Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Y Fukukura.
We report a case of recurrent sacral chordomas that have been successfully controlled by the combination therapy of percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) and radiation therapy in a 71-year-old man. PEIT may be one of the adjuvant therapies for recurrent chordomas.
We present a case of surgically proved acute appendicitis strangulated in a femoral hernia sac. Multidetector computed tomography with multiplanar reformations was thought to be helpful in evaluating acute appendicitis in a femoral hernia sac. An awareness of computed tomographic findings may avoid a delay in recognition and management of a patient with this unusual condition.
We report a case of spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage caused by rupture of an aneurysm of the right ovarian artery in a 55-year-old woman. Diagnosis was achieved by computed tomography and arteriography. The ruptured aneurysm was treated by transcatheter arterial embolization using microcoils and gelatin sponge particles. This is the first case of rupture of an aneurysm of the ovarian artery not related to pregnancy, and the third case of embolization of a ruptured ovarian artery aneurysm in the literature. We illustrate the usefulness of embolization in treatment of an ovarian artery aneurysm without surgery.
PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of thin-section helical CT and MR imaging with gadolinium-enhanced dynamic technique and MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in the examination of patients with intraductal papillary mucinous tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Helical CT, dynamic MR imaging, and MRCP of 25 intraductal papillary mucinous tumors were compared with ERCP and surgical findings. RESULTS: The duodenal papilla was identified by helical CT and dynamic MR imaging in 11 (44%) and 20 (80%) of the 25 patients, respectively (p<0.05). The main pancreatic duct was visualized on helical CT, dynamic MR imaging, and MRCP in all patients (100%): 25 (96.2%), 24 (92.3%), and 26 (100%) cystic lesions were depicted, respectively. A communicating duct between the main pancreatic duct and the cystic lesion was visualized on helical CT, dynamic MR imaging, and MRCP in 14 (53.8%), 11 (42.3%), and 15 (55.7%) lesions, respectively. The papillary projections corresponding to 3 mm or larger papillary neoplasms were depicted on helical CT and MR imaging in 7 patients (25%). CONCLUSION: MR imaging was equal or slightly superior to thin-section helical CT in the evaluation of intraductal papillary mucinous tumors.
To reliably estimate the prognoses of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), both liver function and tumor-related factors should be accounted for. However, there are few worldwide staging systems that assess prognostic value in the context of selecting individual patients for randomized stratification in therapeutic and clinical trials. We investigated the value of known prognostic systems and verified the usefulness of the new scoring system proposed by the Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP), as determined from 662 Japanese patients. A retrospective analysis of the HCC diagnoses at 4 Japanese institutions from 1990 and 1998 was performed. Overall survival was the only end point used in the analysis. Discriminatory ability and predictive power of the CLIP score were compared with those of Okuda stage and AJCC TNM stage. Compared with the Okuda and AJCC staging systems, the CLIP score's enhanced discriminatory capacity, which was tested by the linear trend test and Harrels' c-index, revealed a class of patients with an impressively more favorable prognosis and another class with a relatively shorter life expectancy. Moreover, the likelihood ratio test showed that the CLIP score had additional homogeneity of survival within each score above that of the Okuda stage or the AJCC stage. This was true for 3 subgroups of patients who received surgery, transcatheter arterial chemoembolizations, and percutaneous ethanol injections. Collectively, these findings indicate that the CLIP score has the highest stratification ability with regard to prognosis in patients with HCC. The CLIP score could be used internationally to stratify randomization groups in therapeutic and clinical trials.
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the relationship between fatty infiltration in the posterior aspect of hepatic segment IV and pancreaticoduodenal venous drainage. METHODS: Pancreaticoduodenal arteriography was performed in 21 patients who had nontumorous portal perfusion defects in the posterior aspect of hepatic segment IV, as demonstrated on CT during arterial portography (CTAP). RESULTS: In 10 patients, pancreaticoduodenal arteriography showed an aberrant nonportal vessel with flow toward the hepatic hilum in the venous phase. Four of the 10 patients with nonportal vessels from the pancreaticoduodenal arterial system had fatty infiltration in segment IV. In three of these four patients, the fatty infiltration was focal and localized to that area. On the other hand, none of the 11 patients without nonportal vessels from the pancreaticoduodenal arterial system had fatty infiltration in the regions corresponding to the nontumorous portal perfusion defects on CTAP. Moreover, three patients with diffuse fatty liver had a focal nonfatty area in segment IV. CONCLUSIONS: Focal fatty infiltration in the posterior aspect of hepatic segment IV seems to be related to pancreaticoduodenal venous drainage.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the thin-section helical CT findings of intraductal papillary mucinous tumors and to investigate whether helical CT could distinguish between malignant and benign intraductal papillary mucinous tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients (nine with malignant and 18 with benign intraductal papillary-mucinous tumors) underwent thin-section (3- or 5-mm) helical CT. Two-phase enhanced CT was started 30 and 60-70 sec after injection of contrast material at 3 ml/sec. RESULTS: In six patients (22.2%), a bulging papilla was depicted on CT. Twenty-five patients (92.6%) had a dilated main pancreatic duct. Cystic lesions were seen in 25 patients (92.6%). Thirteen lesions (48%) were located in the uncinate process, seven (25.9%) were in the head, two (7.4%) were in the body, and three (11%) were in the tail. The cystic lesion was unilocular in five patients (18.5%) and multilocular with a lobulated margin in 20 patients (74%). Communication between the main pancreatic duct and the cystic lesion was depicted in 19 patients (70.4%). The papillary projections corresponding to 3-mm or larger papillary neoplasms were depicted in five patients (18.5%). The bulging papilla was more often observed in malignant than in benign intraductal papillary mucinous tumors (p < 0.05). The caliber of the main pancreatic duct was significantly larger in patients with malignant intraductal papillary mucinous tumors (p > 0.001). CONCLUSION: The most frequently found feature of intraductal papillary mucinous tumors was a lobulated multilocular cystic lesion located in the uncinate process and in contiguity with the dilated main pancreatic duct. In some patients, a bulging papilla and papillary projections in the ducts, which were specific findings, were visualized on CT. The bulging papilla and the caliber of the main pancreatic duct helped differentiate malignant from benign intraductal papillary mucinous tumors.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: We sought to clarify important unresolved points regarding angioarchitecture and blood circulation in focal nodular hyperplasia. METHODS: Twenty-nine surgically resected focal nodular hyperplasia lesions were examined histologically, immunohistochemically, and radiologically. In three autopsy cases, red- and blue-colored gelatin was injected into the hepatic artery and the portal vein, respectively, to demonstrate the vasculature in focal nodular hyperplasia. RESULTS: Histologically, no orientation with respect to portal tracts and central veins was evident in any lesion. Within lesions, vessels were classified as: (i) anomalous arteries in the fibrous septa, (ii) capillaries in the fibrous septa, or (iii) venous vessels located mainly in the parenchyma. Vessels and sinusoids adjacent to fibrous septa were stained for CD 34 and von Willebrand factor. The anomalous arteries were connected to the capillaries. Capillaries in the fibrous septa were connected to sinusoids adjacent to fibrous septa. Venous vessels were connected to central or hepatic veins surrounding the lesions. Intranodular sinusoids were connected to the sinusoids in the surrounding normal liver. Red-colored gelatin, injected at autopsy into the hepatic artery, appeared not only in the anomalous arteries but also in capillaries and in sinusoids adjacent to the fibrous septa of the lesion. Angiography clearly depicted hepatic veins located near the lesions in nine cases. Computed tomography during arterial portography disclosed no portal blood flow in the lesions. CONCLUSIONS: In focal nodular hyperplasia, arterial blood flows from the anomalous arteries via the capillaries into sinusoids adjacent to fibrous septa. The blood in the sinusoids drained to the hepatic vein either directly or via perinodular sinusoids.
We encountered a 62-year-old female with advanced gastric cancer, in whom multiple nodular lesions in the liver, which were depicted as small low density areas, less than 5 mm in diameter, on computed tomography and demonstrated as a heterogenic pattern on ultrasonograms. This patient was suspected to have multiple liver metastases of gastric cancer. She deteriorated gradually and died of respiratory failure due to lung metastasis. At autopsy these hepatic nodular lesions were biliary hamartomas. Biliary hamartoma is a lesion usually identified microscopically, and there have been only 8 cases including ours, which were depicted on images. Along with a remarkable advance in imagings, it should become more important to differentiate biliary hamartoma from malignant hepatic neoplasms on images.
Experimental renal arterial embolization was undertaken with ethanol-iohexol solution in 17 mongrel dogs. Post embolization arteriography revealed that ethanol-iohexol solution and absolute ethanol were almost equal in embolic effect. With this solution, the interventional approach can be made much more easily and safely.
Twenty patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma were treated by intra-arterial subsegmental injection of Cisplatin/4-0-Tetrahydro-Pyranyl-adriamycin Lipiodol suspension (CTLS). The mean single doses of Lipiodol, cisplatin and THP were 2.3 ml, 85 mg and 8.9 mg, respectively. The therapy was given once in 10 patients, twice in 8 and 3 times in two. Over 25% reduction in tumor size was recognized in 12 patients (60%). Fifty or more % decrease of alfa-feto-protein (AFP) was observed in all of 7 patients (100%) with the initial serum AFP level of more than 200 ng/ml. Although transitional and mild symptoms, such as fever, abdominal pain and vomiting were recognized in some cases, no severe complications were encountered. This method is promising as an excellent procedure for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.
One hundred thirty-five patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were treated by intraarterial injection of adriamycin/mitomycin C oil suspension (ADMOS) alone (59 cases) and ADMOS plus cis-diaminodichloroplatinum (CDDP) (76 cases). Tumor size was reduced by over 25% in 13 of 38 patients (35%) in the ADMOS alone group and in 39 of 76 patients (50%) in the ADMOS plus CDDP group. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels decreased by more than 50% in 7/17 (59%) in the ADMOS alone group and in 23/32 (70%) in the ADMOS plus CDDP group. The overall 1- and 2-year survival rates were 68% and 41% by the Kaplan-Meier method. However, no significant difference in the survival rates was observed between the two groups.
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PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to clarify characteristics of combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma (HCC-CC) on CT and clinicopathological examinations. METHODS: Dynamic incremental CT was performed on 15 combined HCC-CC patients. CT of the early phase was started at 30 s and of the late phase at 120-140 s, after the start of contrast medium injection at a rate of 3 ml/s. The images and clinicopathological findings were retrospectively compared. RESULTS: Lesions grossly resembling HCC (HCC type, n = 6) were well enhanced in the early phase and changed to low attenuation areas in the late phase. In lesions grossly resembling CC (CC type, n = 9), 8 of 9 lesions were enhanced only at the peripheral portions in the early phase and changed to low attenuation areas or had only central portions enhanced in the late phase. The other CC-type lesion was not enhanced in either the early or the late phase. In all 15 cases, there was no dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts. Hepatitis B virus surface antigen was positive in five cases. Hepatitis C virus antibody was positive in 10 cases. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels were > or = 200 ng/ml in seven cases. CONCLUSION: In the CC type, enhanced CT images were compatible with CC, but positivities for virus markers and serum AFP levels were almost equivalent to those in HCC. Therefore, the CC type can be diagnosed as combined HCC-CC by evaluating virus markers and serum AFP levels with CT. In addition, no association of intrahepatic bile duct dilatation was considered to be a characteristic feature of combined HCC-CC.
We present two cases of surgically proven lymphoepithelial cyst (LEC) of the pancreas that had a lipid component visualized by CT and MRI. Identification of this component in a pancreatic cystic lesion is a key to favor the diagnosis of LEC or splenic epidermoid cyst over other cystic lesions when the lesion is noted in an elderly patient.
Two sclerosing hemangiomas of the lung had mixed areas of high and low signal intensity on both T1- and T2-weighted images and were totally enhanced on postcontrast T1-weighted images. The T1 high signal intensity areas corresponded to those including abundant clear cells, and the T2-weighted low signal intensity areas corresponded to the fibrotic or hemorrhagic areas in the tumors. The T2 high signal intensity areas with remarkable contrast enhancement corresponded to the hemangiomatous parts of the tumors.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) of intraductal papillary-mucinous tumors. METHOD: Thirteen patients with intraductal papillary-mucinous tumors were examined by breath-hold MRCP using a half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin echo (HASTE) sequence with a body phased-array coil. RESULTS: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and MRCP completely imaged the entire main pancreatic duct in 12 and in all 13 patients, respectively. ERCP demonstrated the whole opacification of the cystic lesion in only one patient. MRCP depicted the whole of the cystic lesion in all 11 patients who had cystic lesions. ERCP and MRCP source images depicted a communicating duct between the main pancreatic duct and the cystic lesion in 8 and in all 11 patients, respectively. ERCP depicted papillary projections in the main pancreatic ducts in two patients. MRCP source images depicted papillary projections in the main pancreatic ducts or cystic lesions in five patients. CONCLUSION: MRCP may be more useful to reveal the main pancreatic duct, cystic lesion, communicating duct between the main pancreatic duct and cystic lesion, and papillary projections than ERCP in patients with intraductal papillary-mucinous tumors of the pancreas.
The authors report two cases of surgically proved cholangiolocellular carcinoma of the liver. Marked contrast enhancement was observed at the periphery of the tumor on CTs and MRIs obtained during the hepatic arterial and portal venous phases, with concentric filling on the delayed images. On T1-weighted and T2-weighted MRIs, the tumor was, respectively, hypointense and hyperintense, with a central hypointense area. Therefore, helical CT and MRI features of these cholangiolocellular carcinomas were thought to be similar to those of cholangiocarcinoma.