Gastrointestinal and extragastrointestinal stromal tumors: report of two cases and review of the literature.

We present two cases, one of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in the stomach and one of an extragastrointestinal stromal tumor (EGIST) in the hepatogastric ligament, which were discovered as incidental findings during computed tomography (CT) scans performed for other reasons. In both cases the diagnosis of the tumor was confirmed histologically and immunohistochemically. During the follow-up CT examinations these tumors proved to have a completely different natural course.

Urgent endovascular treatment of iatrogenic subclavian artery rupture: report of three cases.

The increased use of central venous catheters in modern medical practice has brought a proportional increase in the number of cases of iatrogenic vascular injuries. Concerning the subclavian artery, the site of the lesion and the vessel size demand urgent and effective treatment in order to obtain a favorable prognosis. It has been common practice for a long time to consider this type of lesion as a surgical emergency.

Mycotic pseudoaneurysms complicating renal transplantation: a case series and review of literature.

Introduction: Kidney transplantation can be complicated by infection and subsequent development of mycotic aneurysm, endangering the survival of the graft and the patient. Management of this condition in five cases is discussed, accompanied by a review of the relevant literature.

Case Presentations: Five patients, three men 42-, 67- and 57-years-old and two women 55- and 21-years-old (mean age of 48 years), all Caucasians, developed a mycotic aneurysm in the region of the anastomosis between renal graft artery and iliac axes.

Percutaneous management of ureteral stenosis of transplanted kidney: technical and clinical aspects.

In the field of renal transplantation, advances in the management of graft rejection have led to improved graft and patient survival rates, however other types of complications have now become more apparent, e.g. vascular or urological.

Stents in renal artery bifurcation stenosis: a case report.

A 39-year-old patient presented with poorly controlled hypertension, and she was referred to renal angiogram and potential renal angioplasty. Renal angiogram showed a bifurcation lesion of the right renal artery. A guide wire was used to cross the upper branch, while the lower branch was protected by another same-type guide wire through the same introducer.

Close to transplant renal artery stenosis and percutaneous transluminal treatment.

Purpose. To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in the management of arterial stenosis located close to the allograft anastomosis (close-TRAS). Materials and Methods.

Transluminal angioplasty of transplanted renal artery stenosis: a review of the literature for its safety and efficacy.

Transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) is a well-known cause of posttransplant hypertension accompanied by possible graft dysfunction and is potentially curable when is diagnosed early. Colour Doppler Ultrasonography (CDU) is the screening procedure of choice in most studies whereas some centers employ Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA), if available. Although both CDU and MRA can arouse suspicion of disease in less symptomatic cases, angiographic techniques are essential for confirmation of TRAS.

MRI findings of rapidly progressive hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and patient characteristics in subjects with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that exhibit rapid progression.

Materials And Methods: In this unblinded retrospective study, initial and follow up MR images were reviewed, before and after rapid progression of HCC, respectively. Rapid progression was defined as a lesion <3 cm which exhibited >3 cm increase in one year or 2 cm increase in 6 months.

Overlap syndrome of autoimmune chronic liver diseases: MRI findings.

Purpose: To describe the MR findings of overlap syndromes of autoimmune chronic liver diseases.

Methods: Review of clinical and radiological databases between March 2001 and July 2008 for patients with a clinical diagnosis and liver biopsy features compatible with overlap syndrome who had also undergone an abdominal MRI yielded 15 adult patients. MR features of overlap syndrome were reviewed by two radiologists by consensus.

Thermoablative treatments for malignant liver lesions: 10-year experience of MRI appearances of treatment response.

Objective: The objective of our study was to describe our 10-year experience using MRI to evaluate response to local thermoablative interventions in the treatment of malignant liver lesions.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study was conducted from 1998 to 2008. MRI studies were performed at 1.

MR imaging findings of small bowel hemorrhage: two cases of mural involvement and one of perimural.

Purpose: To demonstrate the MR appearance of small bowel wall hemorrhage.

Materials And Methods: A search was performed of the clinical information system (CIS) and the abdominal MRI databases of our institution for patients diagnosed with bowel hemorrhage on MRI between January 1, 2000, and July 31, 2008. All patients were imaged using a protocol that included noncontrast T1- and T2-weighted images and postgadolinium gradient echo images.

Urgent superselective segmental renal artery embolization in the treatment of life-threatening renal hemorrhage.

Introduction: Renal hemorrhage is a major life-threatening condition that can be caused by trauma, operation, biopsy, as well as sudden spontaneous rupture of renal tumors or aneurysms. We report our experience with superselective segmental renal artery catheterization and embolization as therapeutic options for such cases.

Patients And Methods: Over the last 8 years, 28 patients with severe renal hemorrhage were admitted for evaluation and possible further treatment.

Emergency helical CT scan in acute abdomen: a case of intestinal intussusception.

Surgeons are familiar to the nosological entity "partial intestinal obstruction". Intussusception constitutes a rare etiologic factor for this entity but usually remains undiagnosed preoperatively. Several imaging techniques have been proposed as useful in the diagnosis of intussusception but none of these has a remarkable sensitivity and specificity.

Hepatic nodules in liver transplantation candidates: MR imaging and underlying hepatic disease.

Objective: To assess by MR imaging the frequency of hepatic nodules in patients waiting on the liver transplant list and to determine whether certain underlying hepatic diseases were more often associated with the development of such hepatic nodules.

Material And Methods: We reviewed the MR and clinical records in all patients seen by the liver transplant service at our center since its inception in January 1998 until September 2002. A total of 371 patients (207 men and 164 women, age range 18-68 years, mean 45 years) were included in the study.

Angiogenesis in hepatocellular nodules: correlation of MR imaging and vascular endothelial growth factor.

Purpose: To assess the correlation between magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings and angiogenetic activity in hepatocellular nodules evaluated by immunohistochemical staining with antibody of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Materials And Methods: We searched the pathologic records of our institution from December 1999 to April 2002, and included 16 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (N = 14), large regenerative nodule (N = 1), and dysplastic nodule (N = 1) who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (10 patients) or partial hepatectomy (six patients) and MR imaging within an interval of two weeks. The MR images were retrospectively assessed qualitatively and quantitatively.

Early heterogeneous enhancement of the liver: magnetic resonance imaging findings and clinical significance.

Purpose: To investigate and assess the radiologic, serological, and histopathologic findings in patients who presented with early heterogeneous enhancement (EHE) on gadolinium-enhanced early-phase magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the liver.

Materials And Methods: We searched our radiologic records of MRI of the liver from July 1999 to April 2002 to identify patients with EHE. Three investigators retrospectively evaluated in consensus the MR images in each patient for intensity and characteristic of EHE blinded to clinical information.

Cavernous hemangiomas in patients with chronic liver disease: MR imaging findings.

The purpose of our study was to assess the difference in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of cavernous hemangiomas in patients with chronic liver disease compared them with hemangiomas in normal livers. We retrospectively searched our records of MRI of the liver between October 1998 and June 2002, and identified 76 hemangiomas in 49 patients (18 men and 31 women; age range 29-81 years [mean, 57 years]). Hemangiomas were classified into 3 groups: patients with cirrhosis [group 1, 8 lesions in 8 patients], patients with chronic hepatitis [group 2, 6 lesions in 5 patients], and patients without underlying liver disease [group 3, 62 lesions in 36 patients].

Primary malignant mesothelioma of the liver: MR imaging findings.

We report the MR imaging findings of a primary malignant mesothelioma of the liver arising from Glisson's capsule. A 54-year-old woman, presenting with acute abdominal pain and a large liver mass previously shown on CT, underwent MR imaging to characterize the lesion. The tumor was a greater than 12 cm tumor located in the right lobe of the liver, which was sharply marginated, with heterogeneous internal signal, septations and central necrosis.

Spectrum of MRI appearances of untreated metastases of the liver.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to identify the spectrum of MRI appearances of untreated liver metastases from different primary origins.

Materials And Methods: Over a period of 52 months, we used our clinical information system to retrospectively identify the first MRIs obtained in 165 consecutive patients who had untreated liver metastases. All patients had histologic confirmation of the primary tumor.

Renal cell carcinoma in a transplanted kidney: MR imaging findings.

We report the MR findings of a 42-year-old man who developed renal cell carcinoma in an allograft kidney, 10 years after transplantation. The lower pole of the transplant kidney showed a solid lesion which was well shown on the post gadolinium fat suppressed images as a heterogeneously enhancing 2 cm mass lesion.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: MR imaging evaluation using current techniques.

Purpose: To determine the MR imaging findings of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease using current imaging techniques.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed our five-year experience with MR imaging of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) to determine the spectrum of appearance of kidney disease, the occurrence of cysts in other abdominal organs, the size and number of cysts in the kidneys and other organs, and the association with other benign or malignant disease. Thirty patients (17 men and 13 women, age range 30 to 88 years old) with ADPKD were included in this study.

Hepatocellular carcinoma of diffuse type: MR imaging findings and clinical manifestations.

Purpose: To assess MR imaging findings and clinical manifestations of diffuse-type hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our experience with diffuse HCC from November 1994 to October 2001. MR imaging findings and clinical features were assessed.

Liver metastases from pancreatic adenocarcinoma: MR imaging characteristics.

Purpose: To describe the magnetic resonance imaging spectrum of appearances of liver metastases from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the MRI exams performed between July 1996 and August 2001 in all patients who had liver metastases from pancreatic adenocarcinoma and histopathologic diagnosis from either the primary pancreatic tumor, liver metastases, or both. Sixteen patients were included in the study.

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver. MR imaging findings.

We report the MR appearance of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) in a 51 year old man, who presented with a 14-month history of fatigue and anemia to his physician. The tumor showed massive replacement of the liver and had an unusual appearance of multiple high fluid content focal lesions with diminished vascularity.