Significance of pancreas graft biopsy in detection of rejection.
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Publications and source records attributed to O A Aideyan.
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OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine whether arterial resistive indexes (RIs) in pancreas transplants correlate with biopsy-proven transplant rejection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed arterial RIs in pancreas transplants for all patients who underwent Doppler sonography within 1 week before transcystoscopic or percutaneous biopsy of pancreas transplants. RIs were correlated with type and degree of rejection in the 20 transplants for which biopsies provided sufficient tissue for diagnosis. Three patients were subsequently eliminated from the study because of significant intervening therapy between sonography and biopsy. RESULTS: The nine transplants with no evidence of rejection had a mean arterial RI of 0.64 (range, 0.49-0.80). The six transplants with acute mild or moderate rejection had a mean RI of 0.67 (range, 0.56-0.73). The two transplants with acute severe rejection had a mean RI of 0.85 (range, 0.80-0.90). We found no statistically significant difference between arterial RIs in pancreas transplants of patients with acute mild or acute moderate rejection and those with no evidence of rejection. CONCLUSION: Arterial RIs of pancreas transplants do not differentiate between acute mild or acute moderate rejection and absence of rejection. The higher mean value of arterial RIs in pancreas transplants with acute severe rejection suggests that elevated arterial RIs are sensitive, but not specific, for revealing acute severe rejection of pancreas transplants. However, our study data are limited, and a larger sample size is necessary to draw statistically significant conclusions.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous needle biopsy in pancreas transplantation patients with graft dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-three CT-guided core biopsies of 42 pancreas grafts were performed with 18-gauge needles over a 38-month period. All but one of the transplants were bladder-drained allografts. An average of 2.25 passes (range, 1-4) per allograft were made, and tissue was immediately processed for histopathologic examination. Fifteen patients (19% of biopsy referrals) could not undergo biopsy because a safe approach was not available. RESULTS: Of the 63 biopsy specimens, 57(90%) were adequate for histopathologic diagnosis, which was normal or no specific abnormality in 14, acute rejection in 20, chronic rejection in one, chronic rejection with cytomegalovirus inclusion bodies in one, acute or chronic pancreatitis in 13, chronic pancreatitis with cytomegalovirus inclusion bodies in one, and miscellaneous in seven. Three specimens contained no pancreatic tissue, and three were insufficient for diagnosis. Minor complications included a transient rise in serum amylase levels in four patients (6%) and transient mild hematuria in one patient (1%). The only major complication (substantial hemorrhage) occurred in two cases (3%). CONCLUSION: CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy is a safe, alternative method for obtaining tissue in pancreas transplantation patients with graft dysfunction. It may obviate cystoscopic biopsy for bladder-drained grafts or open biopsy in duct-injected or enteric-drained grafts.
Magnetic resonance (MR) images obtained in 18 patients with pathologically confirmed mycetoma in the body (n = 4) or lower extremity (n = 14) were retrospectively reviewed and compared with computed tomographic (CT) scans in 15 patients and surgical findings in 10. T1-weighted images showed an infiltrating mass (same signal intensity as muscle) involving skin, subcutaneous fat, muscles, tendons, and other tissues. On T2-weighted images, the mass and affected structures showed moderately increased signal intensity. Bone marrow involvement was detected in seven patients and was best visualized on T1-weighted images. CT showed moderate enhancement of the infiltrative process in all patients. Bone changes, seen in nine, included coarse trabeculation, periosteal reaction, endosteal proliferation, and patchy destruction. MR imaging and CT were comparable and correlated well with surgery in showing the extent of soft-tissue involvement. Early bone changes (important for therapy planning for pedal mycetoma) were seen only at CT. The study showed that MR imaging is sensitive for assessing the extent of mycetoma in the soft tissues. CT should be the method of choice for staging pedal lesions because it can be used to detect early bone involvement.
Infections of the chest and abdominal wall are rare but potentially fatal disorders that can occur spontaneously or in association with diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, or trauma. The condition (either in the form of necrotizing fasciitis and/or pyomyositis) is difficult to diagnose clinically because of poor localizing signs. Prognosis depends on early recognition, extent of disease, and type of causative organism. Pathologically, the infections can manifest as cellulitis, abscess, and/or granulation tissue formation. To determine the value of MR imaging in the assessment of these infections, we compared the findings of MR with those of CT, sonography, scintigraphy, and plain radiography in 13 patients with proved thoracic and/or abdominal wall infection. The imaging findings were correlated with microbiological, pathologic, and/or surgical data. The isolated pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (n = 6), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 1), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (n = 4), and Streptomyces somaliensis (n = 2). In 10 of 13 patients, MR imaging and CT were comparable and proved accurate in detecting the nature and extent of the inflammatory process. In seven of the patients, CT also was useful in guiding percutaneous biopsy and/or partial drainage procedures. Coronal and sagittal MR images were helpful for planning surgery. Rib osteomyelitis was missed with both techniques in one patient; in two other patients who did not have CT, MR imaging missed osteomyelitis of the ribs, the spinous process of a vertebral body, and the iliac bone. Sonography underestimated the extent of the disease in all 13 patients, but detected fluid collections in six. Findings on scintigraphy and plain radiography were the least contributory to the diagnosis and treatment of these patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Radiographs, scintigrams, computed tomographic scans, and magnetic resonance (MR) images of 17 patients with brucellar spondylitis and 15 with tuberculous spondylitis were analyzed to identify distinguishing features. Characteristic findings of brucellar spondylitis included predilection for the lower lumbar spine (68% of lesions), bone destruction limited to the end plates, disk collapse (16 of 19 disks), and granulation tissue or localized soft-tissue edema (17 of 19 sites). MR imaging showed diffuse increased signal in vertebrae and disks on long repetition time (TR)/echo time (TE) images in four patients and focal increased signal with normal disks in one. Epidural extension was best seen on short TR/TE images in four. Tuberculous spondylitis was characterized by predilection for the midthoracic spine (73%), vertebral destruction with gibbus deformity (60%), disk collapse, and paraspinal abscesses (14 of 15). On MR images signal intensity of affected vertebrae was similar to but more severe than findings in patients with brucellar spondylitis. Scintigraphy was the least helpful in differentiating the two infections. Lesions of tuberculous spondylitis affecting the lower lumbar spine were difficult to differentiate from those of brucellar spondylitis.
PURPOSE: A new self-expanding patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occluder was designed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Percutaneous closure of surgically created aortopulmonary shunts was attempted in 19 dogs. The occlusion device consisted of a nitinol wire frame tightly woven into a cylinder with a flat retention disc. A polyester-filled frame was used in the last six procedures. A 6-F introducing sheath was advanced across the aortopulmonary conduit into the descending thoracic aorta. The prosthesis (attached on a stiff delivery cable) was advanced through the introducing sheath. The retention disc was first released in the descending thoracic aorta, then the cylindrical device frame was expanded within the conduit by withdrawing the sheath. RESULTS: Subtotal misplacement into the descending aorta occurred in one procedure (overall technical success rate, 95%), and one animal died before the 1-week follow-up. Complete angiographic shunt closure was achieved in seven of 18 (39%) animals at 30 minutes, 12 of 17 (71%) animals at 1 week, 14 of 17 (82%) animals at 1 month, and 11 of 12 (92%) animals at 3 months. Significantly higher 30-minute closure rates occurred with polyester-filled occluders compared with nonfilled occluders (five of five [100%] vs one of 13 [15%]; P = .002). Persistent shunt at 3 months occurred in only one nonfilled device (6%). In the remaining 16 animals, both orifices of the shunt were covered by a smooth glistening neoendothelium at postmortem examination. CONCLUSION: This device combines the advantages of small delivery system, easy placement, self-centering, and repositionability. Immediate shunt closure can be reliably accomplished with the polyester-filled prosthesis.