Imaging appearances and endovascular management of uncommon pseudoaneurysms.

Pseudoaneurysms are uncommon and their aetiology is varied. They occur in numerous anatomical locations and present with a multitude of clinical presentations sometimes life-threatening. This review describes the causes, sites, and presentations of uncommon pseudoaneurysms, as well as illustrating their diagnostic appearances and endovascular management.

Transpleural ultrasound diagnosis of a pulmonary arteriovenous malformation.

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are rare. We discuss a case of an 81-year-old female who attended hospital with a haemothorax. Ultrasound not only demonstrated an echogenic effusion in the right pleural space, but also identified an associated tubular structure. Doppler was applied to this structure, which exhibited pulsatile flow. This raised the possibility of a PAVM, which was subsequently confirmed on CT and angiography. Although, PAVM is a rare cause of haemothorax, the diagnosis should still be considered and transpleural ultrasound can detect these malformations non-invasively by the bedside.

High resolution magnetic resonance imaging of atherosclerosis and the response to balloon angioplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the use of high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the popliteal artery in defining atheroscelerotic lesions and to monitor the remodelling response to balloon angioplasty. METHODS: Four patients (aged 49-67) with symptomatic discrete popliteal artery stenoses, as demonstrated by conventional angiography, underwent balloon angioplasty. MRI of the diseased vessel was performed before and one week, one month, three months, and six months after therapeutic balloon angioplasty. Cine phase contrast MRI was used to estimate blood flow just proximal to the lesion before and after angioplasty. RESULTS: In all patients the extent of the atherosclerotic plaque could be defined, such that even in segments of vessel which were angiographically "normal", atherosclerotic lesions with cross sectional areas ranging from 49% to 76% of potential lumen area were identified. Following angioplasty, plaque fissuring and local dissection were easily identified and serial changes in lumen diameter, blood flow. and lesion size could be documented. CONCLUSIONS: High resolution MRI can define the extent of atherosclerotic plaque in the peripheral vasculature and demonstrate the changes that occur with remodelling and restenosis following angioplasty. As a safe, reproducible technique MRI is ideal for assessing plaque and monitoring intervention, but further technological developments will be needed if similar or better images are to be achieved in other vascular beds.

A review of antegrade stenting in the management of the obstructed kidney.

OBJECTIVE: To review experience in the management of the obstructed ureter using antegrade stenting in a variety of conditions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1984 and 1993, 41 patients (mean age 57 years, range 9-83) had antegrade stents placed by an experienced interventional radiologist. The causes of obstruction were urological in 27, gynaecological in eight, colorectal in three and miscellaneous in three. RESULTS: The overall success rate for antegrade stent insertion was 83% and the failure rate was greatest (four of six) in cases of ureteric injury following gynaecological procedures. There were no immediate complications. CONCLUSION: Antegrade stenting can be used as a temporary or permanent solution to ureteric obstruction. The technique is safe, acceptable to patients and avoids the need for a general anaesthetic.

Leg muscle scintigraphy with 99Tcm-MIBI in the assessment of peripheral vascular (arterial) disease.

A technique for using 99Tcm-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) to evaluate leg muscle perfusion in the assessment of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is described and evaluated. The uptake of MIBI in muscle groups is quantified and normalized to whole body activity. Eleven patients with PVD undergoing angiography and nine controls were studied. There was a significant difference in MIBI uptake in the calf (P less than 0.000 01) and thigh (P less than 0.0001) between the two groups on exercise. The technique has a sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 94% for the diagnosis of PVD. The technique can also effectively evauate the severity of disease as shown by significant correlations between exercise calf flow and angiographic severity (P less than 0.05) and Doppler ankle/arm pressure measurements (P less than 0.0005). Single photon emission tomography (SPET) of the calves was also performed in five controls and five patients with PVD. Uptake was significantly reduced in all muscle areas in patients with PVD and, amongst those with PVD, uptake was lower in muscle groups by occluded arteries. The potential role of 99Tcm-MIBI in the assessment of PVD and its advantages over other methods of assessment are discussed.

Internal iliac artery embolisation for the control of severe bladder and prostate haemorrhage.

Embolisation of the internal iliac artery was preformed under local anaesthesia in eight patients with severe bladder haemorrhage and in two with severe bleeding from the prostatic bed after prostatectomy. Good and effective control of the bleeding was achieved in six of the patients with bladder haemorrhage, with a partial response in the other two. Both patients with post-prostatectomy bleeding responded well to embolisation, with prompt cessation of the bleeding. This technique is recommended for the control of severe bleeding from the bladder or prostate in the seriously ill patient.

Encephalopathy in renovascular hypertension associated with the use of oral contraceptives.

Two female patients aged 19 years and 27 years presented with hypertensive encephalopathy and were subsequently found to have renal artery stenosis due to fibromuscular dysplasia. Both patients had had normal blood pressures recorded within the previous 6 months whilst taking the oral contraceptive pill. Their neurological state returned to normal with hypertensive control and in one case the hypertension was cured by dilatation of the renal artery stenosis by balloon angioplasty.

PIP: 2 cases reports are described of patients with renal artery stenosis who presented with hypertensive encephalopathy, normal blood pressures having been recorded within the previous 6 months while taking oral contraceptives (OCs). A 27-year-old woman, admitted to the hospital following 2 grand mal fits, had suffered from increasing headaches, nausea, and vomiting over the previous month. Her blood pressure had been elevated at 160/110 mmHg 1 week prior to admission but had been normal over previous 11 years while taking OCs (various formulations of combined estrogen and progestogen) which she had stopped taking 2 months previously. She was a nonsmoker. Her blood pressure was controlled with atenolol, nifedipine, and bendrofluazide, and her conscious level returned to normal with no further fits. An intravenous urogram revealed a small left kidney with a delayed nephrogram, and subsequent arteriography showed bilateral medial fibromuscular dysplasia with a narrow stenosis of the left renal artery. Attempted balloon angioplasty was unsuccessful due to arterial spasm. 4 months after presentation she became pregnant. Blood pressure was controlled with methyl dopa during pregnancy which progressed uneventfully to full term. In the 2nd case, a 19-year old girl became confused and suffered a grand mal convulsion. She had complained of headaches over the previous 3 days. Her blood pressure had been normal over the previous 6 months while taking Logynon (phased formulation of ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel). She was a nonsmoker. On admission to the hospital, she suffered further generalized convulsions. Despite control of her convulsions with intravenous chlormethiazole, her blood pressure rose to 220/140 mmHg, and this was controlled with intravenous hydralazine and propranolol. The following day she was conscious and was changed to oral therapy. A renogram and DMSA scan showed normal sized kidneys, but there was evidence of decreased blood flow to the left kidney with an increased transit time. Renal arteriography showed a stenosis of the left renal artery, typical of intimal fibromuscular dysplasia, which was dilated by balloon angioplasty. Anti-hypertensive medication was withdrawn postoperatively, and her blood pressure has remained well controlled. In both of the cases the onset of hypertension was rapid with encephalopathy being the presenting feature. Hypertensive encephalopathy is well recognized as a presenting feature of renal transplant artery stenosis but not in cases of native renal artery stenosis. 1 of the patients had stopped using OCs 2 months before presentation, suggesting that although there may have been an association between OC use and the development of fibromuscular dysplasia, it could not be implicated in the mode of presentation.

Spontaneous splenic rupture in polyarteritis nodosa.

A 28 year old man presented with haematuria and renal failure. Renal arteriography revealed bleeding into the pelvis of a solitary right kidney from a hilar artery. Multiple aneurysms were noted in the splenic artery. The spleen subsequently ruptured spontaneously and was removed at laparotomy together with the right kidney. Histological examination of the spleen and kidney revealed an acute necrotizing vasculitis involving medium-sized and smaller arteries confirming a diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa. An area of infarction involved a subcapsular area of the spleen. Spontaneous splenic rupture is a rare but important complication of systemic vasculitides.

Perforated oesophagus: review of twenty-eight consecutive cases.

Oesophageal perforation is a potentially lethal condition which requires early diagnosis and prompt surgical management. The radiological features in 28 patients with oesophageal perforation have been reviewed and correlated with the aetiology and site of perforation, underlying oesophageal abnormality and the time interval between occurrence and diagnosis. Twenty-five patients (89%) had detectable abnormalities on the chest radiograph. The commonest abnormalities were air in the cervical or mediastinal soft tissues and air or fluid in the pleural cavity. The factors influencing the different radiographic signs are discussed. Studies with a suitable contrast medium are necessary to show the site and extent of the perforation, the extent of any associated abscess cavity and the position of the perforation relative to any primary oesophageal disease. Of 26 patients who had a barium swallow a leak was demonstrated in 21 (81%). In the five patients in whom no leak was demonstrated the examination was performed more than 24 h after the perforation.