Long-term follow-up of neoadjuvant intraarterial chemotherapy using an original four-lumen double-balloon (4L-DB) catheter for locally advanced uterine cervical cancer.

Background: We report the therapeutic potential, longterm survival, and toxicity of neoadjuvant intraarterial chemotherapy (NAIC) using an original four-lumen double-balloon (4L-DB) catheter followed by radical hysterectomy and/or radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer.

Methods: Sixty patients with stage IIB-IVA cervical squamous cell cancer were treated with NAIC which included cisplatin (60-70 mg/m(2), day 1), mitomycin-C (10-20 mg/m(2), day 1), and pirarubicin hydrochloride (THP; 10-20 mg/m(2), day 1) for two courses every 21 days.

Results: The median follow up among surviving patients was 93.

Evaluation of lymph node metastases in gastric cancer using magnetic resonance imaging with ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO): diagnostic performance in post-contrast images using new diagnostic criteria.

Background: We assessed the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), using ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) with new diagnostic criteria, in the evaluation of regional lymph node metastases in gastric cancer.

Methods: Thirty-one patients with gastric cancer were enrolled. 1000 lymph nodes were dissected during surgery, and of these, 519 nodes (51.

Detection and evaluation of pelvic lymph nodes in patients with gynecologic malignancies using body diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: In this study, the potential in detecting and evaluating pelvic lymph node metastases on body diffusion-weighted (DW) images was evaluated in patients with gynecologic malignancies.

Methods: This study included 18 patients with gynecologic malignancy who underwent magnetic resonance imaging in the pelvis using a 1.5-T superconductive magnet.

Scheme for creating a subcutaneous tunnel to place an indwelling implantable central venous access system in the forearm.

We report a method that we have devised in which a secure subcutaneous tunnel is prepared during the placement of an indwelling central venous reservoir in the forearm. Subjects included 69 cases in which a procedure for implanting an indwelling reservoir in the forearm was performed between June 2006 and May 2007. For the subcutaneous tunnel, a 22-G Cathelin needle was advanced from the puncture site, turning toward the subcutaneous pocket side to the deep subcutaneous area.

Establishment and characterization of a cell line (OMC-9) originating from a human endometrial stromal sarcoma.

Cell lines are very useful for clinical and basic research. The establishment of uterine malignant tumor cell lines with unusual histology is especially important. We describe the establishment and characterization of a new human endometrial stromal sarcoma cell line of the uterus.

[Evaluation of the product-specific standard input function for the IMP-ARG method].

To confirm the previous reports demonstrating the difference in the octanol extraction fractions between the currently available two N-isopropyl-4-iodoamphetamine (123I) products (IMP(A) and IMP(B)), we newly developed the standard input function for IMP(B) in 19 healthy volunteers and compared it with the established standard input function, which has been originally generated with IMP(A). The octanol extraction fractions of IMP(B) were stable from 5 minutes to 16 minutes post injection and significantly higher than those of IMP(A). The mCBFs calculated with IMP(B) by using the established standard input function for IMP(A) tended to be higher than those with the combination of IMP(A) and the established standard input function though the difference was not significant.

Patients' subjective evaluation of early and late sequelae in patients with breast cancer irradiated with short fractionation for breast conservation therapy: comparison with conventional fractionation.

Background: To compare the frequency of "subjective" complications and their severity between conventional and short fractionation and to analyze the differences between the two groups.

Methods: Data from 350 patients with breast cancer who received breast conservation therapy between 1992 and 2003 were retrospectively analyzed. One hundred and ninety-six patients and 154 patients received 50 Gy in 25 fractions over 35 days (group C) and 44 Gy in 16 fractions over 22 days (group S), respectively.

Body diffusion-weighted MR imaging of uterine endometrial cancer: is it helpful in the detection of cancer in nonenhanced MR imaging?

Objective: In this study, the authors discussed the feasibility and value of diffusion-weighted (DW) MR imaging in the detection of uterine endometrial cancer in addition to conventional nonenhanced MR images.

Methods And Materials: DW images of endometrial cancer in 23 patients were examined by using a 1.5-T MR scanner.

Preoperative evaluation of local invasion and metastatic lymph nodes of colorectal cancer and mesenteric vascular variations using multidetector-row computed tomography before laparoscopic surgery.

Objective: To evaluate local invasion and lymph nodes metastasis of colorectal cancer and mesenteric vascular variations using multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) before laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Methods: Fifty-one patients with colorectal cancer underwent MDCT. The evaluation items were as follows: (1) local invasion; (2) detected lymph nodes evaluated by short-axis diameter, long-axis diameter, short/long axis diameter ratio, and computed tomography (CT) attenuation; and (3) visualization of mesenteric artery and vein by 3-dimensional-CT angiography.

Effects of sivelestat sodium hydrate on the reduction of radiation pneumonitis.

In this study, we irradiated the murine lung and analyzed the inhibitory effects of sivelestat sodium hydrate, a neutrophil elastase (NE) inhibitor, on lung injury in mice. Sivelestat sodium hydrate (3 mg/kg) was administered by intraperitoneal injection immediately, 3, 6, and 12 h after irradiation in groups RE-0, RE-3, RE-6, and RE-12, respectively. A control group and a group receiving radiation without sivelestat (group R) were also used.

Hepatic computed tomography for simultaneous depiction of hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic portal veins, and hepatic veins in real-time virtual sonography: initial experience.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine a double-step injection of contrast material in hepatic computed tomography (CT) for the simultaneous depiction of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intrahepatic portal veins, and hepatic veins in real-time virtual sonography.

Methods: This study consisted of 6 patients with solitary HCC nodules with early enhancement on dynamic contrast-enhanced CT. Computed tomographic scanning was performed in a combined late arterial/hepatic phase after 2 sequential contrast material injections.

2-[Fluorine-18]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography versus whole-body diffusion-weighted MRI for detection of malignant lesions: initial experience.

Objectives: The new magnetic resonance whole body diffusion-weighted imaging with background body signal suppression (DWIBS) uses short tau inversion recovery-echo planar imaging sequence under normal respiration. DWIBS is different from 2-[fluorine-18]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D: -glucose positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG PET) imaging in technology, but their images are similar. We compared the two modalities regarding the detection and characterization of malignant tumors.

Evaluation of lymph node metastases of breast cancer using ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: We assessed the utility of enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) in the evaluation of axillary lymph node metastases in patients with breast cancer.

Study Design: MR examination of the axilla was performed before and 24-36 h after USPIO administration for patients with stage II or III breast cancer. Diagnostic performance was compared using size criteria (metastasis was defined when short axis diameter >5 or >10mm) or morphologic criteria on conventional MRI, the combined study of USPIO precontrast and postcontrast images, and USPIO postcontrast study alone.

CT and MR features of sclerosing mesenteritis mimicking a mesenteric metastasis from the carcinoid tumor.

Sclerosing mesenteritis is a rare and benign inflammatory entity characterized by fibrofatty thickening of the mesentery. To our knowledge, there are only a few reports on the features of sclerosing mesenteritis on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and computed tomography (CT). In this present case, MR imaging demonstrated tissue characterization of fibrosis, and partial maximum intensity projection (MIP) and three-dimensional angiography images obtained using multislice CT clearly revealed the extent of the tumor and the vascular appearance affected by the mass.

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging for urinary bladder carcinoma: initial results.

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of using diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging under free breathing for the detection of a urinary bladder carcinoma. In 15 patients with 17 urinary bladder carcinomas, DW images were obtained in the axial plane under free breathing scanning with a multisection spin-echo type single-shot echo planar sequence with a body coil. DW images were evaluated based on cystoscopic findings.

Preoperative diagnosis of lymph node metastases in gastric cancer by magnetic resonance imaging with ferumoxtran-10.

Background: Knowledge regarding the presence and location of lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer is essential in deciding on the operative approach. Lymph node metastases have been diagnosed with imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography (US); however, the accuracy of such diagnoses, based on size and shape criteria, has not been adequate. Ferumoxtran-10 (Combidex; Advanced Magnetics) is a lymphotropic contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) whose efficacy for the detection of metastatic lymph nodes in various cancers has been reported by several investigators; however, its efficacy for this purpose has not been reported for gastric cancer.

Preoperative esophageal cancer staging: magnetic resonance imaging of lymph node with ferumoxtran-10, an ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide.

Background: Accurate detection of metastasis to lymph nodes is an essential component of the approach to treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of magnetic resonance imaging with ferumoxtran-10 in diagnosing lymph node metastasis in esophageal cancer.

Study Design: Sixteen patients with esophageal cancer who were scheduled for surgical lymph node dissection were enrolled.

Dual-phase 3D CT angiography during a single breath-hold using 16-MDCT: assessment of vascular anatomy before laparoscopic gastrectomy.

Objective: In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of dual-phase 3D CT angiography (CTA) during a single breath-hold using 16-MDCT in the assessment of vascular anatomy before laparoscopic gastrectomy.

Materials And Methods: The study involved 20 consecutive patients (10 men, 10 women; mean age, 59 years) scheduled for laparoscopic gastrectomy for the treatment of early gastric cancer. A dual-phase contrast-enhanced CT scan using 16-MDCT was obtained before laparoscopic gastrectomy.

Differences in heart rate variability in non-hypertensive diabetic patients correlate with the presence of underlying cerebrovascular disease.

We previously showed that diabetes contributes to the development of sclerotic lesions in cerebral arteries. In this study, we attempted to clarify whether differences in heart rate variability in non-hypertensive diabetic patients were dependent on the presence or absence of underlying cerebrovascular disease. Thirty diabetic subjects between 40 and 59 years of age and who had no prior history of hypertension were used in this study.

Comparative study of cerebral blood flow in patients with normal-tension glaucoma and control subjects.

Purpose: To evaluate regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in normal-tension glaucoma patients (NTGs) compared with normal volunteers (controls) in a pilot study.

Design: Observational cohort study.

Methods: The Iodine-123-IMP single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans were acquired in 31 NTGs and 18 age-matched controls.

Comparison of methods of attenuation and scatter correction in brain perfusion SPECT.

Objective: The radioactivity count distribution in the brain must be determined accurately to accurately measure cerebral blood flow (CBF). Scatter and attenuation are factors that compromise the accuracy of determining radioactivity counts in the brain.

Methods: We compared regional CBF in patients by an autoradiographic method using N-isopropyl-p-[123I] iodoamphetamine when, first, attenuation correction alone was performed uniformly on SPECT images by using empiric mu-values (Chang method); second, scatter correction was performed and the mu-values of a homogeneous-attenuation body of water were used for attenuation correction (triple-energy window [TEW]+Chang method); and third, scatter correction was performed and the mu-values calculated by CT were used for attenuation correction (TEW+CT method).

[A case of giant fibrovascular polyp of the esophagus: MR findings].

We report a case of giant fibrovascular polyp of the esophagus. The patient was a 69-year-old man who complained of hematemesis. Barium swallowing revealed a long, expansile lesion within the esophagus.

[A case of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm of the pulmonary artery induced by a Swan-Ganz catheter].

We report a case of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm of the right pulmonary artery induced by a Swan-Ganz (SG) catheter. An SG catheter was inserted to the pulmonary artery before the esophageal surgery. Chest radiograph after the surgery showed a nodule in the right lower lung field.

Evaluation of breath-hold 201Tl SPECT in the differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of deep inspiration breath-hold SPECT (BrST, a method for 201Tl SPECT) in the diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN).

Methods: Ten patients with malignant lesions and five with benign lesions were enrolled in this study. Early SPECT acquisition was performed 15 min after injection of 201Tl, while delayed SPECT images were acquired 3 h after injection.