The Efficacy of Transcatheter Arterial Embolization(TAE) in Children With Blunt Splenic Injury

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of transcatheter arterial embolization(TAE) in children with blunt splenicinjury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The results of transcatheter splenic arterial embolization in nine children whosuffered splenic injury after blunt abdominal trauma were retrospectively studied. This injury was demonstrated byCT, and the findings were evaluated according to the classification of Mirvis et al. ; two patients were grade 3and seven were grade 4. All were carefully observed in intensive care before embolization. TAE was performed if apatient satisfied the following criteria : (1) transfusion and/or fluid replacement required to maintainhemodynamic stability ; or (2) rapid Hb/Hct decrease ; or (3) both. Splenic function was subsequently estimatedaccording to the results of 99mTc-sulfur colloid scintigraphy and/or CT scanning. RESULT: TAE was suscessful inall nine children. Two were embolized with a coil only, three with gelfoam, and four with gelfoam and a coil.Seven were embolized in the main trunk of the splenic artery and others in both the main trunk and its branches.Splenic function was preserved in all nine children, during follow-up, none suffered rebleeding. CONCLUSION: TAEof the splenic artery can be a safe and effective nonsurgical approach to the management of blunt splenic injuryin children, and can preserve splenic function.

Transcatheter embolization for splanchnic pseudoaneurysm

PURPOSE: To determine the therapeutic effect of transcatheter embolization in the treatment of splanchnicpseudoaneurysm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved eleven patients who underwent embolization for thetreatment of splanchnic pseudoaneurysm. Nine were men and two were women ; their ages ranged from 8 to 74 (mean,51) years. The etiology of these cases included postoperative pseudoaneurysm(n=4), pancreatitis(n=3), stabinjury(n=1), and suspected infection(n=1), while two cases were uncertain. The locations of the pseudoaneurysmwere the splenic artery(n=4), the gastroduodenal artery(n=3), the hepatic artery(n=2), the celiac artery(n=1), andboth the right renal and lumbar artery(n=1). All patients underwent angiography prior to embolization. Thematerials used during embolization were a microcoil, a 5-cm metallic guide wire, and a detachable balloon. RESULTS: Embolization was successful in all eleven cases. Among nine cases in which follow-up was possible, angiographywas performed in four, and five cases of thrombus were confirmed by abdominal CT. Three of these nine patientsunderwent re-embolization. One patient underwent elective surgery for a pseudocyst due to pancreatitis. CONCLUSION: Transcatheter embolization is a safe and convenient modality for the treatment of splanchnic pseudoaneurysm.

Three Cases of Tuberculous Otitis Media

We report the imaging features of three cases of tuberculous otitis media. All three patients underwenttemporal bone CT scanning, and in two, additional MRI scanning was performed. The three cases showed soft tissuedensity in the external auditory canal, and in two, destruction of the trabeculation and internal cortex of themastoid bone was noted. In two patients with facial palsy, erosion of the facial canal was seen. On MRI, abundantgranulomatous tissue was noted in the middle ear cavity and mastoid air cells. In one case, abnormal enhancementof the cochlea, and of the facial and eighth cranial nerve in the internal acoustic canal was seen. Another caseshowed enhancement of the vestibule and lateral semicircular canal. If radiologic evaluation of chronic otitismedia reveals destruction of the tegmen and trabeculation of the mastoid bone, together with abundant granulationtissue and enhancement of the internal ear, tuberculous otitis media may be included in the differentialdiagnosis.

Usefulness of CT and ERCP in Traumatic Pancreatic Injury

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of CT and ERCP in the diagnosis of traumatic pancreatic injury, and the degree of such injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using CT (n=30) and ERCP (n=8), we retrospectively analyzed 30 cases of surgically proven traumatic pancreatic injury. Both CT and surgical findings were evaluated according to intra-and extra- pancreatic change and assigned to one of five grades, according to their pattern. ERCP findings were categorized as normal mass effect, parenchymal staining, or extravasation of contrast material. In all 30 cases CT and ERCP findings were compared with surgical findings. RESULTS: Pancreatic enlargement was the most common finding of intrapancreatic change in 21(67%) cases (67%). In 20 of 30 cases, there was good correlation between the CT grade and surgical grading. Of the remaining ten cases, seven cases (23%) were underestimated and three(10%) were overestimated. CT grade III or IV suggest pancreatic duct injury ; in two of 13 cases with this grade, such injury was not seen on surgery, however. Of the eight cases in which ERCP was performed, two were normal, one showed mass effect, one showed parenchymal staining, and four, all of which showed pancreatic duct injury on surgery, showed extravasation of contrast material. Two of these four cases were CT grade II, but on surgery, proven duct injury was seen. CONCLUSION: In cases of pancreatic duct injury, ERCP is superior to CT; where such injury is suspected, it should therefore be used to determine whether or not the injury is in fact present.