Sudha Suri

Non‐cirrhotic portal fibrosis (idiopathic portal hypertension): Experience with 151 patients and a review of the literature

Background: Non‐cirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF), the equivalent of idiopathic portal hypertension in Japan and hepatoportal sclerosis in the United States of America, is a common cause of portal hypertension in India. The clinical features, portographic and histological findings, and management of 151 patients with non‐cirrhotic portal fibrosis are presented.

Portal hypertensive biliopathy

Extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) is a common cause of portal hypertension in the developing countries, and constitutes up to 40% of all patients with portal hypertension.1,2 EHPVO is a common cause of major upper-gastrointestinal bleeding among children.2–4 The most common presentation in children is well-tolerated variceal bleeding and splenomegaly. In adults, EHPVO is often recognised when evaluating for other disorders or with uncommon presentations such as jaundice, pruritus, acute cholecystitis-like syndrome, ascites and so on, resulting from prolonged portal hypertension.5–7 The portal vein in EHPVO is transformed into a cavernoma, which is a bunch of multiple collateral veins around the obstructed portion of portal vein (fig 1). Marked improvements in the management of variceal bleeding in patients with EHPVO have resulted in an improved survival, thus presenting with unusual symptoms in adulthood. Figure 1  Splenoportovenogram showing multiple collaterals (portal cavernoma) replacing the portal vein (arrows) in a patient with extrahepatic portal venous obstruction. The splenic vein is normal (arrowheads). The reasons for EHPVO are obscure in approximately half of the patients. Omphalitis and intra-abdominal sepsis are the common causes in neonates and children. Adults develop EHPVO due to increased blood coagulability, local inflammation, intra-abdominal sepsis, myeloproliferative disorders, underlying cirrhosis, or tumours in the liver, bile ducts or pancreas.7,8,9,10 Gibson et al 11 first reported the relationship between EHPVO and jaundice in 1965. Since then, several cases of obstructive jaundice due to common bile duct (CBD) obstruction caused by cavernomatous transformation of portal vein (portal cavernoma) have been described. Williams et al 12 were the first to report cholangiographic changes caused by choledochal varices. We, for the first time, describe abnormalities on endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) in a prospective study.13 These abnormalities were similar to those of primary sclerosing cholangitis and …

Biliary changes in extrahepatic portal venous obstruction: Compression by collaterals or ischemic?

BACKGROUND The postulated mechanisms of biliary abnormalities in extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) are either extrinsic compression by collaterals or ischemic injury due to venous thrombosis. If the former hypothesis is correct, then biliary changes should revert to normal after portasystemic shunt surgery. METHODS Five patients with EHPVO who underwent portasystemic shunt surgery were studied. One of these patients had obstructive jaundice due to portal cavernoma. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) was performed before as well as after the shunt surgery. Doppler ultrasound and splenoportovenography were obtained to confirm the diagnosis of EHPVO as well as shunt patency. RESULTS All patients had biliary abnormalities on pre-shunt ERC. The post-shunt ERC showed partial reversal of biliary abnormalities in 3 patients, complete reversal in 1 patient, and no reversal in 1 patient. Smooth strictures opened after shunt surgery and proximal dilatation disappeared in most patients. The indentations and caliber irregularities disappeared after shunt surgery, whereas angulations and ectasias of biliary ducts persisted. CONCLUSION Shunt surgery results in regression of some of the biliary abnormalities and relieves biliary obstruction, suggesting that mechanical compression by collaterals is the mechanism behind biliary abnormalities in EHPVO. However, some biliary changes persist after shunt surgery signifying fixed obstruction due to ischemia or fibrous scarring. Thus, the two theories are not mutually exclusive.

Comparison of CT venography with MR venography in cerebral sinovenous thrombosis

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to compare cerebral CT venography with MR venography and determine the reliability of CT venography in the diagnosis of cerebral sinovenous thrombosis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Fifty patients who were clinically suspected of having cerebral sinovenous thrombosis, irrespective of age and sex, underwent cerebral CT venography and MR venography. Projection venograms were displayed using maximum-intensity-projection images for both CT venography and MR venography. The CT venograms were also displayed using the integral algorithm, which depicts the average intensity value of the first five voxels deep in relation to the model surface that is nearest the viewer, allowing direct visualization of the thrombus in the sinuses. All CT venograms and MR venograms were independently evaluated by experienced neuroradiologists. RESULTS Of these 50 patients, 30 patients were diagnosed as having cerebral sinovenous thrombosis on both CT venography and MR venography. The total numbers of sinuses involved were 81 and 77 (CT venography and MR venography). When MR venography was used as the gold standard, CT venography was found to have both a sensitivity and a specificity of 75-100%, depending on the sinus and vein involved. CONCLUSION CT venography is as accurate as MR venography for diagnosing cerebral sinovenous thrombosis.

MDCT in the Staging of Gallbladder Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE The purpose of our study was to determine the utility of dual-phase MDCT with 3D reconstruction in the staging and resectability of gallbladder carcinoma. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Twenty-seven consecutive patients with suspected gallbladder carcinoma on clinical examination and routine sonography were prospectively analyzed with dual-phase MDCT. Of these patients, only 20 who underwent a laparotomy for extended cholecystectomy or a palliative surgery were included in the study. Three-dimensional volume-rendered reconstruction was used for evaluation of the vascular invasion and anatomy. The staging and resectability as determined on CT were compared with preoperative findings. RESULTS On the basis of the CT findings, eight tumors were resectable and 12 were unresectable. On surgery, 11 tumors were found to be resectable and the remaining were unresectable. Overstaging by CT occurred in three patients due to overassessment of duodenal infiltration. CT had a sensitivity of 72.7%, a specificity of 100%, and an accuracy of 85% for determining resectability of gallbladder carcinoma. For the diagnosis of hepatic and vascular invasion by the tumor, there was 100% correlation between CT and surgery. Vascular variations were found in six of the 11 patients who underwent radical cholecystectomy. CONCLUSION Dual-phase MDCT with 3D reconstruction is a comprehensive imaging technique for staging gallbladder carcinoma and determining the vascular road map before surgery.

Image-guided percutaneous drainage of thoracic empyema: Can sonography predict the outcome?

Abstract. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of image-guided percutaneous catheter drainage (IGPCD) of thoracic empyemas, and to correlate the outcome of IGPCD with the pre-procedural sonographic appearance. One hundred three patients (74 males and 29 females) with thoracic empyema (age range 1 month to 70 years, median age 28 years) underwent IGPCD. In 63 (61.17 %) patients, IGPCD was the primary treatment modality; in 40 (38.84 %) patients it was used after unsuccessful intercostal chest tube drainage (ICTD). Ultrasound was the main modality used for guidance; CT guidance was used in only 7 patients (6.8 %). Eight- to 12-F pigtail catheters or 10- to 14-F Malecot catheters were used. The outcome was correlated with the pre-procedural US appearance (anechoic, complex non-septated or complex septated) of the empyema. The IGPCD technique was successful in 80 of 102 patients. Based on the US appearance, IGPCD was successful in 12 of 13 (92.3 %) patients with anechoic empyemas; 53 of 65 (81.54 %) patients with complex non-septated empyemas, and in 15 of 24 (62.5 %) patients with complex septated empyemas. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.01) was seen in the outcome of IGPCD in the three categories. Twenty-two patients required further treatment: ICTD (n = 9; 2 of them later also underwent surgery); and surgery (n = 15). The duration of catheter drainage ranged from 2–60 days. No major complications were encountered. Percutaneous catheter drainage of thoracic empyemas with imaging guidance ensures accurate catheter placement with a high success and a low complication rate. Pre-procedural US can predict the likelihood of success of IGPCD.

Duplex Doppler sonography in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Background : Angiography has been the mainstay for diagnosis of Budd–Chiari syndrome even though other modalities are increasingly being used. We have evaluated our findings of duplex Doppler sonography (DDS) in patients with Budd–Chiari syndrome.

Percutaneous nephrostomy with real-time sonographic guidance

Purpose: Percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) is an effective method for achieving temporary drainage of the obstructed urinary system and is usually performed under fluoroscopic guidance alone or more commonly under combined sonographic and fluoroscopic guidance. We undertook a retrospective analysis of 273 PCNs performed solely under ultrasound (US) guidance with the aim of evaluating the technique and the safety and efficacy of the procedure. Material and Methods: A total of 273 PCN procedures in 267 patients were performed under real-time US guidance using the Seldinger technique. the indications for PCNs comprised benign (n=215) and malignant (n=46) urinary obstruction, and urinary fistulae (n=6). Results: PCN was successful in 269 of the 273 attempts (98.5%). Satisfactory catheter placement was achieved in 245 of the 269 procedures (91.1%) under US guidance. Fluoroscopic assistance for catheter repositioning was required in 24 PCNs owing to the unsatisfactory position of the catheter tip. Major complications occurred in 15 patients (5.6%). Catheter dislodgement and catheter blockage was seen in respectively 12.6% and 3.3% of procedures. Conclusion: in most patients, PCN can be performed safely using real-time sonographic guidance.

Ilio-psoas abscesses: Percutaneous drainage under image guidance

Over a 5-year period, 56 psoas abscesses occurring in 51 patients were managed by image-guided percutaneous drainage, either by needle aspiration (n = 10) or by catheter drainage (n = 46) in conjunction with medical therapy. Twenty-seven patients had tuberculous abscesses (bilateral in five) while 24 patients had pyogenic abscesses. Percutaneous treatment was successful in 16 of the 24 patients (66.7%) with pyogenic abscesses. The reasons for failure were co-existent bowel lesions, phlegmonous involvement of muscle without liquefaction, multiloculated abscess cavity and thick tenacious pus not amenable to percutaneous drainage. Surgery was required in seven patients, either for failed percutaneous drainage or for the management of co-existent disease. Percutaneous drainage was initially successful in all 27 patients of tuberculous psoas abscesses. However, eight patients presented with recurrence requiring repeat intervention. The average duration of catheter drainage was longer in patients with tuberculous abscess (11 days) than in patients with pyogenic abscess (6 days). Percutaneous drainage under image guidance provides an effective and safe alternative to more invasive surgical drainage in most patients with psoas abscesses.

Computed tomography and ultrasonographic evaluation of metastatic cervical lymph nodes with surgicoclinicopathologic correlation

The detection of cervical lymph nodal metastasis and carotid artery invasion by metastatic lymph nodes is an important issue in the management of head and neck malignancies. This study compared the evaluation of metastasis by palpation, ultrasonography (USG) and computed tomography (CT) in patients with known head and neck malignancies. Twenty-five consecutive patients with head and neck malignancy were prospectively evaluated for the presence of cervical lymphadenopathy and carotid artery invasion. All patients underwent clinical examination (palpation), USG and CT examination. A modified CT criteria was employed which yielded acceptable results for the detection of metastatic nodes. Radical neck dissection was performed for 26 neck sides, and the results of pre-operative evaluation were confirmed by the surgical and histopathological findings. Palpation, ultrasound and CT have comparable sensitivity in the determination of metastasis involving cervical lymph nodes. Thus palpation should be employed as the primary method of assessment of secondaries in the neck. However, palpation is less sensitive than CT and USG in the detection of carotid artery involvement, hence the clinical suspicion of arterial invasion should be confirmed by either CT or USG which have similar accuracy in the detection of carotid artery invasion.