European journal of radiology
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Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the brain, which are probably genetically determined, are errors in the development of the vasculature that, together with the effects of blood flow, may lead to a focal arteriovenous shunt. Clinically, the adult patient may present with acute or chronic neurological symptoms-fixed or unstable-such as deficits, seizures or headache. Sometimes the lesion is an incidental finding. ⋯ Therefore, the prescribed treatment may not be defined from an objective assessment of what is optimal for each individual patient, but rather from local expertise. In this context, more and better data about the natural history and the outcome of different treatments, as well as predictive models, would be valuable to help to optimise the management. Management strategies obviously differ according to local preferences, but results presented in the literature suggest the following strategy: (I) cortically located AVMs with a nidus volume <10 ml could be operated, with or without presurgical embolisation, unless there is a single feeder that can easily be catheterised and embolised for obliteration or other obvious target for embolisation, such as pseudoaneurysms or large fistulae; (II) centrally located AVMs with a nidus volume <10 ml should be treated by radiosurgery, unless suitable for embolisation as indicated above; (III) patients harbouring AVMs with a nidus volume >10 ml could benefit from targeted partial embolisation followed by radiosurgery or surgery, depending on the angioarchitecture; and (IV) AVMs >20 ml nidus volume usually have a high treatment risk with any treatment modality and are not obvious targets for treatment at all.
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Review
Treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms: implications of the ISAT on clipping versus coiling.
Patients with a ruptured intracranial aneurysm should be treated as soon as possible after the haemorrhage to prevent rebleeding and to allow vigorous treatment of ischemic events in case of vasospasm. The choice of treatment, endovascular or surgical, should be based on the angio-architectural aspects of the aneurysm. 3D rotational subtraction angiography will more clearly show the aneurysm morphology and will therefore help in the decision-making process. If an aneurysm is suitable for endovascular treatment ('coiling'), this should be the treatment of first choice, as has been clarified in the ISAT study. ⋯ For both treatment modalities, re-growth of the treated aneurysm has been described, but solid comparative data is missing. In analogy with the ISAT, referral of patients with a ruptured intracranial aneurysm should be performed as soon as possible after the haemorrhage. Preferably, this should be a hospital where neurosurgeons, interventional neuroradiologists, as well as neurologists (with expertise on medical treatment of patients with a subarachnoid haemorrhage) collaborate.
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The aim of the paper is to review the role of interventional radiology in the management of hemodialysis vascular access and complications in renal transplantation. The evaluation of patients with hemodialysis vascular access is complex. It includes the radiology/ultrasound (US) evaluation of the peripheral veins of the upper extremities with venous mapping and the evaluation of the central vein prior to the access placement and radiological detection and treatment of the stenosis and thrombosis in misfunctional dialysis fistulas. ⋯ Intrarenal A/V fistulas and pseudoaneurysms are occasionally seen after biopsy, the treatment requires superselective embolisation. Urologic complications are relatively uncommon, predominantly they consist of the urinary leaks and urethral obstruction. Interventional treatment consists of percutaneous nephrostomy, balloon dilation, insertion of the double J stents, metallic stent placement and external drainage of the extrarenal collections.
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Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (THS) is characterized by painful ophthalmoplegia due to a granulomatous inflammation in the cavernous sinus. Corticosteroid therapy dramatically resolves both the clinical and radiological findings of THS. We present MRI findings of six patients with a clinical history of at least one episode of unilateral or bilateral orbital-periorbital pain, clinical findings of associated paresis of one or more of 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th cranial nerves. ⋯ A follow-up MRI scan was performed for five patients at the end of 8-weeks of steroid therapy. Three of these five patients showed total resolution of the cavernous sinus lesions whereas two of them revealed a partial regression of the cavernous sinus lesions. MRI findings before and after systemic corticosteroid therapy are important diagnostic criteria to put the definitive diagnosis of THS and to differentiate it from other cavernous sinus lesions that simulate THS both clinically and radiologically.
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Case Reports
Extrapleural hematoma as an unexpected finding on a follow-up chest X-ray after coronary surgery.
We present two cases of an extrapleural hematoma, on a follow-up chest X-ray after coronary artery bypass surgery using an internal mammary artery (IMA). In both cases, the finding was disclosed on a routine chest film obtained 1 month post-operatively, in a patient who was either asymptomatic or had nonspecific symptoms. Follow-up chest films showed spontaneous resolution in both patients. We emphasize the recognition and significance of such a self-limited post-operative radiological finding.