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Biomedical subjects

R Lencioni

Publications and source records attributed to R Lencioni.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Combined transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and percutaneous ethanol injection for the treatment of large hepatocellular carcinoma: local therapeutic effect and long-term survival rate.

The aim of our study was to investigate local therapeutic effects and long-term results of combined transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) in the treatment of large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Eight-six patients (67 males and 19 females, age range 48-75 years, mean age 65.1 years) with Child-Pugh class A (n = 48) or B (n = 38) liver cirrhosis and a large HCC (main tumor 3.1-8 cm in diameter with no more than two daughter nodules) were enrolled in a prospective study. All patients underwent a single TACE session followed by PEI. Follow-up ranged from 4 to 65 months (mean 27.8 months, median 26 months). No major complication occurred. The local therapeutic effect, as assessed on the basis of findings at CT and MR imaging, was complete response in 71 of 86 patients (82 %) and partial response in 15 of 86. Overall survival rates by the Kaplan-Meier method were 92 % at 1 year, 83 % at 2 years, 69 % at 3 years, 58 % at 4 years, and 47 % at 5 years. Survival of Child-Pugh A patients (75 % at 3 years and 59 % at 5 years) was significantly longer (p < 0.01) than that of Child-Pugh B patients (61 % at 3 years and 35 % at 5 years). Combined TACE and PEI is an effective treatment for large HCC.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1998

Radio-frequency thermal ablation of liver metastases with a cooled-tip electrode needle: results of a pilot clinical trial.

The aim of this study was to evaluate feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of radio-frequency (RF) thermal ablation, performed by using a cooled-tip electrode needle, in the treatment of liver metastases. Twenty-nine patients (20 males and 9 females; age range 43-77 years) with one to four hepatic metastases 1.1-4.8 cm in diameter (mean 2.9 +/- 0.8 cm) from previously resected intra-abdominal primary malignancies were treated. All patients were excluded from surgery and had partial or no response to chemotherapy. Radio-frequency ablation was performed by using a 100-W generator and 17-gauge, dual-lumen, cooled-tip electrode needles with a 2- to 3-cm exposed tip. Exposure time was 12 min for each needle insertion. Findings at spiral CT were used to assess the therapeutic response. A total of 127 insertions were performed (mean 2.4 +/- 1.7 insertions/lesion) during 84 treatment sessions (mean 1.6 +/- 0.7 sessions/lesion) in absence of major complications. Complete tumor response (i. e., unenhancing area of thermal necrosis larger than the treated tumor) was seen in 41 (77 %) of 53 lesions, including 33 (87 %) of 38 lesions 3 cm or less in diameter. After a mean follow-up period of 6.5 +/- 2.1 months (range 3-9 months), recurrence of the treated lesion was seen in 5 (12 %) of the 41 cases. New metastatic lesions appeared in 7 patients. Two patients died after 6 and 8 months, respectively. Of the 27 patients still in follow-up, 14 are currently free of disease. Radio-frequency thermal ablation with a cooled-tip electrode needle is a safe and effective local treatment for hepatic metastases 3 cm or less in greatest dimension.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Cavernous arterial and arteriolar circulation in patients with erectile dysfunction: a power Doppler study.

PURPOSE: We assessed the morphodynamic features of cavernous arteries and helicine arterioles by power Doppler sonography in vasculogenic and nonvasculogenic impotent men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 impotent patients with and without definite vascular risk factors were studied by penile power Doppler sonography. The test was performed during penile flaccidity, after intracavernous injection of 20 mcg. alprostadil and after subsequent genital and audiovisual sexual stimulation. A second injection and stimulation were given if the erectile response observed after the initial injection was less than the maximum erection seen during sexual activity. Morphodynamic parameters evaluated by power Doppler imaging included vessel course, shape, wall thickness and pulsatility, peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, acceleration time and resistance index. RESULTS: In the nonvasculogenic group all patients who achieved rigid erection showed normal cavernosal artery and helicine arteriole inflow. In these cases the arteriolar picture was characterized by the presence of 3 orders of distal ramifications originating from the cavernous arteries with an acute angle, systolic diastolic flow during penile tumescence and systolic flow alone at full rigidity. In the vasculogenic group patients with normal cavernous artery inflow showed an arteriolar tree that was pathological in 50% and was characterized by a reduced number of ramifications originating perpendicularly from the cavernous arteries and irregular caliber (arteriolar impotence). In the same group patients with reduced cavernous artery inflow also showed normal or pathological arteriolar components (pre-penile arterial impotence and diffused penile arterial impotence). CONCLUSIONS: Power Doppler sonography allows a precise study of the morphodynamics of the cavernous arteries and helicine arterioles. Our preliminary data suggest that the intracavernous arteriolar component may have a significant role in the genesis of some forms of vasculogenic impotence.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy of pancreatic masses: results of a multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the results of ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy of pancreatic masses in a large multicenter series. METHODS: This study collected the data of 510 patients who had a final diagnosis available and who had undergone ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy of the pancreas. Retrieval rate, sensitivity, specificity, and overall diagnostic accuracy of the whole series, by three different bioptic procedures (cytology, histology, and cytology plus histology) were evaluated. The reliability of ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy to allow a correct diagnosis in the different pancreatic pathologies was calculated. Finally, any complications were collected. RESULTS: For cytology, histology, and cytology plus histology, retrieval rate values were: 94%, 96%, and 97%; sensitivity was: 87%, 94%, and 94%, specificity: 100%; and diagnostic accuracy: 91%, 90%, and 95%, respectively. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy correctly diagnosed all the cases of pancreatic metastases or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (23 of 510 cases as 5%; in eight of 23 it led to the first diagnosis of the primary tumor) and all the cases of abscesses, 97% of the cases of pseudocysts, 86% of pancreatic adenocarcinomas, 62% of cystic neoplasms, 35% of the cases of chronic pancreatitis (in this case, the bioptic procedures were reviewed), and 33% of neuroendocrine tumors. There were complications in one case of asymptomatic peripancreatic hematoma, three cases of vaso-vagal reactions, and 21 cases of pain. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy of the pancreas is efficacious, without any difference between the various bioptic modalities (with the exception of chronic pancreatitis, in which histology is better). The technique is safe. Moreover, the procedure allows the identification of patients affected by pancreatic tumors other than adenocarcinoma (in our survey 5% of the total); in about one third of these patients it leads to the diagnosis of the primary tumor, thus avoiding inappropriate treatments.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1998

Hepatocellular carcinoma treatment with percutaneous ethanol injection: evaluation with contrast-enhanced color Doppler US.

PURPOSE: To investigate the ability of contrast agent-enhanced color Doppler ultrasonography (US) in evaluating the response of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two patients (36 men, six women; age range, 51-79 years) with 54 1.3-7.0-cm-diameter (mean +/- SD, 2.8 cm +/- 1.1) HCC lesions were examined with contrast-enhanced color Doppler US before and after PEI. Spiral computed tomography (CT) and percutaneous biopsy also were performed to establish the outcome of therapy. RESULTS: Before PEI, intratumoral color signals were demonstrated at contrast-enhanced color Doppler US in 47 (87%) lesions (in 40 patients). After PEI, blood flow signals were no longer detected in all 34 of the lesions that were found to be necrotic at spiral CT and biopsy. In 12 (92%) of 13 lesions containing residual viable tumor, intratumoral color signals corresponding to the enhancing areas at spiral CT were still identified at contrast-enhanced color Doppler US. These 12 lesions were retreated with PEI by targeting the areas of residual tumor with contrast-enhanced color Doppler US guidance. Complete necrosis was seen after the second PEI cycle in nine of 12 lesions. CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced color Doppler US shows promise in assessing the therapeutic effect of PEI on HCC and in guiding additional treatment in cases of incomplete response.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Prediction of pathological tumor volume in clinically localized prostate cancer: value of endorectal coil magnetic resonance imaging.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether endorectal coil magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enables accurate assessment of pathologic tumor volume in patients with clinically localized prostate carcinoma. Twenty-four patients with biopsy-proved prostate carcinoma underwent MRI at 0.5 T before radical prostatectomy. Tumor volumes were determined independently on axial fast-spin-echo (SE) T2-weighted MR images and whole-mount pathology slides of the surgical specimens. At pathology, tumor volumes ranged from 0.17 to 9.42 cm3 (mean +/- SD, 3.11 +/- 2.99 cm3). A strong correlation (r = .944) was found between measurements of tumor volume based on MR images and pathological specimens. The error was less than 0.5 cm3 in 14 cases, in the range of 0.5-1 cm3 in 7 cases, and more than 1 cm3 in 3 cases. By using an MR tumor volume of 2 cm3 as cutoff value, extracapsular tumor spread could be predicted with a sensitivity of 81.2%, a specificity of 100%, and an accuracy of 87.5%. Tumor volume determinations based on MR images seem to be accurate enough to be helpful in clinical decision-making.

Humans↗
PubMed1997

Usefulness of echo-color Doppler in differentiating parathyroid lesions from other cervical masses.

The aim of our study was to clarify possible differential color Doppler US features between parathyroid lesions and other cervical masses. A total of 56 parathyroid lesions in 54 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism were preoperatively examined with color Doppler sonography. Color Doppler flow patterns were compared with those of 72 thyroid nodules and 20 cervical lymph nodes. In 38 parathyroid lesions a correlation between color Doppler patterns and size, location, and pathological findings was performed. Color Doppler sonography showed five vascular distribution patterns: pattern I, absence of flow; pattern II, focal peripheral flow ("vascular pole") with arterial Doppler spectrum; pattern III, peripheral flow; pattern IV, internal flow ("parenchymal pattern"); pattern V, peripheral and intranodular flow. Pattern I was not specific for any cervical lesion considered. Conversely, pattern IV was observed solely in parathyroid lesions, and pattern II was observed in only one nonparathyroid lesion (thyroid nodule). Mixed pattern (pattern V) was observed solely in thyroid nodules. In addition, pattern III was a characteristic finding of thyroid nodules and was observed in only one parathyroid lesion. Color Doppler patterns of the parathyroid masses did not correlate with the size of the lesion or pathological findings, but only with the location of the gland. Our study showed that color Doppler assessment of parathyroid lesions is a useful integration of gray-scale US and may be helpful in distinguishing parathyroid lesions from other cervical masses.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1997

Long-term results of percutaneous ethanol injection therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis: a European experience.

The objective of our work was to evaluate the long-term results of percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with liver cirrhosis. A total of 184 cirrhotic patients with HCC underwent PEI as the only anticancer treatment over an 8-year period. Patients were followed after therapy by means of clinical examinations, laboratory tests, and US and CT studies performed at regular time intervals. Survival rates were determined according to the Kaplan-Meier method. The overall survival was 67% at 3 years, 41% at 5 years, and 19% at 7 years. The 3-, 5-, and 7-year survival rates of patients with single HCC < or = 3 cm (78, 54, and 28%, respectively) were significantly higher (p < 0.01) than those of patients with single HCC of 3.1-5 cm (61, 32, and 16, respectively) or multiple HCCs (51, 21, and 0%, respectively). Survival of Child-Pugh A patients (79% at 3 years, 53% at 5 years, and 32% at 7 years) was significantly longer (p < 0.01) than that of Child-Pugh B patients (50% at 3 years, 28% at 5 years, and 8% at 7 years). A selected group of 70 patients with Child-Pugh A cirrhosis and single HCC < or = 3 cm had a 7-year survival of 42%. Long-term survival of cirrhotic patients with HCC treated with PEI is comparable to that reported in published series of matched patients submitted to surgical resection.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Differentiation of hepatocellular adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver: comparison of power Doppler imaging and conventional color Doppler sonography.

The aim of our study was to compare the diagnostic efficacy of power Doppler imaging and conventional color Doppler sonography for differentiating between hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) and focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) of the liver. Thirty-one focal liver lesions (in 29 patients) with histologic proof of HCA (n = 9) or FNH (n = 22) were studied with power and color Doppler sonography according to a standardized examination protocol. The size of the lesions ranged between 1.5 and 14.5 cm (HCA, 3.5-14.5 cm, mean +/- SD 7.3 +/- 3.3 cm; FNH, 1.5-9.1 cm, mean +/- SD 5.1 +/- 2.1 cm). Intratumoral vessels with a venous Doppler spectrum, associated with either pulsatile or continuous peripheral flow, were detected in HCA (eight of nine lesions by power Doppler imaging and six of nine by color Doppler imaging) but not in FNH. In contrast, color signals with an arterial Doppler spectrum, radiating from the center to the periphery of the lesion, were depicted in FNH (20 of 22 cases by power Doppler imaging and 15 of 22 by color Doppler sonography) but not in HCA. Differentiation of HCA and FNH was achieved in 28 of 31 cases (90 %) by power Doppler imaging and in 21 of 31 (68 %) by color Doppler sonography (p < 0.01). Power Doppler imaging is superior to conventional color Doppler sonography in the depiction of the intratumoral flow characteristics of HCA and FNH, and enables a more accurate differential diagnosis than color Doppler sonography.

Adenoma, Liver Cell↗
PubMed1997

[Doppler color US in the diagnosis and treatment of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms].

Pulsatile masses occur increasingly as a complication of transfemoral or transaxillary percutaneous catheterization, as the number of catheterization procedures and their complexity has increased. These iatrogenic injuries may be represented by a pseudoaneurysm or by a periarterial hematoma with transmitted arterial pulsation: the 2 vascular injuries require prompt differentiation because pseudoaneurysms need treatment by means of US-guided compression or surgical repair. Nineteen patients (10 men and 9 women, aged 40-85 years, mean: 62 years) with a groin (no. = 17) or axillary (no. = 2) pulsatile mass following angiographic catheterization were prospectively examined with color Doppler sonography (US). A pseudoaneurysm was detected in 13 patients (12 femoral and one axillary injury), whereas the other 6 pulsatile masses were consistent with periarterial hematomas. US-guided compression was attempted in 13 pseudoaneurysms and the pulsatile mass was repaired in 11/13 cases (84.6%), including 10/12 femoral and 1/1 axillary lesions. All the vascular injuries successfully treated with US-guided therapy were repaired 1-4 days after the angiographic complication. On the other hand, two pseudoaneurysms unsuccessfully treated with US-guided compression were studied after 8 and 24 days, respectively, after the angiographic complication and subsequently submitted to surgical repair. The pseudoaneurysms size did not seem to affect the favorable outcome of the US-guided treatment. With the exception of the 2 surgical cases, the other 17 patients underwent clinical examination and color Doppler US one and 7 days after the US-guided compression of the pulsatile mass. Moreover, a 6-25 weeks clinical follow-up showed no late complications or recurrences in all the cases. In conclusion, color Doppler US is now the technique of choice to assess potential complications related to femoral or brachial artery catheterization.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Local staging of prostate carcinoma with endorectal coil MRI: correlation with whole-mount radical prostatectomy specimens.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of endorectal coil MRI in the local staging of prostate carcinoma. A total of 73 patients with biopsy-proven prostate carcinoma were examined at 0.5 T prior being submitted to radical prostatectomy. The gold standard was provided in all patients by findings at whole-mount sectioning of the surgical specimens. At pathology 28 patients had stage T2, 30 had stage T3a/b, and 15 had stage T3c lesions. Overall accuracy of endorectal coil MRI in defining local tumor stage was 82% (60 of 73 patients). Of 73 patients, 5 (7%) were underestimated and 8 (11%) overestimated. The sensitivity and the specificity of endorectal coil MRI in diagnosing capsular penetration were 95% and 82%, respectively. Seminal vesicle invasion was detected with 80% sensitivity and 93% specificity. Our data indicate that endorectal coil MRI is an accurate method for local staging of prostate cancer.

Humans↗
PubMed1996

Ethanol injection for the treatment of hepatic tumours.

Percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) is a relatively new therapeutic technique for the treatment of liver tumours. PEI is now considered a reliable alternative to surgical resection for cirrhotic patients with a single, small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Intratumoral injection of absolute ethanol, in fact, achieves complete ablation of HCC nodules 3 cm or less in diameter with a high probability. Moreover, PEI is not associated with significant morbidity or mortality and does not damage non-cancerous liver parenchyma. Long-term survival rates of PEI-treated patients were similar to those obtained in matched patients submitted to partial hepatectomy. In large HCC lesions, the anticancer effect of PEI can be significantly enhanced by pretreatment of the tumour with transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation. PEI may also be effectively used to destroy adenomatous hyperplastic nodules in liver cirrhosis, which represent precancerous lesions. The results of PEI in the treatment of liver metastases, in contrast, have been far less encouraging than in the case of HCC, so that PEI is not recommended when other interventional procedures such as radiofrequency electrocautery or interstitial laser photocoagulation are available. Imaging procedures plays a key role in PEI, as they provide a reliable assessment of the therapeutic effect of the procedure.

Angiography↗
PubMed1996

Long-term intracavernous self-injection with prostaglandin E1 for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Intracavernous self-injection with vasoactive drugs has become a widely accepted treatment for erectile dysfunctions (ED). Sixty-eight patients affected by ED have been followed during long-term (at least 1 year) treatment with intracavernous prostaglandin E1. Each patient underwent a penile dynamic ultrasound examination using a high-definition probe (13 MHz) before and during the treatment. The drop-out rate was 8.8%. An improvement in spontaneous erections was reported by 13% of patients. The onset of fibrotic nodules occurred in three (4.4%) patients. In one of the latter cases the occurrence of nodules could be related to the frequency and dose of the drug administered, whereas in the other two cases no such correlation could be hypothesized. These findings draw attention to this possible side-effect of long-term treatment with PGE1.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Assessment of tumor vascularity in hepatocellular carcinoma: comparison of power Doppler US and color Doppler US.

PURPOSE: To compare power Doppler ultrasound (US) with conventional color Doppler US for the assessment of tumor vascularity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-one patients with 88 histologically proved HCCs were examined with power and color Doppler US according to a standardized examination protocol. Findings at Doppler studies of each lesion were correlated with findings at digital subtraction angiography. RESULTS: Angiography revealed neovascularization or staining in 75 (85%) of 88 lesions. Intratumoral color signals with an arterial Doppler spectrum were detected in 69 (92%) of 75 angiographically hypervascular tumors at power Doppler US and in 55 (73%) of 75 at color Doppler US (P < .01). Blood flow signals with an arterial Doppler spectrum were not detected at power or color Doppler US in any of the 13 angiographically hypovascular tumors. The small size and the deep location of the lesion significantly reduced (P < .05) the detection rate of blood flow signals at color Doppler US but did not affect the results of power Doppler US. CONCLUSION: Power Doppler US is superior to conventional color Doppler imaging in the depiction of tumor vascularity in HCC.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Transperineal biopsy leads to the diagnosis of genitourinary neurofibromatosis in association with a congenital malformation of the urinary tract.

OBJECTIVE: A case of genitourinary fibromatosis with associated anomalies is presented. METHODS: Clinical evaluation included ultrasonography, urography, CT scan and MR image. Ultrasonography-guided perineal biopsy was performed with a 14-gauge Tru-cut needle. RESULTS: Rectal examination revealed a very hard prostatic mass in the 22-year-old patient. The histological result and clinical data indicated the diagnosis of genitourinary von Recklinghausen disease. CONCLUSION: We report a very rare case of genitourinary neurofibromatosis associated with congenital anomalies of the urinary tract. The diagnosis was obtained with US-guided transperineal biopsy.

Adult↗