Takami Tanaka

Differentiation of pancreatic serous cystadenoma from endocrine tumor and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm based on washout pattern on multiphase CT.

Objective To evaluate the washout (WO) pattern of serous cystadenomas (SCAs) compared with endocrine tumors (ETs) and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). Methods Patients with serous cystadenoma (n = 12), ET (n = 29), and IPMN (n = 35) underwent 4-phase computed tomography CT. Tumors were categorized as hyperdense or hypodense. Computed tomographic values measured were unenhanced attenuation (AU), pancreatic attenuation (A12, 12 seconds), portal attenuation (A35), and equilibrium (A158). Computed tomographic parameters calculated were wash-in (WI) = A12 − AU; WO = A12 − A35; and washout ratio (WOR) = WO/WI × 100/22. Results Hyperdense SCAs had significantly higher WOR than did hyperdense ETs (P = 0.001). Among the 3 hypodense tumors, SCAs had the significantly highest WOR (P < 0.05/3). Relative to the pancreas, the WOR of SCAs were equivalent, whereas the WOR of ETs and IPMNs were significantly lower. Conclusions Hyperdense SCAs had significantly higher WOR than did hyperdense ETs, and hypodense SCAs had the significantly highest WOR among the three.

Pathologic Evaluation of Damage to Bronchial Artery, Bronchial Wall, and Pulmonary Parenchyma After Bronchial Artery Embolization With N-butyl Cyanoacrylate for Massive Hemoptysis

Histologic evidence of safety after bronchial arterial embolization (BAE) with N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) should be assured. The present report describes a 78-year-old man with massive hemoptysis from lung cancer who underwent surgical lobectomy 23 days after hemostasis had been achieved via BAE with NBCA. Pathologic examination revealed that NBCA filled the lumen of bronchial branch arteries 143-1,094 μm in diameter from the lobar bronchus to subsegmental bronchus but was not seen in the lumen of the pulmonary artery or pulmonary vein. NBCA induced occlusion of bronchial branch arteries but no necrosis of the bronchial wall or pulmonary parenchyma.

Inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm treated with coil packing and stent placement.

Two cases with a pancreaticoduodenal arterial aneurysm accompanied with superior mesenteric artery (SMA) stenosis were previously described and both were treated surgically. However, for interventional treatment, securing a sufficient blood supply to the SMA should be a priority of treatment. We present the case of a 71-year-old male with a 20 mm diameter pancreaticoduodenal arterial aneurysm accompanied by SMA stenosis at its origin. The guidewire traverse from SMA to the aneurysm was difficult because of the tight SMA stenosis; however, the guidewire traverse from the celiac artery was finally successful and was followed by balloon angioplasty using a pull-through technique, leading to stent placement. Thereafter, coil packing through the SMA achieved eradication of the aneurysm without bowel ischemia. At the last follow-up computed tomography 8 mo later, no recurrence of the aneurysm was confirmed. The pull-through technique was useful for angioplasty for tight SMA stenosis in this case.

Balloon occlusion retrograde transvenous obliteration for inferior mesenteric vein-systemic shunt.

Two cases of portosystemic encephalopathy caused by an inferior mesenteric vein (IMV)-internal iliac vein shunt and an IMV-renal vein shunt are presented. IMV and systemic varicosity consisted of a first functional segment, a stagnant segment, and a second functional segment. Both patients underwent balloon occlusion retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO), using a microcatheter, to occlude the stagnant segment selectively. Although transient portal vein thrombosis was observed in case 1 and aggravation of esophageal varices was observed in case 2, these complications were tolerable. Following BRTO, the portosystemic encephalopathy in both cases resolved, and serum ammonia levels, although elevated, remained within the normal range.

Successful Treatment of Endoscopically Unmanageable Rectal Varices by Balloon-occluded Antegrade Transvenous Sclerotherapy Followed by Microcoil Embolization

The present report describes two cases of endoscopically unmanageable rectal varices that were treated by balloon-occluded antegrade transvenous sclerotherapy (BATS) followed by microcoil embolization. Follow-up endoscopy confirmed eradication of the rectal varices. Balloon-occluded rectal venography showed stasis of contrast material and sclerosing agent for 30 minutes in both cases of rectal varices, which indicated that the inflow vessel was a single dilated superior rectal vein without other minor inflow vessels. BATS appears to be a feasible therapeutic option for the treatment of rectal varices of this hemodynamic type.

Evaluation of vascular puncture needles with specific modifications for enhanced ultrasound visibility: In vitro study

AIM To determine which modification to a vascular puncture needle results in increased visualization during ultrasound (US)-guided vascular puncture. METHODS We evaluated US images of a phantom made of degassed gelatin and each of the following four modified versions of a commercially available vascular puncture needle (18 G): re-cut needle, dimple needle, rough-surface needle (rough over the sections of needle located 3-6 mm from the tip), and a needle with four side holes (side holes covered by the sheath). An unmodified commercially available puncture needle was used as a control. Five interventional radiologists evaluated image quality according to the following classification grade: I, invisible; II, poor; III, moderate; IV, good; V, excellent. RESULTS The highest score for needle visualization was obtained for the needle with four side holes. The re-cut needle scored the same as the control. Multiple comparisons were conducted using overall evaluation scores among the commercially available needle, dimple needle, rough-surface needle (3-6 mm), and the needle with four side holes. A significantly higher score was obtained for the needle with four side holes (P < 0.05/6). CONCLUSION The needle with four side holes was prominently visualized and gained a significantly higher score (compared with the other needles) in a phantom evaluation.

Comparison of blood dynamics of anticancer drugs (cisplatin, mitomycin C, epirubicin) in treatment groups of hepatic arterial infusion, hepatic arterial infusion with lipiodol and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization with lipiodol plus gelatin sponge particles in a swine model

Aim:  To compare the blood dynamics of anticancer drugs (cisplatin, mitomycin, epirubicin) and the negative effect on normal liver tissue among the following procedures: hepatic arterial infusion (HAI), HAI with lipiodol (Lp‐HAI) and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with Lp plus particles (Lp‐TACE).

Percutaneous transportal outflow‐vessel‐occluded sclerotherapy for gastric varices unmanageable by balloon‐occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration

In this report we introduce percutaneous transportal outflow‐vessel‐occluded sclerotherapy (PTOS) for gastric varices unmanageable by balloon‐occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) in two cases and evaluate its safety and efficacy. The PTOS is a technique which could obstruct gastric varices subsequent to the occlusion of the outflow route, being based on the rationale of BRTO. In the PTOS procedure, coil embolization of the outflow vessel is first conducted through a microcatheter advanced beyond the gastric varices via the percutaneous transhepatic approach; sclerosing agent (5% ethanolamine oleate) is then injected into the gastric varices after confirmation of static blood flow in the varices. Two patients underwent initial BRTO that eventually failed because of the presence of numerous fine and abruptly angled outflow vessels (case 1), and the presence of a tortuous and elongated outflow vessel accompanied by numerous small collateral outflows that could not be occluded (case 2). Cases 1 and 2 received PTOS using 5% ethanolamine oleate (15 mL and 10 mL, respectively). Portal venous pressure following PTOS showed an increase from 29 to 34 mmHg in case 1 and remained at 24 mmHg in case 2. No major complication was encountered in either patient. One‐year follow‐up gastroendoscopy showed no recurrence of gastric varices in either patient. Although PTOS is slightly more invasive than BRTO, PTOS can be used as an alternative catheter treatment procedure for gastric varices that are unmanageable by BRTO.

Safety of bronchial arterial embolization with n-butyl cyanoacrylate in a swine model.

AIM To compare the efficacy and safety of bronchial artery embolization (BAE) with n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) and gelatin sponge particles (GSPs). METHODS Six healthy female swine were divided into two groups to be treated with BAE using NBCA-lipiodol (NBCA-Lp) and using GSPs. The occlusive durability, the presence of embolic materials, the response of the vessel wall, and damage to the bronchial wall and pulmonary parenchyma were compared. RESULTS No animals experienced any major complication. Two days later, no recanalization of the bronchial artery was observed in the NBCA-Lp group, while partial recanalization was seen in the GSP group. Embolic materials were not found in the pulmonary artery or pulmonary vein. NBCA-Lp was present as a bubble-like space in bronchial branch arteries of 127-1240 μm, and GSPs as reticular amorphous substance of 107-853 μm. These arteries were in the adventitia outside the bronchial cartilage but not in the fine vessels inside the bronchial cartilage. No damage to the bronchial wall and pulmonary parenchyma was found in either group. Red cell thrombus, stripping of endothelial cells, and infiltration of inflammatory cells was observed in vessels embolized with NBCA-Lp or GSP. CONCLUSION NBCA embolization is more potent than GSP with regard to bronchial artery occlusion, and both materials were present in bronchial branch arteries ≥ 100 μm diameter.