Treatment of malignant tracheoesophageal fistula.

This article addresses the treatment of malignant enterorespiratory fistulas, especially malignant tracheoesophageal fistula (mTEF). mTEF typically occurs after radiochemotherapy for advanced esophageal cancer. Life expectancy is measured in months after successful treatment, and in days to weeks with a persistent fistula.

MRI versus 64-row MDCT for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To compare the diagnostic capability of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumour nodules and their effect on patient management.

Methods: A total of 28 patients (25 male, 3 female, mean age 67 +/- 10.8 years) with biopsy-proven HCC were investigated with 64-row MDCT (slice 3 mm native, arterial and portal-venous phase, 120 mL Iomeprol, 4 mL/s, delay by bolus trigger) and MRI (T1fs fl2d TE/TR 2.

Ten-year follow-up of endovascular aneurysm treatment with Talent stent-grafts.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results, complications, and secondary interventions during long-term follow-up after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and to investigate the impact of endoleak sizes on aneurysm shrinkage. From 1997 to March 2007, 127 patients (12 female, 115 male; age, 73.0 +/- 7.

CT-guided vertebroplasty: analysis of technical results, extraosseous cement leakages, and complications in 500 procedures.

The aim of this study was to analyze the technical results, the extraosseous cement leakages, and the complications in our first 500 vertebroplasty procedures. Patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures or osteolytic lesions caused by malignant tumors were treated with CT-guided vertebroplasty. The technical results were documented with CT, and the extraosseous cement leakages and periinterventional clinical complications were analyzed as well as secondary fractures during follow-up.

Fluoroscopy-guided removal of pull-type gastrostomy tubes.

These case reports demonstrate a radiologic interventional technique for removal of pull-type gastrostomy tubes. This approach proved to be a safe and efficient procedure in two patients. The procedure may be applicable in situations where endoscopic attempts fail.

Transarterial chemoembolization in patients not eligible for liver transplantation: single-center results.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of transarterial chemoembolization in the care of patients not eligible for liver transplantation.

Conclusions: Prognosis depends on local response, Okuda score, alpha-fetoprotein level, and tumor size and is independent of the presence of portal venous thrombosis.

MR angiography of the pedal arteries with gadobenate dimeglumine, a contrast agent with increased relaxivity, and comparison with selective intraarterial DSA.

Purpose: To compare gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA)-enhanced MR angiography (i.e., contrast-enhanced MRA [CE-MRA]) of the pedal vasculature with selective digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD).

Height gain of vertebral bodies and stabilization of vertebral geometry over one year after vertebroplasty of osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

The height gain of vertebral bodies after vertebroplasty and geometrical stability was evaluated over a one-year period. Osteoporotic fractures were treated with vertebroplasty. The vertebral geometry and disc spaces were analysed using reformatted computed tomography (CT) images: heights of the anterior, posterior, and lateral vertebral walls, disc spaces, endplate angles, and minimal endplate distances.

Extracorporeal circulation and cardiac arrest in an awake patient: a safe approach for single lung pulmonary artery stenting?

We describe the anesthetic concept and approach in a single lung patient scheduled for pulmonary artery stenting due to recurrence of a pulmonary artery sarcoma after left pneumectomy.

Response to transarterial chemoembolization as a biological selection criterion for liver transplantation in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Criteria to select patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for liver transplantation (LT) are based on tumor size and number of nodules rather than on tumor biology. The present study was undertaken to assess the role of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in selecting patients with tumors suitable for LT. Ninety-six consecutive patients with HCC were treated by repeatedly performed TACE, 62 of them exceeding the Milan criteria.

Hemodynamic effects of monomeric nonionic contrast media in pulmonary angiography in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the hemodynamic safety of the monomeric nonionic contrast agent iomeprol for selective pulmonary angiography in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTPH), and to investigate the effect of periinterventional oxygen administration.

Subjects And Methods: Selective pulmonary digital subtraction angiography was performed in 94 patients with CTPH using six bolus injections of iomeprol (posteroanterior, oblique, and lateral projections; both pulmonary arteries; iomeprol, 25 mL at 13 mL/s). Hemodynamics were obtained with Swan-Ganz catheters, and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAsyst) was classified into one of three groups: 30 mm Hg or less (control group), greater than 30 but less than or equal to 60 mm Hg (group 1, moderate pulmonary hypertension), and greater than 60 mm Hg (group 2, severe pulmonary hypertension).

MRI versus helical CT for endoleak detection after endovascular aneurysm repair.

Objective: The objective of our study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of MRI and helical CT for endoleak detection.

Subjects And Methods: Fifty-two patients underwent endovascular aneurysm repair with nitinol stent-grafts. Follow-up data sets included contrast-enhanced biphasic CT and MRI within 48 hr after the intervention; at 3, 6, and 12 months; and yearly thereafter.

[Endovascular aneurysm therapy--long-term treatment outcomes after 7 years].

Background: Stentgrafts for endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) have been commercially available since 1994, with now large numbers of implantations all over the world.

Patients And Methods: From 1994-2001, 115 patients were treated with Stentor, Vanguard and Talent stentgrafts in our institution.

Results: Late complications of the first- and second-generation stentgrafts as radiologic or surgical interventions to maintain complete exclusion of the aneurysm amounted to 30% with an additional 22% for observed endoleaks and configuration changes of the stentgraft.