Pancreatic head resection for chronic pancreatitis in patients with extrahepatic generalized portal hypertension.

Background: Five percent to 10% of chronic pancreatitis (CP) cases are complicated by portal venous occlusion leading to extrahepatic generalized portal hypertension (GPH). Pancreatic head resections (PHR) are regarded risky or contraindicated in patients with extrahepatic GPH. The aim of our study was to analyze the outcome of patients with extrahepatic GPH undergoing PHR for CP and to propose recommendations for surgical strategy.

Evaluation of Lossy data compression of chest X-rays: a receiver operating characteristic study.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate the quality of chest radiographs after 32:1 compression/decompression with different image compression algorithms.

Methods: Ten digital (Thoravison) radiographs of an anthropomorphic chest phantom with superimposed simulated nodular lesions (NL) and linear reticular lesions (LL) were obtained. Each radiograph was subdivided into 15 fields; they contained the lesions with a probability of 0.

Combined radiofrequency thermal ablation and percutaneous cementoplasty treatment of a pathologic fracture.

Skeletal metastases commonly occur in patients with cancer and treatment is necessary to alleviate pain and prevent complications, such as mobility deficiencies and pathologic fractures. The authors present a patient with a stage IV malignant melanoma and a pathologic fracture of the left tibial plateau treated with radiofrequency heat ablation and percutaneous cementoplasty for defect filling and stabilization. The authors believe that this approach may be an alternative to the standard treatments in palliative-care situations.

Assessment of pulmonary perfusion with ultrafast projection magnetic resonance angiography in comparison with lung perfusion scintigraphy in patients with malignant stenosis.

Rationale And Objective: The aim of this study was to demonstrate and measure perfusion deficits caused by central bronchogenic carcinoma and to compare magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) perfusion data with data of perfusion scintigraphy. The diagnostic value of 2D MRA in detection of malignant pulmonary artery stenosis in comparison with conventional DSA was investigated.

Materials And Methods: Eighteen patients were included in the study.

Pulmonary sequestration: demonstration of blood supply with 2D and 3D MR angiography.

Pulmonary sequestration is a relatively rare but clinically significant congenital anomaly. This disease is a spectrum of disorders involving the pulmonary airways, the arterial supply to the lungs, the lung parenchyma and its venous drainage. Traditionally, the diagnosis of pulmonary sequestration has been made definitively with arterial angiography.

Percutaneous aortic valve replacement: an experimental study. I. Studies on implantation.

Objective: The purpose of this preliminary study was to devise a new surgical procedure for minimally invasive aortic valve implantation with a transluminal technique.

Methods: The new collapsible heart valve was prepared by mounting a porcine aortic valve, taken from a freshly slaughtered pig, into a self-expandable nitinol stent by means of a suture technique. The outer diameter of the valved stent ranged from 15 to 23 mm, and the length ranged from 21 to 28 mm.

Contrast enhanced MR angiography in the assessment of relevant stenoses in occlusive disease of the pelvic and lower limb arteries: diagnostic value of a two-step examination protocol in comparison to conventional DSA.

Introduction/objectives: Contrast-enhanced MRA (ce-MRA) has been claimed by many authors as a replacement of conventional angiography evaluating peripheral arterial occlusive disease. However, reliable detection of relevant stenoses (>70%) has to be provided for planning vascular interventions. Only few data in the literature focuses on this crucial problem.