•The ability of CRAFITY score in predicting prognosis for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is unknown.•The CRAFITY score demonstrated good predictive ability for overall survival but poor accuracy for predicting objective response rates among patients with unresectable HCC undergoing TACE combined with systemic therapies.•The CRAFITY score can be used to predict overall survival for patients with unresectable HCC undergoing TACE combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, with or without checkpoint inhibitors.
Thermal ablation for renal cell carcinoma in nephron-sparing surgery has been extensively investigated. However, data regarding renal pelvic tumors with refractory hematuria are scarce. Herein, we report a case of recurrent hematuria in an 87-year-old woman with. a 3.5 × 4.1 cm mass in the right renal pelvis on imaging examinations, which was clinically diagnosed as renal pelvic carcinoma. After ineffective renal artery embolization, minimally invasive percutaneous thermal ablation was recommended after a multidisciplinary consultation. Although hematuria was successfully relieved after ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation initially, recurrence of hematuria was reported due to tumor progression after one year. CT-guided microwave ablation resolved hematuria and controlled tumor growth without complications. Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) was confirmed by biopsy. Postoperative CT imaging, urine cytology, and renal function tests were continuously monitored during the follow-up. The patient remained stable during the 1-year follow-up period, highlighting the potential of thermal ablation for refractory hematuria in renal pelvis urothelial carcinoma while preserving nephrons.
Objective: The present study aimed to assess the diagnostic efficacy of baseline spectral computed tomography (CT) parameters in predicting tumor response to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Data were collected from 91 consecutive patients with HCC between June 2020 and July 2023. An independent samples t-test was performed to compare the demographic and spectral CT variables between the groups. Predictors were screened using binary logistic regression, and the diagnostic efficacy of the baseline parameters for predicting the response to TACE in patients with HCC was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: A total of 91 patients with HCC were included in the present study, categorized into response (n = 52; men, 48 (92.3 %); age, 58.72 ± 11.16 years) and non-response (n = 39; men, 36 (92.31 %); age, 59.50 ± 10.10 years) groups based on the evaluation criteria. There was a statistically significant difference in both iodine concentration (IC) and normalized IC (NIC) between the two groups (P < 0.05), and we found that the mean values of the three IC and NIC phases in the non-response group were significantly lower than those in the response group. The arterial, portal, and delayed phase ICs and NICs had significant positive effects on the response to TACE in patients with HCC (P < 0.05). Baseline spectral CT parameters, including IC and NIC, had satisfactory diagnostic efficacy for predicting tumor response to TACE (area under the curve [AUC] of baseline spectral parameters ranged from 0.698 to 0.879). The results of the DeLong test indicated no statistical differences between the AUC of all the parameters and models. Conclusion: The present study found that the baseline spectral CT parameters could be surrogate imaging markers for predicting tumor response to TACE.
Expert consensus proposes an emergency treatment protocol for portal hypertension bleeding. Herein, the emergency treatment procedures, which include first aid, medical, interventional, and surgical treatments, are described. In addition, the indications, contraindications, operating norms, precautions, and prevention of complications of portal hypertension are described to optimize the first aid process.
Percutaneous abscess drainage is a procedure commonly performed by interventional radiologists to provide source control on infections using CT or ultrasound guidance. The interventionalist has many different sizes and shapes of catheters to treat abscesses of varying sizes and locations, but the general approach to each abscess is similar: provide a percutaneous route for purulence, bacteria, necrotic tissue, and other debris to escape the body. While generally considered a low-risk procedure, adverse events can occur due to operator error or other means. We present a unique case of an abscess drain placed into a right upper quadrant abscess that formed following laparoscopic cholecystectomy that perforated and entered the colon. Astute physicians, both in the emergency department and the radiology reading room, were able to rapidly rule out more common post-operative complications and make the correct diagnosis, likely preventing dangerous sequelae from developing in this patient.
Background: The standard treatment for internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection is obscure. Current therapeutic strategies include the use of antiplatelet drugs, anticoagulant drugs, intravenous thrombolysis, and endovascular treatment. Endovascular treatment is important in acute internal carotid artery dissection. This study reports two acute internal carotid artery dissection cases that were treated successfully using the Xpert-Pro peripheral self-expanding stent system. Case summary: The first case was of a 38-year-old male patient with transient speechlessness and paralysis of the right limb in July 2021. Cervical computed tomographic angiography (CTA) showed ICA occlusion on the left side. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) showed severe stenosis of the C1 segment of the left internal carotid artery with intermural hematoma. The patient subsequently underwent Xpert-Pro peripheral self-expanding stent implantation, and his condition stabilized. The second case was of a 56-year-old male patient with speechlessness and paralysis of the right limb. Cervical CTA showed a dissected left ICA, and DSA showed an occluded left ICA and middle cerebral artery. The patient subsequently underwent stent implantation, and his condition stabilized.
Background:Spontaneously ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (rHCC) is a life-threatening condition. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a widely accepted treatment; however, it can lead to serious complications, especially liver failure. We sought to identify preoperative predictors of liver failure in patients with rHCC undergoing TACE.Methods:Patients with rHCC who received TACE as the initial therapy were retrospectively studied at our institution between January 2016 and December 2021. Based on the occurrence of liver failure after TACE, the patients were divided into liver failure and no-liver failure groups. Predictors of liver failure after TACE were analyzed using univariate and multivariate regression analyses. The predictive performance was assessed using the area under the curve (AUC). Delong's test was used to compare predictive efficiency.Results:Sixty patients (19 and 41 in the liver failure and non-liver failure groups, respectively) were included. Multivariate analysis showed that preoperative prothrombin activity (PTA) level (odds ratio [OR], 0.956; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.920-0.994; P = 0.024) and Child-Pugh grade B (OR, 6.419; 95% CI, 1.123-36.677; P = 0.037) were independent predictors of liver failure after TACE in patients with rHCC. The AUCs of the preoperative PTA levels and Child-Pugh grade B for predicting liver failure after TACE in patients with rHCC were 0.783 and 0.764, respectively.Conclusion:Preoperative PTA level and Child-Pugh grade B were significant independent risk factors for liver failure after TACE in patients with rHCC. These can be used to predict liver failure after TACE in patients with rHCC for individual decision-making regarding treatment planning.
Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a rare systemic vasculitis of the aorta and its primary branches, which usually occurs in young women. Due to its insidious onset and lack of specific symptoms, this disease can be easily misdiagnosed or missed. Approximately 50 % of the patients having TA with pulmonary artery involvement develop pulmonary hypertension (PH). The 3-year survival rate among patients with TA-related PH is lower than that among patients with TA alone. Early balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) can improve the clinical symptoms and survival of patients with stable TA. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported in the English literature in which a “Guidezilla” catheter was used during BPA to treat stenosis and occlusion of the pulmonary artery caused by Takayasu arteritis (TA).
Recently, interventional ablation techniques have gained prominence in tumor treatment guidelines and complement traditional approaches, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Conventional ablation techniques, such as microwave, radiofrequency, and cryoablation, have been used; however, they have certain limitations, including the risk of damaging surrounding normal tissues and the heat sink effect caused by tumor blood flow.1 Irreversible electroporation (IRE), an ablation technology independent of thermal energy, is a promising alternative.2 Clinical studies have demonstrated IRE's efficacy in treating tumors, such as pancreatic and liver tumors.3 Recent research has shown that IRE can elicit specific anti-tumor immune responses in the body.5 IRE also plays a crucial role in eliminating residual tumor cells postoperatively and preventing tumor recurrence.
Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a transmesenteric vein extrahepatic portosystemic shunt（TmEPS） for the treatment of cavernous transformation of the portal vein（CTPV）.Materials and methods: The clinical data of 20 patients with CTPV who underwent TmEPS between December 2020and January 2022 at Henan Provincial People’s Hospital were retrospectively collected. The superior mesenteric vein（SMV） trunk was patent or partially occluded in these patients. An extrahepatic portosystemic shunt between the inferior vena cava and the SMV was established using a stent graft through an infraumbilical median longitudinal mini-laparotomy. The technical success, efficacy, and complication rates were evaluated, and the preand postoperative SMV pressures were compared. Patients’ clinical outcomes and shunt patency were assessed.Results: TmEPS was successfully performed in 20 patients. The initial puncture success rate of the balloon-assisted puncture technique is 95%. The mean SMV pressure decreased from 29.1 ± 2.9 mmHg to 15.6 ± 3.3 mmHg（p ＜0.001）. All symptoms of portal hypertension resolved. No fatal procedural complications occurred. During the follow-up period, hepatic encephalopathy occurred in two patients. The remaining patients remained asymptomatic. All shunts were patent.Conclusions: TmEPS is a feasible, safe, and effective treatment option for patients with CTPV.
Aims: To determine the safety and efficacy of microwave ablation（MWA） and transarterial chemoembolization（TACE） with doxorubicin hydrochloride liposome（DHL） in patients with primary liver cancer（PLC） and metastatic liver cancer（MLC）.Materials and methods: The medical records of patients with primary or metastatic liver cancer who underwent MWA combined with TACE containing DHL from March 2019 to March 2022 were collected and analyzed.Treatment-related adverse events（AEs） were recorded. Local tumor response was evaluated according to the modified RECIST criteria. Local tumor progression-free survival（LTPFS） and overall survival（OS） were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.Results: Altogether, 96 patients with liver cancer were included（PLC, n = 45; MLC, n = 51）. Forty（41.7%） patients experienced AEs during treatment, and eight（8.3%） patients developed grade 3 AEs. Compared to before treatment, the serum total bilirubin level and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio significantly increased after treatment. The median LTPFS was 14.5 months in patients with PLC and 10.7 months in patients with MLC. The median OS was not reached in patients with PLC or MLC. The 1-month and 3-month disease control rates reached more than 80% in both groups.Conclusion: MWA combined with TACE with DHL may be a safe and effective method for the treatment of liver cancer.
Pain interventional therapy, known as the most promising medical technology in the 21st century, refers to clinical treatment technology based on neuroanatomy, neuroimaging, and nerve block technology to treat pain diseases. Compared with traditional destructive surgery, interventional pain therapy is considered a better and more economical choice of treatment. In recent years, a variety of minimally invasive pain interventional therapy techniques, such as neuroregulation, spinal cord electrical stimulation, intervertebral disc ablation, and intrasheath drug infusion systems, have provided effective solutions for the treatment of patients with post-herpetic neuralgia, complex regional pain syndrome, cervical/lumbar disc herniation, and refractory cancer pain.
With the widespread adoption of ultrasound guidance, Seldinger puncture techniques, and intracardiac electrical positioning technology for the placement of peripherally inserted central catheters in recent years, an increasing number of medical staff and patients now accept peripheral placement of totally implantable venous access devices (TIVADs) in the upper arm. This approach has the advantage of completely avoiding the risks of hemothorax, pneumothorax, and neck and chest scarring. Medical specialties presently engaged in this study in China include internal medicine, surgery, anesthesiology, and interventional departments. However, command over implantation techniques, treatment of complications, and proper use and maintenance of TIVAD remain uneven among different medical units. Moreover, currently, there are no established quality control standards for implantation techniques or specifications for handling complications. Thus, this expert consensus is proposed to improve the success rate of TIVAD implantation via the upper-arm approach, reduce complication rates, and ensure patient safety. This consensus elaborates on the technical indications and contraindications, procedures and technical points, treatment of complications, and the use and maintenance of upper-arm TIVAD, thus providing a practical reference for medical staff.
Malignant tumors are major causes of morbidity and mortality in China. Despite advances in surgical, radiological, chemotherapeutic, molecular targeting, and immunotherapeutic treatments, patients with malignant tumors still have poor prognoses. Low-dose-rate brachytherapy, specifically 125I seed implantation, is beneficial because of its high local delivery dose and minimal damage to surrounding tissues. Consequently, it has gained increasing acceptance as a treatment modality for various malignant tumors. In this study, we explored the fundamental principles, clinical applications, and new technologies associated with 125I radioactive seed implantation.
Background:Here we analyzed mid-term data of thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) surgery with Castor single-branched stent graft placement for the management of Stanford type B aortic dissection (STBAD) involving the left subclavian artery (LSA).Methods:Between April 2014 and February 2019, 32 patients with STBAD involving a Castor single-branched stent graft were included. We analyzed their outcomes, including technical success rate (TSR), surgical duration (SD), presence of ischemia, perioperative complications, LSA patency, and survival rate (SR), using computed tomography angiography and clinical evaluation during mid-term follow-up.Results:The mean patient age was 54.63 ± 12.37 years (range, 36-83 years). The TSR was 96.88% (n = 31/32). The mean SD was 87.44 ± 10.89 with a mean contrast volume of 125.31 ± 19.30 mL. No neurological complications or deaths occurred during the study period. The patients had a mean hospital stay of 7.84 ± 3.20 days. At a mean follow-up of 68.78 ± 11.26 months, four non-aortic deaths (12.5%) were observed. The LSA patency rate was 100% (n = 28/28). There was only one case of type I endoleak immediately after surgery (3.12%) (type I from LSA). However, none of the patients experienced type II endoleaks, and there were no cases of retrograde type A aortic dissection or stent graft-driven new distal entry. Finally, all patients exhibited good LSA patency.Conclusion:TEVAR using a Castor single-branched stent graft may be a highly feasible and efficient procedure for the management of STBAD involving the LSA.
Duplicated inferior vena cava with bilateral iliac vein compression is extremely rare. We report a case of an 87-year-old man presented with bilateral lower extremity swelling, who was noted to have duplicated inferior vena cava, as revealed by computed tomography angiography (CTA). This revealed bilateral iliac vein compression caused by surrounding structures. Anticoagulant treatment combined with stent implantation completely alleviated this chronic debilitating condition during the follow-up of 2 months with no recurrence.
1.Introduction The use of inferior vena cava（IVC） filters had been increasingly growing in the last few years. The Food and Drug Administration（FDA）approved the use of retrieval filters, so they can be removed once the risk of venous thromboembolism has passed. This commits the interventional radiologist in knowing the retrieval techniques and how to manage a complex retrieval process, even though the retrieval rates remain significantly low.
Background: and purpose: To share our single-center vertebral artery stump syndrome（VASS） treatment experience and assess the role of comprehensive classification based on anatomic development, proximal conditions,and distal conditions（PAD）.Materials and methods: Data were retrospectively collected from patients who underwent endovascular thrombectomy（EVT） at the Stroke Center of the First Hospital of Jilin University between January 2016 and December2021. Among patients with acute ischemic stroke in the posterior circulation, those with acute occlusion of the intracranial arteries and occlusion at the origin of the vertebral artery confirmed by digital subtraction angiography were selected. The clinical data were summarized and analyzed.Results: Fifteen patients with VASS were enrolled in the study. The overall success rate of surgical recanalization was 80%. The successful proximal recanalization rate was 70.6%, and the recanalization rates for P1, P2, P3, and P4 were 100%, 71.4%, 50%, and 66.67%, respectively. The mean operation times for the A1 and A2 types were124 and 120 min, respectively. The successful distal recanalization rate was 91.7%, and the recanalization rates for types D1, D2, D3, and D4 were 100%, 83.3%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. Five patients experienced perioperative complications（incidence rate: 33.3%）. Distal embolism occurred in three patients（incidence rate:20%）. No dissection or subarachnoid hemorrhage occurred in any patient.Conclusion: EVT is a technically feasible treatment for VASS, and comprehensive PAD classification can, to a certain extent, help initially estimate the difficulty of surgery and provide guidance for interventional procedures.
Liver malignancy, including primary liver cancer and metastatic liver cancer, has become one of the most common causes of cancer-related death worldwide due to the high malignant degree and limited systematic treatment strategy. Radioembolization with yttrium-90 (90Y)-loaded microspheres is a relatively novel technology that has made significant progress in the local treatment of liver malignancy. The different steps in the extensive work-up of radioembolization for patients with an indication for treatment with 90Y microspheres, from patient selection to follow up, both technically and clinically, are discussed in this paper. It describes the application and development of 90Y microspheres in the treatment of liver cancer.
