Akiko Takemoto

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava: case report

The patient was a 63-year-old woman with a chief complaint of blood-stained sputum. A tumor of the inferior vena cava was found on chest computed tomography (CT) and identified as a primary tumor based on multidetector CT and contrast-enhanced MR angiography. An intrapelvic tumor was also discovered. On autopsy, the two tumors were diagnosed as leiomyosarcoma and ovarian fibroma, respectively.

Heat and pain sensations induced by arterial injection of low-osmolality contrast media: a comparison of patients' discomfort with ionic saline, nonionic glucose, and vasodilator nitrate.

C linical symptoms such as heat and pain are two of the most frequent and finpleasant adverse effects experienced after intravascular injection of iodinated contrast media. Recently, nonionic dimeric contrast media (iotrolan, iiodixanol) have been developed [1], and their osmolality has been reduced to the physiologic level. However, subjective discomforts associated with these contrast media have not yet been eliminated. Although it has been established that heat and pain are caused mainly by tile high osmolality of the contrast media [2], it is possible that other factors also may play active roles. The aim of this study was to determine what factors and mechanisms are involved in causing heat and pain from the administration of the contrast media presently being used. The following agents were analyzed in our study: glucose as a model of a nonionic agent, saline (NaCl) as a model of an ionic agent, and nitrate as a vasodilator. Clinical studies on heat and pain induced by contrast media have been conducted [1, 3-7], but studies with test solutions involving actual patients have not been reported [8, 9]. Our study was designed to obtain the expression of sensations, which could be obtained only from human volunteers.

Complete disappearance of the nasopharyngeal cancer with intracranial extension by intra-arterial cisplatin infusion: report of two cases

Abstract Two cases of nasopharyngeal cancer with intracranial extension were treated with intra-arterial cisplatin infusion with systemic infusion of sodium thiosulfate (STS) followed by continuous IV infusion of 5-FU for 120 h. After two courses of intra-arterial chemotherapy, tumors had completely disappeared. Subsequently, full doses of external irradiation were applied. Both of them survived 5 years after the initiation of the treatment, but one died of the original cancer after just 5 years.

Clinical usefulness of iomeprol 400 mgl/ml in cardioangiography evaluation of patient discomfort and hemodynamic and ECG effects.

It is well known that the nonionic contrast media cmrently used are safer than ionic high-osmolar contrast media (1). However, contrast media-related cardiovascular adverse effects are still observed, especially in high-risk patients following their injection into left ventricle and coronary arteries (2,3). Iomeprol 400 (400 mgI/mL) (Iomeron; Bracco SpA, Milan, Italy; Eisai, Tokyo, Japan), which has been recentily developed, has some advantages such as 30-50 mg/mL higher iodine content and a lower osmolality of 750 mosm/kg • H20 than existing nonionic monomeric contrast media (4,5). Consequently, we can expect iomeprol 400 to have a better image and reduction of osmolality-related adverse effects such as patient discomfort and untoward hemodynamic and ECG changes. It is also noteworthy tha~ the use of iomeprol 400 is imperative and of clinical value, especially for the obese and broad-chested patients during cine cardioangiography. In this study, to determine the patient tolerance, safety, and usefulness of iomeprol 400 in cardioangiography, we compared the patient discomfort and hemodynamic and ECG effects of iomeprol 400 with those of iomeprol 350 (350 mgI/mL) during left ventriculography (LVG) and coronary angiography using a crossover design.