[Role of color flow mapping ultrasonography in kidney transplant monitoring]. / Ruolo dell'ecotomografia color flow mapping nel monitoraggio del rene trapiantato.

Color flow mapping and duplex ultrasonography are a more accurate technique in renal allograft monitoring by combining real time us with pulsed doppler studies of renal vasculature. Doppler spectral analysis, pulsatility and resistive index evaluation are usefull in the diagnosis of renal allograft dysfunction (I.E. rejection, cyclosporine nefroto-city and acute tubular necrosis). Cfm and duplex ultrasonography allow a non invasive and easy evaluation of the whole renal artery and vein in the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis, vein trombosys and A-V fistula.

[Role of color flow mapping ultrasonography in the study of renal tumors]. / Ruolo dell'ecotomografia color flow mapping nello studio dei tumori renali.

Tumors cm. 3 in diameter or less have revealed a high frequency of hyperecoic sonographic features mimicking angio-myolipoma. C.T. can confirm the presence of intralesion fat useful to exclude a potentially curable renal cell carcinoma. CFM and duplex ultra sonography can depict a peri and intra lesion neovascularization in small renal cell carcinoma. In the tumor langer than cm. 3 when hyper-vascular CFM and duplex sonography can detect the neovascularized blood vessels surrounding and penetrating the tumors. In the tumor staging the duplex and CFM ultrasonography is useful to demonstrate neoplastic trombosis of renal vein and inferior vena cava.

[Role of arteriography and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in the diagnosis and treatment of arterial vasculogenic impotence]. / Ruolo dell'arteriografia e dell'angioplastica percutanea transluminale nella diagnosi e nel trattamento dell'impotenza vasculogenica arteriosa.

High quality arteriographic studies of the iliopudendal vascular tree are mandatory for the correct examination of arteriogenic impotence patients before revascularization procedures. Twenty-three patients with chronic erectile dysfunctions due to stenosis or occlusive arteries diseases of the iliac arteries were treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in our Department. A positive clinical result was obtained in 15 of 23 cases (65.2%). The maneuver was successful in 8 of 14 patients with vascular lesions of the common and/or external iliac artery (57%). The erectile dysfunction was resolved in 4 of 6 patients with stenosis of the external iliac artery associated with a stenosis of the hypogastric artery (66.6%). The erectile dysfunction was also resolved in 3 patients with a single vascular lesion in the hypogastric artery. No major post-angioplasty complications were observed. PTA is a repeatable and not very invasive method with a low complication rate and could represent a valuable alternative to surgical revascularization in the patients with associated impotence and claudication of leg and hip. Moreover, it makes the treatment of choice in the patients with erectile dysfunctions due to isolated lesions of the hypogastric arteries.