Stereotactic body radiation therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis: evaluation of radiological and pathological response.

Background: Loco-regional therapies for cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who are awaiting liver transplantation (OLT) attempt to prevent tumor progression. However, there is limited data regarding the efficacy of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) as loco-regional treatment.

Methods: From 2006 to 2009, 27 HCC patients (AJCC I, II) listed for OLT underwent SBRT.

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: defining the impact of using extended criteria liver allografts.

Background: This series compares outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) listed for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) within and outside Milan criteria, and determines the impact of extended criteria liver allografts (ECD).

Methods: Records of patients listed for liver transplantation at a single center from 1998 to 2007 were reviewed retrospectively.

Results: Ninety-seven HCC patients were listed for OLT, 77 underwent transplantation; 47 received ECDs and 30 standard organs.

Immunosuppressant-induced endothelial damage and pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Cyclosporine A, used to prevent graft-versus-host-disease, is known to induce endothelial injury. Endothelial dysfunction is an important feature of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). In this article, we describe 2 children who developed cyclosporine-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome.

A novel two-dimensional echocardiographic finding in cardiac amyloidosis.

Background: A number of echocardiographic findings characteristic of cardiac amyloidosis (CA) have been described, each with limitations.

Methods: A distinctive wall motion pattern of preserved myocardial thickening at left ventricular apex with hypokinesis in basal and midsegments was observed in two patients with biopsy proven CA. Following this observation, endomyocaradial biopsy files beginning in 2007 were reviewed.

Recanalized umbilical vein conduit for meso-Rex bypass in extrahepatic portal vein obstruction.

Background: Meso-Rex bypass is used to treat patients with clinically important extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO). Usually, an autologous left internal jugular vein graft is used to bypass the portal blood circulation from the superior mesenteric vein to the left portal vein. Other vascular conduits have included the autogenous saphenous vein, splenic vein, right gastroepiploic vein, and inferior mesenteric vein.

Conventional intramedullary chondrosarcoma with subarticular involvement.

A 78-year-old female patient with a lesion in the distal tibia is shown to have conventional intramedullary chondrosarcoma. Typical considerations for this end-of-bone neoplastic lesion are giant cell tumor, clear cell chondrosarcoma, and chondroblastoma. Salient clinical and radiographic features and behavior of this lesion broaden the typical view of conventional intramedullary chondrosarcoma.

Lung lesions in children with Crohn's disease presenting as nonresolving pneumonias and response to infliximab therapy.

Lung lesions in children with Crohn's disease are often difficult to diagnose and treat. We report here 3 children (aged 13, 14, and 17 years) on immunosuppressive therapy for previously diagnosed Crohn's disease who presented with nonresolving pneumonias. All 3 had unfavorable response to empiric antibiotics and had progression of lesions.