Opportunistic screening with multiphase contrast-enhanced dual-layer spectral CT for osteoblastic lesions in prostate cancer compared with bone scintigraphy.

Our study aimed to compare bone scintigraphy and dual-layer detector spectral CT (DLCT) with multiphase contrast enhancement for the diagnosis of osteoblastic bone lesions in patients with prostate cancer. The patients with prostate cancer and osteoblastic bone lesions detected on DLCT were divided into positive bone scintigraphy group (pBS) and negative bone scintigraphy group (nBS) based on bone scintigraphy. A total of 106 patients (57 nBS and 49 pBS) was included.

Feasibility of Computed Tomography-guided Percutaneous Renal Cryoablation Under Local Anesthesia: A Single Center Experience in Taiwan.

Background/aim: To survey the safety and efficacy of percutaneous cryoablation for renal tumors under local anesthesia and pain control by using the -40°C lethal isotherm of the ice ball to cover the tumor margin as well as the coaxial cryoablation technique.

Patients And Methods: All procedures were performed between February 2014 and November 2021 with computed tomography (CT) guidance. All tumors were ablated by following the aforementioned plan, according to which tumor margins were covered by the -40°C lethal isotherm.

Assessment of Prostate Volume and Prostate-specific Antigen Density With the Segmentation Method on Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Background/aim: This study aimed to compare the prostate volume (PV) and prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD) obtained using the ellipsoid volume formula or segmentation methods on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and further predict prostate cancer (PCa).

Patients And Methods: Retrospectively, the enrolled patients underwent prostate MRI and had PSA levels between 4 and 10 ng/ml. The PV was measured with both the ellipsoid volume formula (PVe) and the segmentation method (PVs).

A para-aortic malignant melanotic nerve sheath tumor mimicking a gastrointestinal stromal tumor: a rare case report and review of literature.

Background: Malignant melanotic nerve sheath tumor (MMNST), formerly called melanotic schwannoma, is a rare tumor of neural crest derivation which most frequently arises from the region of spinal or autonomic nerves near the midline. Recent studies have reported malignant behavior of MMNST, and there still has no standard management guidelines. Intra-abdominal MMNST, which has never been reviewed as an entity, is even rarer.

Adjuvant therapy with traditional Chinese medicine in a heart failure patient complicated by hospital-acquired pneumonia: A case report.

Objective: We report a case of congestive heart failure complicated by hospital-acquired pneumonia that was successfully treated with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and antibiotics.

Clinical Features And Outcome: A 33-year-old man with a history of heart failure developed pneumonia during hospitalization. After the standard antibiotic therapy for 3 days, he continued to experience persistent fever and progressive cough with purulent sputum.

Adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation preoperative survey using MDCT, a single medical center experience in Taiwan.

This study evaluated multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) scans performed on potential living donors for adult-to-adult liver transplantation (LDLT), with the aim of identifying significant findings that could be used to exclude potential transplantation donors. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 151 consecutive potential adult donors for LDLT from May 2007 to January 2015. Liver parenchyma steatosis, focal hepatic mass or intraabdominal malignancy, vascular variations, and donor liver volume were evaluated via MDCT.

Ectopic Thyroid Tissue in the Adrenal Gland Mimicking a Pheochromocytoma.

Ectopic thyroid tissue in the adrenal gland (ETTAG) usually presents as a well-circumscribed cystic mass on a CT scan. However, the MRI features of ETTAG are incompletely understood. We report a case of ectopic thyroid tissue in the adrenal gland, which demonstrates findings similar to those of a pheochromocytoma on the MRI.

Pathological outcomes in men with prostate cancer who are eligible for active surveillance.

Background: In order to prevent over treatment of prostate cancer and significant adverse effects after surgical intervention, active surveillance was suggested in low risk or very low risk patients. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the adverse pathological results of candidates eligible for active surveillance.

Methods: A total of 904 patients underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in this single institute, from 2005 to April 2014.

Chronic fluoxetine treatment enhances sympathetic activities associated with abnormality of baroreflex function in conscious normal rats.

Data regarding the effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are a common type of antidepressants, on cardiovascular autonomic function are inconsistent. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of chronic fluoxetine, an SSRI, on blood pressure, cardiac autonomic nervous activities and baroreflex control of heart rate. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with fluoxetine (10mg/kg day, p.

Salvage Robotic-assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy: Experience with 14 Cases.

Aim: To report the outcomes of salvage robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (S-RaRP).

Patients And Methods: Fourteen patients underwent S-RaRP. The mean initial prostatic-specific antigen level was 14.

Prophylactic Robotic-assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy for Preoperative Suspicion of Prostate Cancer: Experience with 55 Cases.

Background/aim: Expanded indications are not yet reported for robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP) performed by experienced surgeons for patients with preoperative suspicion of prostate cancer. We report our experience with 55 cases of prophylactic RARP for preoperative suspicion of prostate cancer, including postoperative pathological characteristics and outcomes.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective study reviewed data of a subset of 55 consecutive patients among 1,060 patients who underwent RARP for preoperative suspicion of prostate cancer.

Prevention and Management of Complications During Robotic-assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy Following Comprehensive Planning: A Large Series Involving a Single Surgeon.

Aim: To report a series of 1,000 patients treated by a single surgeon using robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) and to show how to prevent and manage complications of the procedure.

Patients And Methods: Complication rates were prospectively assessed in a series of 1,000 consecutive patients who underwent RALP (group I, cases 1-200; IIa, 201-400; IIb, 401-600; IIIa, 601-800; and IIIb, 801-1000). Preoperative evaluation focused on patients' history of gout, use of drugs that can influence clotting time, and cardiopulmonary problems.

Pentafecta Outcomes of 230 Cases of Robotic-assisted Radical Prostatectomy with Bilateral Neurovascular Bundle Preservation.

Aim: We analyzed pentafecta outcomes [complication-free, continence, potency, negative surgical margins (NSM)], biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free] of 230 patients undergoing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) with bilateral neurovascular (NVB) preservation.

Patients And Methods: Patient outcomes (group I, cases 1-115; group II, cases 116-230) were assessed prospectively. Definitions were: continence, using no pads; potency, ability to achieve/maintain erections firm enough for sexual intercourse; positive surgical margin, presence of tumor tissue on inked specimen surface; and BCR, two consecutive PSA levels >0.

The surgical learning curve for robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: experience of a single surgeon with 500 cases in Taiwan, China.

To analyze the learning curve for cancer control from an initial 250 cases (Group I) and subsequent 250 cases (Group II) of robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) performed by a single surgeon. Five hundred consecutive patients with clinically localized prostate cancer received RALP and were evaluated. Surgical parameters and perioperative complications were compared between the groups.

Outcome of vesicourethral anastomosis after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: A 6-year experience in Taiwan.

Background/purpose: The use of a da Vinci robotic system may improve the outcome of urological surgery. This study reports 6 years of experience with vesicourethral anastomosis (VUA) following robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) performed in Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.

Methods: A total of 350 patients who underwent RALP by a single surgeon were reviewed.

Transarterial embolization of metastatic mediastinal hepatocellular carcinoma.

This paper introduces an innovative treatment for extra-hepatic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. A 71-year-old patient had a stable liver condition following treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma, but later developed symptomatic mediastinal metastasis. This rapidly growing mediastinal mass induced symptoms including cough and hoarseness.

Endovascular treatment for traumatic thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysm: a case report.

Cases of an endovascular treatment for traumatic aortic injury are extremely rare. A prompt diagnosis of traumatic thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysm through a 3-dimensional computed tomographic angiography of aorta and emergency repair are mandatory to rescue the life-threatening condition. An endovascular treatment is a trend for traumatic aortic injury because of lower invasivity, morbidity and mortality.

Renal tuberculosis presenting as a complicated renal cyst.

A 74-year-old woman presented with a 3-day history of fever and left flank pain. The imaging study revealed a huge complicated cyst in the left kidney. The cyst had a mass effect to the abdomen.

Renal mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma with an aorto-caval mass mimicking metastatic lymphadenopathy.

A 54-year-old female had a 9-cm left renal mass with a 12-cm aorto-caval mass lesion mimicking an enlarged lymph node. Retroperitoneal dissection and left radical nephrectomy were performed, and pathology revealed a left renal mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma combined with a retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma. The patient has had no local recurrence or distant metastasis after 3 years' follow-up.

Metallic stent in the treatment of ureteral obstruction: experience of single institute.

Background: The Resonance(®) metallic stent has been reported to be sufficient for the management of malignant extrinsic ureteral obstructions within a 12-month time period. To determine the effectiveness in each specific patient group, we report our experience using the Resonance(®) stent in the treatment of ureteral obstructions.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 20 patients (23 stents) who successfully received the Resonance(®) metallic stents and divided them into a patent group (n = 19) and an obstructive group (n = 4) according to the treatment results.

Retro-apical transection of the urethra during robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in an Asian population.

Unlabelled: Retro-apical transection of urethra during RARP in an Asian population was found to be feasible. A dedicated team, using robot-assisted surgery, with a skillful assistant are required for the procedure to become standard practice. We would recommend the retro-apical approach for all patients receiving RARP, as it was not found to increase surgical risk or complication.

Color Doppler twinkling artifact of calcified cardiac valves in vitro: a not well known phenomenon in echocardiography.

The color Doppler twinkling artifact manifests as a rapidly changing mixture of red and blue colors behind strongly reflective structures. The twinkling artifact occurs behind diseased cardiac valves, although the phenomenon is not well described. This study sought to determine the presence of the color Doppler twinkling artifact in calcified cardiac valves in vitro using soft tissue radiography for reference.