Konstantinos Palialexis

Metastatic bone disease from breast cancer: a review of minimally invasive techniques for diagnosis and treatment

Skeletal-related events in patients with metastatic bone disease include intractable severe pain, pathologic fracture, spinal cord and nerve compression, hypercalcemia and bone marrow aplasia. In patients with breast cancer, the skeleton is the most frequent site for metastases. Treatment options for metastatic bone disease in these patients include bisphosphonates, chemotherapeutic agents, opioids, hormonal therapy, minimally invasive/interventional and surgical techniques. Interventional oncology techniques for breast cancer patients with bone metastases include diagnostic (biopsy) and therapeutic (palliative and curative) approaches. In the latter, percutaneous ablation, augmentation and stabilization are included. The purpose of this article is to describe the basic concepts of biopsy, ablation, embolization and peripheral skeleton augmentation techniques in patients with metastatic bone disease from breast carcinoma. The necessity for a tailored approach applying different techniques for different cases and locations will be addressed.

Multi-center feasibility study of microwave radiometry thermometry for non-invasive differential diagnosis of arterial disease in diabetic patients with suspected critical limb ischemia

AIMS Diagnosis of vascular involvement in diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) remains challenging. We conducted a proof of concept study to investigate the feasibility of microwave radiometry (MWR) thermometry for non-invasive differential diagnosis of critical limb ischemia (CLI) in subjects with DFU. METHODS This prospective, multi-center, study included 80 participants, divided into four groups (group N: normal control subjects; group DN: participants with diabetes and verified neuropathic ulcers without vascular involvement; group DC: participants with diabetes and CLI and group NDC: participants with CLI without diabetes). Vascular disease was confirmed with angiography. All patients underwent MWR (RTM-01-RES:University of Bolton, UK) to record mean tissue temperatures at various pre-determined foot sites. Comparisons of temperature measurements between study groups were performed using one-way ANOVA and Dunn tests. ROC analysis was performed to determine sensitivity, specificity and cut-off value of MWR for CLI diagnosis. RESULTS Temperatures recorded in vicinity to the foot ulcers of participants with diabetes and CLI were similar to those with CLI without diabetes, but significantly lower than in subjects with neuropathic ulcers without vascular involvement and normal controls (group DC:29.30°C±1.89 vs. group NDC:29.18°C±1.78vs. group N:33.01°C±0.45 vs. group DN:33.39°C±1.37;P<.0001). According to ROC analysis, cut-off temperature value to diagnose CLI was <31.8°C (area under the curve: 0.984; 95% CI: 0.965-1.005;P<.001), with a sensitivity of 100.0% (95%CI: 90.26-100.0) and specificity of 88.37% (95% CI: 74.92-96.11). CONCLUSIONS Tissue temperatures in vicinity to ulcers were significantly lower in participants with CLI, with or without diabetes, compared to non-ischemic controls. MWR could be used for differential diagnosis of arterial ischemia in subjects with DFU.

High Extra-Tumoral 99mTc-Macroaggregated Albumin Accumulation in a Fatty Liver in a Candidate for Transarterial Radioembolization Treatment

A patient with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and unresectable small-sized (≤3cm) diffuse liver metastases from adenocarcinoma of the rectosigmoid junction was assessed for treatment with transarterial radioembolization (SIRT). The right hepatic arteriogram demonstrated several hypervascular lesions. However, the planar and the SPECT images of the subsequent right hepatic arterial 99mTc-MAA perfusion scintigraphy, revealed significantly heterogeneous distribution of 99mTc-MAA particles and “hot spots”, not corresponding to lesion-specific sites. The no coincidence of the angiographic and the scintigraphic findings could be possibly influenced by hemodynamic changes, due to the presence of significant NAFLD. Because of the high risk-benefit ratio, the patient was considered to be an inappropriate candidate for SIRT.

Congenital Bronchial Atresia with a Calcified Mucocele

Chest CT confirmed the presence of a branching calcified lesion in the apicoposterior bronchus of the left upper lobe ( fig. 2 ). Distal to the lesion, the lung parenchyma appeared hyperinflated with sparse vascularity. Imaging findings were consistent with congenital bronchial atresia with a calcified mucocele. Two years later, follow-up chest CT did not show any changes while the patient remained asymptomatic. Diagnosis of congeniA 31-year-old female was referred to our department to further evaluate an abnormal finding of a routine chest X-ray. She had a 5 pack-year smoking history, no history of lower respiratory tract infection or other pulmonary disease, and no constitutional symptoms. Physical examination was unremarkable. Chest X-ray ( fig. 1 ) revealed a lobulated branching opacity with distal hyperinflation in the left upper lobe. Published online: March 26, 2011