[A meta-traumatic rupture of a splenic teratoma. A case report].
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Accidents, Home↗
Biomedical subjects
R Lobianco
Publications and source records attributed to R Lobianco.
[Contrast media extravasation in upper abdominal injuries: detection with spiral computerized tomography].
PURPOSE: The possibility of detecting contrast agent extravasation (i.e., active hemorrhage) with dynamic conventional Computed Tomography (CT) in patients with abdominal trauma has already been reported in small series. We report our experience in the demonstration of contrast material extravasation using helical CT; we also investigate the diagnostic and clinical value of this finding. MATERIAL AND METHODS: January 1997 to July 1998, we examined 41 consecutive patients with upper abdominal trauma. Twelve patients (29%) had contrast material extravasation. The examinations were performed with a helical unit and volumetric acquisitions (thickness 8-10 mm, pitch 1, reconstruction interval 5-8 mm). The intravenous contrast medium (350 mgI/mL, 130-140 mL) was administered with rapid infusion (2-2.5 mL/s, 40-50 s acquisition delay from bolus starting) and using a power injector. We reviewed the CT studies and clinical records of these 12 patients. Contrast agent extravasation was considered present when this finding, not recognizable on plain scans, showed equal attenuation to or higher attenuation than the vessels within the same level. Moreover we assessed leak site, CT appearance, the direct visualization of the involved vessel, the evidence of other abdominal or extra-abdominal injuries, the CT signs of hypovolemic shock, clinical and surgical data. For comparison, we finally evaluated 50 examinations performed with a conventional CT scanner in subjects with abdominal trauma. RESULTS: Active hemorrhage involved the abdominal wall in 1 case (intercostal artery), the solid organs in 4 (splenic in 2, hepatic in 1, of the middle hepatic vein in 1), the peritoneal cavity in 3 (splenic, midcolic, and gastroduodenal artery in 1 each), the retroperitoneum in 4 (renal pedicle in 2, renal parenchyma in 1, lumbar artery in 1). In all cases the site of contrast extravasation corresponded at surgery to the site of active bleeding. The pattern was localized in 10 cases and diffuse in 2. The involved vessel could be identified in 5 cases while in the other ones the origin could be inferred from the leakage site. Associated injuries of upper abdominal organs were seen in 11 of 12 patients and extra-abdominal trauma in 6. In 4 cases there were CT features of hypovolemia. One patient died during transport to the operating room and another after surgery, while all the others survived. Contrast extravasation was identified in 9 (18%) of the patients examined with a conventional CT unit. CONCLUSIONS: Active contrast material extravasation can be recognized with conventional CT scanners, though it has been considered a rare finding. Helical CT seems to increase the detection rate and especially to boost the radiologist's confidence in this diagnosis. Though active bleeding is identified in severely-injured subjects requiring urgent intervention and may be associated with findings of hypovolemic shock, it should not be considered itself as a negative prognostic factor. Contrast extravasation is due to ongoing hemorrhage and its detection is critical for urgent treatment. Accurate anatomical location permits to choose surgical management or transcatheter embolization and thus decreases time consumption for precise bleeding site identification.
Abdominal Injuries↗
[Cecal volvulus. Diagnosis with computerized tomography in a case].
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Cecal Diseases↗
[Multiphasic spiral computed tomography in hepatocarcinoma. An evaluation following different percutaneous ablative procedures].
PURPOSE: To report our personal experience with helical CT evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma treated with various percutaneous interventional procedures. We assessed both nodular response and the spectrum of changes within normal parenchyma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: December 1996 to September 1998 we examined with helical CT 41 patients (73 nodules in all) with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with percutaneous ablation therapies: conventional ethanol injection in 18 subjects (31 nodules), one-shot ethanol injection in 3 (8 nodules), radiofrequency thermal ablation in 16 (25 nodules), and combined chemoembolization and ethanol injection in 4 (9 nodules). CT performed was 4-27 days after the last session, acquiring biphasic volumetric images in 14 patients and triphasic volumetric images in 27. A second treatment with subsequent CT study was performed for 28 lesions; 15 underwent 3 serial studies and 6 underwent 4 studies. RESULTS: Compared with pretreatment findings, the diameter was unchanged in 62% of the nodules and increased in 38%. Morphology was unchanged in 63% of the lesions while in 37% a mild deformation toward the needle path or a more regular and round shape was evident. Borders were unchanged in 37% of the cases and modified in 63%, appearing well-defined in 73% and ill-defined in 27%. The necrotic portion had a low attenuation with a nodule-to-parenchyma gradient more evident on delayed than on venous and finally arterial acquisitions; 8% of the lesions were not recognizable on unenhanced scans. Residual viable tissue was identified in 44% of the nodules and quantified as 100% in 1% of all lesions, > 75% in 3%, > 50% in 4%, > 25% in 12%, < 25% in 23%. It was located centrally in 6% of the cases, peripherally in 12%, and eccentrically in 81%, and the shape was crescent in 66% of the cases, oval in 19%, and different in 16%. During the arterial phase the residual tumor appeared hyperdense in 97% of the nodules and isodense in 3%, while during the portal phase it was hyperdense in 22%, isodense in 28% and hypodense in 50%, and during the delayed phase hypodense in 100%. For what concerns the uninvolved parenchyma, lobar atrophy was present in 4% of the nodules, segmental atrophy in 8%, and subsegmental in 16%; caval thrombosis was found in 1 patient, portal thrombosis in 4. Arterioportal fistulas were identified in 5% of the nodules and areas of transient inhomogeneous attenuation in several cases. Subsegmental biliary dilation was detected in 4% of the lesions. CONCLUSION: Multiple-phase helical CT allows optimal depiction of primitive liver nodules treated with percutaneous interventional procedures and has a central role in the assessment of tumor response. Accurate is also the evaluation of changes or complications involving the surrounding parenchyma. Regarding the ablation effect, two typical features can be identified: after total necrosis nodular volume is unchanged or increased, borders are well-defined, and density is low and homogeneous (especially in delayed phases), while after partial necrosis the diameter is not modified, margins are ill-defined, attenuation is less decreased, and peripheral tumor maintains high density in arterial phase and low density in delayed phases. As for the treatment procedure, we found that thermal ablation with radiofrequency and single-session ethanol injection cause more evident alterations within both nodule and hepatic parenchyma, while after multi-session ethanol injection changes are less dramatic and consequently more difficult to assess.
Adult↗
[A case of epiploic appendicitis studied with ultrasonography and computerized tomography].
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Appendicitis↗
[The correlation between Doppler echography with a contrast medium and CT in the study of a hepatocarcinoma submitted to chemoembolization].
PURPOSE: We report our preliminary experience concerning Doppler studies with the intravenous injection of a galactose-based echo contrast agent (SHU 508 A) in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. We correlated US findings with those of iodized-oil helical CT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 1997 we examined 18 patients with cirrhosis and HCC (31 nodules in all) submitted to hepatic oily chemoembolization 15-30 days earlier. The lesions were studied with color and power Doppler US before and after echo contrast agent infusion (300 mg/mL, injection/nodule, constant rate in 60-90 s) and with Lipiodol CT (0-7 days after US). In the retrospective analysis, special care was paid to Doppler signals from pulsatile intra- and perinodular flow and to the detection of new small vessels on enhanced images. The signal was graded as absent (0), weak (1), medium (2) and strong (3). The oily agent uptake on CT images was graded as absent (0), grade I (< 10%), II (< 50%), III (> 50%) and homogeneous (IV). All scores were given on a blind basis. RESULTS: Liver enhancement was found in all cases and always lasted long enough to allow the accurate depiction of parenchymal lesions (at least 8 minutes). Signal intensity could be evaluated in 27 of 31 HCCs (2 were too deeply seated and two were too affected by cardiac activity). We had the following scores: basal color Doppler: grade 0 = 15 lesions, grade 1 = 8 lesions, grade 2 = 4 lesions; contrast-enhanced color Doppler: grade 0 = 11 lesions, grade 1 = 7 lesions, grade 2 = 8 lesions, grade 3 = 1 lesion; basal power Doppler: grade 0 = 12 lesions, grade 1 = 8 lesions, grade 2 = 6 lesions, grade 3 = 1 lesion; contrast-enhanced power Doppler: grade 0 = 10 lesions, grade 1 = 7 lesions, grade 2 = 8 lesions, grade 3 = 2 lesions; Lipiodol-CT: grade 0 = 1 lesion, grade I = 1 lesion, grade II = 7 lesions, grade III = 8 lesions, grade IV = 10 lesions. The difference between color and power Doppler scores, both compared to each other and between basal and enhanced images, never exceeded one. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast-enhanced Doppler US is a simple and fast technique allowing strong, constant and long-lasting enhancement. Doppler US techniques permit the effective and realistic study of HCC nodules treated with chemoembolization and show a better correlation with Lipiodol CT than basal studies. Power Doppler is slightly more sensitive and accurate than color Doppler and shows a better correlation with Lipiodol CT.
Adult↗
[The role of imaging diagnosis in the study of intestinal infarct].
Acute mesenteric insufficiency is a surgical emergency with a difficult methodological approach. Its high mortality is mainly due to delay in the correct diagnosis. In turn, this is due to the lack of specificity, specially in the early-middle phase, of the clinical presentation, laboratory data, and plain abdominal radiographic findings. In front of this uncertainty, some authors advocated an "aggressive" approach with early use of angiography (nevertheless at risk of a high rate of negative examinations), other remained on more wait-and-see or fatalist positions, and other evaluated the possible diagnostic impact of noninvasive methods alternative to angiography. With the purpose of a correct employment from the surgeon of the various diagnostic tools actually available, we illustrated in this review the possibilities and limitations of the methods proposed in the evaluation of bowel infarction: plain abdominal radiography, gastrointestinal tract contrast studies, angiography, sonography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Angiography↗
[Treatment of hot thyroid nodule with percutaneous ethanol injection. Our experience].
Thyroid nodule is defined as "hot" on the bous it scintigraphic appearance. It can be defined like benign nodule with autonomous functionality. On scintiscan it shows high captation because there's an increase of production and secretion of thyroid hormones with total inhibition of TSH and suppression of extranodular tissue. Generally the treatment of hot thyroid nodule was surgical or with radio-metabolic therapy. Percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) in the treatment of hot thyroid nodules has been suggested recently. The aim of our study was to value therapeutic effects of PEI under guidance by means of ultrasound in patients with hot nodules in toxic or pretoxic phase. 36 patients with autonomous thyroid nodules of 1.8-6 cm in diameter received sterile ethanol at 95% that has been injected with a 22-gauge needle and a probe with a guide device. The administrated dose varied from 1.2 to 1.5 ml for cc of tissue in 5-12 sessions. Ethanol injection was performed in a single site in nodules with diameter < 3 cm and in double sites in nodules with diameter > 3 cm. The patients were checked after treatment and then 3 and 6 months. Our experience confirms an excellent response to PEI in these patients. In fact after therapy symptoms of hyperthyroidism and hormonal levels become normal; no patient has even reached the range of subclinical or clinical hypothyroidism. Scintigram showed that previously suppressed thyroid tissue resumed functioning; at ultrasound all nodules had shrunk: thyroglobulin levels increased during treatment because ethanol induces coagulative intranodular necrosis with release in systemic circulation of this glycoprotein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adult↗
Hepatocellular carcinoma: spectrum of contrast-enhanced gray-scale harmonic sonography findings.
Sonography (US) is the most commonly used tool in the assessment of patients with chronic liver disease. Nevertheless, small nodules can be overlooked. Moreover, even if the lesion is readily recognizable, difficulty persists in differentiating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from pre-tumoral, dysplastic stages of nodule evolution. In addition, US is the main tool in guiding percutaneous ablation therapies for HCC and in evaluating patients after treatment, but changes are not specific and difficulties persist in recognizing residual tumor during and after the ablation procedure. Contrast-enhanced, gray-scale, harmonic US offers new possibilities in the imaging of liver tumors. The real-time, low-mechanical index technique employed in our institution allows a true dynamic assessment of the tumor during the various phases of contrast medium circulation. This pictorial essay focuses on typical and atypical appearances of HCC when imaged with contrast-specific, real-time US. Findings useful for lesion detection, differential diagnosis, posttreatment assessment, and follow-up especially are illustrated. The potential role of contrast-enhanced US in various clinical settings is emphasized.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
Hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after percutaneous ablation therapy: helical CT patterns.
BACKGROUND: To categorize the helical computed tomographic (CT) intrahepatic recurrence patterns of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after treatment with percutaneous ablation procedures. METHODS: Double-phase helical CT studies of 67 patients with HCC recurrence were reviewed. The study population had undergone percutaneous ablation therapy procedures (multisession or single-session ethanol injection therapy, radiofrequency thermal ablation therapy, and interstitial laser photocoagulation therapy) for 120 HCC nodules. RESULTS: Four patterns were defined. (A) Enhancing tissue within the edge of the ablated nodule on arterial phase images (ingrowth): this pattern was seen in five treated lesions (4.2% of all treated nodules) in five patients (7.5% of all patients with recurrence) 3-7 months after treatment (mean = 4 months). (B) Enhancing tissue around the treated nodule but continuously to its border on arterial-phase images (outgrowth): this pattern was found in 12 (10%) treated lesions in 12 patients (18%) 3-6 months after ablation (mean = 4 months). (C) Enhancing tissue within the same segment of the treated nodule on arterial phase images (spread): this pattern was detected in 10 (8%) treated lesions in 10 patients (15%) 3-6 months after treatment (mean = 5 months). (D) Enhancing tissue within different segments from the treated nodule on arterial phase images (progression): this pattern was identified in 34 patients (51%) with 53 (44%) treated tumors 5-22 months after ablation (mean = 8 months). A mixed pattern was found in six subjects (9%) with seven (6%) treated nodules. Among the 61 patients with a nonmixed pattern, there were 85 treated nodules with persistent necrosis, 17 treated nodules with local recurrence (pattern A or B), and 107 new nodules due to nonlocal recurrence (pattern C or D). Portal phase enhanced images and especially unenhanced images showed a lower detection rate and a lower lesion-to-liver conspicuity score (for all patterns but mainly for pattern C). CONCLUSION: Four patterns of recurrence after percutaneous ablation procedures can be categorized on double-phase helical CT and are best depicted on arterial phase images. Knowledge of these patterns is relevant for early detection and may be helpful in understanding the recurrence mechanism.
Adult↗
Hepatocellular carcinoma treated with chemoembolization: assessment with contrast-enhanced doppler ultrasonography.
PURPOSE: To report our preliminary experience concerning the use of Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) techniques after intravenous injection of the galactose-based contrast agent Levovist in the assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). The sonographic findings are correlated with those obtained using iodized oil (Lipiodol) helical computed tomography (CT). METHODS: For 7 months we studied 28 patients with cirrhosis and HCC (a total of 43 nodules) who had undergone TACE between 18 and 30 days previously. The lesions were investigated with color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) and power Doppler ultrasonography (PDUS), before and after infusion of the echo-contrast agent (300 mg/ml, maximum 1 injection for each nodule, administered at constant velocity within 60-90 sec), and with helical Lipiodol-CT (0-7 days after DUS). In the retrospective analysis, special attention was given to the Doppler signals related to pulsatile intra- and perinodular flow and to the detection of new vessels after contrast agent injection. The signal intensity was graded as 0 (absent), 1 (low), 2 (medium), or 3 (high), while its distribution was classified as peripheral, central, or diffuse. Oily agent retention on CT scans was assessed as 0 (absent), I (<10%), II (<50%), III (>50%), or IV (homogeneous). These scores were awarded separately, without knowledge of the other judgments. RESULTS: An hepatic global echo-enhancing effect was identified in all cases and always lasted long enough to allow an accurate analysis of all parenchymal lesions (at least 8 min). The signal scores could be evaluated in 39 of 43 HCCs, as follows: basal CDUS: grade 0 in 17 lesions, grade 1 in 16, grade 2 in 6; contrast-enhanced CDUS: grade 0 in 12 lesions, grade 1 in 10, grade 2 in 14, grade 3 in 3; basal PDUS: grade 0 in 15 lesions, grade 1 in 13, grade 2 in 9, grade 3 in 2; contrast-enhanced PDUS: grade 0 in 11 lesions, grade 1 in 9, grade 2 in 15, grade 3 in 6. Lipiodol-CT scoring was: grade 0 in 1 lesion, grade I in 7, grade II in 11, grade III in 9, grade IV in 11. In all but one nodule the difference between CDUS and PDUS scores, compared both with each other and with nonenhanced and contrast-enhanced examinations, was never greater than one grade. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast-enhanced DUS is a simple and fast procedure allowing a valuable, constant echo-enhancing effect of sufficient duration. DUS techniques, especially contrast-enhanced PDUS, offer an effective and realistic analysis of HCC nodules treated with TACE and show more evident agreement with Lipiodol-CT findings than baseline studies.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
[Multiple-phase spiral computerized tomography of small hepatocellular carcinoma: technique optimization and diagnostic yield].
PURPOSE: Spiral imaging has dramatically increased the diagnostic capabilities of Computed Tomography (CT) in the evaluation of small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs, O < 3 cm). We report our experience with multiple-phase CT of small HCC relative to both examination technique and lesion patterns. We compared the yield of biphasic (arterial-dominant + portal-dominant phases) and triphasic (arterial-dominant + portal-dominant + delayed phases) and also reviewed the literature for a meta-analysis of the techniques used. MATERIAL AND METHODS: December 1996 to July 1998, forty-eight patients with small nodular HCCs were examined--98 nodules in all (range 1-9, mean 2 per patient). After baseline CT, a nonionic contrast agent (350 mgI/mL, 130-140 mL, 4 mL/s) was administered through a power injector and a 16-gauge needle. Biphasic volume images were acquired in 19 subjects (early-phase delay 24 s, venous-phase delay 75 s) and triphasic images in 29 (early-phase delay 24 s, venous-phase delay 60 s, delayed-phase delay 100 s). Retrospectively we assessed the number of nodules detected with each protocol in every phase, nodule conspicuity (graded I-IV) relative to surrounding parenchyma, and nodule patterns in the various phases. Nodule patterns were distinguished into homogeneous, peripheral, central and mixed hyperdensity, and homogeneous hypodensity. RESULTS: Thirty-seven lesions were found in the patients examined with the biphasic technique: baseline images showed 35% of the nodules, arterial images 92%, portal images 76% and combined arterial and portal acquisitions 95%. Sixty-one lesions were found in the patients examined with the triphasic technique: baseline images showed 43% of the nodules, arterial images 93%, portal images 70%, and delayed images 77%; combined arterial and portal acquisitions detected 93% of the nodules, combined arterial and delayed images 95%, combined arterial and delayed images 80%. Finally, 95% of lesions were demonstrated when the three phases were combined. Overall conspicuity grades were I in 44% of cases, II in 28%, III in 18% and IV in 10% of cases at baseline scanning; I in 9%, II in 24%, III in 34% and IV in 33% in the arterial phase; I in 28%, II in 41%, III in 18% and IV in 13% in the portal phase; I in 23%, II in 30%, III in 26% and IV in 21% of cases in the delayed phase. At baseline, 10% of lesions were hyperdense (homogeneously and peripherally in 5% each); mixed density was seen in 8%, and hypodensity in 82%. In the arterial phase, 93% of lesions were hyperdense (homogeneously in 80%, peripherally in 10% and centrally in 3%); mixed density was seen in 5%, and hypodensity in 1%. In the portal phase, 4% of lesions were hyperdense (homogeneously in 1% and centrally in 3%); mixed density was seen in 11%, and hypodensity in 85%. In the delayed phase, the lesions appeared mixed in 11% of cases and hypodense in 89%. CONCLUSIONS: Spiral CT scanning of small HCCs requires dedicated and meticulous technique. Multipassage assessment is mandatory, with 2 or 3 dynamic acquisitions of the whole liver. No major difference in nodule detection was demonstrated between these two options and thus the choice rests with the radiologist's preference. Early CT images proved best for lesion detection, followed by delayed, venous, and baseline studies; lesion recognition depends largely on nodular diameter. The same applies to conspicuity, which however depends on tumor volume less. Lesion patterns are quite typical and constant in all phases and are independent of lesion diameter.
Adult↗
[Doppler evaluation of thyroid hemodynamics after intravenous administration of contrast media].
PURPOSE: Duplex Doppler ultrasound allows the evaluation of thyroid gland vascular flow by spectral analysis assessment. The objective of this prospective study was to employ Doppler ultrasound to evaluate the possible functional changes produced in normal subjects following intravenous iodized contrast medium injection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was performed on 30 non-consecutive subjects, enrolled according to some inclusion criteria: male gender, age ranging between 19 and 70 years, absence of chronic liver disease, absence of thyroid disease, absence of sonographic changes in the thyroid gland, negative history for recent intravenous contrast medium administration. All patients were scheduled for a contrast-enhanced CT study. A non-ionic contrast medium (iomeprol) was employed at 350 mgI/mL concentration, 130-140 mL volume, and 2-4 mL/sec. injection rate. The Doppler ultrasound examination was carried out immediately before and about 30 minutes after the CT study. The systolic velocity, diastolic velocity, the resistive index, and the pulsatility index were measured at the level of one of the four thyroid arteries. RESULTS: In most cases a slightly increasing trend of the four parameters considered was noted but none of these showed a statistically significant change. The mean systolic velocity was of 33 cm/sec. in the basal measurement and of 39 cm/sec. in the post-contrast measurement. The variation was positive in 17 cases, negative in 12, and absent in 1. The mean diastolic velocity was of 13 cm/sec. in the pre-contrast evaluation and of 14 cm/sec. in the second evaluation. The change was positive in 14 cases, negative in 12, and absent in 4. The mean resistive index was of 0.55 in the basal analysis and of 0.59 in the post-contrast one. The variation was positive in 20 patients, negative in 9, and absent in 1. The mean pulsatility index was of 0.99 in the basal measurement and of 1.14 in the second measurement. The change was positive in 23 subjects, negative in 5, and absent in 2. CONCLUSION: Our series shows that no significant change in Doppler spectral analysis of thyroid flow is evident after administration of iodized contrast media, at least in euthyroid subjects and with the contrast doses and the examination intervals employed in our study. Doppler ultrasound is confirmed as an accurate and objective procedure in the evaluation of thyroid gland flow and may represent a useful tool in functional studies, as well as clinical applications in the assessment of thyroid gland disorders.
Adult↗
[Randomized comparative study using carbocalcitonin i.m. vs carbocalcitonin nasal spray vs ipriflavone x os in the treatment of post-menopausal osteoporosis].
A comparative study of 90 post-menopausal osteoporotic women, has been carried out. The patients were divided in 3 homogeneous groups. According to 3 different schemes: Group A = 30 patients received carbocalcitonin i.m. 40 UMRC/day/1 month and 40 UMRC/alternating days/2 months followed by 1 month of wash-out for 11 months; Group B = 30 patients received carbolcitonin nasal-spray 80 UMRC/day/1 month and 80 UMRC/alternating day/2 months followed by 1 month of wash-out for 11 months; Group C = 30 patients received ipriflavone x os (600 mg/day/3 months followed by 1 month of wash-out for 3 times). BMC significantly was increased in all Groups after 7 and 11 months. In conclusion, carbocalcitonin and ipriflavone seem to show a similar improving densitometric effect in post-menopausal osteoporosis.
Administration, Intranasal↗
[Tension pneumoperitoneum: 2 cases].
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Aged↗