Survival of patients with intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma treated with superselective transarterial chemoembolization using doxorubicin-loaded DC Bead under cone-beam computed tomography control.

Background: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate treatment response, adverse events and survival rates of patients with intermediate stage HCC treated with superselective doxorubicin-loaded DC Bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEBDOX) under cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) control.

Patients And Methods: Between October 2010 and June 2012, 35 consecutive patients with intermediate stage HCC (32 male, 3 female; average age, 67.5 ± 7.

Non-contrast computed tomography in the diagnosis of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis.

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) in the diagnosis of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). Methods. Screening our neurological department database, we identified 53 patients who were admitted to neurological emergency department with clinical signs of CVST.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound for assessment of therapeutic response after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of small renal tumors.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the assessment of therapeutic response, after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of small renal tumors.

Methods: Twenty patients (12 men, 8 women; median age, 77.4 years; median tumor size, 2.

Complicated acute haematogenous osteomyelitis with fatal outcome following a closed clavicle fracture-a case report and literature review.

Among adults, post-traumatic osteomyelitis following a closed fracture is a rarely described entity in the literature, with the involvement of the clavicle bone being particularly uncommon. Early diagnosis and treatment of clavicular osteomyelitis is crucial to prevent serious consequences such as sepsis, mediastinitis and haemorrhage from the great vessels. A 54-year-old male patient presented to the emergency department complaining of fatigue and limited mobility after having fallen and hit his head and right shoulder 10 days previously.

Endovascular embolization prior to surgical resection of symptomatic intralobar pulmonary sequestration in an adult.

Intralobar pulmonary sequestration is a rare congenital malformation, conventionally managed by surgical resection. Recently, the endovascular embolization has been proposed for the definite treatment of this disease. Additionally, preoperative embolization of aberrant arteries to minimize the risk of serious intraoperative haemorrhage has also been described.

Endoscopic Removal of a Nitinol Mesh Stent from the Ureteropelvic Junction after 15 Years.

We report a rare case of a patient with a large stone encrusted on a nitinol mesh stent in the ureteropelvic junction. The stent was inserted in the year 2000 after failure of two pyeloplasty procedures performed due to symptomatic ureteropelvic junction stenosis. By combining minimally invasive urinary stone therapies-extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, semirigid ureterorenoscopy with laser lithotripsy, and percutaneous nephrolithotomy-it was possible to completely remove the encrusted stone and nitinol mesh stent that was implanted for 15 years, rendering the patient symptom and obstruction free.

Clinical Exome Sequencing as a Novel Tool for Diagnosing Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Type 3.

Objective/background: In rare genetic vascular syndromes the diagnosis may not be apparent from the phenotype, but might be important for proper management.

Methods: A previously healthy woman without dysmorphic features presented with pregnancy associated vascular dissections and aneurysms. Next generation clinical exome sequencing was performed.

The presence of cerebral and/or systemic endothelial dysfunction in patients with leukoaraiosis--a case control pilot study.

Background: In spite of high prevalence and clinical relevance of leukoaraiosis (LA), its pathophysiology is still incompletely understood. Theories of ischaemic genesis and a leaky blood-brain barrier are contradictory yet could share a common denominator-endothelial dysfunction (cerebral, systemic or both), which has not been studied thoroughly in LA.

Methods: Thirty patients with LA (58 years (SD 7)) and 30 gender- and age-matched controls without LA (55 years (SD 6)) were recruited.

Artery of Percheron infarction: review of literature with a case report.

Background: Clinical features indicating an ischemic infarction in the territory of posterior cerebral circulation require a comprehensive radiologic examination, which is best achieved by a multi-modality imaging approach (computed tomography [CT], CT-perfusion, computed tomography angiography [CTA], magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and diffusion weighted imaging [DWI]). The diagnosis of an acute ischemic infarction, where the damage of brain tissue may still be reversible, enables selection of appropriate treatment and contributes to a more favourable outcome. For these reasons it is essential to recognize common neurovascular variants in the territory of the posterior cerebral circulation, one of which is the artery of Percheron.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of vertebral column - an additional tool for evaluation of aggressiveness of vertebral haemangioma like lesion.

Background: Most vertebral haemangioma are asymptomatic and discovered incidentally. Sometimes the symptomatic lesions present with radiological signs of aggressiveness and their appearance resemble other aggressive lesions (e.g.

Dual ectopic thyroid gland: sonography and scintigraphy of lingual and sublingual thyroid.

Dual ectopic lingual and sublingual thyroid gland is an extraordinarily rare condition. We present 1 patient with subclinical hypothyroidism. The clinical examination revealed that the thyroid gland was not palpable in its usual cervical location, whereas ultrasonography confirmed an empty thyroid bed without any ectopic thyroid tissue in the rest of the neck.

Mechanical revascularization for acute ischemic stroke: a single-center, retrospective analysis.

Background: Endovascular mechanical revascularization (thrombectomy) is an increasingly used method for intracranial large vessel recanalization in acute stroke. The purpose of the study was to analyze the recanalization rate, clinical outcome, and complication rate in our stroke patients treated with mechanical revascularization.

Methods: A total of 57 patients with large vessel stroke (within 3 h for anterior and 12 h for posterior circulation) were treated with mechanical revascularization at a single center during 24 months.

Percutaneous imaging-guided radiofrequency ablation of small renal cell carcinoma: techniques and outcomes of 24 treatment sessions in 18 consecutive patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the early clinical experience associated with percutaneous imaging-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Methods: Eighteen consecutive patients with RCC were treated with percutaneous RFA sessions (24 sessions for 19 solitary RCC in 18 patients: 15 patients underwent a single RFA session, 3 had 2 sessions and one 3 sessions). Treatment indications were localized, solid renal mass <4.

The role of contrast enchanced axillary ultrasonography in early breast cancer patients.

The most important prognostic factor for the patients with breast cancer are metastases to axillary lymph nodes (ALNs). Preoperative ultrasound (US) combined with fine needle aspiration biopsy (US-FNAB) has been proved to be the most reliable method to detect nonpalpable axillary metastases in patients with breast cancer. Our study was aimed to examine the value of US contrast agent (CA) SonoVue in the US examination of the axilla for the detection of axillary lymph node (ALN) metastases in breast cancer patients.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt versus endoscopic sclerotherapy in the elective treatment of recurrent variceal bleeding.

The present study was designed to compare elective transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) and endoscopic sclerotherapy (EST) in terms of their efficacy in preventing recurrent bleeding from gastro-oesophageal varices in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Of 96 patients with at least three gastro-oesophageal variceal rebleeds, 50 were treated with elective TIPS and 46 with EST. Recurrent variceal bleeding was significantly more frequent in patients receiving EST treatment compared with those receiving TIPS (45.

Infrapopliteal run-off and the outcome of femoropopliteal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

Background: The outcome of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of peripheral arterial lesions is influenced by several factors, including the haemodynamic conditions. Our study tested: (a) whether infrapopliteal run-off after completed PTA influenced the time course of restenosis/reocclusion of the femoropopliteal arterial segment, and (b) whether worsening of infrapopliteal run-off influenced the long-term femoropopliteal patency after PTA.

Patients And Methods: Among 245 patients treated by femoropopliteal PTA we enrolled 176 patients who consented to regular follow-up.

Sonographic evaluation of pleural fluid in a large group of adult healthy individuals--end trial results.

This partly prospective, partly retrospective trial was performed in adult healthy volunteers to confirm the prevalence of sonographically visible physiological pleural and to establish possible individual variations of the presence and amount of pleural fluid over time as well as to asses relations in between pleural fluid and individual characteristics like age, sex, body mass index, smoking history and hormone therapy (in woman). A reliable threshold between normal and pathological pleural fluid findings was determined. Prospective chest sonography of both pleural spaces was performed with 3-12 MHz transducer in 71 randomly selected healthy adults and presence of pleural fluid was evaluated and measured as an anechoic layer at least 2 mm in thickness.

Enhancement of cold-induced vasodilatation following acclimatization to altitude.

The present study evaluated the effect of high-altitude acclimatisation on the cold-induced vasodilatation (CIVD) response. A group of highly trained mountaineers (N = 9; Alpinists) were tested before and after a 3 week high-altitude Himalayan expedition (altitude ranging from 3,985 to 6,828 m). A control group (N = 7) with no mountaineering experience was tested at the same time points.

Diagnostic imaging of small amounts of pleural fluid: pleural effusion vs. physiologic pleural fluid.

The aim of this article is to present an overview of our 10 years clinical research work and early clinical experience with small pleural effusions. Small amounts of pleural fluid are severely difficult to identify with imaging methods (chest x-rays and ultrasound). Nevertheless, it may be an important finding, sometimes leading to a definitive diagnosis of pleural carcinomatosis, infection or other pathologic condition.

A case of Zellweger syndrome with extensive MRI abnormalities and unusual EEG findings.

Differential diagnosis in a newborn with dysmorphic features and profound neurologic dysfunction should include the cerebro-hepato-renal syndrome of Zellweger. Its distinct clinical features, markedly elevated plasma levels of very long chain fatty acids and characteristic radiological findings support the diagnosis, which can now be confirmed by genetic markers. Quite consistent abnormalities of the neurophysiological studies in this syndrome have also been reported.