Uterine Myomas: Focused Ultrasound Surgery.

Uterine fibroids are the most common neoplasm in women. These lesions may be associated with impaired fertility and adverse obstetric outcomes. Medical treatment, myomectomy, hysterectomy and uterine artery embolization have been employed for the management of uterine fibroids. Focused ultrasound surgery (FUS) is a relatively recent technique that relies on mechanical and thermal energy of ultrasound for the ablation of a target tissue under an imaging guidance, that can be either ultrasound (US-guided FUS, USgFUS) or magnetic resonance (MR-guided FUS, MRgFUS). Pre- and peri-menopausal women are potential candidates for treatment; however, individual criteria need to be evaluated in order to establish the eligibility for the procedure. FUS procedure can be performed in an outpatient setting; it is a safe and effective treatment that has demonstrated to reduce symptoms associated with uterine fibroids. The adverse event rate is 8.7% and only 0.2% of patients experiences major complications. Pregnancy is possible after the treatment, and no damage to the endometrium has been observed following FUS procedure.

Imaging-guided chest biopsies: techniques and clinical results.

BACKGROUND: This article aims to comprehensively describe indications, contraindications, technical aspects, diagnostic accuracy and complications of percutaneous lung biopsy. METHODS: Imaging-guided biopsy currently represents one of the predominant methods for obtaining tissue specimens in patients with lung nodules; in many cases treatment protocols are based on histological information; thus, biopsy is frequently performed, when technically feasible, or in case other techniques (such as bronchoscopy with lavage) are inconclusive. RESULTS: Although a coaxial system is suitable in any case, two categories of needles can be used: fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and core-needle biopsy (CNB), with the latter demonstrated to have a slightly higher overall sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous lung biopsy is a safe procedure even though a few complications are possible: pneumothorax, pulmonary haemorrhage and haemoptysis are common complications, while air embolism and seeding are rare, but potentially fatal complications. TEACHING POINTS: • Imaging-guided biopsy is one of the main methods to obtain lung nodule specimens. • CT has the highest accuracy for diagnosis as an imaging guide. • Compared to FNAB, CNB has a higher accuracy for diagnosis. • Pneumothorax and parenchymal pulmonary haemorrhage care the most frequent complications. • Several clinical and technical variables can affect diagnostic accuracy and patient safety.