Percutaneous Ablation of T1 Renal Masses: Comparative Local Control and Complications after Radiofrequency and Cryoablation.

The efficacy and complication rates of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and cryoablation (CA) in the treatment of T1 renal masses in two Northern Italy hospitals were retrospectively investigated. Eighty-two patients with 80 T1a tumors and 10 T1b tumors treated with thermal ablation from 2015 through 2020 were included. A total of 43 tumors in 38 patients were treated with RFA (2.3 ± 0.9 cm), and 47 tumors in 44 patients were treated with CA (2.1 ± 0.8 cm). The mean follow-up observation period was 26 ± 19 months. The major complications and efficacy, as measured using the technical success and local tumor recurrence rates, were recorded. There were three (6.9%) technical failures with RFA and one (2.1%) with cryoablation (p = 0.30). Among the 40 tumors that were successfully treated with RFA, 1 tumor (2.5%) developed local tumor recurrence; 5/46 tumors that were treated with cryoablation (10.8%) developed local tumor recurrence (p = 0.17). T1b lesions (4.0 ± 0.7 cm) resulted in 1/6 technically unsuccessful cases with RFA and 0/4 with CA. No recurrent disease was detected in the T1b lesions. Major complications occurred after 2.3% (1/43) of RFAs and 0/47 of cryoablation procedures. RFA and cryoablation are both effective in the treatment of renal masses. Major complications with either procedure are uncommon.

Gelatin sponge (Spongostan®) and N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate: Utility on percutaneous treatment of persistent urinary leakage after partial nephrectomy. Case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous treatment of persistent urinary fistula after partial nephrectomy using N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate and gelatin sponge (Spongostan®) is an effective and relatively non-invasive procedure that should be considered when a conservative approach fails. Three successful cases of percutaneous embolization by using N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate have been reported in the literature. To our knowledge, the use of Spongostan for the treatment of urinary fistula after partial nephrectomy has not been previously described. CASE REPORT: We present the case of an 82-year old man who underwent percutaneous closure of a urinary fistula following partial nephrectomy by using gelatin sponge (Spongostan®) and N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate. CONCLUSIONS: We encourage the use of this technique in selected cases. Collaboration amongst urologists and skilled interventional radiologist is strongly recommended.

Are iatrogenic renal artery pseudoaneurysms more challenging to embolize when associated with an arteriovenous fistula?

BACKGROUND: Iatrogenic injuries of the renal artery include pseudoaneurysms (PSA) and pseudoaneurysms with arteriovenous fistula (PSA + AVF). They can cause hematuria, anemization and flank pain. Endovascular treatment is recommended due to its effectiveness. OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential difference between the embolization of iatrogenic renal PSA and iatrogenic renal PSA + AVF, in terms of technical and clinical success rate, procedure complexity and impact on the renal function. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 30 embolization procedures of iatrogenic renal PSA and renal PSA + AVF in 27 patients in two centers between December 2006 and February 2017, comparing technical and clinical success rate, total procedural time, creatinine before and after the procedure and parenchymal ischemic area after the procedure. All patients underwent CT before embolization procedure and different embolization materials were used. RESULTS: We identified 15 iatrogenic renal PSA and 15 iatrogenic renal PSA + AVF (causes: 23 nephron-sparing surgery, 2 nephrostomies, 1 lithotripsy, 1 ureteroscopic pyelolithotomy, 1 renal biopsy). Microcoils were used in 21 cases, microcoils and Spongostan in 3 cases, microcoils and controlled-release microcoils in 4 cases and controlled-release microcoils in 1 case. No significant statistical differences were found in the comparison of technical and clinical success rate, total procedural time, creatinine and parenchymal ischemic area after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Transarterial embolization can be considered as the first-line treatment for renal artery iatrogenic lesions, considering its effectiveness. No statistical significant differences were found in the comparison of the embolization procedures of iatrogenic renal PSA and PSA + AVF.

Comparison of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Scan (CEUS) and MRI in the follow-up of cryoablation for small renal tumors. Experience on 25 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous ablation in the kidney is now performed as a standard therapeutic nephron-sparing option in patients who are poor candidates for resection. Its increasing use has been largely prompted by the rising incidental detection of renal cell carcinomas with cross-sectional imaging and the need to preserve renal function in patients with comorbid conditions, multiple renal cell carcinomas, and/or heritable renal cancer syndromes. To date, clinical studies indicate that cryoablation is an effective therapy with acceptable short- to intermediate-term outcomes and with a low risk in the appropriate setting. 
This article focuses on the efficiency of contrast enhanced ultrasound scan (CEUS) as compared to contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during the follow-up after cryoablation of small renal tumors.
 MATERIAL & METHODS: In our Department, percutaneous or laparoscopic assisted cryoablation is offered in the treatment of small renal masses. 
Between January 2009 and January 2013, 25 patients (pts) were treated with laparoscopic assisted cryoablation or percutaneous cryoablation for renal tumors <3.5 cm in pts unfit for surgery. All pts had severe comorbidities (ASA score 3). Transperitoneal laparoscopic approach was performed in 11 pts, extraperitoneal approach in 3 pts, percutaneous technique was performed in 11 patients. "Tru-cut biopsy" of the renal mass was always performed before cryoablation.
 The SeedNet system (Galil Medical, Arden Hills, MN) was used in 12/25 pts; the Precise system (Galil Medical, Arden Hills, MN) was used in 13/25 pts. In all cases, IceRod needles were used. Real-time ultrasound guidance was used to localize the tumour and to monitor the progression of "iceball". A double "freeze-thaw cycle" was used. 
All pts had MRI and CEUS before cryoablation and the follow-up consisted in CEUS/MRI every 3 months during the first year and every 6 months thereafter.
 RESULTS: The mean age of the 25 pts was 67.7 years (range 56-79); 5 pts were females and 20 were males. The mean tumor size was 2.8 cm (range 1.5-3.5). No patient required conversion to open procedure. 19 tumors were located at the lower pole, 4 were interpolar and 2 tumors were located at the upper pole. There were no intraoperative complications. The mean hospital stay was 4 days (range 1-7). Two pts required a blood transfusion; there was no statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative serum creatinine levels. The biopsy showed RCC in all cases. In 24/25 patients both CEUS and MRI showed no enhancement. In 1/25 pts, during the follow-up, CEUS and MRI showed a well visible recurrence at the perfusion study. It was histologically confirmed. The final results of CEUS and MRI were concordant in all pts. CONCLUSIONS: CEUS is effective during the follow-up of renal tumor cryoablation. It could be an alternative technique to standard CT and MRI, with some advantages: low cost, short time consuming procedure, no radiation exposure, reduced amount of contrast agent (1-2 mL) and rare adverse reactions.

Carotid artery stenting in difficult aortic arch anatomy with or without a new dedicated guiding catheter: preliminary experience.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate carotid artery stenting (CAS) procedures with or without a new dedicated guiding catheter in anatomically challenging aortic arches in our experience. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 172 procedures of CAS performed from December 2006 to October 2011 in 159 consecutive patients (100 men, mean age 78 years): 15 patients had type III aortic arch, 13 had a bovine aortic arch, 6 had an acute angle at the origin of the left common carotid artery from the aortic arch, 2 had type III aortic arch with bovine aortic arch, and 1 had a bicarotid trunk with an aberrant right subclavian artery. In this group of difficult anatomy (37 cases), CAS was performed with (13 cases) or without (24 cases) a new dedicated guiding catheter. RESULTS: Mean time of fluoroscopy (16 min vs. 18 min, P < 0.01), mean total procedural time (68 min vs. 83 min, P < 0.001), technical failure (0/13 vs. 3/24 cases, P = 0.01), clinical failure (0/13 vs. 4/21 cases, P = 0.02) and local complications (0/13 vs. 2/24 cases, P < 0.0001) were significantly lesser in the dedicated guiding catheter group. CONCLUSIONS: The new dedicated guiding catheter may be more effective and less risky for CAS in anatomically challenging aortic arches. KEY POINTS: • Complex anatomy of the aortic arch is not rare • Endovascular carotid artery stenting (CAS) is more difficult when the anatomy is complex • A new dedicated guiding catheter may help CAS when the arch anatomy is complex • The new dedicated guiding catheter may be less risky in complex arches.

Collateral branches IPMTs: secretin-enhanced MRCP.

Recently, the fantastic evolution of imaging modalities (especially MR, MDCT, EUS) has raised many issues regarding the correct classification of smaller and smaller lesions, their preoperative evaluations, and indications of most appropriate treatment. However, it is still debated which technique should be employed for the diagnosis and the follow-up of intraductal papillary mucinous tumours (IPMTs). Despite the superb spatial resolution of MDCT, nowadays most of the authors agree on considering MR with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) the imaging modality of choice in studying IPMTs. In particular, MRCP is rapid, non-invasive, and accurate in detecting, localizing, and correctly classifying IPMT. The diagnostic performance of MRCP is even improved after the introduction of secretin stimulation. In fact, dynamic MRCP studies after secretin administration, besides facilitating the depiction of the structural characteristics of the lesions, make easier the detection of the communicating duct of branch duct IPMTs with the main pancreatic duct, especially if the newest high resolution 3D heavily T2-weighted sequences are utilized. Secretin stimulation is also useful in the demonstration of early changes of associated chronic pancreatitis. Consequently, we believe that secretin-enhanced MRCP is the most suitable imaging modality in the diagnosis and follow-up of IPMTs of the collateral branches.