Acute kidney injury following percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy of subclavian artery stent graft thrombosis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT) is a well-established technique for treatment of acute arterial and venous thrombosis which inevitably leads to intravascular erythrocyte hemolysis, resulting in hemoglobinuria. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of 66-year-old Caucasian female with subclavian artery aneurysm causing distal embolization and hand ischemia. The aneurysm was treated with stent graft, but with a subsequent graft thrombosis 3 months later. After graft recanalisation, AngioJet PMT was performed which resulted in dialysis-requiring acute kidney injury. CONSLUSION: Only several cases of acute kidney injury following AngioJet PMT have been published in literature. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of dialysis-requiring AKI after PMT for peripheral arterial thrombosis. Until there is sufficient evidence and recommendation on preventing AKI in this setting, we believe that by being aware of the risk and by monitoring of patient, one might minimize the damage in case it occurs.

Embolisation of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations - case series.

PURPOSE: Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVM) are the direct communications between the pulmonary arteries and veins. These malformations can cause serious complications, and most of these patients should be treated. Herein we present our experience in the treatment of 18 cases of PAVM, treated with endovascular embolisation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighteen patients with PAVMs underwent endovascular embolisation during a five-year period. Eight were male and 10 were female, with ages ranging from 16 to 65 years. Standard steel coils and vascular plug were used for embolisation. RESULTS: Embolisation was successful in 17 of 18 patients. Coiling was used in 10 patients, vascular plug in five, and both materials in two patients. All symptomatic patients with successful embolisation lost all their symptoms after treatment. Control angiography after embolisation showed a closure of AV shunt without migration of embolic material in all patients. Post-embolisation syndrome developed in four patients and late onset of pleural pain in three patients. There was no connection between pleural reaction and type of PAVM and embolic material. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular PAVM treatment is a minimally invasive, highly successful method with a low rate of only transitory complications.

Low-dose Computed Tomography in a Pregnant Woman with a Ruptured Pseudoaneurysm of the Abdominal Aorta.

Imaging the pregnant patient presents a unique challenge to radiologist due to the risk of radiation to the conceptus (embryo/fetus). A rare case of a successfully recognized and treated pseudoaneurysm (PA) of the abdominal aorta is to be presented. The pseudoaneurysm occurred in the third trimester and had a favorable outcome for the mother and the baby. Emergent abdominal ultrasound (US) is the first modality in diagnostic algorithm for the rupture of aortic aneurysm in a pregnant woman. It provides the most rapid diagnostic information, although intestinal gas and abdominal tenderness may limit its accuracy. To confirm the findings, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or CT angiography (CTA) can be used. In our case, the diagnosis was established using a color Doppler ultrasonography of the abdomen and was later confirmed by a low dose CT scan of the abdominal aorta. MRA in such cases have some disadvantages. At many health centers, the monitoring of patients with acute ruptures is more difficult in the MR suite than at the CT scanner. MRA angiographic images are also subject to degradation by multiple artifacts and the visualization of the distal vasculature is suboptimal and inferior to the one done by CTA. Due to fetal movements, a small quantity of fresh blood can be overlooked by MR. MRA is often not available on a 24-hours basis, and the time required for making a diagnosis can preclude the use of MRA in an unstable patient. For this reason, we used a low dose CTA protocol to confirm the diagnosis. Low dose scanning protocols in CT can obtain sufficient diagnostic information while reducing the risk of radiation. A particular focus is put on the outline of new concepts for dose management and optimization. We used new approaches based on tube current modulation. The birth was induced by an urgent Caesarean section followed by a resection of a pseudoaneurysm and a reconstruction of the aorta with an end-to-end vascular prosthesis.

Parotid gland tumors: correlation between routine cytology and cytomorphometry by digital image analysis using conventional and newly introduced cytomorphometric parameters.

The objective of this study was to compare qualitative cytomorphology and morphometric characteristics of parotid gland tumor cells, with the aid of a computer-assisted system of image analysis. Routine qualitative cytologic and quantitative morphometric results from 64 parotid gland tumors were compared. Ultrasound (US)-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) specimens were taken from 54 patients. Eleven conventionally used morphometric parameters were studied: area, perimeter, convex area, convexity, maximal and minimal radius, length, breadth, form factor (FF), elongation factor, and nuclear- cytoplasmatic (N/C) ratio. Two newly introduced nuclear form factors were also measured: area symmetry factor and perimeter symmetry factor. The following nuclear morphometric parameters were significantly different between malignant and benign tumors: area, perimeter, convex area, convexity, maximal and minimal radius, length, breadth, FF, elongation factor, area symmetry factor, and perimeter symmetry factor. Comparing the cutoff values and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves the following nuclear morphometric parameters were found most useful in separating benign from malignant tumors: area, perimeter, convex area, maximal radius, length, and FF. The following whole cell morphometric parameters were significantly different between malignant and benign tumors: minimal and maximal radius, convexity, breadth, FF, and elongation factor. N/C ratio was significantly higher in malignant tumors. The quantitative morphometric analysis is a useful tool in the cytological differentiation between benign and malignant parotid gland tumors. Computerized image analysis may add to morphological evaluation by turning qualitative data into quantitative values.

Image quality of mammography in Croatian nationwide screening program: comparison between various types of facilities.

PURPOSE: The study was aimed to provide objective evidence about the mammographic image quality in Croatia, to compare it between different types of MG facilities and to identify the most common deficiencies and possible reasons as well as the steps needed to improve image quality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 420 mammographic examinations collected from 84 mammographic units participating in the Croatian nationwide breast cancer screening program were reviewed in terms of four image quality categories: identification of patient and examination, breast positioning and compression, exposure and contrast, and artifacts. Those were rated using image evaluating system based on American College of Radiology and European Commission proposals. The results were compared among different types of mammographic units, and common image quality deficiencies were identified. RESULTS: Total image quality scores of 12.8, 16.1, 13.0 and 13.7 were found for general hospitals, university hospitals, private clinics and public healthcare centres, respectively. Average score for all mammographic units was 13.5 (out of 25 points). University hospitals were significantly better than all other mammography units in overall image quality, which was mostly contributed by better breast positioning practices. Private clinics showed the worst results in identification, exposure, contrast and artifacts. CONCLUSIONS: Serious deficiencies in identification and breast positioning, which might compromise breast cancer screening outcome, were detected in our material. They occur mainly due to subjective reasons and could be corrected through additional staff training and improvement of working discipline.

[Needle tract seeding of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation]. / Presadba hepatocelularnog karcinoma uzduz bioptickog kanala igle nakon transplantacije jetre.

Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and core needle biopsy (CNB) are effective methods for the diagnosis of focal hepatic lesions. In case of neoplastic lesions, however, this may be followed by the seeding of malignant cells along the needle tract. We report a case of subcutaneous needle tract seeding of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) 25 months after liver transplantation. A 57-year-old man with compensated hepatitis-B-related liver cirrhosis was diagnosed with HCC by CNB, and the lesion was resected. Ten months after the procedure, FNAC of a small hepatic lesion confirmed tumor recurrence. The patient was successfully transplanted and 25 months later, a subcutaneous tumor appeared on the abdominal wall over the previous site of puncture without further dissemination of the disease. Total resection of the lesion confirmed HCC. It remains undetermined whether the seeding appeared after FNAC or CNB. After 18-month follow-up the patient was uneventful. The objectives of this report are to present clinical aspects and outcome of HCC needle tract seeding in a transplanted patient, discussing the problems and pitfalls of diagnostic workup and management of HCC.