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L Vlachos

Publications and source records attributed to L Vlachos.

49 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Differential diagnosis of space-occupying lesions of the liver with MR imaging.

In a retrospective study of 84 patients who underwent MRI examination of the liver the qualitative parameters margin, shape, internal structure, signal intensity and the presence of a capsule were evaluated in 152 lesions comprising 48 hemangiomas, 54 secondary deposits, 23 hepatomas, 8 simple cysts, 17 hydatid cysts, 1 abscess and 1 focal fatty infiltration. Our main objective was to differentiate hemangiomas from secondary deposits and hepatomas. In hemangiomas the combination of smooth margin (98%) round or oval shape (90%) homogeneity (96%) very high signal intensity on T2-weighted sequence (94%), and the complete absence of capsule helped to distinguish them from secondary deposits and hepatomas in the majority of cases. It is concluded that with MR imaging we can establish the diagnosis of focal lesions of the liver in about 95% of cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Comparative study between ultrasound, computed tomography, intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography, and magnetic resonance imaging in the differentiation of tumors of the liver.

Forty-one patients with liver tumor have been evaluated with ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (IA-DSA), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in order to establish the accuracy of each technique. In group A (24 patients), in which all four imaging modalities were performed, our results show that MRI detected all hemangiomas (25/25) compared to 22/25, 21/25, and 20/25 with US, CT, and IA-DSA, respectively. No difference between the various methods was seen in the case of hepatoma. Finally, in the patients with metastases, all four techniques had the same sensitivity (100%) but the specificity of MRI was also 100%, compared to 33% for IA-DSA and 66% for US and CT.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Postsurgical evaluation of hydatid disease with CT: diagnostic pitfalls.

Forty-five patients having previously undergone surgical removal of hydatid cysts were examined for recurrence using CT. Recurrence of hydatid disease was demonstrated in 11 patients. At the site of surgical cyst evacuation, cyst-like structures (pseudocysts) were demonstrated in 15 patients. Although pseudocysts were smaller than the original cysts and demonstrated a flattened appearance and a thicker wall, differentiation from recurrent viable hydatid cysts was difficult. Five of the pseudocysts had attenuation values between 10 and 35 HU, and eight had attenuation values close to that of fat (- 20 to - 100 HU). The findings of this study may be important in the follow-up of patients with hydatid disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

MRI of abdominal hydatid disease.

Seventy hydatid cysts in 30 patients were studied with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT); all cases were confirmed surgically. MRI detected all cysts when confined to solid organs, whereas small-sized cysts (< or = 2 cm) may be missed when located in the peritoneal cavity. Hydatid cysts of less than 3 cm (noncomplicated) present no specific findings of hydatid disease. MRI findings suggesting hydatid disease demonstrate a relatively thick hydatid cyst wall, daughter cysts, and germinal membrane detachment. T2-weighted images proved to be superior to T1- or PD-weighted images in demonstrating hydatid cyst wall thickness, germinal membrane detachment, and daughter cysts. In all spin-echo sequences, the maternal cystic content presented much higher signal intensities than that of daughter cysts. This difference in signal intensity is more obvious in T2-weighted images, except in complicated, infected cases. CT proved to be superior to MRI in demonstrating wall calcifications.

Abdomen↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Complications of lower-extremity outpatient arteriography via low brachial artery.

We retrospectively evaluated low brachial artery puncture for arteriography and its complications as an alternative approach route for bilateral lower extremity run-off. Using the Seldinger technique and catheterization with a sheathless 4-F multiple side-hole pigtail catheter, we performed 2250 low brachial artery punctures in outpatients. The right brachial artery (RBA) was successfully punctured in 2039 patients; the left brachial artery (LBA) in 200. The transfemoral approach was used in 11 patients when catheterizing either of brachial arteries failed. Ten major or moderate complications (2 pseudoaneurysms, 2 thrombosis, 1 dissection and 5 hematomas) were encountered. Surgical intervention was necessary in three cases. There were no transient ischemic attacks. Twenty-one patients suffered temporary loss of radial pulse which returned spontaneously in less than 1 hour. One patient demonstrated prolonged loss of pulse which required heparin. Low brachial artery puncture and catheterization at the antecubital fossa is a very safe and cost-effective alternative to the femoral artery approach for lower extremity intra-arterial arteriography in the hands of experienced operators. The success rate in catheterizing one of the brachial arteries was 99.52% with a low significant complications rate of 0.44%. The transbrachial approach should be used as a standard method for lower extremity IA-DSA in an outpatient setting.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Imaging and localization of pancreatic insulinomas.

For pancreatic insulinomas, the treatment of choice is surgical excision, which when successful is curative. Intraoperative palpation combined with ultrasonography theoretically depict almost all tumors, however the accuracy of palpation is improved by the preoperative localization. All recent advances in imaging have improved the likelihood for curative surgical resection. Our purpose is to demonstrate the characteristics of all modalities, which may be used in the preoperative localization algorithm.

Algorithms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

New frontiers in liver surgery. Two-stage liver surgery for the management of advanced metastatic liver disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To assess the value and the safety of main portal branch transection combined with transarterial targeting locoregional neo and adjuvant immunochemotherapy, 32 patients suffering from advanced metastatic liver disease underwent two-stage hepatectomy. METHODOLOGY: From September 1995 to June 1999, 32 consecutive patients underwent two-stage surgery for advanced metastatic liver disease. Firstly we performed ligation and transection of the main portal branch corresponding to the liver lobe occupied by the tumor and introduction of an arterial jet port catheter towards the hepatic artery. After a locoregional transarterial targeting immunochemotherapy regimen the patient had a 2nd laparotomy for hemihepatectomy. Following surgery, locoregional targeting immunochemotherapy was carried out in all patients via the arterial port of the gastroduodenal artery as an adjuvant treatment. RESULTS: There were no operative deaths. Mean survival was 27 +/- 8 months. CONCLUSIONS: Two-stage liver surgery is an appealing alternative that increases the resectability rate and overall survival in patients with advanced metastatic liver disease and is associated with excellent quality of post-operative life.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Consecutive re-explorations for final resection of initially unresectable pancreatic head carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The lack of high surgical expertise and specialization of the practicing surgeon may lead some patients with pancreatic cancer to die. This study also investigates the role of combined neo and adjuvant locoregional immunochemotherapy in patients considered initially as non-amenable to resection. METHODOLOGY: 32 patients underwent re-exploration aiming at pancreatic resection. After the initial diagnostic work-up 22 of them underwent pancreatic resection during the first re-exploration. The remaining 10 patients were judged again as unresectable. All 32 patients had 2 catheters introduced into a side arterial branch of the jejunal artery and vein for locoregional immunochemotherapy. Seven out of 10, considered as unresectable initially, had pancreatic resection after immunochemotherapy regimen. RESULTS: All patients survived surgery. Early morbidity included wound infection in 3, bleeding in 1 and leakage of gastric stump in 1 patient. Treatment related toxicity included leukopenia in 4 patients, anemia in 3 and fever and chills in 21. Mean follow-up was 62 +/- 1.2 months. One-, 2-, 3- and 5-year survival was 100, 80, 70 and 48% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results strongly support the necessity for neo and adjuvant locoregional immunochemotherapy and its contribution to prolongation of survival.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Preoperative localization of pancreatic insulinoma by selective intraarterial calcium injection and hepatic venous sampling.

Preoperative localization of insulinomas is desirable by most surgeons. Imaging with ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine and angiography may fail to demonstrate these small tumors in up to 10%, while a smaller percentage may be missed even after careful surgical exploration and intraoperative ultrasonography. Selective intraarterial injection of calcium with hepatic venous sampling has been reported to be a very accurate technique for preoperative localization of insulinomas. We report such a case where the clinical symptoms were highly suggestive but imaging algorithm failed to reveal any lesion and we review the literature.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Long-term results following resectional surgery for Klatskin tumors. A twenty-year personal experience.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to assess whether long-term survival in patients suffering from cholangiocarcinomas of the porta hepatis is significantly different when comparing results between local and extended procedures in order to justify increased mortality and morbidity following extensive resections. METHODOLOGY: From November 1991 to May 2000, 46 patients with Klatskin tumor were assigned to two groups. Group A patients (n = 25) had local resection and group B patients (n = 21) had local resection plus hemihepatectomy. On admission, all patients were drained via percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. In all patients we proceeded with an internal biliary drainage in order to anticipate jaundice and decompensated liver function. Internal biliary drainage was carried out 35-40 days before surgery. At the end of the operation an arterial catheter was introduced into the common hepatic artery for adjuvant locoregional targeting immunochemotherapy, which was initiated 20 days following surgery in all patients. RESULTS: Overall survival for group A patients ranged from 14 months to 76 months (mean: 29). Disease-free survival ranged from 10-52 months (mean: 25). Five-year survival rate was 10%. Five-year disease-free survival was 0%. Overall survival for group B patients ranged from 28 months to 79 months (mean: 39). Disease-free survival ranged from 17-72 months (mean: 32). Five-year survival rate was 20%. Five-year disease-free survival rate was 10%. CONCLUSIONS: Combined tumor and liver resection is associated with significantly better results when compared with those following tumor resection alone.

Bile Duct Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Metastatic liver disease of colorectal origin: the value of locoregional immunochemotherapy combined with systemic chemotherapy following liver resection. Results of a prospective randomized study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Liver resection for metastatic liver disease of colorectal origin, although considered as the 'gold standard' of treatment, is associated with limited long-term survival. The aim of this study was to compare overall survival, disease-free survival and the incidence of intra- or extrahepatic recurrence between patients who were randomly assigned to have locoregional chemoimmunotherapy with systemic chemotherapy group A (n = 62 patients) versus those who were treated with systemic immunochemotherapy group B (n = 60 patients). METHODOLOGY: Group A included patients who, after liver resection, received locoregional immunochemotherapy combined with systemic chemotherapy, while group B included patients who had undergone systemic immunotherapy combined with systemic chemotherapy following liver resection. The two groups were matched in terms of sex, age and stage of the disease. Prognostic factors and their impact on disease-free survival were studied in both groups. RESULTS: Two-year survival was 92% for group A versus 75% for group B, 5-year survival was 73% for group A versus 60% for group B. During the two-year period, 34% of the group A patients versus 52% of those of group B developed either intrahepatic or extrahepatic recurrence of the disease (P < 0.00212). CONCLUSIONS: From the analysis of the above results it becomes clear that regional immunochemotherapy combined with systemic chemotherapy leads to a decrease in the incidence of disease recurrence and thus to a significant prolongation of the overall survival and of disease-free survival.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hepatic primary and secondary malignancies: comparison of helical CT and helical CT during arterial portography.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To compare the sensitivity of helical CT to that of helical CT arterial portography in the detection of hepatic primary or secondary malignancies, in 20 patients who subsequently underwent surgery to confirm findings. METHODOLOGY: Twenty patients with suspected primary hepatic or secondary malignancies who all underwent helical CT and helical CT arterial portography preoperatively were prospectively evaluated. All the images were reviewed by two radiologists. The results were subsequently correlated with surgical and pathological findings. The sensitivity and the positive predictive values for lesion detection were determined for each modality. RESULTS: There were 39 pathologically confirmed hepatic malignant lesions. The overall sensitivity and positive predictive value of helical CT arterial portography were 87.1% and 82.5%, respectively, while of helical CT were 84.6% and 94.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Helical CT arterial portography and helical CT of the liver were approximately equivalent for lesion detection in patients who were evaluated preoperatively for resection of liver malignancies. The lower cost and non-invasive nature of helical CT suggest that it should be the preferred modality.

Adenocarcinoma↗