Interventional radiofrequency ablation: A promising therapeutic modality in the management of malignant biliary and pancreatic duct obstruction.

Background: Malignant biliary and/or pancreatic obstruction has often encountered in the advanced stages of periampullary and cholangicarcinomas. HabibTM Radiofrequency (RF) ablation has been successfully used in the management of various cancers of liver and pancreas. Percutaneous HPB probe (EMcision Ltd, London, UK) is a new addition to this class of tools. It is an endoluminal Radiofrequency (RF) catheter which works on the principle of ablation and induces coagulative necrosis to recanalize the obstructed duct. The aim of this study is to address the technical details of canalization, feasibilities and outcomes of percutaneous endo-luminal Radiofrequency (RF) catheter in patients with unresectable malignancy with obstructed bile and pancreatic duct (PD). Material and Method: A total of 134 patients with inoperable malignant obstruction of biliary and PD underwent RF based percutaneous endoluminal RF ablation in a tertiary referral centre between December 15th, 2010 to August 7th, 2015. This device was used in a sequential manner with an intent to recanalize the obstructed. Following the initial catheter drainage of the duct, subsequent percutaneous endobiliary RF ablation, the metallic stent was placed to recanalize the obstructed bile and PD secondary to unresectable malignancy under real-time fluoroscopic guidance. Results: The percutaneous RF based ablation of obstructed bile duct and PD with metallic stent placement was successfully achieved in 130 (97.01%) cases. The three failures were noted in cases of biliary obstruction whilst, one with PD obstruction. The patency restored in 124 and patients, where the procedure was successfully completed and revealed clinical improvement reported. Conclusion: The percutaneous endoluminal RF based ablation of obstructed duct with metallic stent placement appeared to be a safe, effective procedure and may improve survival in patients with advanced stage cancer presenting with biliary and PD obstruction. Considering the above mentioned evidence, this modality may stand ahead of stenting alone. This could be considered as viable modality in management of such patients where very limited treatment options are available.

Percutaneous Image-Guided Pancreatic Duct Drainage: Technique, Results and Expected Benefits.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to provide a technical detail and feasibility of percutaneous image-guided pancreatic duct (PD) drainage and to discuss its subtleties in a series of patients with obstructed PD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients presenting with PD obstruction from pancreatic head tumour or pancreatitis were subjected to percutaneous image-guided PD drainage under a guidance of ultrasound or computed tomography. Following the successful puncture of PD, a locking loop drainage catheter was placed using conventional guidewire techniques under real-time fluoroscopy guidance. RESULTS: The percutaneous drainage of obstructed PD was completed in 29 (96.7%) patients as an independent therapeutic intent or as a bridge to further percutaneous procedures. Clinical improvement following drainage was documented by the gradual reduction in clinical symptoms, including pain, nausea and fever and improved blood test results, showing the significant decrease of amylase concentration. The amount of pancreatic fluid drained post procedure was between 300 and 900 mL/day. No major procedure-related complications were observed. Subsequently, 14 of 29 patients underwent further procedures, including endoluminal placement of metal stent with or without radiofrequency ablation, balloon assisted percutaneous descending litholapaxy (BAPDL), endoluminal biopsy and balloon dilatation using the same drainage tract. CONCLUSION: The percutaneous PD drainage appears to be a safe and effective procedure. It should be considered in patients with obstructed PD secondary to malignancy, pancreatitis etc., where endoscopic retrograde cannulation has been failed or impracticable. The procedure can also be contemplated either as an independent treatment option or as an initial step for the subsequent therapeutic endoluminal procedures.

CURATIVE TREATMENT OF COLORECTAL CANCER SOLITARY METASTASIS TO LIVER SUBCAPSULE BY PERCUTANEOUS US GUIDED RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION USING HYDRODISSECTION (CASE REPORT).

Case report presents the successful treatment of solitary liver metastasis in a patient with resected colon cancer. A 39-year-old male underwent left hemicolectomy with colostomy formation followed by chemotherapy for a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the colon. Two years later, a liver metastatic lesion was detected. Patient received chemotherapy; the mass remained stable in size, measuring up to 3 cm in diameter. Low-invasive percutaneous curative treatment by Radiofrequency ablation was conducted using hydrodissection by dielectric fluid intraperitoneal introduction for hydrodissection. The follow-up imaging showed the complete response to treatment. The ablation technique including peritoneal hydrodissection, described in paper avoids capsular breach and appears safe and technically effective in subcapsular lesions treatment.

ULTRASOUND AND CT GUIDED THORACIC BIOPSY APPROACHES - EFFECTIVENESS AND COMPLICATIONS.

Percutaneous needle biopsy of thoracic pathology has gained popularity showing a good accuracy with a less invasive procedure. The purpose of the paper is to present our experience of ultrasound and CT guided thoracic biopsy approaches regarding procedure effectiveness and complications. 398 Image guided percutaneal core biopsy procedures of thoracic pathology (mediastinum, lung, pleura, bone and soft tissue) has been performed to 380 (95.5%) patients. In 18 (4.5%) cases the repeated biopsy procedure has been performed as the obtained specimen appeared to be non-informative. All repeated procedures were needed when the target size was above 2-5 or >5 cm using CT guided biopsy and it was due to tumor necrosis. No complications were detected after US guided procedures; No repeated procedures were needed as the first one enable to obtain the informative biopsy specimen. Procedure related complication were detected in 48 (12.1% of all procedures) CT guided cases in total; among them in 35 (8.8%) cases pneumothorax, in 5 (1.3%) hemothorax and in 7(1.8%) hemophtisis was detected. Slight bleeding along the needle pass with the hematoma formation was detected in 1 (0.2%) case for soft tissue lesion. 47 (11.9%) complications were detected on transpulmonary approach cases and only 1 (hematoma formation - 0.2%) - on extrapulmonary approach. Percutaneous image-guided core biopsy of thoracic lesions is an accurate and safe procedure, which enables to get the tissue material from all thoracic compartments. The vast majority of complications should be expected on transpulmonary approach cases.

IMAGING GUIDED PERCUTANEAL CORE BIOPSY OF THORACIC BONE AND SOFT TISSUE LESIONS - TECHNIQUE AND COMPLICATIONS.

The purpose of the paper is to present our experience of Imaging Guided Percutaneal Core Biopsy (IGPCB) of thoracic bone and soft tissue lesions in terms of procedure planning, biopsy technique, procedure complications and their management. The results of investigation of 81 patients are presented. According to imaging guidance type the patients were subdivided in two main groups - US guided biopsy (26 patients, 26 procedures) and CT guided biopsy (55 patients, 59 procedures). 85 procedures were performed. In 4 cases the repeated biopsy procedure has been performed as the obtained specimen appeared to be non-informative. Adequate tissue material was obtained at the first attempt in 77 (95.1 %) cases; in 4 (4.9%) cases the repeated procedure was needed (when the target size was above 2-5 or >5 cm using CT guided biopsy and it was due to tumor necrosis. Procedure related complications were detected in 1 (%) case (CT guided biopsy). In 1 case the significant pain, requiring administration of additional analgetics in postprocedure period was mentioned. Percutaneous US and CT guided bone and soft tissue lesions biopsy is an effective, highly accurate, and safe method of tissue obtaining for the diagnosis of indeterminate lesions. US is fast, cheap, avoids ionizing radiation, and allows the needle tip to be monitored throughout the procedure. CT has the ability to visualize both bone and soft tissue with the advantage of making easier needle localization into lesions too deep to see on US. CT also allows for better visualization lesions with a large amount of overlying cortex, and deep-seated lesions with extensive overlying soft tissue. CT-guided percutaneous biopsy is a safe and accurate method. US is the preferable tool for biopsy procedure guidance if the target is adequately imaged by US. CT should be used in cases when US imaging is not possible due to visualization problem.

IMAGING GUIDED PERCUTANEAL CORE BIOPSY OF PULMONARY AND PLEURAL MASSES - TECHNIQUE AND COMPLICATIONS.

Paper presents the ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT) guided percutaneous lung core biopsy technique and procedure associated complications. 148 percutaneous biopsies of lung and peural lesions were performed in 143 patients ( in 5 (3.4%) cases the repeated procedure was needed). Procedure was guided by US in 42 cases, by CT - in 106 cases. Post-biopsy CT scan was performed and patients observed for any complications. No complications were detected after US guided procedures; No major complications were detected after CT guided biopsy procedures; minor complications (pneumothorax, hemothorax and hemophtysis) were detected in 24 (22.6%) cases. In 18 (17.0%) cases pneumothorax, in 1 (0/9%) cases - hemothorax and in 5 (4.7%) cases hemophtisis was detected on CT guided procedures. All hemothorax and hemophtisis and 13(12.3%) pneumothorax cases happened to be self-limited; in 3(2.8%) pneumothorax cases aspiration and in 2(1.9%) cases - pleural drainage was needed. Ultrasound is the most efficient for biopsy guidance if the "target" can be adequately imaged by this technique. If US guidance is impossible biopsy should be performed under CT guidance. Pneumothorax and hemothoraxs was associated with multiple needle passes, lesion diameter <2 cm and larger diameter needle use. Hemoptysis was not associated with multiple needle passes, lesioan size and larger diameter needle. No air embolism was detected on our study. The safety and biopsy procedure success high rate proves the use of imaging guided percutaneal core biopsy of pulmonary and pleural masses as a first choice procedure when the lung or pleural mass morphology is needed.

Imaging guided mediastinal percutaneal core biopsy--technique and complications.

165 percutaneous biopsies of anterior, middle and posterior mediastinum lesions were performed to 156 patients. Procedure was guided by US in 40 cases, by CT - in 125 cases. Hydrodissection was used in 5 cases, artificial pneumothorax - in 3 cases in order to avoid transpulmonary needle pass. Post-biopsy CT scan was performed and patients observed for any complications. Adequate tissue for histological diagnosis was obtained in 156 (94.5%) cases at the first attempt; in 9 (5.5%) cases the repeated procedure was needed. No major complications were detected after biopsy procedures; minor complications (pneumothorax, hemothorax and hemophtysis) were detected in 23 (13.9%) cases. No complications were detected after US guided procedures; In 17 (10.3% of all complications) cases pneumothorax, in 4 (2.4%) cases - hemothorax and in 2 (1.2%) cases hemophtisis was detected on CT guided procedures. All hemothorax and hemophtisis and 10 pneumothorax cases happened to be self-limited; in 3 pneumothorax cases aspiration and in 4 cases - pleural drainage was needed. Percutaneous image-guided core biopsy of mediastinal lesions is an accurate and safe procedure, which enables to get the tissue material from all mediastinum compartments. Ultrasound is the most efficient for biopsy guidance, if the target is adequately imaged by it; the advantages of US guidance are: a) possibility of real-time needle movement control b) possibility of real-time blood flow imaging b) noninvasiveness c) cost-effectiveness d) possibility to perform the biopsy at the bedside, in a semiupright position; so, ultrasound is a "Gold Standard" for procedure guidance if the 'target" can be adequately imaged by this technique. If US guidance is impossible biopsy should be performed under CT guidance. Hydrodissection and artificial pneumothorax enables to avoid the lung tissue penetration related complications. Pneumothorax was associated with multiple Needle passes and larger diameter needle use. The safety and biopsy procedure success high rate proves the use of IGMPCB as a first choice procedure when the mediastinal mass morphology is needed.