Arteritis following intra-arterial chemotherapy for liver tumors.

Primary and metastatic tumors of the liver can be treated successfully with transcatheter chemoembolization (TACE) during selective arterial catheterism. Arteritis is a possible referred side effect which can lead to tortuosity of the arteries, stenosis and occlusion of vessels. In our hospitals 117 consecutive patients were treated with TACE from January 1990 to December 1992; 61 patients were affected by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 56 were affected by metastases from colorectal carcinoma.

[Percutaneous angioplasty of arterio-venous fistulae with Zijlstra catheters].

Brescia-Cimino arteriovenous fistulas are the most common vascular accesses in hemodialysis patients. Arterial blood pressure inside the vein and repeated punctures cause progressive sclerosis of the vessel wall and stenosis or occlusion are the final outcome. Percutaneous dilatation is an effective method to preserve arteriovenous fistulas function.

The effect of ciprofloxacin on oral contraceptive steroid treatments.

The effect of ciprofloxacin, a new broad-spectrum quinolone derivative, on concomitant oral contraceptive steroids has been studied in a double-blind cross-over placebo-controlled randomized trial. Ten healthy women using long-term oral contraceptive steroids received either ciprofloxacin 500 mg BID or placebo during two consecutive cycles. Therapy was continued for seven days from the first day of contraceptive treatment.

[Arthrographic semeiotics of traumatic capsular and ligamentous pathology of the tibiotarsal articulation].

One-hundred and fifty-five patients with recent trauma were submitted to arthrography of the ankle joint in order to evaluate the actual diagnostic value of the methodology. Arthrography clearly demonstrated the single ligaments (anterior talo-fibular, calcaneal-fibular, posterior talo-fibular, and deltoid) and the capsular damage or rupture. The technical factors affecting the quality of the examinations are discussed.

[Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of supra-aortic vessels. Presentation of 16 cases].

Sixteen cases are reported of dilatation of supra-aortic vessels; in 14/16 patients the vessel involved was either the subclavian artery or the brachiocephalich trunk. Special attention is paid to the choice of patients--the ideal one presenting with a single uncalcified lesion, with stenosis more than 50% of diameter; the symptoms have recently appeared, with a significant difference (more than 20 mmHg) in the pressure of the two arms. The technical aspects of the angioplastic procedure are discussed, especially in order to preserve the intracranial circulation and to limit possible complications.

Treatment of neuroblastoma with 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine: the experience of an Italian Study Group.

Eight patients affected by neuroblastoma were treated with 18 courses of 131I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG). They all had been judged as "nonresponders" to conventional treatments. Six had stage IV disease: of these, five, with massive marrow involvement, had poor results, mainly because of marrow depression; one, whose marrow had been previously purged by chemotherapy, showed a decrease in blood cell counts but not to critical levels, thus allowing repeated treatments and some improvement.

[Preoperative embolization of intracranial meningiomas].

Embolization of very vascular intracranial meningiomas prior to operation will reduce the loss of blood during the operation. The indications and the technique of preoperative embolization are discussed and 20 cases are presented.

[Arthrography of the ankle joint].

Arthrography of the ankle joint was first carried out by Johnson and Palmer at the Military Hospital in Stockholm in 1940. Arthrography can be used for judging the integrity of the articular cartilage, of osteochondritis dissecans, arthritis or adhesive capsulitis. The literature shows, however, that more than 95% of the patients on whom this examination has been performed had suffered from acute trauma.

[Follicular carcinoma of the thyroid gland. Diagnostic and therapeutic considerations on 139 patients].

Records of 139 patients with pure follicular thyroid carcinoma were reviewed and correlations between survival rate, extent of tumor, surgical and radioiodine therapy were investigated. The survival rate at 10 years was good for younger patients (80% under 40 years of age) and without metastases (90%), but the prognosis was much less favorable for older patients (40% above 40 years of age) and subjects with distant metastases (20%), even if with radioiodine uptake. Diagnostic methods together with surgical and radiometabolic therapy are discussed.

Transcatheter embolization of hypogastric arteries as an aid or alternative to surgery in the management of life-threatening pelvic haemorrhage.

Transcatheter embolization for uncontrollable haemorrhage from pelvic organs was performed in 27 patients (12 women, 15 men) as an aid or alternative to surgery. The advantages and peculiarities of different embolic materials employed, and methods for managing intractable haemorrhage are discussed.

[Lumbar phlebography: methodological choice and reliability in the radiographic study of lumbar disk hernias].

Lumbar epidural venography was used as the examination of choice in the investigation of suspected disc herniation in 270 patients. Compression or occlusion of an epidural and/or radicular vein at the disc level is the most significant venographic abnormality. In 110 patients operated on, the reliability of lumbar epidural venography was equal to 97.

Isotopic cisternography and computerized tomography in chronic alcoholism with neurologic syndromes.

20 cases of chronic alcoholism with neurologic syndromes were studied by means of both isotopic cisternography and brain CT scan. In 11 cases (55%) there was total reversal of CSF circulation and in a further 4 cases there was a mixed cisternographic pattern. Brain CT scan showed either cortical or subcortical atrophy or both.

[The utility of angiography in the diagnosis and localisation of hepatic angiomas (author's transl)].

In the study of benign hepatic tumours, angiography of the coeliac tripod is a fundamental step in the diagnostic course, allowing them to be characterised in detail; within the framework of evaluation of the said expansive forms, particular attention has been directed to differential diagnosis in relation to those malignant lesions that can simulate a benign process.

[Utility of angiography in the diagnosis and localization of hepatic carcinomas].

In the field of malignant primitive hepatic tumours, the use of ultrasonic methods and C.A.T.

[Papillary cancer of the thyroid: biological behaviour and therapeutic planning (author's transl)].

Out of about 600 thyroid tumors treated from 1956 to 1976, a series of 216 papillary cancers were selected at an hystological reevaluation. The correlation between survival rate and clinical features as well as extent of the primary tumor and presence of regional and distant metastases was investigated. An improvement in results may be expected by more extensive surgery on the thyroid, adequate post-operative X-ray and 131I radiation therapy, associated with suppression of TSH production in case of endocrine-dependent tumors.

[Scanning with bleomycin-57Co and microspheres of albumin-99mTc in the diagnosis of pulmonary thickening (author's transl)].

152 lung scans carried out with two indicators, bleomycin labelled with 57 Co and microspheres of albumin labelled with 99mTc have been examined. The results show a high bleomycin specificity in the diagnosis of bronchogenic tumours; the association of the two indicators seems to permit improved diagnostic selectivity.