Percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty in patients with solitary kidney

We report our experience with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of renal arteries (PTRA) in solitary kidney patients. Our series includes 31 patients (mean age: 52 years). 7 with solitary kidney following surgical nephrectomy and 24 with functioning solitary kidney. PTR indicated in presence of stenoses ranging from 60–95 % of vessel lumen. Procedure, with 29 patients were technically successful and mean values for stenosis dropped from 77 % to 33 %. In order to assess the results technically, changes in arterial blood pressure (according to Martin's classification) and creatinine levels were considered. Of 25 followed-up patients, 13 were cured (52%), 8 improved (32%),and 4 were unchanged (16%%). Complications were observed during procedures in five patients (16. 1 % ), superimposing that of nonsolitary kidney patients. Good revasculariiation, reduction of blood pressure, preservation or even improvement of renal function and low complications, make PTRA the best procedure with solitary kidney patients.     

MR angiography in abdominal neoplasms

The role of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in the evaluation of vascular involvement was studied in 55 patients with abdominal neoplasms. A 2-D time-of-flight (TOF) technique was used in 18 patients. All patients underwent CT and MR examinations before MRA. Also, MR angiograms were compared with digital subtraction angiography in 22 cases, with Doppler US in 13 cases, and with surgical findings in 20 cases. In all patients with liver neoplasms (n = 29) MRA demonstrated the absence of flow in the infiltrated segments. Pericapsular neovascularization was observed in 12 patients. Portal vein involvement was correctly detected in 27 patients. In all cases MRA demonstrated the relationship between the tumor and venous structures. Portosystemic shunts were visualized in 20 of 21 patients with portal hypertension. Vena cava thrombosis (3 cases), compression (5 cases), and displacement (2 cases) were correctly demonstrated. In renal (n = 6) and adrenal gland (n = 3) tumors renal vein compression was correctly detected in 2 cases, displacement in 1 case, and thrombosis in 3 cases, with only 1 false-positive finding. In 7 patients with pancreatic tumors MRA demonstrated splenic vein thrombosis in 2 cases and compression in 2 cases, with one false-positive finding. Our results indicate that MRA provides precise information regarding venous vascular involvement in abdominal neoplasms, but preoperative arterial mapping is still problematic. Correspondence to: E. Squillaci     

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (van Bogaert-Scherer-Epstein disease): CT and MR findings.

PURPOSETo describe the CT and MR findings in the brain and spinal cord of patients with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis and to seek possible correlations between clinical, biochemical (cholestanol levels), and neuroimaging findings.METHODSTen patients with well-defined clinical and biochemical diagnoses of cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis were examined. Brain CT was performed in eight cases. In all patients MR was obtained using spin-echo and gradient-echo sequences. In eight patients spine MR was also performed.RESULTSNeuroradiologic findings included diffuse cerebral and cerebellar atrophy. In half the cases, atrophy of the brain stem and corpus callosum was also found. In the majority of patients cerebellar bilateral focal lesions and mild white matter signal alterations were present. Spinal cord MR did not show signal abnormalities or atrophy.CONCLUSIONSWe found cranial alterations in patients with severe neurologic impairment, but there was no correlation with cholestanol plasma levels. No spinal cord abnormalities were present.     

Predictors of Success in Conversion from Calcineurin Inhibitor to Sirolimus in Chronic Allograft Dysfunction

Chronic allograft dysfunction (CAD) is a major cause of graft loss in long-term kidney transplant recipients. To identify predictors of successful conversion from calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) to sirolimus (SRL) we investigated 59 renal transplant patients with CAD without histological signs of acute rejection. They received 12-15 mg SRL once, then 4-5 mg/day, target trough level 8-12 ng/mL. CNI dose was reduced by 50% simultaneously, and withdrawn at 1-2 months. Concomitant immunosuppression remained unchanged. After 1 year patient survival was 100% and graft survival 92%. In responders (54%) creatinine improved (2.75 +/- 0.75 to 2.22 +/- 0.64 mg/dL; p < 0.01). In nonresponders (46%) creatinine deteriorated (3.15 +/- 1.02 to 4.44 +/- 1.60 mg/dL; p < 0.01). Baseline renal function did not differ, however, baseline proteinuria (519 +/- 516 vs. 1532 +/- 867 mg/day, p < 0.01), histological grade of chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) (1.2 +/- 0.5 vs. 1.9 +/- 0.6; p < 0.01), grade of vascular fibrous intimal thickening (1.2 +/- 0.7 vs. 1.7 +/- 0.7; p = 0.048) and number of acute rejections before conversion (0.73 +/- 0.69 vs. 1.27 +/- 0.96; p < 0.05) differed significantly between responders and nonresponders. In a multivariate analysis low proteinuria was the only independent variable. Proteinuria below 800 mg/day has a positive predictive value of 90%. Proteinuria at conversion below 800 mg/day is the only independent predictor for positive outcome in conversion from CNI to SRL in CAD.     

Cavernous hemangioma extending to extracranial, intracranial, and orbital regions. Case report

Extraaxial cavernous hemangiomas are rare intracranial lesions that can be located in different cranial compartments. Extension across different tissue planes such as the subcutaneous tissue, skull, orbital cavity, intracranial dura mater, and extracranial trigeminal divisions within the same patient has not been previously reported. This 32-year-old woman suffered left exophthalmos, left sixth nerve palsy, and trigeminal neuropathy. Magnetic resonance imaging studies revealed an extensive multicompartmental lesion, with enhancement following Gd administration. A left orbitopterional approach allowed removal of several cavernomatous lesions located in the orbit, frontotemporal dura, and lateral wall of the cavernous sinus. A histologically based diagnosis of extraaxial cavernous hemangioma was made. In the postoperative period the patient experienced a regression of her symptoms. The authors report on a case of cavernous hemangioma with a unique extension to different intracranial/extracranial compartments. Although radical removal of the lesion was not feasible, partial excision allowed for satisfactory clinical control of the patient's symptoms.     

The growing spine: how spinal deformities influence normal spine and thoracic cage growth

Purpose  

This article aims to provide an overview of how spinal deformities can alter normal spine and thoracic cage growth.     

Vacuum-assisted closure, dermal regeneration template and degloved cryopreserved skin as useful tools in subtotal degloving of the lower limb

The standard management of degloving injuries involves either immediate grafting with the avulsed skin or full- or split-thickness grafts at a later date. Alternative methods include pedicle and free flaps and revascularisation. The authors present an innovative technique of treating degloving injuries with cryopreserved split-thickness skin grafts harvested from degloved flap, artificial dermal replacement and vacuum-assisted closure (VAC therapy). To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of such bilaminar reconstruction of a degloving injury.     

Prognostic Influence of Loss of Blood Group A Antigen Expression in Pathologic Stage I Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

IntroductionIn the scientific literature, contradictory results have been published on the prognostic value of the loss of expression of blood group antigen A (BAA) in lung cancer. The objective of our study was to analyze this fact in our surgical series.Patients and methodsIn a multicenter study, 402 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients were included. All were classified as stage-I according to the last 2009-TNM classification. We analyzed the prognostic influence of the loss of expression of BAA in the 209 patients expressing blood group A or AB.ResultsThe 5-year cumulative survival was 73% for patients expressing BAA vs 53% for patients with loss of expression (P=.03). When patients were grouped into stages IA and IB, statistical significance was only observed in stage I-A (P=.038). When we analyzed the survival according to histologic type, those patients with adenocarcinoma and loss of expression of BAA had a lower survival rate that was statistically very significant (P=.003). The multivariate analysis showed that age, gender and expression of BAA were independent prognostic factors.ConclusionsThe loss of expression of blood group antigen A has a negative prognostic impact in stage I NSCLC, especially in patients with adenocarcinoma.