Health-Related Quality of Life evaluation in "left" versus "right" access for percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage using EORTC QLQBIL-21 questionnaire: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of the different access for percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) in terms of "Quality of Life" (QoL) in the management of malignant obstructive jaundice. METHODS: In this IRB-approved study, 64 consecutive patients with malignant obstructive jaundice were prospectively randomized to the right (group A) or left access (group B) for PTBD between February 2017 and December 2018. In order to demonstrate differences in terms of QoL between these groups, patients were asked to complete the "EORTC QLQ-BIL21" questionnaire the week after the treatment. Continuous variables were summarized by mean ± SD and compared using a Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainages were performed through right access in 31 cases and 33 cases through left access. Technical success was achieved in all cases (100%). During 1 week's follow-up, there was a significant difference between group A and B in terms of pain (p < 0.001). Group A showed higher intercostal pain and respiratory difficulties compared to group B. Moreover, patients of group A showed a higher level of tiredness, anxiety, and more difficult tubes drainage and bags management than group B patients. CONCLUSION: In our experience, the use of the questionnaires showed the right access is associated with intercostal pain and respiratory difficulties. Left access for PTBD provides a better Quality of Life for patients who underwent PTBD as palliative treatment for the management of malignant obstructive jaundice and could be considered as the approach of choice in case of distal obstruction.

Giant hepatic hemangioma case report: When is it time for surgery?

We describe a case of a 30-year-old man who complained intermitted pain in right abdominal flank; a large cavernoumatos hemangioma - up to 6 cm in size - was revealed in the fifth hepatic segment using Ultrasonography and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). Indications for treatment - based on imaging features and clinical data - are briefly discussed in our report, providing also a review of existing literature.

Distal radial artery: The last extreme rescue arterial access for interventional radiologists?

Transradial artery approach as primary access for transcatheter diagnosis and intervention is associated with lower risk of bleeding and major vascular complications, improved patient comfort and shorter time to hemostasis and ambulation than femoral one. Patient's adequate hand collateral perfusion, assessed by the Barbeau test, must be depicted prior to transradial artery approach in order to assess any absolute contraindication (D waveform). We describe the distal transradial artery approach, recently proposed for coronary interventions, used in emergency to embolize an intestinal bleeding in an 84-year-old woman and a left pectoralis major muscle bleeding in an 83-year-old woman, both with high risk of bleeding for femoral approach and contraindication for transradial artery approach (Barbeau D waveform).

Cross-sectional imaging of acute gynaecologic disorders: CT and MRI findings with differential diagnosis-part I: corpus luteum and haemorrhagic ovarian cysts, genital causes of haemoperitoneum and adnexal torsion.

Acute gynaecologic disorders are commonly encountered in daily clinical practice of emergency departments (ED) and predominantly occur in reproductive-age women. Since clinical presentation may be nonspecific and physical findings are often inconclusive, imaging is required for a timely and accurate diagnosis. Although ultrasound is the ideal non-invasive first-line technique, nowadays multidetector computed tomography (CT) is extensively used in the ED, particularly when a non-gynaecologic disorder is suspected and differential diagnosis from gastrointestinal and urologic diseases is needed. As a result, CT often provides the first diagnosis of female genital emergencies. If clinical conditions and scanner availability permit, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is superior to CT for further characterisation of gynaecologic abnormalities, due to the excellent soft-tissue contrast, intrinsic multiplanar capabilities and lack of ionising radiation.The purpose of this pictorial review is to provide radiologists with a thorough familiarity with gynaecologic emergencies by illustrating their cross-sectional imaging appearances. The present first section will review the CT and MRI findings of corpus luteum and haemorrhagic ovarian cysts, gynaecologic haemoperitoneum (from either ruptured corpus luteum or ectopic pregnancy) and adnexal torsion, with an emphasis on differential diagnosis. Additionally, comprehensive and time-efficient MRI acquisition protocols are provided.

Cross-sectional imaging of acute gynaecologic disorders: CT and MRI findings with differential diagnosis-part II: uterine emergencies and pelvic inflammatory disease.

Due to the growing use of cross-sectional imaging in emergency departments, acute gynaecologic disorders are increasingly diagnosed on urgent multidetector computed tomography (CT) studies, often requested under alternative presumptive diagnoses in reproductive-age women. If clinical conditions and state-of-the-art scanner availability permit, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is superior to CT due to its more in-depth characterisationof abnormal or inconclusive gynaecological findings, owing to excellent soft-tissue contrast, intrinsic multiplanar capabilities and lack of ionising radiation.This pictorial review aims to provide radiologists with a thorough familiarity with gynaecologic emergencies by illustrating their CT and MRI appearances, in order to provide a timely and correct imaging diagnosis. Specifically, this second instalment reviews with examples and emphasis on differential diagnosis the main non-pregnancy-related uterine emergencies (including endometrial polyps, degenerated leiomyomas and uterine inversion) and the spectrum of pelvic inflammatory disease.

Diffusion-MR in kidney transplant recipients: is diuretic stimulation a useful diagnostic tool for improving differentiation between functioning and non-functioning kidneys?

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of diuretic stimulation on Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) techniques in transplanted kidneys. METHODS: 33 transplanted kidney recipients underwent DWI and DTI sequences before and after furosemide. Cortical and medullary Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) and Fractional Anisotropy (FA) values were calculated in transplanted kidneys. Patients were divided into two groups according to their estimated glomerular rate filtration (Group A ≥ 60 ml/min and Group B < 60 ml/min). Wilcoxon matched pairs signed rank test was applied to compare pre- and post-furosemide values. ADC and FA values were compared between the 2 groups using a Mann-Whitney U test. Receiver Operating Curves (ROC) analysis was performed to predict normal renal function. RESULTS: Wilcoxon test revealed a statistically significant difference for all pre- and post- ADC and FA values in group B. For group A, a significant difference was found comparing pre- and post-medullary ADC and FA values (p = 0.0151 and p = 0.0054). In the comparison between group A and group B, cortical and medullary mean ADC values were significantly different before and after furosemide. With regard to medullary FA values, a significant difference was found between groups before and after diuretic stimulation (p respectively of 0.004 and 0.042). Comparing cortical FA mean values, no statistical difference was observed between groups before and after furosemide. The highest Area Under Curve values were reported for cortical ADC (0.878) and medullary ADC (0.863) before diuretic bolus. CONCLUSIONS: In transplanted kidneys, furosemide did not improve the differentiation between normal and reduced function.

Effects of Varicocele Treatment on Sperm Conventional Parameters: Surgical Varicocelectomy Versus Sclerotherapy.

INTRODUCTION: Varicocele is often associated with impaired sperm parameters. Different procedures have been developed for varicocele treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of varicocele treatment on conventional sperm parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared two different techniques of intervention: surgical varicocelectomy and sclerotherapy. We also evaluated the number of varicocele recurrences and the pregnancy rate. We included 102 patients (mean age 29.8 ± 0.8 years) with ultrasound diagnosis of varicocele. We excluded patients whose ultrasound evaluation and/or sperm parameters were not known before and after varicocele correction. We divided the patients (excluding 8 with azoospermia) into two subgroups: surgical varicocelectomy (n = 44) and sclerotherapy (n = 50). For each patient, we compared conventional sperm parameters before and after varicocele correction. RESULTS: After varicocele correction, we found a significant improvement in sperm concentration, total count and total motility. Considering the two subgroups, baseline sperm parameters did not differ significantly. Sperm concentration and total count increased significantly after varicocele correction by varicocelectomy. Varicocele correction by sclerotherapy resulted in a significant increase in sperm concentration, progressive and total motility. We found varicocele recurrence in 32% of patients who underwent varicocelectomy and in 19.7% of patients undergoing sclerotherapy. The pregnancy rate was higher after sclerotherapy (28%) than after surgical varicocelectomy (13%). CONCLUSION: Varicocele treatment must be recommended when other causes of infertility have been treated. Our results suggest the use of sclerotherapy for varicocele repair. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2 b.

Change in kidney volume after kidney transplantation in patients with autosomal polycystic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: The indication to bilateral nephrectomy in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney scheduled for kidney transplantation is controversial. Indeed, the progressive enlargement of cysts may increase the risk of complications and the need for nephrectomy. However, very few studies investigated the change in kidney volume after kidney transplantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, the change in native kidney volume in polycystic patients was evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging. Forty patients were included in the study. Kidney diameters and total kidney volume were evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging in patients who underwent simultaneous nephrectomy and kidney transplantation and in patients with kidney transplant alone, before transplantation and 1 year after transplantation. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction of kidney volume after transplantation, with a mean degree of kidney diameters reduction varying from 12.24% to 14.43%. Mean total kidney volume of the 55 kidney considered in the analysis significantly reduced from 1617.94 ± 833.42 ml to 1381.42 ± 1005.73 ml (P<0.05), with a mean rate of 16.44% of volume decrease. More than 80% of patients had a volume reduction in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Polycystic kidneys volume significantly reduces after kidney transplantation, and this would reduce the need for prophylactic bilateral nephrectomy in asymptomatic patients.