CT-guided transthoracic percutaneous ethanol injection for hepatocellular carcinoma not detectable with US

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) not detectable with ultrasonography (US). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 1994 and January 2001, 51 patients with 57 HCC nodules not detectable with US underwent CT-guided transthoracic PEI. Complications associated with the transthoracic approach, effectiveness of transthoracic PEI, and prognosis of the patients were evaluated. RESULTS: Seventy-one PEI sessions were performed for 57 nodules. Complications included pneumothorax in 21 sessions (30%) for 19 nodules (33%), moderate pleural effusion in four sessions (6%) for four nodules (7%), and hemoptysis in three sessions (4%) for two nodules (4%). A chest tube was required for pneumothorax in five sessions (7%) for five nodules (9%), and pleural effusion drainage was performed in two sessions (3%) for two nodules (4%). Apparent tumor necrosis was noted at CT in 51 nodules (89%). During follow-up (range, 3 months to 5(1/2) years; mean, 29 months +/- 18 [SD]), local recurrence was seen in seven nodules (12%), three of which received repeat treatment with transthoracic PEI. Twenty-six patients survived, and 25 patients died of multiple tumors, hepatic failure, or rupture of esophageal varices. CONCLUSION: Transthoracic PEI seems to be relatively safe and effective for the treatment of HCC not detectable with US.     

Intracavitary urokinase for enhancement of percutaneous abscess drainage: phase II trial

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of urokinase as an abscess-cavity irrigant during percutaneous abscess drainage. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In a prospective study, approved by the Food and Drug Administration and the review board at our institution, urokinase and saline were used as abscess-cavity irrigants. In the study group of 42 patients, half the patients were randomly placed into the urokinase group and the other half were placed into the control saline group. Doses used varied with the size of the abscess. Data collected from patient charts were evaluated with standard statistical methods. RESULTS: The results indicate definite benefits of the urokinase treatment. The length of stay (p = 0.0025) and treatment costs (p = 0.0021) were significantly less for the urokinase group. Other clinical parameters, including the febrile course, elevated WBC, and days of drainage, trended in a favorable fashion. CONCLUSION: Urokinase injected intracavitarily is an effective technique for shortening the treatment time and improves the clinical course for patients treated with percutaneous drainage techniques.     

Complications of percutaneous transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy.

After 5,300 percutaneous transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy procedures in 2,726 patients pneumothorax occurred in 27.2 per cent of the patients. Only 7.7 per cent required exsufflation or drainage. The factors influencing the relative frequency and the severity of pneumothorax are discussed. Bleeding around the punctured lesions was found in 11 per cent, and hemoptysis in 2 per cent but were of no clinical importance. In one case evidence of needle track implantation was found. The theoretical and practical importance of tumour cell spread and spread of infection through the needle track is discussed. No air embolism or mortality occurred.     

Prophylactic gelatin sponge tract injection to prevent bleeding after percutaneous renal cryoablation in a swine model

PURPOSE: Achievement of hemostasis can be a challenge during percutaneous renal cryoablation (PRC). This study describes the use of a porcine model to test the ability of gelatin sponge injection into the tract to limit bleeding at the site of cryoprobe puncture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of nine swine (18 kidneys) underwent bilateral ultrasound-guided PRC with double freeze/thaw cycle protocol with use of a 2.4-mm cryoprobe. The cryoablation location and protocol were applied identically to both kidneys in each pig; however, only one side received gelatin sponge injection after cryoablation through a coaxial sheath (3 mm). After removal of the sheath, a midline laparotomy incision was performed and sponges were placed around the kidneys. Blood loss was measured by calculating the change in weight of the sponges after 30 minutes of absorption time. Acute blood loss was compared between the two groups. The kidneys treated with gelatin sponge were removed and grossly and histologically examined to identify the gelatin sponge at the puncture cryolesion. RESULTS: The use of gelatin sponge resulted in significantly less blood loss (mean, 8.24 mg +/- 4.68) compared with the control kidneys (mean, 20.24 mg +/- 8.14; P = .001). Gross and histopathologic results confirmed that the gelatin sponge was in the cryoablation puncture sites. Mean diameters of cryoablation ice balls on the gelatin sponge and control sides were 3.9 cm +/- 0.2 and 3.8 cm +/- 0.4, respectively. The lesions were not significantly different between sides. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous tract injection of gelatin sponge appears promising as a method to decrease acute blood loss from PRC.     

Focal pulmonary lesions in patients with AIDS: percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy

The authors performed percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) in 13 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and previously undiagnosed focal pulmonary lesions. Findings with PTNB were diagnostic in 11 of 13 cases. Complications included minimal hemoptysis in one case and small pneumothoraxes in two cases, one of which required chest tube drainage. The authors did not experience the high complication rate reported previously by some authors who used this diagnostic procedure in AIDS patients. In cases in which findings at fiberoptic bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsy and lavage failed to provide a diagnosis, PTNB provided a reliable, relatively safe diagnostic tool to establish the cause of pulmonary masses or focal infiltrates in AIDS patients.     

CT导引下肺内病变穿刺活检诊断正确率相关因素分析

目的探讨影响CT导引下肺内病变穿刺活检诊断正确率的因素。方法回顾复习有手术病理、临床随访的肺内病变CT导引下穿刺活检435例。应用单因素统计分析和多元逐步Logistic回归分析方法,分析病灶相关因素(病灶良恶性、大小、位置、病灶深度及有无空腔)、操作相关因素(有无激光导引、患者的体位)和患者相关因素(性别、年龄、有无肺气肿)对诊断正确率的影响。结果①435例病变最终诊断289例为恶性1、46例为良性,CT导引下穿刺活检诊断正确率为83.4%(363/435)。单因素统计分析显示CT导引下穿刺活检对良、恶性病变诊断正确率分别为72.6%(106/146)和88.9%(257/289),χ2=18.71,P=0.00002;激光组和非激光组诊断正确率分别为88.4%(130/147)和80.9%(233/288),χ2=4.00,P=0.0456;诊断正确组和非正确组病灶大小分别为(3.78±1.64)cm和(3.02±1.26)cm,F=13.79,P=0.0002。②应用多元逐步Logistic回归分析病灶的良恶性(Waldχ2=14.01,P=0.0002)、有无激光导引(Waldχ2=3.92,P=0.0477)被列入回归方程。结论病灶的良恶性和有无激光导引是影响CT导引下肺内病变穿刺活检诊断正确率的主要因素。     

CT anatomy of the internal mammary vessels: importance in planning percutaneous transthoracic procedures

Knowledge of the anatomy of the internal mammary vessels is important to avoid hemorrhagic complications when an anterior parasternal approach is used for percutaneous transthoracic procedures such as biopsy and empyema drainage. We examined 100 consecutive CT scans of the thorax to assess both the number of internal mammary vessels and their relation to the sternum. The mean distance from the sternum to the most medial vessel, the internal mammary vein, was 1.03 +/- 0.25 cm on the right side and 0.98 +/- 0.23 cm on the left side. The mean distance from the sternum to the most lateral vessel, the internal mammary artery, was 1.57 +/- 0.30 cm on the right and 1.47 +/- 0.30 cm on the left. Three internal mammary vessels were present in 20% of cases on the right side and in 18% on the left side. In nine patients, the internal mammary artery was greater than 2.0 cm from the lateral border of the sternum. We recommend an approach that is greater than 2.5 cm from the sternal border when performing parasternal percutaneous transthoracic procedures in order to avoid hemorrhagic complications from injury to the internal mammary vessels. A "safe" window does exist medially between the sternal border and the internal mammary vein but should be used only in procedures performed under CT guidance.     

Computed tomography demonstration of immediate and delayed complications of computed tomography-guided transthoracic percutaneous ethanol injection of hepatocellular carcinoma at the liver dome

OBJECTIVE: We conducted this study to correlate computed tomography (CT) images with the complications induced by CT-guided percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Twenty-two patients with ultrasonographically unreachable HCC were treated with CT-guided transthoracic PEI. The procedures and the CT findings were recorded to correlate with the various complications of PEI. RESULTS: After the ethanol injection, 3 patterns of CT images were identified according to the distribution of ethanol (ie, intratumoral, extrahepatic, and intrahepatic patterns). The intrahepatic pattern was further classified as the branch, tubular, and infiltrative types. During the follow-up period, 3 patients developed biliary stricture, portal vein thrombosis, or tumor seeding. The tubular type was associated with the development of biliary stricture, whereas the branch type was related to the occurrence of portal vein thrombosis. These complications were considered to be caused by a greater amount of ethanol leakage into bile ducts or portal veins than in cases without complications (median = 17 mL vs. 0 mL, P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Ethanol leakage is not uncommon when performing PEI; however, it seems to be safe when the leakage is less than 15 mL. Injection of a small amount of ethanol or monitoring by CT may be helpful in preventing the development of these complications.     

CT Pinpoint系统在胸部病变穿刺活检中的应用

目的:探讨Pinpoint系统在CT穿刺活检中的应用价值。方法:本组335例中139例应用Pinpoint系统活检,196例应用非Pinpoint系统,全部病例经手术病理、临床随访结果确诊。比较Pinpoint组与非Pinpoint组在诊断正确率及并发症发生率之间差异有无显著性意义。结果:Pinpoint组诊断正确率为90.6%,非Pinpoint组的诊断正确率82.7%(χ2=4.31,P=0.0379)差异有显著性意义。对于直径>3cm的病灶,Pinpoint组和非Pinpoint组诊断正确率分别为93.3%和89.7%(χ2=0.60,P=0.44),但对≤3cm的病灶,Pinpoint组诊断正确率为88.6%,非Pinpoint组77.1%(χ2=4.12,P=0.0423)差异有极显著性意义;对于紧贴胸膜病灶,Pinpoint组诊断正确率94.6%,略高于非Pinpoint组91.5%,两者之间差异无显著性意义(χ2=0.30,P=0.5833),对于非紧贴胸膜病灶,Pinpoint组诊断正确率89.2%,非Pinpoint组79.9%(χ2=3.87,P=0.0490)差异有极显著性意义。Pinpoint组和非Pinpoint组气胸发生率分别12.2%和12.8%(χ2=0.01,P=0.9273),差异有显著性意义。结论:Pinpoint系统在胸部病变CT导引下活检中可提高正确诊断率,有很高的应用价值。     

Intracavitary injection of OK-432 for malignant pericardial effusion, a case report

The clinical efficacy of OK-432 has been evaluated favorably when administered for malignant effusion in pleural and peritoneal cavities. It may be effective also in pericardial space in response to inflammation or tumor, i.e., in weep fluid, but there are few reports of the clinical efficacy of a single administration of this agent in this space. We present here a case of spontaneous remission of malignant pericardial effusion after a single injection of OK-432 into the pericardial space.     

CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic biopsy in the diagnosis of mediastinal masses: evaluation of 73 procedures

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the factors affecting the diagnostic accuracy and rate of complications of CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy of mediastinal masses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 73 consecutive mediastinal biopsies in 70 patients. Final diagnoses were based on a retrospective analysis of surgical outcomes, results of repeat biopsies or findings of imaging and clinical follow-up lasting at least 4 months. Benign and malignant biopsy findings were compared with the final outcomes to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the method. Finally, we analysed the complications. RESULTS: CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy provided adequate samples in 61/73 cases, with a total sample rate of 83.6%. Of these 61 biopsies, 51 yielded a correct diagnosis with specific histological typing, mainly in the case of thymoma and metastasis. Lymphomas were less reliably diagnosed. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy values were 83.6%, 100%, 100%, 35.3% and 83.6%, respectively. Pneumothorax was the most common complication (5.5%). CONCLUSIONS: CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy is an easy, reliable and safe procedure that obviates the need for exploratory surgery in medically treatable or unresectable cases. It should be the first invasive procedure in the diagnostic workup of mediastinal masses.     

多层螺旋CT引导BARD活检枪经皮肺穿刺活检的临床应用

目的 探讨多层螺旋CT(MSCT)导向下,用BARD活检枪细针同轴多点多向经皮肺穿刺活检的临床应用价值.方法 MSCT引导下用BARD MAGNUM自动活检枪,对68例患者行肺穿刺活检.结果 68例患者穿刺成功率100%.以手术病理或临床随访结果 为标准,定性诊断的准确率为94.1%(64例),其中鳞癌30例,腺癌21例,转移瘤7例,炎性假瘤3例,肺脓肿2例,结核1例.假阴性率为5.9%,并发症的发生率为8.8%(6例).结论 采用MSCT引导,结合BARD活检枪同轴法多点多向肺穿活检,具有定位准确、安全可靠、穿刺成功率诊断准确率高、并发症少等优点.     

CT引导下经皮穿刺活检对纵隔占位病变的诊断价值

目的评价CT引导下经皮穿刺活检术在纵隔占位病变中的应用价值和安全性。方法采用弹簧式自动活检枪,在CT精确定位下对纵隔内占位病变行经皮穿刺活检,所获标本送病理组织学检查,并对穿刺准确性、病理确诊率和并发症发生情况进行分析。结果本组33例病灶穿刺成功率100%,病理确诊率85%,无一例发生并发症。结论CT引导下经皮穿刺活检术是一项操作方便,定位精确,穿刺准确率和病理确诊率高,安全可靠的介入放射诊断技术,对纵隔占位病变的定性诊断很有价值,值得临床推广应用。     

Large infiltrative hepatocellular carcinomas: treatment with percutaneous intraarterial ethanol injection alone or in combination with conventional percutaneous ethanol injection

PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate patients' tolerance and the effectiveness of percutaneous intraarterial ethanol injection (PIAEI), alone or combined with conventional percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), for treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Neither institutional review board approval nor informed consent was required for this retrospective study; however, all patients had given their consent to be treated with PIAEI. Fourteen men and four women with cirrhosis and HCC who were ineligible for conventional curative treatment (largest tumor diameter, 35-90 mm; mean, 52 mm +/- 16 [standard deviation]) and whose supplying arteries were visible on computed tomographic (CT) and color Doppler ultrasonographic (US) images were treated with US-guided PIAEI-either alone or combined with PEI. Twelve patients had infiltrative tumors, and six had nodular tumors. Four patients had portal venous tumor involvement. Tumor necrosis and recurrence were evaluated with CT, and 1- and 2-year survival rates were evaluated with Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: In four patients, the main tumor was treated with PIAEI only, and in 14 patients, the main tumor was treated with combined PIAEI and PEI. One patient died of myocardial infarction before CT evaluation. Tumor necrosis was complete in 15 (88%) and incomplete in two (12%) of 17 patients. Results of subsequent surgery performed in three patients confirmed the radiologic findings: complete tumor necrosis in two patients and incomplete necrosis in one patient. Two severe PIAEI-related complications occurred: liver abscess, which resolved, and fatal acute pancreatitis. During the follow-up period (mean, 15 months +/- 6.7), six patients died owing to recurrent HCC, and 10 patients were alive with no detectable tumor after a mean follow-up period of 18 months +/- 11. One- and 2-year survival rates were 76.6% and 44.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: For patients with advanced HCC who are ineligible for other curative options, PIAEI could be an effective treatment, despite the associated risk of severe complications.     

经皮肺活检对肺部病变的临床诊断意义

目的 评价经皮肺活检术对原发性肺癌、肺转移性癌以及非恶性肺疾病的诊断价值.方法 回顾性总结近10年来436例经皮肺活检患者的临床资料,其中明确为原发性肺癌患者341例、肺转移性癌62例、非恶性肺疾病33例.统汁分析经皮肺活检术对上述疾病的诊断准确率及灵敏度.结'果原发性肺癌组经皮肺活检阳性321例,诊断准确率为94.7%、灵敏度94.1%;肺转移性癌组阳性32例,诊断准确率58.2%、灵敏度51.6%;非恶性肺疾病组阳性19例,诊断准确率以及灵敏度均为57.6%.436例患者中427例经皮肺活检获得足够病变组织标本,9例活检失败,活检成功率97.9%.全部患者共穿刺474例次,其中74例次出现并发症,发生率15.6%.主要并发症有气胸(63例次,13.3%)和肺内出血(56例次,11.8%).结论 临床上怀疑原发性肺癌的肺部病变,经皮肺活检术诊断准确率高,并发症少且轻微.对于考虑为肺转移性癌以及非恶性肺疾病,该技术尚有待进一步改进.