Imaging of adult intestinal failure.

Intestinal failure is the inability to maintain adequate nutrition or hydration through the gut. It is caused by a diverse range of benign and malignant aetiologies. Imaging takes a central role in the multidisciplinary assessment of patients with intestinal failure.

Imaging of intestinal transplantation.

Intestinal transplant is considered in a small number of patients with intestinal failure or locally invasive benign abdominal tumours to improve both quality of life and survival. The complexity of the underlying diseases and postoperative findings are reflected in the imaging undertaken to support this patient group. Increasing numbers of patients are undergoing these procedures. Radiologists are increasingly likely to encounter these patients before and after surgery. This article will discuss the imaging findings that may prompt referral for transplantation assessment. It will also describe surgical anatomy and postoperative complications.

Pancreatic allograft thrombosis: Suggestion for a CT grading system and management algorithm.

Pancreatic allograft thrombosis (PAT) remains the leading cause of nonimmunologic graft failure. Here, we propose a new computed tomography (CT) grading system of PAT to identify risk factors for allograft loss and outline a management algorithm by retrospective review of consecutive pancreatic transplantations between 2009 and 2014. Triple-phase CT scans were graded independently by 2 radiologists as grade 0, no thrombosis; grade 1, peripheral thrombosis; grade 2, intermediate non-occlusive thrombosis; and grade 3, central occlusive thrombosis. Twenty-four (23.3%) of 103 recipients were diagnosed with PAT (including grade 1). Three (2.9%) grafts were lost due to portal vein thrombosis. On multivariate analysis, pancreas after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation/solitary pancreatic transplantation, acute rejection, and CT findings of peripancreatic edema and/or inflammatory change were significant risk factors for PAT. Retrospective review of CT scans revealed more grade 1 and 2 thromboses than were initially reported. There was no significant difference in graft or patient survival, postoperative stay, or morbidity of recipients with grade 1 or 2 thrombosis who were or were not anticoagulated. Our data suggest that therapeutic anticoagulation is not necessary for grade 1 and 2 arterial and grade 1 venous thrombosis. The proposed grading system can assist clinicians in decision-making and provide standardized reporting for future studies.

Colonic transit in the empty colon after defunctioning ileostomy: do we really know what happens?

BACKGROUND: There is disagreement amongst surgeons about the use of oral mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) prior to low anterior resection with diverting ileostomy. Colonic transit in the early post-operative period is an important factor in determining the role of MBP, as propagation of any stool remaining in the defunctioned colon may exacerbate morbidity in the event of anastomotic leak. We studied colonic transit time in the first 7 days following low anterior resection with diverting ileostomy. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study of patients with rectal cancer undergoing elective low anterior resection with diverting ileostomy in a tertiary colorectal unit. Twenty radio-opaque markers were inserted into the caecum via the distal limb of the loop ileostomy at surgery. Plain abdominal radiographs were taken on post-operative days 1, 3 and 5. The primary endpoint was passage of the markers to the neorectum. Data were collected on treatment, return of gastrointestinal function and complications. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (mean age 68.5 years; 18 males) participated in the study. In 20 patients, all markers remained in the right colon on day 7. Three markers were present in the left colon in one patient, and eight markers were present in the neorectum in another patient, on the seventh day. CONCLUSIONS: Colonic transit may be abolished by the presence of diverting ileostomy. It should now be established whether clearance of the left colon alone, using enemas, is sufficient for patients undergoing low anterior resection, thus avoiding the morbidity associated with oral MBP.

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis--correlation of radiological findings at CT with underlying pathogenesis.

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a rare entity most commonly associated with peritoneal dialysis (PD). Several imaging features at computed tomography (CT) are common to many diseases; however, appreciation of the features unique to this condition interpreted with the appropriate clinical findings is crucial to diagnosis.

Multidetector CT findings in patients with mesenteric ischaemia following cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate CT findings in patients with pathologically proven mesenteric ischaemia post-cardiopulmonary bypass surgery and compare them with the control group of patients without ischaemia. METHODS: 68 patients were identified by a search of local surgical and pathological databases; these patients met the inclusion criteria of a laparotomy within 1 month of a procedure requiring cardiopulmonary bypass and a CT abdomen/pelvis within 1 week of the pathological diagnosis. Two radiologists independently reviewed the studies, evaluating 17 separate findings relating to the bowel, the vasculature or other structures; consensus was subsequently reached. The diagnostic value of CT findings was assessed using logistic regression. RESULTS: 52 of 68 patients had pathologically proven ischaemia. Portal venous gas, mesenteric venous gas and small bowel faeces sign all had specificities of >0.94 for ischaemia but low sensitivity (<0.27). Differential mural enhancement had high sensitivity (0.92) but poor specificity (0.50). The combination of pneumatosis, bowel loop dilatation and differential mural enhancement predicted bowel ischaemia with a probability of 98%. The hardest signs to interpret based on poor interreader kappa agreement were bowel wall thinning, mesenteric stranding and differential mural enhancement. CONCLUSION: A combination of CT signs was predictive of ischaemic bowel; however, the more specific findings lacked sensitivity. If clinical suspicion is high for bowel ischaemia, prompt surgical intervention is warranted, regardless of CT findings. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Arterial occlusion was uncommon and venous occlusion was not present, which is supportive of a predominantly non-occlusive aetiology for ischaemia in this patient group.

A radiologist's guide to small bowel and multivisceral transplantation.

This review will describe the indications for the various small bowel containing transplants. The importance of early referral will be highlighted. Radiologists play a central role in assessing these complex patients prior to transplantation. Furthermore, in the postoperative period, radiologists play an important part in diagnosing and treating complications.

Radiological detection of post-oesophagectomy anastomotic leak - a comparison between multidetector CT and fluoroscopy.

The purpose of this study was to directly compare CT with fluoroscopy for the diagnosis of occult anastomotic leak following oesophagectomy. Patients undergoing oesophagectomy and gastric conduit formation for the treatment of oesophageal cancer were eligible for inclusion. Imaging was performed 6-8 days post-operatively. Patients underwent multislice CT examination of the chest and abdomen with a bolus of oral contrast, followed by fluoroscopic water-soluble contrast swallow (with subsequent use of barium if this was normal). The studies were reviewed by a consultant radiologist, who was blinded to the results of the other modality. Images were reported as showing "no leak", "possible leak" or "definite leak". The presence of mediastinal gas or fluid or extraluminal contrast at CT was recorded. The clinical outcome after reinstituition of oral intake was used as a reference standard. Patient preference for modality was recorded. 52 patients were recruited. Four were found to have leak on CT and fluoroscopy. 11 had possible leak at CT, but normal fluoroscopy: 2 of these had a leak confirmed later, whereas 9 had no leak. 37 had normal CT and fluoroscopy findings, and remained clinically well. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 100%, 80%, 40% and 100%, respectively, for CT, and 67%, 100%, 100% and 96%, respectively, for fluoroscopy. The positive predictive value of mediastinal air, air/fluid and extraluminal contrast were 25%, 75% and 50%, respectively. 35 patients found CT more tolerable. In conclusion, CT was better tolerated and more sensitive but less specific than fluoroscopy for detecting occult anastomotic leak.

Imaging of obstructed defecation.

Constipation is a common problem in the western world, which occurs as a consequence of impaired colonic transit and/or due to obstructed defecation. Imaging plays an important role in distinguishing structural from functional causes of constipation. In this article a description of common imaging techniques for diagnosing structural causes of constipation with illustrations of abnormal defecographic findings in patients with obstructive defecation are presented.

Hepatic arterial infusion of chemotherapy: the role of diagnostic and interventional radiology.

Hepatic arterial infusion of chemotherapy (HAIC) delivers higher local drug concentration to unresectable liver tumors with fewer significant systemic side-effects. It has been shown to produce better response rates than systemic chemotherapy and remains an important treatment option in patients with advanced, inoperable primary or metastatic hepatic tumors. Traditionally, catheters for HAIC were inserted surgically under general anesthesia. The advancement and expansion of interventional radiology have made it possible for catheter-port systems to be inserted percutaneously under local anesthesia with no significant increase in morbidity. A comprehensive review of the literature, techniques and complications of percutaneous placement of catheter-port systems for HAIC is presented in this article.

Imaging following surgery for oesophageal cancer.

The incidence of oesophageal malignancy is increasing in the UK. Surgical management with oesophagectomy is determined by tumour location, stage and extent of lymphadenectomy,and is also dependent on patient age and co-morbidity. Surgery is associated with considerable postoperative morbidity and mortalities of up to 7%. The indications for imaging and findings in both the immediate and delayed postoperative periods are discussed.

Angioseal versus manual compression for haemostasis following peripheral vascular diagnostic and interventional procedures--a randomized controlled trial.

The aim of this study was to compare the angioseal device to manual compression for femoral artery puncture following peripheral vascular procedures, in the context of day case vascular procedures. One hundred patients were prospectively randomised to haemostasis using the angioseal device or manual compression following arterial puncture for peripheral vascular diagnostic or intervention procedures. Data were collected regarding time to haemostasis and complications immediately post-procedure, at 1h, 2h and at 1 week. There were 50 patients in each group. There were no significant differences in demographic variables, or in complication rates immediately, at 1h, 2h and at 1 week (Chi-squared). The only significant difference between the two groups was time to haemostasis. The mean time to haemostasis in the compression group was 10.6 min and 2.0 min in the angioseal group (t-test p<0.0001). In conclusion, no significant differences in complications were found between manual compression and angioseal. However, there was a significant difference in time to haemostasis.

Pregnancy after breast cancer.

The issue of pregnancy in patients previously treated for breast cancer is controversial. This paper reviews the literature using Medline and Embase databases over the last 50 years to address the issue. Overall survival in patients treated for breast cancer who subsequently become pregnant compares favourably with controls. This paper also addresses the effects of adjuvant therapy (loco-regional and systemic) on subsequent pregnancy. Introduction of a national registry of these patients may help inform such patients in the future.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer--is lymphoscintigraphy really necessary?

The role of lymphoscintigraphy in sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer remains debatable. This study assesses the value of lymphoscintigraphy in axillary sentinel node biopsy in women undergoing surgery for breast cancer. Sixty-two patients underwent sentinel node biopsy using a combination of technetium-labelled nanocolloid, lympho-scintigraphy and patent blue dye. Lymphoscintigraphy was successful in 84% of patients. Axillary sentinel nodes were identified intraoperatively in all these patients. Internal mammary nodes were identified on lymphoscintigraphy in 19%. Despite lymphoscintigraphy being unsuccessful in 10 patients, axillary sentinel nodes were found intraoperatively in eight of these patients. Lymphoscintigraphy did not increase the detection rate of axillary sentinel nodes and a negative scan did not preclude identification of an axillary sentinel node intraoperatively. This study questions the contribution of lymphoscintigraphy in axillary sentinel node biopsy, however its value may lie in the detection of extra-axillary nodes.

The significance of intramammary nodes in primary breast cancer.

The use of sentinel node biopsy in primary breast cancer raises many new controversies with regard to extra-axillary nodes. Three cases with intramammary nodes are discussed in relation to sentinel node biopsy.

Anatomical variants of the intercostobrachial nerve encountered during axillary dissection.

Recent reports have described attempts at preserving the intercostobrachial nerve in patients undergoing axillary clearance for breast cancer. However, the anatomy of the nerve encountered by the surgeon operating in the axilla has not been previously described in any detail. In this study, we were able to document the anatomy of this nerve in 45 out of 50 consecutive patients undergoing axillary clearance. We found the anatomy variable, but have illustrated six main variants. In addition, we were able to preserve the nerve in 40 out of 50 cases.

Junior doctor training in breast and axillary examination: a comparative study.

To date, there has been a lack of published data concerning the training of breast and axillary examination, yet this remains an essential part of the triple assessment of breast lumps. In this study, we aimed to determine the competence of junior doctors in examining the breast and axilla, and whether this skill improved with time. We compared the findings of a specialist registrar and senior house officer with those of a consultant in 15 consecutive one-stop breast clinics in a district general hospital. The results suggested that although specialist registrars become proficient after this period, senior house officers do not progress at the same rate. This may have important implications for training and the organization of breast clinics.