Towards multi-phase postmortem CT angiography in children: a study on a porcine model.

PURPOSE: Multi-phase postmortem computed tomography angiography (MPMCTA) is a growing technique, which is standardized for adults. Application of this protocol for a children population is not so well defined. Our study aims to adapt the adult's protocol to children, using a porcine model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three groups of 18 pigs were studied, with a weight distribution between 4 and 48 kg. Different pump devices were used. Pigs of group I were studied using the Virtangio® machine, whereas pigs of groups II and III were studied using used the Medrad® machine. Study of vascular opacification was possible using a semi-quantitative method based on 26 arterial and 26 venous segments that were distributed over the entire body from the cephalic extremity to the posterior pawns. RESULTS: While thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic vascular opacification were complete for each individual pig in a group, group III showed better vascular opacification for the cephalic extremity. This was also true for anterior and posterior pawns vascular opacification. Spearman correlation tests showed a significant relationship between anthropometric characteristics of pigs, injection parameters, and percentage of opacified segments. A higher percentage of opacification was obtained for individuals of lower weights, with comparatively lower quantities of contrast agent injected. CONCLUSION: Postmortem computed tomography angiography (PMCTA) was possible for all the individuals, particularly for small weights (4 kg) using the Medrad® machine. However, further studies are needed to better understand the procedure.

Impact of the strategy for curative treatment of synchronous colorectal cancer liver metastases.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Fourteen to seventeen percent of patients suffering from colorectal cancer have synchronous liver metastases (sCRLM) at the time of diagnosis. There are currently three possible strategies for curative management of sCRLM: "classic", "combined", and "liver-first". The aim of our research was to analyze the effects of the three surgical management strategies for sCRLM on postoperative morbidity and mortality and overall and recurrence-free survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients treated for sCRLM between October 2000 and May 2015 were included. We defined three groups: (1) "classic": surgery of primary tumor and then surgery of sCRLM; (2) "combined": combined surgery of primary tumor and sCRLM: and (3) "liver-first": surgery of sCRLM and then surgery of primary tumor. RESULTS: During this period, 170 patients who underwent 209 hepatectomies were included ("classic": 149, "combined": 34, "liver-first": 26). The rate of severe complications was higher in the "combined" group compared to the "classic" group (35% vs. 12%, P=0.03), and the "liver-first" group (35% vs. 19%, P=0.25), while there were significantly fewer liver resections. Overall survival at 5 years in our cohort was 46%, without significant differences between the groups, and a median survival of 54 months. Recurrence-free survival of the patients in our cohort was 24% at 5 years, with a median survival time without recurrence of 14 months, without significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSION: All three strategies were feasible and there were no differences regarding overall and recurrence-free survivals between the three approaches. The "combined" strategy group had significantly more severe complications and did not provide better oncological results, despite less aggressive liver disease and more limited liver resections.

Old hearts for modern investigations: CT and MR for archaeological human hearts remains.

INTRODUCTION: Among 800 burials dated between the 15th and 18th centuries and found in the center of Rennes (Brittany, France), a collection of five heart-shaped lead urns was discovered. This material was studied using classical methods (external study, autopsy and histology), and also modern imaging like computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) before and after coronary opacification. The aim of this manuscript is to describe different steps of ancient soft tissues study, especially using imaging techniques. METHODS: The study gathered various specialists: anthropologists, archeologists, forensic pathologists, radiologists, pathologic physicians, and physicists. Imaging techniques were performed, before and after coronary opacification. Finally, hearts were autopsied and different histological samples were analyzed. RESULTS: Only heart n°2 was too damaged to be studied. Heart n°3 was considered as normal using all investigation techniques. The study of Hearts n°s 4 and 5 revealed dilated cardiomyopathy while Heart n°1 showed important signs of diffuse hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Different fibro lipid plaques were identified using imaging techniques, and were confirmed by histology. CONCLUSIONS: The study of archeological soft tissues using modern imaging is possible if the material is well-preserved. This type of research can uncover principal findings, allowing scientists to establish diseases of ancient times.

Traumatic injuries of the thoracic aorta: The role of imaging in diagnosis and treatment.

Traumatic injury of the thoracic aorta remains the leading cause of death in multiple trauma patients and it requires urgent management. Computed tomography has a key diagnostic role and allows the clinician to choose an appropriate treatment strategy. The development of new classifications, based on a better understanding of the mechanisms of these injuries, has clarified the indications for treatment. Advances in techniques, especially in endovascular management, have contributed to improving prognosis for patients. Interventional radiology, which usually consists of endovascular placement of a covered stent, now constitutes the gold standard treatment in these injuries. Due to the potentially grave prognosis of these patients, it is crucial to know how to detect these injuries and to describe the imaging signs of serious damage.

Hemostastic embolization in oncology.

Several mechanisms predispose to bleeding in neoplastic disease. This is all the more serious as it often occurs on a background of medically vulnerable patients and the magnitude of the bleed may lead to hemorrhagic shock or acute respiratory distress as a result of hemoptysis. It often carries a poor prognosis, even if the acute episode has been controlled, as bleeding due to rupture of a tumor often indicates an advanced stage of the disease, and also because tumor rupture carries a risk of metastatic spread including peritoneal carcinomatosis. The risk of recurrent bleeding is also not insignificant. In most cases, endovascular hemostatic embolization is the first line palliative treatment.

Virtual anthropology and forensic identification using multidetector CT.

Virtual anthropology is made possible by modern cross-sectional imaging. Multislice CT (MSCT) can be used for comparative bone and dental identification, reconstructive identification and lesion identification. Comparative identification, the comparison of ante- and post-mortem imaging data, can be performed on both teeth and bones. Reconstructive identification, a considerable challenge for the radiologist, identifies the deceased by determining sex, geographical origin, stature and age at death. Lesion identification combines virtual autopsy and virtual anthropology. MSCT can be useful in palaeopathology, seeking arthropathy, infection, oral pathology, trauma, tumours, haematological disorders, stress indicators or occupational stress in bones and teeth. We examine some of the possibilities offered by this new radiological subspeciality that adds a new dimension to the work of the forensic radiologist. A multidisciplinary approach is crucial and involves communication and data exchange between radiologists, forensic pathologists, anthropologists and radiographers.

The usefulness of post-mortem CT angiography in injuries caused by falling from considerable heights: three fatal cases.

OBJECTIVE: Post-mortem computed tomography is a diagnostic tool forming part of the arsenal available to forensic pathologists today. In addition to its usefulness in detecting bone lesions, which has long been recognized, this technique has nowadays been enhanced by the development of CT angiography. The role of multiphase post-mortem computed tomography angiography (multiphase PMCTA) is primordial, improving detection of solid organ lesions and permitting vascular lesions to be visualized directly. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our paper presents a series of three deaths by falling from a considerable height recorded since the beginning of 2012. We report the usefulness of PMCTA and the various mechanisms involved in the trauma. RESULTS: Most of the lesions were diagnosed by both PMCTA and autopsy, including the rare lesions, but the peripheral bone lesions and the hemopneumatocele were diagnosed only by PMCTA, while dislocation of vertebrae and the testicular fractures were detected solely by autopsy. CONCLUSION: PMCTA is a new, minimally-invasive technique which, combined with autopsy, provides better visualization and detection of certain lesions, particularly in the case of death by falling from a great height.