Nonbrain metastases seen on magnetic resonance imaging during metastatic brain tumor screening.

Although metastases found during head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are not limited to metastatic brain tumors, the MRI is a very common method for "brain metastasis screening," a modality that is being increasingly performed. In this review, we describe MRI findings of nonbrain metastases and discuss ways to avoid missing these lesions. Metastatic cranial bone tumors are among the most common nonbrain metastatic lesions found on head MRI, followed by leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. The other less-frequent metastatic lesions include those in the ventricle/choroid plexus, the pituitary gland and stalk, and the pineal gland. Metastases in the head and neck area, as well as cranial and intracranial lesions, should be carefully evaluated. Furthermore, direct geographical invasion, perineural spread, and double cancers should also be considered. While it is important to recognize these metastatic lesions on MRI, because they may necessitate a change in treatment strategy that could lead to an improvement in prognosis due to early introduction of therapy, nonbrain lesions should also be given greater attention, given the increasing survival of patients with cancer and advances in MRI technology, such as contrast-enhanced-3D T1-weighted imaging.

The First Transileocolic Obliteration for Refractory Esophageal Varices: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Transileocolic obliteration (TIO) is a useful treatment for gastric, duodenal, or rectal varices. However, TIO for esophageal varices has not yet been reported. We herein report successful TIO performed for refractory esophageal varices with a large paraesophageal vein, with no subsequent recurrence of varices.

Venous Sac and Feeding Artery Embolization versus Feeding Artery Embolization Alone for Treating Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations: Draining Vein Size Outcomes.

PURPOSE: To investigate and compare venous sac and feeding artery embolization (VFE) with feeding artery embolization (FAE) alone for treatment of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs), based on difference in outcomes in decrease of the size of the draining vein. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients (7 male and 19 female; median age [interquartile range], 58 years [46-65 years]) with 42 simple PAVMs treated with coil embolization between August 2005 and December 2018 were retrospectively evaluated. Twenty PAVMs were treated with FAE early in the study period and compared with 22 PAVMs treated with VFE later in the study period. Follow-up computed tomography images obtained 8-20 months after embolotherapy were used for outcome analysis. Data related to patient demographics; follow-up period; baseline diameters of the feeding artery, venous sac, and draining vein; draining vein diameter after treatment; and decrease in the size of the draining vein, including the number reaching a threshold of 70% decrease, were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The draining vein decreased in size by a median of 46.4% in the FAE group and 66.3% in the VFE group, and the difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant (P = .009). There were no significant differences in the other parameters. CONCLUSIONS: VFE leads to a greater decrease in the size of the draining vein than FAE, suggesting that VFE results in more complete occlusion than FAE for treatment of PAVMs.

The First Case of Coil Embolization for Left Gastric Vein Aneurysm with Liver Cirrhosis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

We herein report the first case of interventional radiology for a left gastric vein aneurysm with a gastrorenal shunt. The etiology of the aneurysm was considered secondary to portal hypertension and liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis B virus infection. As the aneurysm was asymptomatic but had a tendency to expand, we successfully performed coil embolization for the aneurysm through a gastrorenal shunt.

Local Efficacy and Safety of Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Epirubicin-Loaded DC Beads vs. Epirubicin-Lipiodol Emulsion with Gelatin Sponge (cTACE).

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety between epirubicin-loaded DC Beads (DCB-TACE) and conventional TACE (cTACE) used in transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 64 patients (mean age, 73.3 years; 44 men, 20 women) who underwent initial DCB-TACE between 2014 and 2015, and 66 patients (mean age, 71.3 years; 38 men, 28 women) who underwent initial cTACE between 2011 and 2013 as historical controls. Treatment effects on the target lesions at 3 months after TACE, the period until re-treatment of the target lesion, and adverse events after TACE were compared between the groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were also performed to estimate the factors influencing the treatment effects. Results: Based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Cancer of the Liver version 2015, treatment response of the target lesions equivalent to a complete response and termed as TE4, was 51.0% (53/104) in the DCB-TACE group and 74.4% (64/86) in the cTACE group (p<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the TACE procedure, Child-Pugh score, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level, alpha fetoprotein level, and tumor size were independent significant predictors of TE4. The frequencies of elevated serum AST and alanine transaminase levels after TACE were significantly lower in patients in the DCB-TACE group (p<0.001 each). No significant difference in biliary/liver damage was evident between the groups. Conclusion: The local efficacy of cTACE was higher than that of DCB-TACE. Adverse events were milder after DCB-TACE than after cTACE.

Efficacy of prophylactic selective arterial embolization for renal angiomyolipomas: identifying predictors of 50% volume reduction.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) has been widely performed for renal angiomyolipomas (AMLs) as prophylaxis or emergency treatment. On the other hand, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors have recently been used for tuberous sclerosis (TSC)-related AMLs, and no comparison between the effectiveness of mTOR inhibitors versus prophylactic selective TAE has yet been performed. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of TAE for AML tumor volume reduction and predictors of tumor volume decrease over 50%, with reference to the EXIST-2 trial. METHODS: A total of 44 patients who underwent 48 prophylactic embolization procedures for 50 AMLs in a single institution between 2004 and 2018 were included. Indications for TAE of AMLs were tumor size ≥4 cm or aneurysm ≥5 mm in diameter on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT). Microspheres, ethanol, and micro-coils were used as embolic agents. The percentage volume reduction from before TAE to the minimum volume during follow-up after TAE was calculated, and predictors for 50% volume reduction were identified by univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The technical success rate was 100% (50 of 50). No severe acute complications related to the procedure were encountered. Tumor volume reduction of ≥50% was observed in 35/50 AMLs. There was a significant difference in the rate of tumor volume reduction of 50% between the presence and absence of an aneurysm ≥5 mm and between tumor diameter ≥ 70 mm and < 70 mm on univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, tumor diameter < 70 mm was the only independent predictor of significant tumor volume reduction after TAE. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic selective TAE for AMLs has good tumor-reduction effects, especially for AMLs with tumor diameter < 70 mm.

The efficacy of uterine artery embolization with gelatin sponge for retained products of conception with bleeding and future pregnancy outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Retained products of conception (RPOC) with hemorrhage need intervention when RPOC persist and remain symptomatic. The safety and efficacy of uterine artery embolization (UAE) for RPOC using gelatin sponge (GS) alone, and fertility after UAE for RPOC remain unknown. The purpose of this study is to retrospectively investigate the efficacy of UAE for RPOC with bleeding and future pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2016, 14 patients (mean age, 33 years old) diagnosed as RPOC with bleeding received UAE using GS at our institution. Pregnancy outcomes were vaginal delivery (n = 7), miscarriage (n = 4), and termination (n = 3). Four patients received dilation and curettage/evacuation (D&C/E) for treatment of RPOC before bleeding occurred. The mean time interval from the end of pregnancy to bleeding was 28 days. Technical success, clinical success, complications, angiographic features and fertility after UAE were retrospectively assessed. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in 13 patients (93%) and clinical success was achieved in all 14 patients. No major complications occurred. The angiographic features of RPOC were tortuous feeders with flow into a focal blush of contrast (n = 14). Additional findings were pseudoaneurysm (n = 6), early venous return (n = 4), and extravasation (n = 2). Pseudoaneurysm was observed significantly more often in patients who received D&C/E before UAE compared to those who received conservative treatment alone (P = 0.015). The mean follow-up period was 29 months. Six patients achieved six pregnancies an average of 29 months after UAE. CONCLUSION: UAE using GS may be an effective and safe treatment for RPOC with hemorrhage that can preserve fertility.

Pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy caused by prostate carcinoma.

Pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM) is a fatal malignancy-related condition that involves rapidly progressing hypoxia and pulmonary hypertension. We report a case of PTTM caused by prostate carcinoma, which was diagnosed before autopsy in an 81-year-old man. Computed tomography showed diffuse ground-glass opacities, consolidation, and small nodules in the peripheral regions of the lung. Autopsy showed adenocarcinoma cells embolizing small pulmonary arteries with fibrocellular intimal proliferation, which was consistent with PTTM caused by prostate carcinoma.