Percutaneous Image-Guided Ablation of Lung Tumors.

Tumors of the lung, including primary cancer and metastases, are notoriously common and difficult to treat. Although surgical resection of lung lesions is often indicated, many conditions disqualify patients from being surgical candidates. Percutaneous image-guided lung ablation is a relatively new set of techniques that offers a promising treatment option for a variety of lung tumors. Although there have been no clinical trials to definitively compare its efficacy to those of traditional treatments, lung ablation is widely practiced and generally accepted to be safe and effective. Especially encouraging results have recently emerged for cryoablation, one of the newer ablative techniques. This article reviews the indications, techniques, contraindications, and complications of percutaneous image-guided ablation of lung tumors with special attention to cryoablation and its recent developments in protocol optimization.

Ultrasound-guided renal transplant biopsy: practical and pragmatic considerations.

Sonographically guided percutaneous core biopsy of renal allografts has been performed for decades, providing valuable information in monitoring the status of normally functioning renal transplants as well as investigating the cause of renal transplant dysfunction. This article reviews practical aspects of biopsy technique using the cortical tangential approach, with consideration of factors that may influence biopsy success, including selection of biopsy device. Clinically important complications from renal transplant biopsy are uncommon; the most recent experience for one institution is analyzed in the context of existing evidence regarding the frequency and timing of these major complications, to understand pragmatic implications for peri-procedural care.

Feasibility of ultra-low radiation dose reduction for renal stone CT using model-based iterative reconstruction: prospective pilot study.

PURPOSE: To compare dose, reader assessments, and noise between ultra-low-dose (ULD) and low-dose (LD) renal stone computed tomography (CT) using multiple reconstruction methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective study of 19 patients having noncontrast LD and ULD renal stone CT reconstructed using filtered back projection, adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR), and model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR). Dose, noise measurements, and subjective image assessments were recorded. RESULTS: ULD volume CT dose index was 61% less. Noise was 50% less with ULD MBIR than with LD ASIR (P<.001); no other significant differences existed. CONCLUSION: ULD MBIR is comparable to our standard of care, LD ASIR, with 61% lower dose and 50% less noise.