Magnetic resonance comparison of left-right heart volumetric and functional parameters in thalassemia major and thalassemia intermedia patients.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a population of asymptomatic thalassemia major (TM) and thalassemia intermedia (TI) patients using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). We supposed that TI group could be differentiated from the TM group based on T2(∗) and that the TI group could demonstrate higher cardiac output. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 242 patients with TM and TI was performed (132 males, 110 females; mean age 39.6 ± 8 years; 186 TM, 56 TI). Iron load was assessed by T2(∗) measurements; volumetric functions were analyzed using steady-state-free precession sequences. RESULTS: Significant difference in left-right heart performance was observed between TM with iron overload and TI patients and between TM with iron overload and TM without iron overload (P < 0.05); no significant differences were observed between TM without iron overload and TI patients. A significant correlation was observed between T2(∗) and ejection fraction of right ventricle- (RV-) ejection fraction of left ventricle (LV); an inverse correlation was present among T2(∗) values and end-diastolic volume of LV, end-systolic volume of LV, stroke volume of LV, end-diastolic volume of RV, end-systolic volume of RV, and stroke volume of RV. CONCLUSIONS: CMR is a leading approach for cardiac risk evaluation of TM and TI patients.

Transbrachial approach to the treatment of uterine leiomyomas with embolization of the uterine arteries: a preliminary technical experience.

INTRODUCTION: Uterine leiomyomas are benign tumours; recently they have been managed with embolization of the uterine arteries. We analysed the technical feasibility, safety and efficacy of this treatment performed via an innovative transbrachial approach, rather than the traditional transfemoral approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2009 and 2013, 115 patients were treated with embolization of the uterine arteries for one or more symptomatic leiomyomas. In 20 of these 115 patients, a transbrachial approach was used. Under ultrasound guidance, the left brachial artery was punctured. After having placed the tip of the angiography catheter at the level of L4 to check the aortic bifurcation, the uterine arteries were catheterised and embolized with calibrated particles. Data concerning exposure to radiation and the duration of the intervention were recorded for comparison between the two groups of subjects. Clinical controls and magnetic resonance imaging were complemented with echo-colour Doppler of the brachial artery to confirm the integrity and function of the vessel. RESULTS: The uterine arteries were catheterised easily in a mean time of 25″, compared to 72″ using the femoral approach. As far as exposure to radiation was concerned, the mean fluoroscopy time for the femoral approach was 21.7' [range 14.4-42.7'] compared to 17.6' [range 7.7-25.5'] for the transbrachial approach. The time of occupation of the angiography suite was 118' (range 95-155') with the femoral approach, compared to 92' (range 65-123') with the transbrachial approach. No immediate complications involving the brachial artery were recorded. DISCUSSION: In the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibromas, embolization of the uterine arteries performed via a transbrachial approach was shown to be safe and technically valid with regard to reducing the overall time of the intervention, ease of selective catheterisation, and shorter times spent in hospital, as well as being better accepted by patients.

Endovascular management of the rectus muscle hematoma.

PURPOSE: Non-traumatic spontaneous hematoma of the rectus abdominal muscle is not considered a critical condition. Nevertheless, it can be a serious complication in some patients due to continuous and/or consistent bleeding. The most frequent cause of spontaneous rectus muscle hematoma is the anticoagulation therapy. The natural history of rectus muscle hematoma usually leads to a positive outcome and can be spontaneously self-limited only by conservative therapy. Nevertheless, in some patients, despite a correct and early medical therapy, the continuous bleeding requests a more radical handling. Up to now, the surgical hematoma evacuation and the bonding of blood vessels were considered the most appropriate treatment, while at present, the percutaneous management by means of selective catheters and embolization of the bleeding vessel is considered to be the most used option. Our purpose is to report our experience in the endovascular spontaneous rectus muscle bleeding treatment in the elderly patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From the data base and medical reports of the hospital, we selected 144 medical reports. We focused on those cases that showed the following criteria: patients with rectus muscle hematoma undergoing anticoagulation therapy and/or non-traumatic spontaneous hematoma and with persistent bleeding revealed on CT examination despite a pharmacological treatment aimed to timely reverse coagulopathy. These criteria were found in 18 patients: 15 females and 3 males, with a median age of 73 (range 64-81). In all patients, the diagnosis had been confirmed by an abdominal CT in emergency setting, performed before and after contrast medium intravenous administration. Because of clinical conditions, all patients had been moved on the angiographic room for diagnostic arteriography and embolization. The criteria for this treatment were hemodynamic instability and the continuous bleeding despite the correct medical therapy. RESULTS: CT imaging detected rectus muscle hematoma in 18/18 patients and active bleeding in 7/18 patients. Selective catheterization was applied to all 18 patients; arteriographic study confirmed the information of the CT study in all of the seven patients. The inferior epigastric artery was the main cause of the bleeding in all 18 patients. In 14 patients, one single vessel was responsible for the bleeding, while in the other four patients, more than one vessel were involved: In two patients, we also found the involvement of the superior epigastric artery; while the other two patients showed also the involvement of the deep iliac circumflex artery. The material for embolization was compatible coils with micro-catheters in 17/18 patients, and glue for 1/18 patient. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with large rectus muscle hematoma, which have not yet recovered with conservative therapy, should then consider undergoing endovascular treatment. This procedure is highly recommended in patients with other coexisting pathologies that could eventually lead to a fatal outcome. It is difficult to determine when surgery is necessary when there is very poor data provided by scientific literature review, so the decision to use surgery can be suggested when embolization is unsuccessful or when it is necessary to evacuate a complex huge fluid mass in peritoneal cavity.

Diagnostic imaging in pediatric polytrauma management.

Trauma is the cause of over 45% of deaths in children aged 1 to 14 years. Since multiple injuries are common among children, the emergency physician has to assess all the organs of a high-energy injured child, independent of mechanism of the trauma. Even if the principles of polytrauma management are identical both in children and in adults, the optimal pediatric patient care requires a specific understanding of some important anatomical, physiological, and psychological differences that play a significant role in the assessment and management of a pediatric patient. Emergency Radiology already plays a crucial role in the diagnostic process of a polytraumatized child according to the primary survey, through the use of multiple imaging modalities. Radiological and Ultrasound examinations play a basic role in the hemodynamically unstable patients. In the hemodynamically stable patients whole-body CT scanning is the most immediate radiological procedure that allows the examination of all the body parts of a polytraumatized child, reducing the number of minor injuries that might otherwise be neglected.

Dark blood versus bright blood T2 acquisition in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) for thalassaemia major (TM) patients: evaluation of feasibility, reproducibility and image quality.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effectiveness of dark blood (DB) versus bright blood (BB) sequences. To assess the intra and inter-observer variability and inter-study reproducibility between BB versus DB. To evaluate image quality level in the two sequences. METHODS: In a setting of 138 patients we performed CMR using cardiac gated Gradient-multiecho single breath-hold BB and DB sequences in the middle ventricular septum. Each acquisition was repeated during the same exam. Truncation method was used to account for background noise. Image quality (IQ) was assessed using a 5 point grading scale and image analysis was conducted by 2 experienced observers. RESULTS: Compared with the conventional BB acquisition, the coefficient of correlation and significance of the DB technique was superior for intra-observer reproducibility (p<0.001), inter-observer reproducibility (p<0.001) and inter-study reproducibility (p<0.001). The variability is also lower for DB sequences for T2* values <14 ms. Assessment of artifacts showed a superior score for DB versus BB scans (4 versus 3, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Improvement in terms of inter observer and inter study variability using DB sequences was obtained. The greatest disparity between them was seen in inter-study reproducibility and higher IQ in DB was seen. Study demonstrates better performance of DB imaging compared to BB in presence of comparable effectiveness.

Relationship between myocardial T2 values and cardiac volumetric and functional parameters in ß-thalassemia patients evaluated by cardiac magnetic resonance in association with serum ferritin levels.

PURPOSE: Myocardial T2 cardiovascular magnetic resonance provides a rapid and reproducible assessment of cardiac iron load in thalassemia patients. Although cardiac involvement is mainly characterized by left ventricular dysfunction caused by iron overload, little is known about right ventricular function. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between T2 value in myocardium and left-right ventricular volumetric and functional parameters and to evaluate the existing associations between left-right ventricles volumetric and functional parameter, myocardial T2 values and blood ferritin levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 208 patients with ß-thalassemia major and thalassemia intermedia was performed (109 males and 99 females; mean age 37.7 ± 13 years; 143 thalassemia major, 65 thalassemia intermedia). Myocardial iron load was assessed by T2 measurements, and volumetric functions were analyzed using the steady state free precession sequence. RESULTS: A significant correlation was observed between EFLV and T2 (p=0.0001), EFRV and T2 (p=0.0279). An inverse correlation was present between DVLV and T2 (p=0.0468), SVLV and T2 (p=0.0003), SVRV and T2 (p=0.0001). There was no significant correlation between cardiac T2 and LV-RV mass indices. A significant correlation was observed between T2 and serum ferritin levels (p<0.001) and between EFLV and serum ferritin (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Myocardial iron load assessed by T2 cardiac magnetic resonance is associated with deterioration in left-right ventricular function; this is more evident when T2 values fall below 14 ms. CMR appears to be a promising approach for cardiac risk evaluation in TM patients.

Portomesenteric Venous System Gas after CT Colonography: A Case Report.

Portomesenteric vein gas can occur owing to a variety of interraleted factors such as loss of mucosal integrity and intraluminal overpressure, and the most common and serious cause is bowel ischemia, which requires urgent laparotomy. Nevertheless, when portal venous gas is caused by nonischemic causes, surgery is not required and it can be treated conservatively. So, its features should be carefully evaluated at CT scan, together with clinical findings. The authors report a case of an old male with portomesenteric venous system gas after CT colonography, without evidence of pneumatosis intestinalis or colonic perforation. A CT scan without enema was required after 24 hours in absence of worsened patient conditions, revealing the disappearance of gas in mesenteric vein and in the portal venous system.