Primary lower limb lymphoedema: classification with non-contrast MR lymphography.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to analyse the performance of non-contrast MR lymphography for the classification of primary lower limb lymphoedema in 121 consecutive patients with 187 primary lower limb lymphoedemas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 121 consecutive patients with clinically diagnosed primary lower limb lymphoedema underwent non-contrast MR lymphography with a free-breathing 3D fast spin-echo sequence with a very long TR/TE (4000/884 ms). MR examinations were retrospectively reviewed for severity of lymphoedema (absent, mild, moderate, severe) and characteristics of inguinal lymph nodes and iliac and inguinal lymphatic trunks graded as aplasic (no lymph nodes or lymphatic trunks), hypoplasic (less lymph nodes or lymphatic trunks), normal and hyperplasic (more lymph nodes or more and/or dilated trunks). RESULTS: There was an excellent correlation between clinical stage and severity of lymphoedema (Cramer's V of 0,73 (p < 0.001)). Differentiation was feasible between inguinal lymphatic vessel aplasia (21%), hypoplasia (15%), normal pattern (53%) and hyperplasia (11%). Severe lymphoedema was observed in 46% of aplasic patterns and in 37% of hyperplasic patterns, but in only 15% of hypoplasic patterns and never observed in normal patterns (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Non-contrast MR lymphography is able to classify primary lower limb lymphoedemas into hyperplasic, aplasic, hypoplasic and normal patterns. KEY POINTS: • Non-contrast MR lymphography is able to classify primary lower limb lymphoedemas. • Lymphoedema can be classified in hyperplasic, aplasic, hypoplasic and normal patterns. • Non-contrast MR lymphography can optimize clinical management of primary lower limb lymphoedemas.

[Chest magnetic resonance lymphography]. / Lymphographie par résonance magnétique thoracique.

Lymphangio-MRI is a non-invasive technique that allows the precise imaging of thoracic lymphatic vessels without contrast-enhancing agents. This technique is still in progress, and will benefit from better knowledge of thoracic lymphatic diseases and further improvement of MRI spatial resolution.

[Arteriovenous malformation of the mandible. Apropos of a case in a 6-year-old child]. / Malformation artério-veineuse de la mandibule. A propos d'un cas chez l'enfant de 6 ans.

Arteriovenous malformations of the mandible are uncommon. Though characteristic clinical and radiological presentations are well described, management in the case of children is still a matter of debate. We report a mandibular angioma in a 6-year-old girl which was treated with superselective embolization. This method is the treatment of choice for mandibular arteriovenous malformations in children because of the low complication rate and the preservation of healthy tissue. When the malformation continues to develop despite repeated embolizations, surgical treatment may be necessary.

Chronic hepatic encephalopathy due to spontaneous splenorenal shunt: successful treatment by transhepatic shunt embolization.

A spontaneous splenorenal shunt, leading to chronic hepatic encephalopathy, was treated by transhepatic occlusion with coils and Enbucrylate. There were no complications. Hepatic encephalopathy subsided.

Management of malignant hilar biliary obstruction by endoscopy. Results and prognostic factors.

Between January 1983 and December 1987, 103 patients who had hilar biliary obstruction (59 men, 44 women, median age 73 years) were referred to our institution. The causes of hilar biliary obstruction were carcinoma of the bile ducts (55), hepatic metastases or hepatocellular carcinoma (30), and carcinoma of the gallbladder (18). When endoscopic retrograde cholangiography was performed, the stricture was classified as type I in 28%, type II in 41%, and type III in 31% of the patients. In 92 patients, we tried to insert endoscopically a 10, 11, or 12 F Amsterdam type prosthesis; it proved possible in 66 (74%), and the prosthesis proved functional without further procedure in 49 cases (53%); no combined percutaneous and endoscopic method was used. At death or discharge, 45 patients (49%) had a successful drainage. Cholangitis was the main procedure-related complication and occurred in 25 patients. The 30-day mortality was 43%. Results varied according to type of stenosis: successful drainage was performed in 15% of the patients with type III stenosis, compared with 86% when the stenosis was of type I. Under a multivariate analysis the independent prognostic factors of 30-day mortality were: (1) development of infectious complications after endoscopic attempt at drainage (P less than 0.0001), and (2) absence of successful drainage (P less than 0.0001). In conclusion, endoscopic endoprosthesis placement allows a sufficient drainage in 53% of the cases. In type III stenosis, the high rate of 30-day mortality leads us the conclusion that endoscopic drainage must be avoided.

Value of MR imaging in evaluating focal fatty infiltration of the liver: preliminary study.

Focal fatty infiltration of the liver is a well-known entity that occasionally mimics metastatic disease on ultrasonographic (US) and computed tomographic (CT) scans and requires biopsy for diagnosis. To determine if high-field-strength magnetic resonance (MR) imaging might be useful in the differential diagnosis of the lesions, the authors compared US, CT, and MR findings in three patients with biopsy-proved fatty hepatic lesions. Areas of focal fatty infiltration were hyperechoic on US scans and had low attenuation on CT scans. No mass effect of the lesions on vascular structures or liver contours was observed, particularly on contrast material-enhanced CT scans. For all three patients, MR findings suggested the correct diagnosis by demonstrating focal high signal intensity on spin-echo T1- and T2-weighted images. On the basis of these preliminary findings, it appears that focal fatty infiltration of the liver may be differentiated from metastatic disease by means of high-field-strength MR imaging.

[Unresectable hepatic adenomas. Management by selective hepatic artery embolization]. / Adénomes hépatiques non résécables. Place de l'embolisation artérielle dans la conduite thérapeutique.

Four patients with unresectable hepatic adenoma underwent selective hepatic artery embolization. Non-operability was related to the size and the situation of the tumor, and the clinical background. The only subsequent postembolization syndrome was one case of acute renal failure, reversible after diuretic treatment. In 3 cases the decrease in tumoral size was delayed and appeared six months after the first embolization, allowing surgical resection in 2 cases. Because of lack of tumoral devascularization and presence of residual nodules on the resected specimen, this technique is not a satisfactory alternative to surgery, at least with the employed technique. However, preoperative selective hepatic artery embolization can play an important role in the management of hepatic adenomas as it may permit safer surgical resection.

[Chemoembolization of malignant liver tumors]. / Chimioembolisation des tumeurs malignes du foie.

The main aspects of hepatic chemoembolization are first described: principles, drugs and their vectors, various techniques and contra-indications. In the literature as in our own experience, most encouraging results are reported in metastases from endocrine tumors and hepatocellular carcinoma. Favourable results in the latter disease have been particularly emphasized by Japanese authors whose data are reported, as well as results in a personal series and in three controlled studies. Chemoembolization is now able to induce partial or complete responses. Nevertheless, unambiguous selection of responding patients cannot be stated yet, especially for hepatocellular carcinoma where an underlying chronic liver disease probably plays an important role in prognosis. Consequently, chemoembolization of malignant hepatic tumors must still be considered as a technique under evaluation.

A randomized trial of hepatic arterial chemoembolization in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

A randomized trial of hepatic arterial chemoembolization was conducted in 42 patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. These patients represented 41% of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma seen during the inclusion period. In the remaining 59%, 9% had resectable tumours and 50% had unresectable tumours with contraindication for chemoembolization. Patients received either repeated chemoembolization with gelfoam powder and doxorubicin (group 1) or symptomatic treatment (group 2). There was no difference in age, prevalence of cirrhosis or staging according to Okuda between the two groups of patients. A complete tumour response (assessed by arteriography, ultrasonography and serum alphafetoprotein) was observed in four patients, and a partial response in three other patients from group 1. Actuarial survival rates were 33 and 24% in group 1 and 52 and 31% in group 2 at 6 and 12 months, respectively (differences were not significant--logrank test). With the treatment used in our study, chemoembolization did not prolong the survival time of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. There were, however, some complete or partial responses. The high spontaneous 1-year survival rate of untreated patients was probably due to the exclusion of the most severely ill patients. Our results do not support the use of this method of chemoembolization in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

[Iatrogenic ligation of the common bile duct. Diagnostic value of percutaneous insertion of an angioplasty balloon catheter]. / Ligature iatrogène de la voie biliaire principale. Intérêt diagnostique d'une sonde d'angioplastie à ballonnet insérée par voie percutanée.

The authors report a case of surgical ligation of the common bile duct and discuss the retrograde and transhepatic cholangiographic features. The stenosis was more extensive than suggested by the cause of the obstruction. The transhepatic insertion of a balloon catheter demonstrated the ligature by showing a zone of concentric constriction. The ligature was unable to be ruptured by means of an angioplasty catheter, which would nevertheless appear to be a dangerous technique.

[Celiac neurolysis. Anterior approach and x-ray computed tomographic guidance: a simple and logical technic]. / Neurolyse coeliaque. Abord antérieur et guidage tomodensitométrique: une technique simple et logique.

Two cases of celiac plexus neurolysis under CT guidance by an anterior approach are reported. This technique was performed on two patients who complained of epigastric pain due to a pancreatic carcinoma. Alcoholization was performed with 50 cc of a 50% solution of ethyl alcohol. The tip of the needle was located just above the origin of the coeliac axis in front of the aorta. In the two cases the block was successful, leading to suspension of morphine administration. Computed tomography scans after injection showed that the space of diffusion corresponds to the presumed location of the celiac plexus and confirms that the anterior approach is valid providing that a sufficient dose is injected. This technique, can be easily performed and deserves a more important place in the management of pancreatic pain.

[Pseudo-aneurysm in acute necrotico-hemorrhagic pancreatitis: direct transcutaneous embolization. Apropos of 2 cases]. / Pseudo-anévrysme au cours d'une pancréatite aiguë nécrotico-hémorragique: embolisation directe transcutanée. A propos de deux observations.

Massive hemorrhage associated with pancreatitis is rare but frequently lethal complication. We report two patients with gastrointestinal hemorrhage related to pseudo-aneurysms, the control of these lesions was not possible without risk by vascular selective embolization. The technique we reported for clotting aneurysms by direct injection (Ethibloc) stopped hemorrhage temporary in one case and permanently in the other.

CT in hemispheric ischaemic attacks.

The authors report the three principal characteristics of hemispheric ischaemic attacks on CT scan and their development over time: hypodensity, mass effect and contrast enhancement. Their pathophysiological mechanism and prognostic importance are discussed. The topography of the territories of the large arteries vascularising the brain and their main branches is described on the basis of twelve sections cut parallel to the cantho-meatal line. Finally, selected special aspects are described (misleading aspects, haemorrhagic infarcts, border zone infarcts).