[Nocardiosis as a Differential Diagnosis of Pulmonary Epitheloid Cell Granulomas].

A 47-year-old man presented with fever, weight loss and pulmonary consolidations and cavitation in the x-ray of the thorax. The comprehensive diagnostics resulted pulmonary epitholoid cell granulomas, therefore an immunosuppressive therapy was applied on suspicion of sarcoidosis. Progressivly the pulmonary infiltration increased and cerebral and abdominal abscesses were determined with microbiological detection of Nocardia farcinica.

The Randomized Freeway Stent Study: Drug-Eluting Balloons Outperform Standard Balloon Angioplasty for Postdilatation of Nitinol Stents in the SFA and PI Segment.

Purpose: The prospective randomized multicenter Freeway study evaluated the possible hemodynamic and clinical benefits of primary stent insertion followed by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with drug-eluting balloons (DEB) over post-stent insertion PTA with standard balloons in the treatment of symptomatic femoropopliteal arteriosclerotic lesions.

Methods: In total, 204 patients in 13 centers in Germany and Austria were enrolled and randomized to primary stenting followed by either FREEWAY™ drug-eluting balloon or standard PTA balloon angioplasty. The primary endpoint was the rate of clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 6 months; the secondary endpoints include TLR rate at 12 months and primary patency, shift in Rutherford classification, ankle-brachial index (ABI) and major adverse events (MAE) at 6 and 12 months.

Large left innominate vein aneurysm presenting as an anterior mediastinal tumour in a young female.

We report a rare case of large innominate vein aneurysm in a young women clinically presenting with persistent dry cough and retrosternal pressure. Chest X-ray showed a mediastinal widening leading to thoracic computed tomography, MRI, and phlebography. Initial conservative treatment with regular follow-up was performed.

[Quality report 2011 of the German Society of Interventional Radiology (DeGIR)--part 2. Endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysms (EVAR)].

Purpose: To analyze the quality of treatment for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair using the data of the DeGIR quality management system.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of all data registered in the DeGIR quality management system of the year 2011 was performed regarding the treatment quality for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair. Registry of data within this system was voluntary.

[Interventional endovascular therapy of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm].

The catheter-based interventional therapy (endovascular aortic repair EVAR) of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) has gained an established place in the spectrum of therapeutic options. The procedure is characterized by low peri-interventional morbidity and mortality. Multislice computed tomography (CT) has a dominant role in defining the correct indications and in selecting an appropriate stent graft prior to the intervention.

[Quality report 2011 of the Germyn Society of Interventional Radiology (DeGIR) - report about treatment quality of minimal invasive procedures].

In 1994 the German Society of Interventional Radiology (DeGIR) introduced a voluntary quality mangement program. Out of a total of 82 881 of the year 2011, 36 467 patients, who received interventional recanalisation of pelvic or lower extremity arteries were chosen for an in depth analysis. In 33 104 (90.

[Certification of vascular centers. Influence on quality and healthcare structures].

Diagnosis and therapy of vascular diseases are increasingly being performed following a multimodal, interdisciplinary and less invasive approach. The introduction of specialized, organ-related centers is a logical consequence in view of a better treatment quality and a more effective use of resources. The German societies of radiology, vascular surgery and angiology jointly developed a process of certification, which has been successfully applied to more than 100 units in Germany.

[CT-guided cutting needle biopsies of thoracic lesions in patients with negative bronchoscopic findings].

Purpose: The usefulness and the complication rate of CT-guided core biopsies for obtaining specimens for histopathological examinations in patients with uncertain thoracic lesions were evaluated.

Materials And Methods: Under local anesthesia CT-guided core biopsies were performed in 121 patients using tru-cut systems (14-18 gauge). Prior to CT all patients underwent bronchoscopy without obtaining sufficient material for a definite histopathological diagnosis.

Comparison of 1.0 M gadobutrol and 0.5 M gadopentate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI in 471 patients with known or suspected renal lesions: results of a multicenter, single-blind, interindividual, randomized clinical phase III trial.

The purpose of this phase III clinical trial was to compare two different extracellular contrast agents, 1.0 M gadobutrol and 0.5 M gadopentate dimeglumine, for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with known or suspected focal renal lesions.

Mycotic aneurysms affecting both lower legs of a patient with Candida endocarditis--endovascular therapy and open vascular surgery.

The purpose of this study was to report the endovascular and open surgery treatment of Candida-associated mycotic aneurysms in both lower limbs. A 53-year-old patient suffering from Candida endocarditis following aortic valve replacement developed mycotic aneurysms in both lower limbs. The angiography revealed a large aneurysm of the tibioperoneal trunk affecting the right leg.

[PACS: from project to reality. Report of experiences on full digitalisation of the radiology department of a major hospital].

Objective: To assess the time needed and the resulting effects of a complete digitalisation of a radiological department of a major hospital (856 beds, 28,000 in-patients, 35,000 out-patients/year) a pilot study was performed. This had to be done without interrupting routine services.

Results: After intensive preparations were performed and the hospital-network was completed, within a two year period all radiological functions (mammography excluded), reporting stations and archives were changed to a complete digital workflow.

[Injury of polyester grafts by vascular clamps].

Unlabelled: Protected vascular clamps are not new. Clamp associated damage of human arteries has already been published over 20 years ago. The necessity of protective clamps seems to have been forgotten.

[Clinical value of native and contrast enhanced MRI in staging prostatic carcinoma before planned radical prostatectomy].

Purpose: To assess the clinical value of MRI with and without contrast agent in the staging of prostatic carcinoma. Relevance for surgical management.

Methods: 60 patients with carcinoma proven by biopsy or suspected prostatic carcinoma were evaluated with MRI.

[Stent wire fractures and mesh loosening in explanted endovascular prosthesis].

Unlabelled: Vascular grafts are available since the middle of the 50's. Explant retrieval studies still reveal not published material degradation today, after over 40 years of product development. Endovascular grafts exist since the beginning of the 90's.

Semiclosed iliac recanalisation by an inguinal approach--modified surgical techniques integrating interventional procedures.

Objectives: Technical success and early outcome of modified surgical techniques integrating interventional procedures for iliac recanalisation performed through an incision in the groin.

Materials: Sixty-one consecutive iliac arteries in 59 patients with long occlusions in 16, occlusions of the common iliac in 11, occlusions of the external iliac in 24 and multiple stenoses of the iliac in 10 cases underwent semiclosed recanalisation through a groin incision.

Methods: Passage of the lesion by guidewire permits retrograde ring-stripper endarterectomy over the wire as a guiding splint or thrombectomy with a double lumen balloon catheter.

[The possibilities and risks of outpatient PTA in patients with peripheral arterial obstructive disease].

Purpose: To evaluate risk and feasibility of outpatient PTA in patients with iliac-femoral artery disease we conducted a prospective study.

Material And Method: Out of a total group of 263 patients we selected 100 p. (38%) according to pre-defined criteria.