Heljä Oikarinen

Patency and Complications of Percutaneously Inserted Metallic Stents in Malignant Biliary Obstruction

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to analyze the patency of percutaneously inserted metallic stents in malignant biliary obstruction and to evaluate all the complications associated with the stents and the reinterventions needed. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-nine patients with 42 malignant strictures were treated percutaneously with 55 metallic self-expandable stents. Forty-eight were Wallstents and seven were Memotherm stents. Twenty-five strictures were hilar, 16 were in the common bile duct, and one was in the hepaticojejunal anastomosis. The patients were followed until death and the mean follow-up was 6.4 months. RESULTS Stent insertion was successful in 97% of the patients. Thirty percent had early complications (<30 days), and as many as 66% had late complications, including stent occlusions, which were seen in 10 patients. The patency rates of patients with cholangio-carcinoma were significantly lower than those of the patients with other diagnoses. There was also a tendency toward obstruction with less dilation of the stents, Y, T or tandem-style stent placement, an increasing number of stents, longer strictures, and hilar strictures. Thirty-one percent of the patients alive after the first 30 days had late reinterventions. CONCLUSIONS Although metallic stents offer an alternative in the palliation of malignant bile duct obstruction, there seem to be numerous early and late complications.

Radiological Findings in Biliary Fistula and Gallstone Ileus

Purpose: Biliary fistula and gallstone ileus are rarely found. The diagnosis is difficult and may be delayed until operation. We reviewed the radiological findings in a retrospective material. Material and Methods: The cases of 16 patients treated for biliary fistula were analyzed with respect to findings at imaging. Ten patients had a spontaneous fistula. Nine of them had an internal bilioduodenal fistula and one had an external fistula with stones passing through a subcutaneous abscess. Five patients also had gallstone ileus and one patient a rare gastric outlet obstruction caused by a gallstone (Bouverets syndrome). Six patients had an iatrogenic fistula. One of them had internal bile ascites and 5 an external fistula, one of which was a biliocystic fistula resulting from attempted hepatic cyst sclerotherapy. Results: Various imaging modalities were used and there was often a delay in the diagnosis. Imaging did not show the fistula itself in any of the spontaneous cases. However, a nonvisualized or shrunken gallbladder seen at US often coexisted in these cases. CT yielded the diagnosis in one case of gallstone ileus, and a Gastrografin meal yielded it in the case of Bouverets syndrome. Fistulography and cholangiography provided a correct diagnosis of fistula in all cases of iatrogenic biliocutaneous fistulas. Conclusion: Patients with biliary fistula usually undergo examinations with nonspecific results. The imaging findings could be more specific if the possibility of this diagnosis were remembered.

Diagnostic Imaging of Carcinomas of the Gallbladder and the Bile Ducts

Early diagnosis and accurate staging of carcinomas of the gallbladder and the bile ducts are helpful in improving the prognosis. Ultrasonography (US), a useful initial modality when exploring the background of jaundice or non-specific gastrointestinal complaints, sensitively reveals bile duct obstruction in particular. In unclear cases, or if US suggests a resectable biliary malignancy, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) and / or traditional cholangiography often provide additional information, and imaging-guided fine-needle biopsy or an endoscopic brush sample may verify the malignant nature of the tumor. Complementary modalities are usually needed for accurate staging, and traditional cholangiography is often performed for therapeutic purposes as well. Comparative studies of MRI with MRC and multidetector CT in biliary cancers would be welcome.

Survey of inappropriate use of magnetic resonance imaging

ObjectiveThere are concerns that not all costly advanced imaging is appropriate. However, studies about the appropriateness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are sparse. The aim of this study was to review various MRI examinations done at a university hospital to determine whether there is inappropriate use.MethodsAltogether 150 common MRIs (upper abdomen or liver, lumbar spine, knee, head and head of children performed under anaesthesia, 30 each) were reviewed consecutively. The referrals and corresponding patient files were analysed by senior radiologists and the indications of the examinations were compared to the referral criteria.ResultsSeven per cent of the examinations were deemed inappropriate. All the MRIs of the head done on children were indicated. One to three examinations in all other subgroups were not indicated. The most common appropriate indications were ambiguous hepatic, pancreatic or adrenal lesions, prolonged lower back pain, suspicion of meniscus rupture, brain malignancy and developmental disorder of a child, respectively.ConclusionsAlthough the proportion of inappropriate examinations was not high; financial issues and the growing number of patients referred for MRI are of concern. Education and regular use of up-to-date referral guidelines could help to further improve appropriateness.Main Messages•Seven per cent of the MRI examinations analysed were inappropriate at a university hospital.•Everyday practices of a hospital may contribute to the level of appropriateness.•A survey of indications for previous MRI examinations might be helpful in various institutions.

Justification of CT examinations in young adults and children can be improved by education, guideline implementation and increased MRI capacity

OBJECTIVE To determine whether the justification of CT examinations performed on young patients can be improved by various interventions and whether these have an effect on the total number of CTs performed. METHODS Specific interventions-education, guideline implementation and increased MRI capacity-were introduced at the Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland, following a previous study demonstrating unjustified use of CT examination in young patients. In the present study, the justification of 177 CT examinations of the lumbar and cervical spine, head, abdomen, nasal sinuses and trauma performed on patients aged under 35 years in 2009 was analysed retrospectively by looking at requests and corresponding patient files. The indications of the examinations were compared with the referral guidelines recommended by the European Commission. Results from our previously published similar study carried out before the interventions were used as a reference. RESULTS The proportion of justified CT examinations increased from 71% (141/200) in 2005 to 87% (154/177) in 2009 (p<0.001), and in the lumbar spine group from 23% (7/30) to 81% (22/27) (p<0.001). In the case of most of the unjustified examinations, MRI could have been performed instead. The total number of CT examinations carried out on young patients decreased by 7% (p=0.012) and in the lumbar spine group by 79% (p<0.001). CONCLUSION The implemented interventions decreased the number of CT examinations performed on young patients, and the justification of the examinations improved significantly. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE This study demonstrates that it is possible to reduce the number of various CT examinations and to improve their justification in young patients by regular education, guideline implementation and increased MRI capacity.

Imaging and Estimation of the Prognostic Features of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis by Ultrasonography and Mr Cholangiography

Purpose: To evaluate the ability of US and MR cholangiography (MRC) to detect bile duct changes and prognostic signs of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) seen at endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC). Material and Methods: In a prospective study, 9 patients with PSC underwent US, MRC, MR imaging and ERC of the bile ducts and the liver. Eight age- and sex-matched control patients were examined with MRC, MR imaging and ERC. A segmental comparison was performed to assess the ability of MRC-MR and US to reveal the accurate ductal involvement in different segments of the biliary tree and the specific criteria of poor prognostic outcome in PSC. The ability of MRC-MR to detect the presence of PSC in different patients was analysed blindly. Results: MRC-MR depicted changes of PSC correctly in 9 patients (radiologist 1) and in 8 patients with 1 false-positive finding (radiologist 2) in the blinded analysis. In the segmental comparison, MRC missed especially bile duct dilatations. MRC was too pessimistic in the evaluation of the outcome. US detected features suggestive of PSC in 8 patients (radiologist 3). US was unable to show the predictors of poor outcome. Conclusion: MRC and US seem to be useful in the detection of PSC. US is unable and MRC is too pessimistic to estimate the outcome of PSC.

Justification and active guideline implementation for spine radiography referrals in primary care.

Background Spinal disorders are a major public health problem. Appropriate diagnostic imaging is an essential part in the management of back complaints. Nevertheless, inappropriate imaging increases population collective dose and health costs without improving outcome. Purpose To determine the effects of active implementation of referral guidelines on the number and justification of spine radiography in primary care in one city. Material and Methods Specified guidelines for spine radiography were distributed to referring practitioners altogether three times during the study period. Educational lectures were provided before the guidelines were taken into use. The guidelines were also made available via the intranet. The number of spine radiography referrals during similar 6-month periods in the year preceding the interventions and the following 2 years was analyzed. Justification of 448 spine radiographs was assessed similarly. Results After interventions, the total number of spine radiography examinations decreased by 48% (P < 0.001) and that of cervical spine radiography by 46% (P < 0.001), thoracic spine by 53% (P < 0.001), and lumbar spine by 47% (P < 0.001). The results persisted after 1-year follow-up. Before interventions, 24% of the cervical, 46% of the thoracic, and 32% of the lumbar spine radiography referrals were justified. After interventions, only justification of lumbar spine radiography improved significantly, 64% being justified (P = 0.005). Conclusion Spine radiography in primary care can be reduced significantly by active referral guideline implementation. The proportion of inappropriate radiography was unexpectedly high. Thus, further education and studies concerning the appropriate use of spinal radiography seems to be needed.

Clinical imaging guidelines part 4: challenges in identifying, engaging and collaborating with stakeholders.

The effective development and use of clinical imaging guidelines requires an understanding of who the stakeholders are, what their interests in the process are, and what roles they should play. If the appropriate stakeholders are not engaged in the right roles, it is unlikely that clinical imaging guidelines will be successfully developed, relied on, and actually used. Some stakeholders are obvious: for the development of clinical imaging guidelines, both imagers and those who request examinations, such as general practitioners, internists, and medical specialists, must be involved. To gain acceptance, other relevant groups are stakeholders, including medical societies, other health care professionals, insurers, health IT experts and vendors, and patients. The role of stakeholders must be dictated by their specific interest. For some, involvement in the creation of guidelines is the right role. For others, such as regulators or insurers, reviews or invitations to comment are required, and for others, such as medical educators, it is probably sufficient to provide information and create awareness. Only through a careful consideration of who the stakeholders are and what are their interests are the successful development, acceptance, and use of clinical imaging guidelines likely to occur. Future efforts must focus on collaboration, particularly among groups that create clinical imaging guidelines and those that can support their use, and on regulatory roles and mandates.

Overview of Current Strategies for Diagnostic Imaging of Biliary Tract and Gallbladder Tumors

Early diagnosis of biliary cancers would be important to improve their prognosis, and accurate staging would help to choose the best possible treatment. However, biliary cancers present specific diagnostic challenges. Imaging modalities, imaging-guided fine-needle aspiration, and endoscopic brush samples play a crucial role in the diagnostic work-up. However, there is no single modality capable of reliably detecting and accurately staging biliary cancers; hence, complementary modalities are usually needed. Transabdominal ultrasound (US) is often the first imaging modality applied to patients with jaundice or nonspecific gastrointestinal complaints. US visualizes bile duct obstruction accurately and is a suitable method for assessing even mild symptoms, and it is noninvasive, nonradiative, and commonly available. If a biliary malignancy is suspected, further investigations are usually performed after US. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) may yield additional information of the tumor and/or its extent. Fast-imaging techniques have made MRI potentially more valuable, and magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) is the least invasive mode of cholangiography, which is useful with MRI in the case of biliary obstruction. MDCT can produce multiplanar reconstructions of good quality but it has exposed patients to relatively high dose of radiation. In ambiguous cases, both MRI and MDCT may be needed. Direct cholangiography may provide the most accurate anatomic information of the bile ducts. It is also needed for therapeutic purposes in the case of bile duct obstruction. Further, positron emission tomography (PET), PET/CT, and endoscopic or intraductal US may help in the diagnostic work-up, when available.