Uterine artery embolization for adenomyosis without fibroids.

AIM: To evaluate the potential usefulness of transcatheter uterine artery embolization as a treatment for symptomatic adenomyosis in patients without uterine fibroids. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Uterine artery embolization using polyvinyl alcohol particles sized 250-710 mm was performed in 43 patients (mean; 40.3 years, range; 31-52 years) with dysmenorrhoea, menorrhagia, or bulk-related symptoms (pelvic heaviness, urinary frequency) due to adenomyosis without fibroids. All patients underwent pre-procedural and 3.5 months (range 1-8 months) follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast enhancement. Clinical symptoms were also assessed at the time of MRI before and after embolization. RESULTS: Significant improvement of dysmenorrhoea (95.2%) and menorrhagia (95.0%) was reported in most patients. Contrast-enhanced MRI revealed non-enhancing areas suggesting coagulation necrosis of adenomyosis in 31 patients (72.1%), decreased size without necrosis in 11 patients (25.6%), and no change in one patient (2.3%). The mean volume reduction of the uteri after uterine artery embolization was 32.5% (from 321.7+/-142.9 to 216.7+/-130.1 cm(3)). CONCLUSION: Transcatheter uterine artery embolization is an effective therapy for the treatment of symptomatic pure adenomyosis, and may be a valuable alternative to hysterectomy.

Efficacy of MRI in complicated congenital heart disease with visceral heterotaxy syndrome.

PURPOSE: The authors' goal was to assess the diagnostic accuracy and clinical effect of MRI compared with echocardiography and catheterization in the evaluation of cardiac defects with situs ambiguous. METHOD: Twenty-two patients with visceral heterotaxy syndrome were included. RESULTS: Because situs determined by the relation between the pulmonary artery and bronchi showed most predominantly a tendency toward lateralization, this was regarded as the standard reference of situs determination. For the purpose of this study, patients were classified as having right isomerism (n = 13) or left isomerism groups (n = 9). MRI has several advantages compared with echocardiography or cardiac angiography for examining patients with situs ambiguous. (1) The bronchial, pulmonary arterial, and splenic situs can be readily determined, and discrepancies (n = 2) can be assessed easily. (2) Venoatrial connections are adequately imaged. In particular, all types of total and partial anomalous pulmonary venous return are delineated, regardless of whether restrictions of pulmonary blood flow or pulmonary venous obstructions are involved (n = 4). The courses of vertical veins were easily identified, and the prearterial position was revealed in only one of seven right isomerisms with total anomalous pulmonary venous return. The drain pattern of the hepatic vein can be visualized using three-dimensional spatial information and is useful for total cavopulmonary connection design. (3) Associated complicated cardiac anomalies, particularly the size or peripheral stenosis of the pulmonary arteries, may be evaluated, and this information is useful for palliative shunt operations. CONCLUSION: Because of its wide field of view and imaging, which is not restricted by associated anomalies, a thorough understanding of the cardiovascular anatomy of the situs ambiguous can be achieved using MRI, which is of considerable value in the surgical correction of this complicated anomaly. MRI can obviate or facilitate catheterization in these critically ill patients.

Optical bistabilities, phase transitions, and Q-switch characteristics of an N(2)O laser with a saturable NH(3) absorber.

Results of a systematic investigation of an N(2)O laser with an internal NH(3) absorber are reported. Bistability between the cw and off as well as between the cw and Q-switched states is observed. The transitions in the former case resemble first-order phase transitions; whereas in the latter case first- and/or second-order transitions occur. The laser-power dependence of the bistability and Q-switched behavior is investigated in detail. In particular, fluctuations are found to be enhanced near the phase-transition points.