Thoracic Duct Embolization for Treatment of Chyle Leakage After Thyroidectomy and Neck Dissection

Objective@#This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intranodal lymphangiography and thoracic duct embolization (TDE) for chyle leakage (CL) after thyroid surgery. @*Materials and Methods@#Fourteen patients who underwent intranodal lymphangiography and TDE for CL after thyroid surgery were included in this retrospective study. Among the 14 patients, 13 underwent bilateral total thyroidectomy with neck dissection (central compartment neck dissection [CCND], n = 13; left modified radical neck dissection (MRND), n = 11;bilateral MRND, n = 2), and one patient underwent left hemithyroidectomy with CCND. Ten patients (76.9%) had high-output CL (> 500 mL/d). Before the procedure, surgical intervention was attempted in three patients (thoracic duct ligation, n = 1;lymphatic leakage site ligation, n = 2). Lymphangiographic findings, technical and clinical successes, and complications were analyzed. Technical success was defined as the successful embolization of the thoracic duct after access to the lymphatic duct via the transabdominal route. Clinical success was defined as the resolution of CL or surgical drain removal. @*Results@#On lymphangiography, ethiodized oil leakage near the surgical bed was identified in 12 of 14 patients (85.7%). The technical success rate of TDE was 78.6% (11/14). Transabdominal antegrade access was not feasible due to the inability to visualize the identifiable cisterna chyli or a prominent lumbar lymphatic duct. Among patients who underwent a technically successful TDE, the clinical success rate was 90.1% (10/11). The median time from the procedure to drain removal was 3 days (with a range of 1–13 days) for the 13 patients who underwent surgical drainage. No CL recurrence was observed during the follow-up period (ranging from 2–44 months; median, 8 months). There were no complications, except for one case of chylothorax that developed after TDE. @*Conclusion@#TDE appears to be a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment option for CL after thyroid surgery, with acceptable technical and clinical success rates.

Feasibility of Percutaneous Pancreatic Stent Placement in Postoperative Pancreaticojejunostomy Stenosis

Objective@#To evaluate the role of percutaneous pancreatic stent placement in postoperative pancreaticojejunostomy stenosis (PJS). @*Materials and Methods@#This retrospective single-center study included seven procedures in five patients (four males and one female; median age, 63 years) who underwent percutaneous pancreatic stent placement for postoperative PJS between January 2005 and December 2021. The patients were referred to interventional radiology because of unfavorable anatomy or bowel abnormalities. The pancreatic duct was accessed under ultrasound and/or computed tomography guidance. A stent was placed after balloon dilatation of the PJS. Moreover, plastic stents were placed for the first two procedures, whereas bare-metal stents were used for the remaining five procedures. Technical success was defined as the successful placement of stents for the PJS, meanwhile, clinical success was defined as the normalization of pancreatic enzymes without recurrence of pancreatitis. @*Results@#Pancreatic duct access and stent placement were successfully performed in all patients (technical success rate: 100%).All the procedures initially yielded clinical success. However, recurrence of pancreatitis was observed after two procedures that used plastic stents because of stent migration at 0.3 and 3 months after the procedure. In contrast, no instances of recurrent pancreatitis were noted after metal stent placement for a follow-up duration of 1–36 months. No serious procedure-related adverse events were observed. @*Conclusion@#Percutaneous pancreatic stent placement may be a viable option for patients with postoperative PJS in whom an endoscopic approach is not feasible. Metal stents may be considered over plastic stents for the management of PJS, considering the possible lower stent migration and infeasibility of frequent endoscopic stent exchange due to the altered anatomy.

US Findings of Secondary Breast Lymphoma Detected by PET/CT

Breast lymphomas, either manifesting as a primary extranodal disease or secondary involvement, are a rare form of malignancy. Breast lymphomas can be visualized as hypermetabolic lesions in 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) scans. Here, we describe a case of a secondary breast lymphoma, detected with 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Metastatic Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma to the Breast: A Case Report

Metastasis of signet ring cell gastric carcinoma to the breast is extremely rare. The common clinical findings are redness, edematous skin and pain, and these findings are similar to those of inflammatory breast cancer. We describe here a case of metastatic signet ring cell gastric carcinoma to the bilateral breasts, and this presented as bilateral palpable breast lumps after the patient had undergone radical total gastrectomy two years previously.