Safety and Efficacy of Repeat Embolization for Recurrent Hemoptysis: A 16-Year Retrospective Study Including 223 Patients.

PURPOSE: To assess safety, efficacy, and long-term outcome of repeat bronchial artery embolization (BAE) for recurrent hemoptysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients referred for repeat BAE to manage recurrent hemoptysis after initial successful embolization. BAE was performed in 223 patients; 36 (16.1%) of these patients underwent 59 repeat BAE procedures because of recurring symptoms. The most frequent underlying lung diseases were bronchiectasis (n = 8; 22%), cystic fibrosis (n = 7; 19%), and idiopathic hemoptysis (n = 7; 19%). RESULTS: Most patients (64%) underwent 2 embolization procedures owing to vessel recanalization (71%) as the most frequent pathophysiologic mechanism of recurrent hemoptysis. No serious adverse events requiring prolonged hospital stay were noted. Risk for relapse of hemoptysis was significantly lower for bronchiectasis compared with other chronic infections (P = .0022) and cystic fibrosis (P = .0004). Overall survival after 3-year and 5-year follow-up was 92% and 84%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Repeat BAE for recurrent hemoptysis after initial successful BAE is safe and efficacious, especially in patients with bronchiectasis as the underlying lung disease.

Diagnostic error in detection of fractured and migrated totally implantable venous access device fragments and experience with percutaneous retrieval: A report of 27 cases.

PURPOSE: To assess diagnostic efficacy/error to identify broken or dislocated totally implantable venous access device (TIVAD) fragments on radiological studies and to analyze interventional outcome of percutaneous retrieval. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective, single-center analysis of 27 patients, referred for percutaneous retrieval of embolized TIVAD fragments between 2000 and 2018. Demographic data, underlying disease, diagnostic studies, diagnostic error, interval between implantation and diagnosis of TIVAD-dysfunction, interval between diagnosis and retrieval, anatomical location of the embolized fragments, and technical aspects of retrieval procedure were identified from the patients' electronic medical records. RESULTS: Overall, diagnostic error was found in six patients (22%) with an average delay of 53 days. Ten fractures were caused during surgical removal, eleven fractures by pinching between first rib and clavicle and six cases by spontaneous disconnection between reservoir and catheter. Success rate of retrieval was 96% and the complication rate 0%. CONCLUSION: Fractured or retained TIVAD fragments were initially overlooked on radiological studies in more than 20% of patients. Percutaneous retrieval of broken and dislocated TIVAD fragments is very safe and highly successful.

Thrombosis of a portal vein aneurysm: a case report with literature review.

OBJECTIVES: Portal vein aneurysm is an unusual vascular dilatation of the portal vein. The etiology, diagnosis and management are ill-defined. METHODS: A case of a portal vein aneurysm complicated with complete thrombosis is presented with a literature review providing an overview of the etiology, clinical presentation and management. RESULTS: Portal venous aneurysms represent approximately 3% of all venous aneurysms with a reported prevalence of 0.06%. The reported incidence is on the rise with increasing use of modern imaging techniques in clinical practice. Usually, portal vein aneurysms are incidental findings and patients are asymptomatic. They can be congenital or acquired and portal hypertension represents the most frequent cause of the acquired version. Various complications such as biliary tract compression, portal vein thrombosis, and rupture can occur. Treatment options are conservative management or surgery. Surgical treatment is currently reserved for symptomatic patients with severe abdominal pain, symptoms of pressure effect or with expanding aneurysms, and/or complications such as thrombosis or rupture. CONCLUSION: Conservative management seems the best option in the majority of patients. A multidisciplinary approach discussing the best option on a case-by-case base in light of their individual underlying risk and symptoms is advised.

Correction to: Unexpected Benefit from Alpelisib and Fulvestrant in a Woman with Highly Pre-treated ER-Positive, HER2-Negative PIK3CA Mutant Metastatic Breast Cancer.

Dr. Arteaga serves on an Advisory Board for Novartis and was a consultant for AstraZeneca from 2015 to 2016. All other authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Unexpected Benefit from Alpelisib and Fulvestrant in a Woman with Highly Pre-treated ER-Positive, HER2-Negative PIK3CA Mutant Metastatic Breast Cancer.

We present the case of a postmenopausal patient with a secondary metastatic ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer who was successfully treated with fulvestrant and alpelisib following six lines of therapy. The tumour showed two uncommon PIK3CA mutations, and with the combination of alpelisib and fulvestrant the patient went from ECOG grade 3, before the start of this therapy, to ECOG grade 1 during treatment until progressive disease after 6 months. This unexpected benefit emphasizes the importance of performing a Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)-based assay to screen for several cancer genes in the metastatic setting, even after more than four lines of therapy and a high ECOG grade. Moreover, the use of alpelisib may be beneficial for uncommon PIK3CA mutations.