Ten-Year Experience with Percutaneous Cryoablation of Renal Tumors: Tumor Size Predicts Disease Progression.

Introduction: Percutaneous cryoablation (PCA) has emerged as an alternative to extirpative management of small renal masses (SRMs) in select patients, with a reduced risk of perioperative complications. Although disease recurrence is thought to occur in the early postoperative period, limited data on long-term oncologic outcomes have been published. We reviewed our 10-year experience with PCA for SRMs and assessed predictors of disease progression. Materials and Methods: We reviewed our prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent renal PCA from March 2005 to December 2015 (n = 308). Baseline patient and tumor variables were recorded, and postoperative cross-sectional imaging was examined for evidence of disease recurrence. Disease progression was defined as the presence of local recurrence or new lymphadenopathy/metastasis. Results: Mean patient age was 67.2 ± 11 years, mean tumor size was 2.7 ± 1.3 cm, and mean nephrometry score was 6.8 ± 1.7. At mean follow-up of 38 months, local recurrence and new lymphadenopathy/metastasis occurred in 10.1% (31/308) and 6.2% (19/308) of patients, respectively. Excluding patients with a solitary kidney and/or von Hippel-Lindau, local recurrence and new lymphadenopathy/metastasis occurred in 8.6% (23/268) and 1.9% (5/268) of cases, respectively. Kaplan-Meier estimated disease-free survival was 92.5% at 1 year, 89.3% at 2 years, and 86.7% at 3 years post-PCA. Increasing tumor size was a significant predictor of disease progression (hazard ratio 1.32 per 1-cm increase in size, p = 0.001). Conclusions: PCA is a viable treatment option for patients with SRMs. Increasing tumor size is a significant predictor of disease progression following PCA.

The Feasibility of Using Volumetric Phase-Contrast MR Imaging (4D Flow) to Assess for Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Dysfunction.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the feasibility of detecting patency, stenosis, or occlusion of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) with four-dimensional (4D) flow MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sequential adult patients with TIPS were eligible for enrollment. Volumetric phase-contrast sequence was used to image TIPS. Particle tracing cine images were used for qualitative assessment of stenosis. TIPS was segmented to generate quantitative data sets of peak velocity. Segmentation and quantitative measurement of flow throughout an entire TIPS defined technical success. Doppler US was used for comparison. Venography, when available, and 6-month clinical follow-up were used as reference standards. RESULTS: 4D flow MR imaging was performed in 23 patient encounters and was technically successful in 16/23 (69.6%) encounters. Three cases demonstrated both focal turbulence and abnormal velocities (> 190 cm/s or < 90 cm/s) on 4D flow and had venography-confirmed stenosis (true-positive cases). Seven cases had normal velocities and no turbulence on 4D flow, and all were confirmed negative with clinical follow-up or venography (true-negative cases). Six cases had discordant 4D flow results, with abnormal velocities but no turbulence or focal turbulence but normal velocities. All 6 discordant cases had no evidence of dysfunction during 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: 4D flow MR imaging can detect TIPS patency and stenosis, but further investigation is required before it can be used to assess for TIPS dysfunction.

Assessment of the Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) Grade as a Prognostic Indicator for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Treated With Radioembolization.

OBJECTIVE: As the utility of Child-Pugh (C-P) class is limited by the subjectivity of ascites and encephalopathy, we evaluated a previously established objective method, the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade, as a prognosticator for yttrium-90 radioembolization (RE) treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 117 patients who received RE for HCC from 2 academic centers were reviewed and stratified by ALBI grade, C-P class, and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage. The overall survival (OS) according to these 3 criteria was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The utilities of C-P class and ALBI grade as prognostic indicators were compared using the log-rank test. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to identify additional predictive factors. RESULTS: Patients with ALBI grade 1 (n=49) had superior OS than those with ALBI grade 2 (n=65) (P=0.01). Meanwhile, no significant difference was observed in OS between C-P class A (n=100) and C-P class B (n=14) (P=0.11). For C-P class A patients, the ALBI grade (1 vs. 2) was able to stratify 2 clear and nonoverlapping subgroups with differing OS curves (P=0.03). Multivariate Cox regression test identified alanine transaminase, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage, and ALBI grade as the strongest prognostic factors for OS (P<0.10). CONCLUSIONS: ALBI grade as a prognosticator has demonstrated clear survival discrimination that is superior to C-P class among HCC patients treated with RE, particularly within the subgroup of C-P class A patients. ALBI grade is useful for clinicians to make decisions as to whether RE should be recommended to patients with HCC.

Colorectal liver metastases: disappearing lesions in the era of Eovist hepatobiliary magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: Hepatobiliary contrast enhanced MRI is known to be the most sensitive imaging modality for detection of colorectal hepatic metastasis. To date no study has investigated the rate of disappearing lesions with gadoxetic acid MR (Eovist/Primovist), or characterized the pathologic response of lesions which disappear on gadoxetic acid MR. METHODS: Retrospective review of hepatic resections for colorectal metastases between 01/2008 and 01/2014 was performed to evaluated the rate of disappearance of lesions on gadoxetic acid MR and the rate of complete pathologic response in the lesions that disappear. "Disappearing lesions" were lesions on baseline imaging that were not identifiable on pre-operative Eovist MRI. Complete pathologic response was defined as no viable tumor on pathology or by lack of recurrence within 1 year. RESULTS: In 23 patients, 200 colorectal metastases were identified on baseline imaging. On pre-operative Eovist MR 77 of the 200 lesions (38.5%) were "disappearing" lesions. At surgical pathology or 1 year follow-up imaging, 42 of 77 lesions (55%) demonstrated viable tumor (21) or recurrence (21). Thirty of 77 lesions (39%) were nonviable at pathology (10) or without evidence of recurrence at 1 year (20). 5 lesions were indeterminate. DISCUSSION: Despite disappearance on Eovist MR imaging (the most sensitive available imaging modality), 38.5% of all colorectal metastases disappeared and of those, 55% were viable.

PET/MRI of Hepatic 90Y Microsphere Deposition Determines Individual Tumor Response.

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study is to determine if there is a relationship between dose deposition measured by PET/MRI and individual lesion response to yttrium-90 ((90)Y) microsphere radioembolization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 26 patients undergoing lobar treatment with (90)Y microspheres underwent PET/MRI within 66 h of treatment and had follow-up imaging available. Adequate visualization of tumor was available in 24 patients, and contours were drawn on simultaneously acquired PET/MRI data. Dose volume histograms (DVHs) were extracted from dose maps, which were generated using a voxelized dose kernel. Similar contours to capture dimensional and volumetric change of tumors were drawn on follow-up imaging. Response was analyzed using both RECIST and volumetric RECIST (vRECIST) criteria. RESULTS: A total of 8 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 4 neuroendocrine tumor (NET), 9 colorectal metastases (CRC) patients, and 3 patients with other metastatic disease met inclusion criteria. Average dose was useful in predicting response between responders and non-responders for all lesion types and for CRC lesions alone using both response criteria (p < 0.05). D70 (minimum dose to 70 % of volume) was also useful in predicting response when using vRECIST. No significant trend was seen in the other tumor types. For CRC lesions, an average dose of 29.8 Gy offered 76.9 % sensitivity and 75.9 % specificity for response. CONCLUSIONS: PET/MRI of (90)Y microsphere distribution showed significantly higher DVH values for responders than non-responders in patients with CRC. DVH analysis of (90)Y microsphere distribution following treatment may be an important predictor of response and could be used to guide future adaptive therapy trials.

Biphenotypic Primary Liver Carcinomas: Assessing Outcomes of Hepatic Directed Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Primary liver carcinomas with hepatocellular and cholangiocellular differentiation (b[HB]-PLC) are rare. Surgery offers the best prognosis, but there is a paucity of literature to guide therapy for patients with advanced or unresectable disease. This study aimed to evaluate outcomes of hepatic-directed therapy compared with those of systemic chemotherapy and surgery. METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of patients with b(HB)-PLC from 1 January 2008 to 1 September 2014 was conducted. The patients were divided into the following four groups: transplantation (TX) group, surgical resection (SX) group, hepatic directed (HD) group, and systemic chemotherapy alone (SC) group. Overall and progression-free survival, treatment response, and clinicopathologic data were analyzed. RESULTS: The study included 79 patients (37 females) with an average age of 62 years. The number of patients in each group were as follows: TX group (n = 6), SX group (n = 27), HD group (n = 18), and SC group (n = 28). The mean follow-up periods were 33 months for the TX group, 17 months for the SX group, 14 months for the HD group, and 7 months for the SX group. Overall, 28 % of the patients had cirrhosis and 35 % had viral hepatitis. The candidates for surgery comprised 42 % of the patients. The HD group (n = 18) had a significantly greater objective response than the SC group (n = 28) (47 vs. 6 %; p = 0.02). Two patients who underwent hepatic arterial infusion pump treatment were downstaged to resection. A trend toward improved OS/PFS was observed in the HD group versus the SC group, although statistically significant. The SX group had significantly improved survival (p < 0.001) as did the transplanted patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although surgery offers the best survival for b(HB)-PLC patients, only a minority are candidates for surgery. Because HD therapy showed a superior objective response over SC therapy, it may offer a survival advantage and may downstage patients for surgical resection or transplantation.

Retrospective Study in 40 Patients of Utility of C-arm FDCT as an Adjunctive Modality in Technically Challenging Image-Guided Percutaneous Drainage Procedures.

PURPOSE: To explore the utility of C-arm flat detector computed tomography (FDCT) as an adjunctive modality in technically challenging image-guided percutaneous drainage procedures. METHODS: Clinical and image data were reviewed on 40 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous drainage of fluid collections in technically challenging anatomic locations that required the use of C-arm FDCT between 2009 and 2013. Percutaneous drainage was performed under ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance with the use of C-arm FDCT as a problem-solving tool to identify appropriate needle/wire placement prior to drainage catheter placement (n = 33) or to confirm catheter positioning within the fluid collection (n = 8). Technical success and procedural complications were recorded and retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Forty one fluid collections were identified in 40 patients. Mean number of C-arm FDCT rotational acquisitions per patient was 1.25. Mean procedure time per patient was 59.3 min. Mean fluoroscopy time was 5.5 min, and mean air kerma was 394.3 mGy. Percutaneous drainage with the use of C-arm FDCT was successful in 35 of 40 patients (87.5%). Technical failure was encountered in 5 of 40 patients due to too narrow window (n = 1), too small or no fluid collection noted on C-arm FDCT images (n = 2), and poor image quality requiring the use of a conventional CT scan (n = 2). Three procedure-related complications occurred (7.5%), which included traversed rectum, traversed spleen, and sepsis. CONCLUSION: C-arm FDCT is useful as an adjunctive modality in the interventional suite for technically challenging percutaneous drainage procedures by providing sufficient anatomic detail. Complications of catheter misplacement can be avoided if C-arm FDCT is used prior to tract dilatation. If C-arm FDCT image quality of needle and/or wire placement is poor, conventional CT guidance is recommended.

Imaging approach to hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and metastatic colorectal cancer.

Liver imaging is a highly evolving field with new imaging contrast agents and modalities. Knowledge of the different imaging options and what they have to offer in primary and metastatic liver disease is essential for appropriate diagnosis, staging, and prognosis in patients. This review summarizes the major imaging modalities in liver neoplasms and provides specific discussion of imaging hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and colorectal liver metastases. The final sections provide an overview of presurgical imaging relevant to planning hepatectomies and ablative procedures.

Comparison of laparoscopic and percutaneous cryoablation for treatment of renal masses.

OBJECTIVE: To compare perioperative and oncologic outcomes between laparoscopic (LCA) and percutaneous cryoablation (PCA) and identify predictors of treatment failure after cryoablation. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed on 145 patients undergoing LCA and 118 patients undergoing PCA at our institution between July 2000 and June 2011. RESULTS: LCA and PCA were performed on 167 and 123 tumors, respectively. Perioperative complication rates were 10% for both the groups. Mean length of stay was significantly shorter for the PCA group (2.1 ± 0.5 vs 3.5 ± 3.1 days, P <.01). Both groups had a comparable decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate at most recent follow-up (LCA 3.8 ± 18.5 mL/min/1.73 m(2) vs PCA 6.6 ± 17.1 mL/min/1.73 m(2), P = .21). Mean oncologic follow-up was 71.4 ± 32.1 months for LCA and 38.6 ± 19.6 months for PCA. Kaplan-Meier estimated 5-year overall and recurrence-free survival were 79.3% and 85.5%, respectively, for LCA and 86.3% and 86.3%, respectively, for PCA. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis demonstrated that cryoablation approach (LCA vs PCA) was not predictive of overall mortality or disease recurrence (P = .36 and .82, respectively). Predictors of overall mortality included age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 6 (P = .01) and preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (P = .02). Predictors of recurrence included tumor size ≥ 3 cm (P <.01), body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m(2) (P = .01), and endophytic growth (P = .04). CONCLUSION: Mean length of stay was shorter for patients undergoing PCA as compared with LCA. Complication rates and decline in renal function at most recent follow-up were similar between groups. Oncologic outcomes were influenced by baseline patient and tumor characteristics rather than the cryoablation approach.

Magnetic resonance imaging of iatrogeny: understanding imaging artifacts related to medical devices.

Medical devices are frequently encountered in patients presenting for imaging studies. Knowledge of the device composition, dwell time, and location is essential for determining the safety and potential impact on the quality of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations. Anticipation of MRI artifacts associated with implanted devices allows the radiologist to adjust parameters to mitigate their effect on the anatomy of interest and to avoid pitfalls in interpretation. The purpose of this article is to present a pictorial review of the MRI appearance of commonly encountered implanted devices and foreign objects in order to help the radiologist anticipate their impact on final image quality.

Ectopic varices: anatomical classification, hemodynamic classification, and hemodynamic-based management.

Ectopic varices are dilated splanchnic (mesoportal) veins/varicosities and/or are dilated portosystemic collaterals that can occur along the entire gastrointestinal tract outside the common pathologic variceal sites. Ectopic varices are complex and highly variable entities that are not fully understood. Ectopic varices represent 2%-5% of a gastrointestinal tract variceal bleeding. However, ectopic varices have a 4-fold increased risk of bleeding when compared with esophageal varices and can have a mortality rate as high as 40%. All treatment strategies and techniques have been utilized in managing these potentially mortal varices and have shown poor outcomes. The debate of whether to manage these varices by decompression with a transjugular portosystemic shunt, or other portosystemic shunts, vs transvenous obliteration is unresolved. The rebleed rates after transjugular portosystemic shunt decompression are 20%-40%. The rebleed rates after transvenous obliteration and the mortality rate at 3-6 months are 30%-40% and 50%-60%, respectively. Hemodynamically from an etiology standpoint, there are 2 types: occlusive (type-b) and nonocclusive (oncotic or type-a). Hemodynamically from a vascular-shunting standpoint, there could be a component of portoportal or portosystemic shunting or both with varying dominance. This is the basis of the new classification system described herein. Management strategies (decompression vs sclerosis) are discussed. The ideal management strategy is a treatment that leads to prompt hemostasis but also addresses the etiology or hemodynamics of the ectopic varices. It is the hope that with better understanding, description, and categorization of ectopic varices comes a more systematic approach to this rare but menacing problem.

Stomal varices: management with decompression tips and transvenous obliteration or sclerosis.

Stomal or parastomal varices are extraperitoneal ectopic mesenteric varices. Parastomal varices are not common but can be a source of considerable bleeding. They usually occur in the setting of portal hypertension, although, in theory, they can occur because of vascular thrombosis of the mesentery. An obstructive element (not necessarily venous thrombosis, but a constrictive effect) most likely exists and thus localizes the bleeding to the stomal mesenteric varices. This obstruction can be due to postsurgical changes associated with the stoma creation itself. Bleeding is the main presentation of stomal varices. Bleeding can be life threatening; however, most of it can be controlled by manual compression by patients who are consciously aware. Anecdotally, there are 2 pathologic bleeding presentations. Certain stomas are diffusely congested and ooze blood diffusely, and others bleed focally from a particular site (from a particular mesenteric varix). The focal bleeders are the ones that respond favorably to manual compression by the patient. The stomas that are diffusely congested or engorged with diffuse venous oozing do better with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) decompression. Bleeding from focal varices in the stoma (with the rest of the stomal mucosa looking normal and not engorged) can be treated with TIPS (if the portal or mesenteric vein or both are patent) or with transvenous obliteration utilizing 1% sodium tetradecyl sulfate (not 3% sodium tetradecyl sulfate). Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration, percutaneous transhepatic obliteration, trans-TIPS balloon-occluded antegrade transvenous obliteration can all be adequate approaches to transvenous obliteration. However, the least invasive (in the authors' opinion) and simplest is the direct mesenteric venous stick (balloon-occluded antegrade transvenous obliteration-type) approach with ultrasound-guided compression of the systemic outflow vein.

Validation of organ procurement and transplant network (OPTN)/united network for organ sharing (UNOS) criteria for imaging diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Imaging diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents an important pathway for transplant exception points and priority for cirrhotic patients. The purpose of this retrospective study is to evaluate the validity of the new Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN) classification system on patients undergoing transplantation for HCC. METHODS: One hundred twenty-nine patients underwent transplantation for HCC from April 14, 2006 to April 18, 2011; a total of 263 lesions were reported as suspicious for HCC on pretransplantation magnetic resonance imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging examinations were reviewed independently by two experienced radiologists, blinded to final pathology. Reviewers identified major imaging features and an OPTN classification was assigned to each lesion. Final proof of diagnosis was pathology on explant or necrosis along with imaging findings of ablation after transarterial chemoembolization. RESULTS: Application of OPTN imaging criteria in our population resulted in high specificity for the diagnosis of HCC. Sensitivity in diagnosis of small lesions (≥1 and <2 cm) was low (range, 26%-34%). Use of the OPTN system would have resulted in different management in 17% of our population who had received automatic exception points for HCC based on preoperative imaging but would not have met criteria under the new system. Eleven percent of the patients not meeting OPTN criteria were found to have T2 stage tumor burden on pathology. CONCLUSIONS: The OPTN imaging policy introduces a high level of specificity for HCC but may decrease sensitivity for small lesions. Management may be impacted in a number of patients, potentially requiring longer surveillance periods or biopsy to confirm diagnosis.

Management of iatrogenic bile duct injuries: role of the interventional radiologist.

Bile duct injuries are infrequent but potentially devastating complications of biliary tract surgery and have become more common since the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The successful management of these injuries depends on the injury type, the timing of its recognition, the presence of complicating factors, the condition of the patient, and the availability of an experienced hepatobiliary surgeon. Bile duct injuries may lead to bile leakage, intraabdominal abscesses, cholangitis, and secondary biliary cirrhosis due to chronic strictures. Imaging is vital for the initial diagnosis of bile duct injury, assessment of its extent, and guidance of its treatment. Imaging options include cholescintigraphy, ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, and fluoroscopy with a contrast medium injected via a surgically or percutaneously placed biliary drainage catheter. Depending on the type of injury, management may include endoscopic, percutaneous, and open surgical interventions. Percutaneous intervention is performed for biloma and abscess drainage, transhepatic biliary drainage, U-tube placement, dilation of bile duct strictures and stent placement to maintain ductal patency, and management of complications from previous percutaneous interventions. Endoscopic and percutaneous interventional procedures may be performed for definitive treatment or as adjuncts to definitive surgical repair. In patients who are eligible for surgery, surgical biliary tract reconstruction is the best treatment option for most major bile duct injuries. When reconstruction is performed by an experienced hepatobiliary surgeon, an excellent long-term outcome can be achieved, particularly if percutaneous interventions are performed as needed preoperatively to optimize the patient's condition and postoperatively to manage complications.

Percutaneous cryoablation of renal masses: Washington University experience of treating 129 tumours.

UNLABELLED: WHAT'S KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT? AND WHAT DOES THE STUDY ADD?: For patients who are unfit for extirpative surgery, percutaneous cryoablation (PCA) presents a minimally-invasive alternative for the treatment of renal masses. PCA has been demonstrated to be safe, with complication rates <10% being reported consistently. Studies have suggested that a minimal and insignificant decline in renal function can occur after PCA. Finally, among studies with a follow-up >20 months, treatment success rates range from 75% to 96%. However, longer-term oncological and functional results for patients treated with PCA are relatively limited. The present study profiles one of the largest reported experiences with PCA for renal masses: 129 tumours in 124 patients. Our complication rate was comparable to that observed in other reported studies. At a mean follow-up of 30 months, treatment success was achieved in 87% of tumours, which is in line with published PCA success rates. On multivariable analysis, tumour size >3.0 cm was found to be significantly associated with treatment failure. A minimal but statistically significant renal functional decline was observed, with 20% of patients experiencing a progression in National Kidney Foundation-Chronic Kidney Disease stage. On multivariable analysis, age >70 years, hilar tumour location and postoperative day 1 estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) were found to be significantly associated with renal functional decline. The present study confirms that PCA of renal masses represents a safe alternative to surgery in patients with substantial medical comorbidities. In the present cohort, baseline patient and tumour characteristics probably impact the risk of tumour recurrence, as well as renal disease progression, after PCA. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate perioperative, oncological and functional outcomes after percutaneous cryoablation (PCA) for renal masses based on our single-centre experience. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified 124 patients who underwent PCA for 129 renal tumours between March 2005 and June 2011. Patient demographics and baseline clinical characteristics, tumour features, perioperative information, and postoperative outcomes were recorded. Oncological outcomes were defined by radiographic evidence of recurrence on follow-up computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Renal disease progression was defined by a change in National Kidney Foundation-Chronic Kidney Disease stage. RESULTS: Patients had mean (sd) age of 72.6 (10.2) years; mean (sd) tumour size and nephrometry score were 2.7 (1.1) cm and 6.5 (1.7), respectively. Our overall complication rate was 9% (11/124), whereas the major (greater than Clavien II) complication rate was 2% (2/124). Significant predictors of renal disease progression following PCA included age ≥ 70 years (odds ratio [OR], 4.31, P = 0.03), hilar tumour location (OR, 4.67, P = 0.04), and post operative day 1 estimated glomerular filteration rate ≤60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (OR, 7.09, P = 0.02). Our treatment success rate was 87% (112/129) at a mean (sd) follow-up of 30.2 (18.8) months. Tumour size ≥3.0 cm was significantly associated with PCA failure (hazard ratio, 3.21, P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: PCA provides a safe and oncologically effective alternative to extirpative surgery for renal masses in patients with significant medical comorbidities.

From the angio suite to the γ-camera: vascular mapping and 99mTc-MAA hepatic perfusion imaging before liver radioembolization--a comprehensive pictorial review.

Endovascular mapping and conjoint (99m)Tc-macroaggregated albumin ((99m)Tc-MAA) hepatic perfusion imaging provide essential information before liver radioembolization with (90)Y-loaded microspheres in patients with primary and secondary hepatic malignancies. The aims of this integrated procedure are to determine whether there is a risk for excessive shunting of (90)Y-microspheres to the lungs; to detect extrahepatic perfusion emerging from the injected vascular territory, which might lead to nontargeted radioembolization; to reveal incomplete coverage of the liver parenchyma involved by the tumor, which may be related to anatomic or acquired variants of the arterial vasculature; and to aid in calculation of the (90)Y-microsphere dose to be delivered to the liver. This pictorial essay presents an integrated comprehensive review of the anatomic, angiographic, and nuclear imaging aspects of planned liver radioembolization. The relevant anatomy of the liver, including the standard and the variant arterial vasculature, will be shown using digital subtraction angiography, SPECT/CT, contrast-enhanced CT, and anatomic illustrations. Technical details that will optimize the imaging protocols and important imaging findings will be discussed. From the angio suite to the γ-camera-the goal of this review is to help the reader better understand how the technical details of the angiographic procedure are reflected in the imaging findings of the (99m)Tc-MAA hepatic perfusion study. In addition, the reader should learn to better recognize the pertinent findings and their clinical implications. This knowledge will enable the reader to provide a more useful interpretation of this complex multidisciplinary procedure.

Incidence of cholangitis and sepsis associated with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drain cholangiography and exchange: a comparison between liver transplant and native liver patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to determine the rate of sepsis and cholangitis associated with percutaneous biliary drain cholangiography and subsequent drain exchanges and to compare the incidence of these complications between patients with liver transplants and those with native livers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 154 consecutive patients (100 with liver transplants and 54 with native livers) who underwent a total of 910 percutaneous biliary drain cholangiography examinations and exchanges (January 2005 to July 2008) was performed. Cholangitis was defined as fever (> 38.5°C) within 24 hours after the intervention, and sepsis included cholangitis in addition to hemodynamic instability. RESULTS: The overall incidence of cholangitis and sepsis after percutaneous biliary drain exchanges was 2.1% (n = 19/910 exchanges) and 0.4% (n = 4/910 exchanges), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in complications between liver transplant patients versus nontransplant patients (p = 0.34 for cholangitis and p = 1.00 for sepsis). The mean hospital stay due to postprocedural complications was 2.4 days for observation and supportive treatment. None of these patients required an intensive care stay. Mean percutaneous biliary drain dwell time in liver transplant and nontransplant patients was 6.2 and 1.5 months, respectively. Transplant patients were significantly younger (54 versus 67 years; p << 0.05), male predominant (70% vs 52%, p = 0.035), and had more severe liver disease (12.2 vs 8.0 Model for End-Stage Liver Disease [MELD] scores; p << 0.05). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous biliary drain cholangiography and exchange is associated with a low rate of postprocedure cholangitis and sepsis. These complications require brief hospitalizations. Liver transplant patients do not have an increased risk of complications despite higher MELD scores and longer intubation periods.

Replacement of inadvertently discontinued tunneled jugular high-flow central catheters with tract recannulation: technical results and outcome.

PURPOSE: To determine the technical and clinical outcomes of recannulating the tracts of inadvertently discontinued high-flow tunneled internal jugular central venous catheters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review was performed of 49 patients who underwent 57 replacements of inadvertently discontinued catheters by recannulation from January 1997 through January 2005. The study group was divided into successful and failed recannulation groups. Technical results were evaluated for duration the catheter had been out, tract age, and laterality (ie, right vs left). Infection rate was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and the infection rate per 100 catheter days was calculated. Intent-to-treat function rate (including failed recannulations) was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Seventy percent (n = 40) of discontinued catheters were right-sided and 30% (n = 17) were left-sided. The overall technical success rate was 86% (n = 49). The technical success rates were 100% (n = 10), 89% (32 of 36), and 64% (seven of 11) for catheters that had been outside the body for less than 12 hours, 12-24 hours, and more than 24 hours, respectively. P values for successful versus failed recannulations for tract age, the time the catheter was out, and laterality were .02, .04, and .68, respectively. The infection rate for successful recannulations at 6 months was 24% +/- 9% (0.22 infections per 100 catheter days). Functional catheter rates at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months were 55% +/- 8%, 46% +/- 8%, 29% +/- 10%, and 5% +/- 3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Recannulating tunneled high-flow jugular catheter tracts has a high technical success rate, particularly when they have fallen out less than 24 hours earlier and have a mature tract. The outcomes of recannulated catheters (ie, infection and function rates) are within the upper limit of results of de novo placement and over-the-wire exchange of catheters in the literature.