of 26 patients treated with paracalcitol, 7 (41%) of 17 patients treated with cinacalcet and paracalcitol, and 1 (20%) of 5 patients treated with cinacalcet alone were responders. ROC curve analysis showed that maximum longitudinal diameter (< 9 mm), number of parathyroid glands (< -1), structural score (< 2), and vascular score (< 2) predicted response to any treatment. New drugs (paracalcitol, cinacalcet) are more effective in SHPT than conventional ones. However, the traditional ultrasonographic cutoff for the efficacy of medical therapy remained unchanged. Thus parathyroid gland ultrasonography predicts the therapeutic response also to the new drugs.

Parathyroid gland ultrasound patterns and biochemical findings after one-year cinacalcet treatment for advanced secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Cinacalcet efficacy is limited in severe secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) and its effect on parathyroid gland (PTG) volume and morphology have not been sufficiently investigated. We evaluated the effect of cinacalcet treatment for one year on the laboratory parameters of calcium-phosphorus metabolism and PTG ultrasound (US) patterns in hemodialysis (HD) patients with severe SHPT and US results indicative of nodular hyperplasia. Thirteen HD patients with severe SHPT (intact parathyroid hormone >700 pg/mL), US/scintigraphic evidence of at least one PTG with a diameter >7 mm, and high surgical risk or refusal of surgery were included. The patients were treated with cinacalcet. The initial dose of 30 mg was increased up to 180 mg once daily. At baseline and after one year of cinacalcet treatment a neck US was performed, providing data on 22 parathyroid glands in eight patients. The mean diameter at baseline and at one year was 12.6 +/- 5.9 and 13.0 +/- 5.3 mm, respectively (P = 0.46). Similarly, the mean volume at baseline and at one year was 513.4 +/- 416.3 and 556.8 +/- 480.8 mm(3), respectively (P = 0.18). The US structural score remained unchanged in 16 parathyroid glands and increased in 6 (P < 0.03), while the vascular score remained unchanged in 16 parathyroid glands and decreased in 6 (P = 0.25). Thus it can be concluded that cinacalcet treatment for one year in HD patients with severe SHPT is not associated with significant changes in parathyroid gland US patterns.

Usefulness of the combination of ultrasonography and 99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy in the preoperative evaluation of uremic secondary hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND: The usefulness of the combination of technetium-99m-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mTc-MIBI) parathyroid scintigraphy and ultrasonography to detect parathyroid glands (PTGs) in secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is still controversial. METHODS: In all, 21 patients with SHPT underwent parathyroidectomy. The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography and scintigraphy related to site, size, hyperplasia type of PTG, concomitant thyroid disease, and the frequency of intraoperative frozen sections were determined. RESULTS: The sensitivities of scintigraphy and ultrasonography were 62% and 55%, and the specificity was 95% for both procedures. The sensitivity of combined techniques was 73%. The scintigraphy detected 7/9 (78%) ectopic PTGs, whereas ultrasonography was always negative. A PTG maximum longitudinal diameter <8 mm, the presence of diffuse hyperplasia, the upper localization of glands, and the presence of concomitant thyroid disease reduced the sensitivity and specificity of imaging techniques. In cases of positive imaging, the rate of intraoperative frozen sections was significantly lower. CONCLUSIONS: The ultrasonography and sestamibi scintigraphy, which showed a higher sensitivity than that of either ultrasonography or scintigraphy alone, led to a reduction of intraoperative frozen sections and to preoperative diagnosis of ectopic (29%) or supernumerary PTGs (10%) and concomitant nodular thyroid disease (24%).

Ultrasound patterns of parathyroid glands in chronic hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND: The role ofparathyroid glands (PTG) ultrasonography (US) in hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is still controversial. The present study aimed at evaluating the relationship between US findings and SHPT degree as well as therapeutic outcome. METHODS: Twenty hemodialysis patients with moderate SHPT and 15 with severe SHPT underwent US to assess the PTG number, maximum longitudinal diameter (MLD), structural (1-hypoechoic, 2-slight heterogeneous, 3-high heterogeneous, 4-nodular) and vascular patterns (1-slight, 2-medium and 3-high). RESULTS: PTG number, MLD and US patterns were correlated with iPTH levels. MLD of patients with moderate or severe SHPT was 7.2 +/- 2.3 and 15 +/- 5.1 mm (p < 0.001). Most patients with moderate SHPT showed a single PTG with an MLD <9 mm associated with 1-2 structural and vascular pattern, whereas patients with severe SHPT exhibited more than one PTG with MLD >9 mm and 3-4 structural and vascular patterns. Thirteen patients were responders to treatment and 22 nonresponders. In nonresponders, a higher number of PTG was observed as well as higher echostructural and vascular patterns. In 14 patients who underwent parathyroidectomy, no differences were found between PTG US MLD and pathology diameter. All PTG with evidence of 3-4 structural and vascular score at ultrasound showed nodular hyperplasia at pathological examination. CONCLUSIONS: The adopted classification of US findings is correlated with SHPT degree and therapeutic outcome and might be an adjunctive predictive method useful to assess the SHPT severity and to plan the therapeutic strategy.

Intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts: Color Doppler sonography.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts (IPSVS) patterns and to determine the role of Color Doppler sonography in the diagnosis and evaluation of related hemodynamic changes in portal perfusion. METHODS: Sonography and Color Doppler imaging were performed in nine patients with IPSVS. Type and Doppler waveform of the shunt were determined; velocity measurements in the portal trunk and portal branches were studied to evaluate the effects of the shunt on intrahepatic circulation. Computed tomography was performed in six patients, magnetic resonance imaging in three patients, and angiography in two patients. RESULTS: The shunt between the portal and hepatic veins was aneurismal in six patients, while localized peripheral shunt with multiple tortuous vessels in one hepatic segment was observed in three patients. The shunts showed continuous low velocity spectral tracings and in the aneurismal shunts a low velocity bi-directional or helicoidal flow was detected. The feeding portal branches and the draining hepatic veins showed anomalous Doppler tracings and alterations of intrahepatic portal perfusion were observed in three cases. CONCLUSION: Color Doppler is essential for proper diagnosis of IPSVS and for evaluation of related hemodynamic changes in portal perfusion.

Combined diagnostic imaging in a patient with suspected biliary atresia.

The case of a newborn infant of 40 days of age with persistent jaundice and blood chemistry values suggestive of cholestasis is discussed. Liver and bile duct US documented missed visualization of the gallbladder. In the suspicion of biliary atresia, hepatobiliary scintigraphy was performed; it showed preserved hepatocyte function, missed visualization of the gallbladder and absence of intestinal bile flow which confirmed the diagnostic hypothesis. Based on possible diagnostic alternatives, signs perceived and interpreted, are analyzed.

Local-regional staging of endometrial carcinoma: role of MR imaging in surgical planning.

PURPOSE: To assess magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in depicting the depth of myometrial infiltration, cervical invasion, and presence of enlarged lymph nodes in patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma compared with surgicopathologic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven consecutive patients with endometrial carcinoma were included in this prospective study. All patients underwent MR imaging and surgery. Qualitative image analysis included the depth of myometrial infiltration, infiltration of the uterine cervix, and presence of enlarged lymph nodes. Quantitative image analysis included tumor and myometrium contrast-to-noise ratios during different phases of dynamic imaging. MR imaging findings were compared with surgicopathologic findings. Sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values of MR imaging in depicting myometrial and cervical infiltration and in lymph node assessment were calculated. RESULTS: Respective sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values in assessing myometrial infiltration were 87%, 91%, 89%, 87%, and 91%; those for cervical infiltration, 80%, 96%, 92%, 89%, and 93%; and those for lymph node assessment, 50%, 95%, 90%, 50%, and 95%. There was significant agreement between MR imaging and surgicopathologic findings in assessment of myometrial invasion (P <.001). Myometrial and cervical invasion and lymph node enlargement were correctly assessed with MR imaging in 28 (76%) of 37 patients. Quantitative analysis showed a significant improvement in tumor and myometrium contrast-to-noise ratios during the equilibrium phase compared with the arterial and precontrast phases (P <.001). CONCLUSION: MR imaging coupled with contrast material-enhanced dynamic MR imaging is highly accurate in local-regional staging of endometrial carcinoma; more challenging is the assessment of pelvic and lumboaortic lymph nodes.

"Lights and shadows" in ultrasonography.

The case of a 40-year-old male patient come to the emergency service with symptoms suspicious of biliary colic, is presented. Liver sonography was requested to evaluate the parenchyma, the gallbladder and bile duct caliber in the suspicion of lithiasis. During the examination a hyper-reflecting image with posterior shadowing was detected at the level of the gallbladder infundibulum. However, the shadowing was not typical of lithiasis. This aroused some doubts and the scan was repeated after some minutes: an absolutely normal infundibulum was visualized. The shadowing was therefore an artifact probably due to a partial volume effect of the air contained in the distended duodenum, in contact with the gallbladder. The formation process of the sonographic image is carefully analyzed with particular reference to the situations generating artifacts.

Combined diagnostic imaging of adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder.

The consistency of a request for liver MRI and MR-cholangiopancreatography in a patient with an occasional US-finding of mural thickening of gallbladder fundus > or = 3 mm in size was assessed. The differential US diagnosis in case of focal mural thickening was analyzed in combination with the other findings to justify the radiologicoclinical reliability of the request. Overall, these findings suggested the diagnostic hypothesis of adenomyomatosis, then confirmed by a second level in-depth examination, namely liver MRI and MR-cholangiopancreatography.

Idiopathic chronic pancreatitis in children: MR cholangiopancreatography after secretin administration.

PURPOSE: To assess the accuracy of dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) cholangiopancreatography after secretin administration in detecting pancreatic duct abnormalities typical of early-onset idiopathic chronic pancreatitis in children with recurrent episodes of idiopathic acute pancreatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen children (mean age, 11.3 years; range, 6-17 years) with at least three recurrent episodes of idiopathic acute pancreatitis prospectively underwent MR cholangiopancreatography before and after secretin administration. Image analysis included visualization of side branches, ductal narrowing, endoluminal filling defects, irregular ductal contour, cavities, and pancreas divisum. All patients underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). RESULTS: Dilated side branches were detected in three (20%) of 15 patients on MR cholangiopancreatograms obtained before secretin administration and in seven (47%) of 15 patients on images obtained after secretin administration. Ductal narrowing was detected in one (7%) of 15 patients on images obtained before secretin administration and in two (13%) of 15 patients on images obtained after secretin administration. Endoluminal filling defects in one (7%) of 15 patients were observed on MR cholangiopancreatograms obtained both before and after secretin administration. Irregular contour of the main pancreatic duct was present in four (27%) of 15 patients on MR cholangiopancreatograms obtained before secretin administration and in five (33%) of 15 patients on images obtained after secretin administration. Cavities and pancreas divisum were detected in one (7%) of 15 patients and in two (13%) of 15 patients, respectively, only on MR cholangiopancreatograms obtained after secretin administration. CONCLUSION: Secretin improves the sensitivity of MR cholangiopancreatography in diagnosing early-onset idiopathic chronic pancreatitis.

Ureteropelvic junction disease: diagnostic imaging.

Ureteropelvic junction disease is very frequent in pediatric age. Diagnosis is usually established on sonography; in most cases it is prenatal and confirmed at birth. On sonography, hydronephrosis and the site of obstruction is identified with morphofunctional information on renal parenchyma. In the past, urography was the reference examination for ureteropelvic junction disease, but its use is limited in pediatrics especially in prenatal study for radioprotection as well as for the limited glomerular filtration of neonatal kidney. CT and MRI as second level examinations do not find many indications, while angioscintigraphy is largely used to acquire functional data and, in combination with sonography, is basic for diagnosis as well as in follow-up of operated patients.