Comparative quality of life study between endoscopic sphincterotomy and surgical choledochotomy.

Aim: To determine quality of life improvement in choledocholithiasis patients who underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) versus open choledochotomy (OCT).

Methods: Eligible choledocholithiasis patients (n = 216) hospitalized in the Changhai Hospital between May 2010 and January 2011 were enrolled into a prospective study using cluster sampling. Patients underwent EST (n = 135) or OCT (n = 81) depending on the patient's wishes.

Microwave ablation: results in ex vivo and in vivo porcine livers with 2450-MHz cooled-shaft antenna.

Background: Imaging-guided thermal ablation using different energy sources continues to gain favor as a minimally invasive technique for the treatment of primary and metastatic hepatic malignant tumors. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of microwave ablation with 2450-MHz internally cooled-shaft antenna in ex vivo and in vivo porcine livers.

Methods: All studies were animal care and ethics committee approved.

[Short- to mid-term evaluation of CT-guided 125I brachytherapy on recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancers].

Objective: to evaluate the short- and medium-term clinical effects of 125I seed implantation on recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancers.

Methods: Thirty patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancers after operation, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy, totaling 421 lesions 4.2 (2-9) cm in diameter, 23 males and 12 females, aged 56 (39-71), underwent implantation of 12-70 125I seeds (on average 33 per person) under the guidance of CT, ultrasonography, or endoscopy with an interval of 1 cm between any 2 seeds with the radioactive activity per seed of 29.

Short- to mid-term evaluation of CT-guided 125I brachytherapy on intra-hepatic recurrent tumors and/or extra-hepatic metastases after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and short- to mid-term efficacy of CT-guided (125)I brachytherapy on intra-hepatic recurrent tumors and/or extra-hepatic metastases after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Results: Among the ten patients, one died of liver failure 15 months and one of renal failure 29 months after brachytherapy. All other eight patients survived till the end of the follow-up.

CT guided 125iodine seed implantation for portal vein tumor thrombus in primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: This study evaluated the clinical application of CT guided 125iodine implantation in patients with portal vein tumor thrombus in primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: The ten patients (9 males and 1 female, aged from 36 to 72 years) with portal vein tumor thrombus accompanying hepatocellular carcinoma had been treated with comprehensive therapy including surgery, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, radiotherapy ablation, microwave ablation or percutaneous ethanol injection. The average diameter of each tumor thrombus was 21.