"Speckled Enhancement" on Gd-EOB-DTPA Enhanced MR Imaging of Primary Hepatic Mucosa-associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma.

PURPOSE: To elucidate MRI features of primary hepatic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, particularly, the "speckled enhancement" on gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MRI. METHODS: The institutional review board approved this retrospective observational study and waived informed consent. Using our picture archiving and communication systems and electronic medical records, five patients histopathologically diagnosed as hepatic MALT lymphoma and clinically confirmed as primary lesions who had undergone dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-CT and DCE-MRI with Gd-EOB-DTPA were identified from September 2009 to December 2020. Two radiologists assessed their CT and MRI data in consensus with a pathologist's advice. RESULTS: Overall, five lesions in five patients were included in this study. Precontrast CT showed hypoattenuation in all lesions. In the arterial phase of DCE-CT, four lesions (80%) showed hyperattenuation, whereas all lesions showed iso- to hypoattenuation in the delayed phase. A vessel penetration sign was also observed in all lesions. On MRI, all lesions showed hypointensity on T1-weighted images, hyperintensity on T2-weighted images, and restricted diffusion on diffusion-weighted images. Both DCE-CT and DCE-MRI with Gd-EOB-DTPA showed similar enhancement patterns, except for the hepatocyte phase. Notably, however, four out of five lesions showed characteristic "speckled enhancement" that refers to punctate positive enhancements within the low signal lesions on the hepatobiliary phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI pathologically confirmed to be hepatocyte clusters that remained in the tumor. CONCLUSION: Primary hepatic MALT lymphomas were characterized by arterial phase enhancement, restricted diffusion, vessel penetration sign, and more specifically "speckled enhancement" in the hepatobiliary phase of DCE-MRI with Gd-EOB-DTPA.

Early glottic cancer treatment with concurrent chemoradiotherapy with once-daily orally administered S-1.

Glottic carcinoma is the most common laryngeal cancer. The outcomes for T1 bulky Glottic carcinoma and T2N0 Glottic carcinoma after radiation therapy alone are unsatisfactory. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of unique concurrent chemoradiotherapy regimen using S-1 for early glottic cancer. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy consisted of 60 Gy in 30 fractions with once-daily, orally administered S-1 exclusively within three to six hours prior to each irradiation. Twenty-one consecutive patients treated with this regimen were retrospectively reviewed. Initial complete remission was achieved in all patients without any subsequent local and/or regional recurrences to the last follow-up. The 4-year local control, overall survival, and disease-free survival rates were all 100%. No significant toxicities were observed, except for three cases with Grade 3 acute dermatitis.This regimen is highly effective and well-tolerated, and these results encourage further research to long-term efficacy and functional preservation.

Evaluating the Effect of Arterial Pulsation on Cerebrospinal Fluid Motion in the Sylvian Fissure of Patients with Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Using Low b-value Diffusion-weighted Imaging.

PURPOSE: Decrease in signal of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) on low b-value diffusion weighted image (DWI) due to non-uniform flow can provide additional information regarding CSF motion. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate whether arterial pulsations constitute the driving force of CSF motion. METHODS: We evaluated the CSF signals within the Sylvian fissure on low b-value DWI in 19 patients with unilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. DWI with b-value of 500 s/mm2 was evaluated for a decrease in CSF signal within the Sylvian fissure including the Sylvian vallecula and lower, middle, and higher Sylvian fissures and graded as follows: the same as contralateral side; smaller signal decrease than that on contralateral side; and no signal decrease. MR angiography (MRA) findings of MCA were graded as follows: the same as contralateral, lower signal than contralateral signal, and no signal. In 15 patients, regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was evaluated using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) studies and graded as >90%, 90%-70%, and <70% rCBF compared to contralateral. The correlations between the gradings were evaluated using G likelihood-ratio test. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant correlation between the MRA and low b-value DWI gradings of CSF in all areas. There were statistically significant correlations between the decreases in CBF on SPECT and CSF signals in the middle Sylvian fissure. CONCLUSION: The driving force of CSF pulsation in the Sylvian sinus may be related to the pulsations of the cerebral hemisphere rather than direct arterial pulsations.

Retropharyngeal hematoma presenting airway obstruction: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Blunt neck trauma patients can suffer from an airway emergency and are necessary to careful observation. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 79-year-old man under anticoagulation therapy presented to our hospital three hours after a fall. Shortly after arrival, he developed dyspnea. Oral intubation was attempted, but with no success; therefore, an emergency tracheotomy was performed. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and subsequent angiography revealed active bleeding from a branch of the right ascending cervical artery. Subsequently, the right thyrocervical trunk, which is upstream from the ascending cervical artery, was embolized and hemostasis was achieved. He was discharged 52 days after the emergency admission. DISCUSSION: This is the first case report of an ascending cervical artery injury due to blunt trauma that resulted in an airway emergency. Contrast-enhanced CT and cervical angiography are useful for confirming the area of injury and size of the hematoma. Half of patients with respiratory distress accompanied by a cervical spine injury require definitive airway management within five hours of the injury and all by 24 h. Neck trauma can lead to fatal airway obstruction and careful monitoring is warranted to detect any signs of impeding respiratory obstruction. CONCLUSION: All emergency physicians need to keep their airway management skills updated in order to perform reliably and rapidly in difficult and urgent situations.

Pial arteriovenous fistula of the spine in a child with hemiplegia.

Pial arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is an extremely rare disease in children. When a child presents with sudden onset of hemiparesis and headache, it is very important to perform spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning for early diagnosis and treatment.

[A Patient with Advanced Gastric Cancer who Underwent Emergency Stenting for Carotid Artery Stenosis].

We report the case of a patient with advanced gastric cancer who underwent emergency stenting for carotid artery stenosis that was causing fluctuating symptoms of cerebral ischemic stroke. A 66-year-old man presented with transient dysarthria and right hemifacial palsy. Examination revealed left internal carotid artery stenosis, as well as anemia caused by advanced gastric cancer. The man was treated on an outpatient basis using antiplatelet medication and anti-cancer therapy. Two months later, he developed recurrent ischemic stroke;because of this progression, a stent was placed in the carotid artery. After surgery, the cerebral ischemia resolved and did not recur before his death 6 months later. In conclusion, surgical intervention is a viable treatment option for internal carotid artery stenosis in cancer patients whose general health status is good.

[Endovascular treatment of basilar artery aneurysms associated with fenestration].

Aneurysms at the vertebrobasilar junction are often found with basilar artery(BA)fenestration. We encountered 10 consecutive cases of aneurysms associated with BA fenestration. The purpose of this study is to describe the frequency, clinical features, and outcome of these aneurysms treated by endovascular procedure. The incidence of these aneurysms in our series was 1.9%. All aneurysms were successfully treated by coil embolization. Half of them were treated by using simple technique, and the other half were treated by using adjunctive techniques such as balloon remodeling technique. 70% of these cases were ruptured, and all except one case showed good recovery at the time of discharge. We found 63 reported cases of this aneurysm in the literature between 2000 and 2012. 57 out of 63 aneurysms were treated by endovascular means with good clinical results. The usefulness of endovascular procedure is reported to be superior to surgical clipping because of their anatomical complexity and the difficulty of surgical exposure for clipping. We conclude that outcome of these aneurysms is favorable and endovascular procedure has become their standard treatment for these aneurysms.

[Cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistulas treated with percutaneous transvenous embolization using liquid material: two case reports].

INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous transvenous embolization (TVE) using coils is a well-established treatment of cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistula (CSdAVF). However, it is sometimes difficult to achieve complete occlusion by coil embolization. In these two cases, we were able to obtain complete angiographic obliteration of the fistulas without complications by means of percutaneous TVE using n-butyl-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) after we failed when TVE using coils. Case 1: An 89-year-old woman presented with double vision. She was diagnosed as Barrow type D right CSdAVF draining only to the cortical vein. We treated the patient by TVE using coils, but the microcatheter was withdrawn before complete occlusion was attained. The repositioning of the microcatheter was difficult, so we used 30% NBCA for TVE, and obtained complete obliteration of the fistula. Case 2: An 87-year-old woman presented with right exophthalmos, and chemosis. She was diagnosed as Barrow type C right CSdAVF draining only to the right superior ophthalmic vein with very slow flow. We planned to treat her, using TVE with coils, but we could place only 3 coils and obtained only partial obliteration of the fistula. So we additionally used 25% NBCA for TVE, and obtained complete obliteration of the fistula. CONCLUSION: Compared to TVE using coils, TVE using NBCA gives rise to many problems, but, we can use NBCA as a second option if TVE using coils results in only partial obliteration as in these cases.

Endovascular coil embolization of a ruptured distal anterior choroidal artery aneurysm associated with ipsilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion--case report.

An 84-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and a brain infarction presented with a rare distal anterior choroidal artery (AChoA) aneurysm not associated with moyamoya disease manifesting as sudden onset of headache caused by intraventricular hemorrhage. Digital subtraction angiography revealed a peripheral aneurysm in the left AChoA located distal to the plexal point and steno-occlusive changes of the proximal left middle cerebral artery (MCA) and the left posterior cerebral artery (PCA). Collateral arterial channels to the left MCA and left PCA territories were observed along the left AChoA. No neuroimaging findings were compatible with moyamoya disease. Since the aneurysm did not shrink at 2 months after the onset, endovascular treatment was indicated. Under local anesthesia, a microcatheter was placed into the AChoA proximal to the aneurysm with the aid of a 0.008-inch microguidewire. After a provocation test, three detachable platinum coils were delivered into the aneurysm and the parent artery. Complete obliteration of the aneurysm was achieved without additional neurological sequelae. Successful treatment of a ruptured distal AChoA aneurysm associated with atherosclerotic changes of the intracranial arteries was achieved using a meticulous endovascular technique.

Computational fluid dynamics of carotid arteries after carotid endarterectomy or carotid artery stenting based on postoperative patient-specific computed tomography angiography and ultrasound flow data.

BACKGROUND: There are significant differences in the postoperative morphological and hemodynamic conditions of the carotid arteries between carotid artery stenting (CAS) and endarterectomy (CEA). OBJECTIVE: To compare the postoperative rheological conditions after CAS with those after CEA with patch angioplasty (patch CEA) through the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based on patient-specific data. METHODS: The rheological conditions in the carotid arteries were simulated in 2 patients after CAS and in 2 patients after patch CEA by CFD calculations. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the carotid arteries was performed with the images obtained with computed tomography angiography. The streamlines and wall shear stress (WSS) were calculated by a supercomputer. Adequate boundary conditions were determined by comparing the simulation results with ultrasound flow data. RESULTS: CFD was successfully calculated for all patients. The differences between the flow velocities of ultrasound data and those of the simulation results were limited. In the streamline analysis, the maximum flow velocities in the internal carotid artery after patch CEA were around two-thirds of those after CAS. Rotational slow flow was observed in the internal carotid artery bulb after patch CEA. WSS analysis found regional low WSS near the outer wall of the bulb. High WSS was observed at the distal end of the arteriotomy after patch CEA and at the residual stenosis after CAS. CONCLUSION: CFD of postoperative carotid arteries disclosed the differences in streamlines and WSS between CAS and patch CEA. CFD may allow us to obtain adequate rheological conditions conducive to achieving the best clinical results.

Optimal dose of plasmid vascular endothelial growth factor for enhancement of angiogenesis in the rat brain ischemia model.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) administration has recently been assessed as a therapeutic strategy for ischemic diseases including brain ischemia because of its angiogenic effect. However, VEGF also causes detrimental adverse effects by increasing vascular permeability. This study examined whether plasmid human VEGF (phVEGF) administration induced angiogenic effects in the rat brain ischemia model caused by permanent ligation of both common carotid arteries, and investigated the occurrence of adverse effects. Administration of various doses (0-200 microg) of phVEGF in the temporal muscle was followed by encephalo-myo-synangiosis. Thirty days after treatment, the numbers and areas of capillaries per field in the extracted brains were analyzed with the National Institutes of Health Image software program. The maximal angiogenic effect occurred with a 100 microg dose of phVEGF in the numbers and areas of capillaries in the VEGF-treated brains. Histological examination showed no apparent adverse effects in the brain parenchyma even at the highest administration dose (200 microg) of phVEGF. The maximal angiogenic effect at the optimal dose of phVEGF can be considered under the threshold to cause serious adverse effects in the rat brain.

Rebleeding from a vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm after endovascular internal trapping: adverse effect of intrathecal urokinase injection or incomplete occlusion?-case report-.

A 67-year-old woman suffered rebleeding from a ruptured vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm after endovascular internal trapping. The dissecting aneurysm was initially successfully occluded with the affected vertebral artery using detachable coils. However, rebleeding from the aneurysm occurred on the next day. The rebleeding may have resulted from the thrombolytic effect of urokinase, which was injected intrathecally 3 hours before rebleeding occurred, or the relatively loose coil packing of the aneurysm. This case indicates the potential risk of intrathecal use of thrombolytic agents and the importance of complete tight coil packing of the whole dissected site in the treatment of ruptured vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms.

Significant differences in the postoperative morphological and hemodynamic conditions of carotid arteries of patients undergoing stenting or endarterectomy with patch angioplasty.

OBJECTIVE: Carotid endarterectomy with a patch graft (Patch CEA) has been our standard treatment for patients with carotid artery stenosis, but carotid artery stenting (CAS) has emerged as an alternative. The purpose of this study was to compare the postoperative changes in the configurations and the flow velocities of carotid arteries after CAS or Patch CEA. METHODS: Thirty-one patients undergoing CAS or Patch CEA were included. The pre- and postoperative shapes of the carotid arteries were evaluated by angiography and ultrasonography. Doppler waveforms were recorded in the middle portion of the common carotid artery and in the internal carotid artery bulb to measure flow velocities, including peak systolic, mean, and end-diastolic velocities. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were treated by CAS, and Patch CEA was performed for 13 patients. Preoperatively, there were no differences in the degrees of stenosis or the flow velocities between the 2 groups. The averages of the diameters of the postoperative internal carotid artery bulbs were 4.5 mm in the CAS group and 7.0 mm in the Patch CEA group (P < 0.01). The averages of peak systolic, mean, and end-diastolic velocities measured in the internal carotid artery were 80, 42, and 25 cm/s, respectively, in the CAS group, and were significantly greater than those (53, 28, and 16 cm/s, respectively) in the Patch CEA group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Significant differences in postoperative morphological and hemodynamic conditions between CAS and Patch CEA were observed. The impact of these differences will be determined by further studies.

Efficacy of a lumbo-peritoneal shunt for meningeal carcinomatosis refractory to gefitinib treatment.

A 51-year-old female presented with left facial palsy. She had adenocarcinoma of the lung with multiple brain metastases. The primary tumor regressed after treatment with gefitinib, however, neurological symptoms progressed rapidly because of meningeal carcinomatosis, when a deletion mutation in exon 19 of the epidermal growth factor receptor in cells from her cerebrospinal fluid was detected. After performing lumbo-peritoneal shunting, her symptoms improved dramatically and she had been well without peritoneal dissemination for 15 months, continuing gefitinib treatment. Finally, she died 18 months after lumbo-peritoneal shunting. A T790M acquired-resistance mutation in exon 20 of the epidermal growth factor receptor was found from her mesenteric lymph nodes and cerebrospinal fluid at autopsy. A lumbo-peritoneal shunt might be considered for meningeal carcinomatosis refractory to gefitinib treatment without an emergence of a T790M mutation.

Triple-catheter technique in the transvenous coil embolization of an isolated sinus dural arteriovenous fistula.

OBJECTIVE: Dural arteriovenous fistulae involving the transverse-sigmoid sinus, which is occluded at its proximal and distal ends (i.e., an isolated sinus), carry a high risk of intracranial hemorrhage or progressive neurological deficits. Although transvenous coil embolization is a useful and safe treatment for such lesions, it is often difficult to reach into the isolated sinus through the occluded sinus using the percutaneous catheter approach. METHODS: We report the successful treatment of two patients with transverse-sigmoid dural arteriovenous fistulae with isolated sinus using the percutaneous transvenous triple-catheter technique. A 6-French guiding catheter was placed at the internal jugular vein followed by a second 4-French catheter positioned at the end of the occluded sinus. A third microcatheter was then navigated into the isolated sinus with support of the second catheter. RESULTS: Although initial attempts to reach into the isolated sinus without the second catheter failed, insertion of the second catheter resulted in successful navigation of the third microcatheter into the affected sinus in both cases. Complete cure was obtained in both cases by coil packing of the affected sinus. CONCLUSION: Although careful maneuvering is required, this triple-catheter technique is useful for treatment of dural arteriovenous fistulae with isolated sinus.

[Case of a ruptured vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm recanalized after internal trapping].

A 35-year-old male experienced a sudden onset of severe headache. A CT scan revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage. By cerebral angiography, he was diagnosed as having a ruptured right vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm (VADA). It was successfully treated by endovascular occlusion of the affected site, including the aneurysm and parent artery, by using detachable coils. A follow-up angiography obtained seven months after the first treatment revealed the recanalization of the right vertebral artery and dissected aneurysm in an antegrade fashion. A skull X-ray image was useful for detecting the change in appearance of the coils. The second embolization was successfully performed in the same manner. Based on this rare case, the authors emphasize that a careful angiographic analysis and complete internal trapping of the dissecting site are important in the treatment of the ruptured VADA.

Interhemispheric multiloculated ependymal cyst with dysgenesis of the corpus callosum: a case in a preterm fetus.

INTRODUCTION: The authors report a case of interhemispheric ependymal cyst accompanied with agenesis of the corpus callosum in a fetus. DISCUSSION: Routine ultrasound and subsequent magnetic resonance imaging of a 20-year-old woman at 33 weeks and 1 day of gestation detected a large interhemispheric cystic lesion in the fetal cranial cavity. Caesarian section was carried out at 36 weeks because of the progressive enlargement of the fetal head. The cyst was multiloculated and a cyst peritoneal shunt placement resulted in collapse of the drained cyst components followed by enlargement of others. After wrack-a-mole-like shunt revisions, open surgery was performed at the age of 2 years. Cyst walls were fenestrated and the cavities were communicated with each other and eventually with the lateral ventricle. Pathological diagnosis of the cyst wall was ependymal cyst. The boy is now 3 years old, and growing without apparent developmental delay or recurrence. Current concept and management policy of the interhemispheric cyst accompanied with agenesis of the corpus callosum is reviewed.

Enhanced brain angiogenesis in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion after administration of plasmid human vascular endothelial growth factor in combination with indirect vasoreconstructive surgery.

OBJECT: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a secreted mitogen associated with angiogenesis. The conceptual basis for therapeutic angiogenesis after plasmid human VEGF gene (phVEGF) transfer has been established in patients presenting with limb ischemia and myocardial infarction. The authors hypothesized that overexpression of VEGF using a gene transfer method combined with indirect vasoreconstruction might induce effective brain angiogenesis in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, leading to prevention of ischemic attacks. METHODS: A chronic cerebral hypoperfusion model induced by permanent ligation of both common carotid arteries in rats was used in this investigation. Seven days after induction of cerebral hypoperfusion, encephalomyosynangiosis (EMS) and phVEGF administration in the temporal muscle were performed. Fourteen days after treatment, the VEGF gene therapy group displayed numbers and areas of capillary vessels in temporal muscles that were 2.2 and 2.5 times greater, respectively, in comparison with the control group. In the brain, the number and area of capillary vessels in the group treated with the VEGF gene were 1.5 and 1.8 times greater, respectively, relative to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: In rat models of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, administration of phVEGF combined with indirect vasoreconstructive surgery significantly increased capillary density in the brain. The authors' results indicate that administration of phVEGF may be an effective therapy in patients with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, such as those with moyamoya disease.