Search

Chylothorax is an uncommon complication after thoracoabdominal surgery and is typically due to injury of the thoracic duct (TD) or one of its tributaries. Patients who fail conservative management benefit from thoracic duct embolization (TDE). TDE is a percutaneous technique that includes pedal or intranodal lymphangiography, transabdominal catheterization of the TD, and glue embolization of the TD. Alternative access to the TD can be achieved via retrograde transvenous approach or direct US-guided puncture in the left neck followed by TDE. This case involves chylothorax in a 58-year-old male due to disruption of the main TD during esophagectomy, resulting in disjointed leaks from 2 separate areas related to a single complex injury. Lymphangiography and embolization via both transcervical and transabdominal approaches were performed to stop the leak.

Qin Shi,1,2,* Dandan Chen,2,3,* Chen Zhou,1,2 Jiacheng Liu,1,2 Songjiang Huang,1,2 Chongtu Yang,1,2 Bin Xiong1,2 1Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, People’s Republic of China; 2Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan 430022, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Ultrasound, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Bin XiongDepartment of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail herr_xiong@126.comPurpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) and conventional TACE (C-TACE) in treating hypovascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Materials and Methods: The medical records based on HCC patients who underwent TACE from January 2016 to June 2019 were reviewed in the study. The diagnosis of hypovascular HCC was conducted by two senior radiologists according to imaging. We evaluated the adverse events (AEs), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in the study.Results: A total of 98 patients with hypovascular HCC were included in the study. 46 patients underwent DEB-TACE treatment, and 52 patients underwent C-TACE treatment. The PFS of DEB-TACE group and C-TACE group was 12.0 months and 7.0 months (P < 0.001), and OS was 21.0 months and 14.0 months (P = 0.035), respectively. In addition, DEB-TACE group had better ORR (76.1% vs 40.4%, P < 0.001) and DCR (91.3% vs 75.0%, P = 0.033) compared to C-TACE group. The occurrence rate of AEs showed no difference between the two groups (67.3% vs 57.7%, P = 0.323). Furthermore, we found that DEB-TACE can be identified as a positive independent prognostic factor for improved PFS and OS.Conclusion: DEB-TACE, as an effective treatment, can yield better objective response rate, similar safety profile and improved survival for hypovascular HCC patients compared to C-TACE.Keywords: hypovascular hepatocellular carcinoma, drug-eluting beads, lipiodol, transarterial chemoembolization, survival

Assessment of tubal patency and therapeutic tubal flushing using Lipiodol, an oil-soluble contrast media (OSCM), has been shown to enhance fertility, resulting in increased interest in the use of Lipiodol. A modified hysterosalpingogram (HSG) technique, including a supplementary ultrasound with the contrast in situ, is recommended when using Lipiodol, taking into account both safety issues and technical challenges specific to Lipiodol.

Background Trans-bronchoscope treatment for early stage small peripheral lung cancer, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT), has been investigated. However, despite the efficacy of PDT, light delivery issues limit its application. A method of administering mineral oil with a high refractive index (RI) was previously proposed to enhance light delivery in branched or bent anatomic structures. Lipiodol has a high RI and an exhaustive history of use as a contrast medium for bronchography. We aimed to determine whether the use of lipiodol, like mineral oil, could enhance the illumination effect and therapeutic range of PDT for peripheral lung tumors. Methods We injected lipiodol into a pig lung model, guided by a bronchoscope under fluorescent surveillance, to simulate future treatment in humans, and then illuminated with PDT laser fiber to the lipiodol-infused lung to test the technique feasibility in a pig orally administered 20 mg/kg of 5-aminolevulinicc acid (5-ALA) 2 hours before treatment. We also attempted to determine the maximal tolerable light dose in this pilot study for the future studies in human. Results We successfully injected lipiodol into peripheral lungs by this technique. The pig could tolerate up to a total of 40 mL of lipiodol and 800 J of red light, without severe acute fetal injury in a non-cancerous lung. Conclusions The technique of injecting lipiodol using bronchoscopy under fluorescent guidance was feasible in a pig model. We can apply the guide sheath through bronchoscopy under fluoroscope inspection. Lipiodol can be used as a light diffuser for the peripheral lung tumor PDT model. No severe lethal acute lung injury was caused by this PDT model under careful manipulation. Additional studies evaluating the dose correlation of the photosensitizer and light are needed.

Objectives: To determine role of histoacryl injection in preventing upper acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Study Design: Prospective Study. Setting: Gastroenterology ward of DHQ Teaching Hospital Gujranwala. Period: One year from 1st September 2017 to 31st August 2018. Material & Methods: Patients presented to the study hospital having upper gastrointestinal bleeding of acute onset due to gastric varices bleeding were included in this study. All other cases having upper GIT bleeding due to other causes like peptic ulcer disease, Mallory weise syndrome, gastritis or esophageal varices were not included in this study. Both male and female patients were included irrespective of their age. Hemostasis in these cases was achieved by endoscopic sclerotherapy using histoacryl glue (N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate) injection without lipoidal dilution. After first session of injection patients were called on follow up after 5 days and they were assessed for recurrent GIT bleeding and treatment failure. All data was documented on a predesigned performa. Frequencies and percentage were calculated and results were expressed in tabular form and graphs. Results: Total 80 cases were studied including 56% male and 44% female cases. Endoscopic sclerotherapy using histoacryl injection proved successful in 87.5% cases and recurrent bleeding occurred in 12.5% cases. Minimum age of patients was 25 years and maximum age 70 years with mean age of 45 years. Total 450 cases presented in study institution with Upper GIT bleeding during study period and causes among them were liver cirrhosis in 92% cases, peptic ulcer disease in 4% cases, Malloryweise Syndrome in 2.5% and gastritis in 1.5% cases. In our study group cause of gastric varices was liver cirrhosis due to viral hepatitis in 73% cases and alcoholic hepatitis in 27% cases. After single session of endoscopic histoacryl glue injection to 80 cases, no bleeding occurred after 5 days in 71(88.7%) cases, recurrent bleeding occurred within 5 days in 9(11.2%) cases. Two cases died due to massive recurrent bleeding and mortality rate was 2.5%. Conclusion: Endoscopic sclerotherapy using Histoacryl injection is very successful treatment for acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding with very low recurrence rate of bleeding and low mortality rate.

Highlights • Oil contrast medium caused inflammatory granuloma. • Inflammatory granuloma caused growing hernia as the contents of inguinal hernia. • Complete resection of granuloma, including hernia sac, is important to prevent recurrence., Introduction The foreign body reaction caused by oil contrast medium, Lipiodol, is rare. We present a rare case of inflammatory granuloma in the inguinal hernia sac after hysterosalpingography with lipiodol. Presentation of case A 30-year-old woman who had left inguinal growing mass for 7 months after hysterosalpingography with Lipiodol for examination of infertile. About 3 cm soft mass was palpable on the left inguinal region, and plane CT scan showed a multifocal cystic mass with metal concentration. Thus, laparoscopic herniorrhaphy was performed to repair the inguinal hernia and to confirm the contents of cystic lesion. The hernia sac filled with mucinous contents. Pathological examination revealed that inflammatory granuloma due to numerous lipid droplets and phagocytic images of leukocytes in the hernia capsule. Discussion and conclusion Although oil contrast medium is safety agent, there is rear complication which need the surgical treatment. Complete resection of granuloma, including hernia sac, is important to prevent recurrence.

Haemangiopericytoma is a highly vascular tumour, which is a rare soft tissue lesion that may arise anywhere in the body, including the orbit. During its surgical resection, it is too friable for the surgeon to handle and it can bleed severely causing many problems to the surgeon. That is why many surgical approaches have been reported till now, aiming at total excision with minimal blood loss. In this case, total resection of an orbital haemangiopericytoma in a 61-year-old Caucasian woman, using an intraoperative 23G needle injection of 40% n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate and 60% lipiodol, is presented. The lesion was directly injected under fluoroscopic visualization, after which it became firm enough to be surgically removed without significant bleeding.

Purpose We aimed to illustrate the benefits of using warmed glue for viscosity reduction via the triaxial microballoon system for the treatment of various vascular disorders. Methods Seven patients who underwent 10 treatment sessions for hemoptysis, type II endoleak, post-pancreatic surgical bleeding, spontaneous retroperitoneal bleeding, or ovarian tumor bleeding were evaluated based on technical and clinical outcomes. In the procedure, the triaxial system, consisting of a 4.5-Fr guiding catheter, a 2.8-Fr microballoon catheter, and a 1.9-Fr no-taper microcatheter, was advanced into the target lesion. Glue (33% n-butyl cyanoacrylate mixed with Lipiodol) warmed to 40°C was injected under balloon occlusion. Results The common hepatic, right bronchial, intercostals, internal mammary, costocervical, lateral thoracic, superior thoracic, thoracoacromial, inferior thyroid, iliolumbar, lumbar, internal pudendal arteries, and branch of the inferior mesenteric artery were successfully embolized; 100% technical success and 100% clinical success were obtained after each session. Conclusion Our modified balloon-occluded glue embolization may lead to better handling with more distal glue penetration capability.

The true extent of a tumor is difficult to visualize, during radiotherapy, using current modalities. In the present study, the safety and feasibility of a mixture of N-butyl cyanoacrylate and lipiodol (NBCA/Lip) was evaluated in order to investigate the optimal combination for application as a fiducial marker for radiotherapy. Four combinations of NBCA/Lip injection (1:1–0.1, 1:1–0.15, 1:3–0.1 and 1:3–0.15 ml) were injected into the subcutaneous tissue of BALB/c mice. The changes in gross histopathology, body weight, skin score, marker volume, neutrophil and macrophage counts were observed to analyze the effects of the different mixing ratios and injection volumes, in order to identify the best combination. Evaluation according to the International Organization for Standardization criteria was further conducted in order to test the biocompatibility of the mixture, including an acute systematic assay with mice, cytotoxicity with L929 fibroblasts and delayed-type hypersensitivity tests with guinea pigs and an intradermal test with rabbits. The results revealed that at the seventh week, 42 markers (42/48; 87.5%) were still visible using computed tomography (CT) imaging. No serious adverse effects were observed throughout the study period; however, the combination of 1:1–0.1 ml had the lowest body weight and worst skin score. A review of the histopathological reaction to NBCA/Lip revealed a combination of acute inflammation, chronic inflammation, granulation tissue, foreign-body reaction and fibrous capsule formation. The 1:1 NBCA combination ratio resulted in the most intense tissue repair reaction and a slower degradation rate of markers. In general, the combination of 1:3–0.15 ml had a better fusion with local tissue, maintained a stable imaging nodule on CT images for 7 weeks and the final biocompatibility test demonstrated its safety. Overall, the findings of the present study demonstrated NBCA/Lip as a safe and feasible fiducial marker, when using the 1:3–0.15 ml combination.

From 2015 to 2019, 9 patients underwent ultrasound-guided intranodal lymphangiography for the treatment of a chyle leak following thoracic outlet decompression surgery. Chyle leaks were identified by Lipiodol (Guerbet, Roissy, France) extravasation near the left supraclavicular surgical bed in all patients. The technical success rate of thoracic duct embolization was 67% (6 of 9), including fluoroscopic transabdominal antegrade access (n = 4) and ultrasound-guided retrograde access in the left neck (n = 2). Clinical success was achieved in 89% of patients (8 of 9). The mean interval from lymphangiography to drain removal was 6.6 days (range, 4–18 d). No patients had a chyle leak recurrence during clinical follow-up (mean, 304 d).

Recently, treatment options for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have expanded due to the development of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor ramucirumab and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization is the standard therapy for intermediate-stage HCC; however, in cases with anatomical problems, normal approaches are not possible. In such rare cases, direct hepatic puncture may be considered as an effective therapy and an indispensable treatment. We report our novel method of direct hepatic artery puncture in this case report. In 2011 and 2017, we reported 2 cases in the journal of the Japan Society of Hepatology in Japanese. This therapy is difficult and is associated with a high risk of complications; however, we succeeded in both cases in a similar way. We believe this method may provide an alternative treatment when standard treatment is not possible or when urgent therapy is required. In case 1, direct hepatic artery puncture was performed under ultrasonographic guidance, and we were able to control the disease with percutaneous lipiodol chemotherapy. Case 2 was an emergency case of ruptured HCC. Direct hepatic puncture successfully stopped tumor bleeding; furthermore, tumor necrosis also occurred, as seen on the enhanced computed tomography image. Our new method requires advanced puncture techniques and is not the treatment of choice if there are other safe alternatives available. However, it can be considered as an option if there are no other viable, effective treatments.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a useful palliative therapeutic modality for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Postembolization syndromes, such as fever, abdominal pain, and elevated liver enzyme levels are commonly known complications of TACE. One post-TACE pulmonary complication, lipiodol pneumonitis, is rarely reported. Lipiodol pneumonitis after TACE appears to be associated with chemical injury due to accidental perfusion of lipiodol to the lung vasculature, promoted by arteriovenous shunts within the hypervascular HCC. Here, we report a 42-year-old man with unresectable HCC and hepatic vein thrombosis. The patient was initially treated with TACE. The following day after TACE, acute respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea and cough developed with decreased oxygen saturation. Chest X-ray and computed tomography showed multiple patches and diffuse ground-glass opacities in both lung fields, suggesting of lipiodol pneumonitis. The patient’s condition and radiologic abnormalities subsequently improved after 2 weeks of conservative treatment alone. (J Liver Cancer 2020;20:60-66)

Introduction To assess the efficacy of combined therapy involving bland transarterial embolization using gelatin sponge particles (bland GS-TAE) followed by transarterial chemoembolization using lipiodol mixed with anticancer agents and GS particles (Lip-TACE) to reduce the adverse events and increase the therapeutic effect of Lip-TACE in the treatment of huge (≥10 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Material and methods Twenty-one consecutive patients with huge HCCs (≥10 cm in diameter) were enrolled in this study. First, bland GS-TAE was performed to reduce the tumor volume, and then Lip-TACE was performed to control the remaining tumor at intervals of around three weeks. Tumor response, survival, and adverse events of this combined therapy were assessed. Results The tumor response was assessed three months after combined TACE, with complete response in 38.1% and partial response in 57.1% of cases. Severe adverse events were seen in two patients, acute cholecystitis and tumor rupture. The median survival time was 2.7 years, and the one-, two-, three-, and five-year overall survival rates were 76.2%, 66.7%, 42.9%, and 25.0%, respectively. Conclusion Combined therapy involving bland GS-TAE followed by Lip-TACE can be performed safety and may improve survival in patients with huge HCCs.

Background Curcumin is a promising anti-tumor drug in recent years. The main function of absorbable anti-adhesion film is to prevent adhesions after surgical operation. The effects of curcumin-lipiodol emulsion injected via the hepatic artery and portal vein catheter combined with using absorbable anti-adhesion film around the liver angiogenesis are unknown. This article mainly discusses the effects of these combined strategies on the inhibition or reduction of postoperative angiogenesis and prolonging survival time of rabbit model. Methods Forty model rabbits with VX2 liver cancer were divided into four groups. Group A is the control group and its intervention is a simple lipiodol emulsion group. The intervention in group B was a simple lipiodol emulsion combined with an anti-adhesion membrane. The intervention in group C was a mixture of curcumin and lipiodol. The intervention in group D was a mixed emulsion of curcumin and lipiodol combined with an anti-adhesion membrane. The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (ALT) and alanine aminotransferase (AST) in the model rabbits were compared to analyze the damage of liver cells 1 day before embolization and 3, 7, 14 days after the embolization. In addition, the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and microvessel density (MVD) in residual cancer tissues were determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Finally, overall survival time (OS) of each group was recorded. Results The results showed that the ALT and AST levels of venous blood before and after embolization in each group of rabbits were not changed significantly (P>0.05). The levels of VEGF and MVD in the group C and group D were lower than those in the group A (P0.05). The decrease of VEGF and MVD in group D was most obvious, and group D had a significant difference compared with group C (P0.05). The OS time of group C and group D was longer than that of group A (P

We present a case of a progressive symptomatic intramedullary cyst, diagnosed decades after Lipiodol injection. Lipiodol was originally administered intrathecally for the radiologic diagnosis of spinal masses. A link between the lesion and the history of Lipiodol injection was never suspected. Surgical exploration revealed a membrane above the lesion, separating the intradural space in a cranial and caudal compartment. On the level of the cyst, we identified glassy pearls containing a fatty liquid, compatible with Lipiodol deposits. We hypothesize that the syrinx is secondary to the impact of cerebrospinal fluid pulsations on the reactive membrane and that this membrane originated from an arachnoiditis caused by Lipiodol deposits. Lipiodol was indeed abandoned after it was found to cause arachnoiditis and neurologic sequelae. Despite the cessation of its usage, the causal role of Lipiodol in arachnoiditis and spinal cyst formation should still be considered, as symptoms may arise many years after Lipiodol administration.

Angiomyolipoma (AML) is a benign renal mass that can be treated with nephron sparing surgery or transarterial embolization. Embolization has been favored due to efficacy and safety profile. This case demonstrates a previously undocumented phenomenon of AML treated with transarterial embolization using Lipiodol® (Guerbet LLC, Princeton, NJ) resulting in nephrolithiasis and retention of Lipiodol® two years after original embolization. Although Lipiodol®-based embolization has not been shown to cause nephrolithiasis, it may have been the nidus for stone formation, and this is an important potential complication worthy of further study.

This study compared the efficacy and safety of conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) with drug-eluting beads (DEB)-TACE in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This retrospective analysis included 370 patients with HCC treated with cTACE (n = 248) or DEB-TACE (n = 122) (January 2000–July 2014). Overall survival (OS) was assessed using uni- and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Additionally, baseline imaging was assessed, and clinical and laboratory toxicities were recorded. Propensity score weighting via a generalized boosted model was applied to account for group heterogeneity. There was no significant difference in OS between cTACE (20 months) and DEB-TACE patients (24.3 months, ratio 1.271, 95% confidence interval 0.876–1.69; p = 0.392). However, in patients with infiltrative disease, cTACE achieved longer OS (25.1 months) compared to DEB-TACE (9.2 months, ratio 0.366, 0.191–0.702; p = 0.003), whereas DEB-TACE proved more effective in nodular disease (39.4 months) than cTACE (18 months, ratio 0.458, 0.308–0681; p = 0.007). Adverse events occurred with similar frequency, except for abdominal pain, which was observed more frequently after DEB-TACE (101/116; 87.1%) than cTACE (119/157; 75.8%; p = 0.02). In conclusion, these findings suggest that tumor morphology and distribution should be used as parameters to inform decisions on the selection of embolic materials for TACE for a more personalized treatment planning in patients with unresectable HCC.

The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of TACE using Lipiodol, Oncozene™ drug-eluting embolics (DEEs), or LUMI™-DEEs alone, or combined with bicarbonate on the metabolic and immunological tumor microenvironment in a rabbit VX2 tumor model. VX2 liver tumor-bearing rabbits were assigned to five groups. MRI and extracellular pH (pHe) mapping using Biosensor Imaging of Redundant Deviation in Shifts (BIRDS) were performed before and after intra-arterial therapy with conventional TACE (cTACE), DEE-TACE with Idarubicin-eluting Oncozene™-DEEs, or Doxorubicin-eluting LUMI™-DEEs, each with or without prior bicarbonate infusion, and in untreated rabbits or treated with intra-arterial bicarbonate only. Imaging results were validated with immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of cell viability (PCNA, TUNEL) and immune response (HLA-DR, CD3). Statistical analysis was performed using Mann–Whitney U test. pHe mapping revealed that combining cTACE with prior bicarbonate infusion significantly increased tumor pHe compared to control (p = 0.0175) and cTACE alone (p = 0.0025). IHC staining revealed peritumoral accumulation of HLA-DR+ antigen-presenting cells and CD3 + T-lymphocytes in controls. cTACE-treated tumors showed reduced immune infiltration, which was restored through combination with bicarbonate. DEE-TACE with Oncozene™-DEEs induced moderate intratumoral and marked peritumoral infiltration, which was slightly reduced with bicarbonate. Addition of bicarbonate prior to LUMI™-beads enhanced peritumoral immune cell infiltration compared to LUMI™-beads alone and resulted in the strongest intratumoral immune cell infiltration across all treated groups. The choice of chemoembolic regimen for TACE strongly affects post-treatment TME pHe and the ability of immune cells to accumulate and infiltrate the tumor tissue. • Combining conventional transarterial chemotherapy with prior bicarbonate infusion increases the pHe towards a more physiological value (p = 0.0025). • Peritumoral infiltration and intratumoral accumulation patterns of antigen-presenting cells and T-lymphocytes after transarterial chemotherapy were dependent on the choice of the chemoembolic regimen. • Combination of intra-arterial treatment with Doxorubicin-eluting LUMI™-beads and bicarbonate infusion resulted in the strongest intratumoral presence of immune cells (positivity index of 0.47 for HLADR+-cells and 0.62 for CD3+-cells).

The study’s purpose was to assess the safety, feasibility and efficiency of selective arterial embolization (SAE) using N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) glue before percutaneous cryoablation (PCA) of renal malignancies in patients whose tumor characteristics and/or comorbidities resulted in an unacceptable risk of bleeding. In this single-center retrospective study of 19 consecutive high-risk patients (median age, 74 years) with renal malignancies managed in 2017–2020 by SAE with NBCA followed by PCA, data about patients, tumor and procedures characteristics, complications, renal function and hemoglobin concentration before and after treatment, as well as recurrence were collected. Charlson comorbidity index was ≥4 in 89.5% of patients. Ten patients were treated by antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant therapy. Median tumor largest diameter was 3.75 cm (range, 1–6.5 cm) and R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score was ≥7 in 80%, indicating substantial tumor complexity. No major complications were recorded and minor complications occurred in 7 patients. No residual tumor was found at 6-week imaging follow-up in 18/19 patients. Tumor recurrence was visible in 1/16 patients at 6-month imaging follow-up. No significant difference was found for renal function after treatment (p = 0.07), whereas significant decrease in hemoglobin concentration was noted (p = 0.00004), although it was relevant for only one patient who required only blood transfusion and no further intervention. SAE prior to PCA is safe and effective for managing renal malignancies in high-risk patients.

Obturator nerve entrapment is a rare complication after pelvic surgery and is caused by a direct intraoperative injury or secondary to compression by a postoperative collection. We have presented the case of a 65-year-old man who had complained of right-sided medial groin pain 4 weeks after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging showed bilateral lymphoceles with right-sided compression of the obturator nerve causing diffuse muscle edema in its innervation region. Percutaneous drainage and intranodal poppyseed oil (Lipiodol)-based lymphangiography led to a complete resolution of his symptoms. ispartof: JOURNAL OF VASCULAR SURGERY CASES INNOVATIONS AND TECHNIQUES vol:7 issue:4 pages:698-700 ispartof: location:United States status: published

Surgical treatment or varicocele embolization (VE) with sclerosing or mechanical embolic agents have been shown to improve the semen parameters of infertile men. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of VE using N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) glue on semen parameters in infertile men. From January 2014 to June 2018, infertile adult patients with stage 3 varicocele and an initial semen analysis showing at least one abnormal semen parameter, and who were successfully embolized with NBCA Glubran®2 glue, were retrospectively recruited. The availability of a second semen analysis after VE was mandatory for patient inclusion. The primary endpoint was the change in total sperm number (TSN) after VE. The other parameters of interest were progressive and total sperm motilities (Smot) at 1 h (H1), sperm vitality (SV) and morphology (SMor). One hundred and two patients were included. Eight patients presented null TSN before and after VE. Among the remaining 94 patients, a significant improvement in the median TSN after VE was shown (31.79 × 106/ejaculate [IQR: 11.10–127.40 × 106/ejaculate] versus 62.24 × 106/ejaculate [IQR: 17.90–201.60 × 106/ejaculate], p = 0.0295). Significant improvement in TSN was found for the 60 oligo- or azoospermic patients (p = 0.0007), whereas no significant change was found for the 42 patients with normal initial TSN (p = 0.49). Other parameters, such as progressive and total SMot, SV and SMor, also significantly improved after VE (p = 0.0003, 0.0013, 0.0356 and 0.007, respectively). The use of NBCA glue as an embolic agent for VE in infertile men with stage 3 varicocele significantly improves the semen parameters.

Chylothorax is a relatively rare complication of esophagectomy but can lead to fatal conditions. The aim of this report was to present a case of lymphangiography from the para-aortic lymph node (PALN) under computed tomography (CT) guidance, which could be an alternative modality to ultrasound sonography from the groin. A 58-year-old man was diagnosed as having postoperative chylothorax after esophagectomy following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. As the pleural effusion did not improve, intranodal lipiodol lymphangiography from the inguinal lymph node was performed but was unsuccessful. Therefore, CT-guided lymphangiography from the left PALN was performed, and the pleural effusion drainage significantly disappeared. CT-guided lipiodol lymphangiography from the PALN for chylothorax after esophagectomy was safe and thus can be considered an alternative treatment option to ultrasonography-guided intranodal lymphangiography. The flexible use of CT and ultrasonography for lymphangiography may improve the treatment outcomes of chylothorax after esophagectomy.

Purpose To surmount the critical issues of clinical hepatectomy and achieve a precise surgical navigation of hepatocellular carcinoma after long-term transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE).Methods A facile and green pure-nanomedicine formulation technology was developed to construct carrier-free indocyanine green nanoparticles (nanoICG). The nanoICG was dispersed into lipiodol via a super-stable homogeneous lipiodol formulation technology (SHIFT nanoICG) for TAE combined with near-infrared fluorescence-guided precise hepatectomy.Results We demonstrate that SHIFT nanoICG integrates excellent anti-photobleaching capacity, great optical imaging properties, and specific tumoral deposition to recognize tumor regions, featuring sufficient physical stability for fluorescence-guided precise hepatectomy. Importantly, SHIFT nanoICG is capable of visualizing all lesions in rabbit-bearing VX2 orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma models, even the tiny focus to 0.6 × 0.4 mm.Conclusion Our findings indicate that SHIFT nanoICG provides a promising avenue to address the clinical issue of hepatectomy and has excellent potential for a translational pipeline.

Qin Shi,1,2,&ast; Tongqiang Li,1,2,&ast; Songjiang Huang,1,2,&ast; Yaowei Bai,1,2 Yingliang Wang,1,2 Jiacheng Liu,1,2 Chen Zhou,1,2 Yang Chen,1,2 Bin Xiong1,2 1Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China; 2Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Bin XiongDepartment of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue #1277, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail herr_xiong@126.comPurpose: To evaluate the effect and immune response of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) combined with donafenib in rabbit VX2 liver tumor model.Materials and Methods: Thirty-six New Zealand white rabbits with VX2 liver tumor were randomly divided into three groups. The LD group was treated with the emulsion of 0.5 mL lipiodol and 4 mg donafenib via hepatic arterial administration. The LE group was treated with the emulsion of 0.5 mL lipiodol and 4 mg epirubicin. The control group was treated with the equal volume of saline. Four rabbits were euthanized in each group on day 1, 3 and 7 after treatment. The tumor growth, histological markers associated with angiogenesis and immune response were assessed by imaging and histopathology. In addition, immune modulatory cytokines included interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, and biochemical hepatorenal function were measured.Results: Compared to other groups, LD group achieved lower tumor growth rate, fewer metastatic lesions, and higher tumor necrosis rate on day 7 after treatment. The percentage of CD31-positive area in the LD group was significantly lower than that in the LE group on day 3 and 7 after treatment. In addition, CD8+ lymphocytes infiltration was more pronounced in LD group than in LE group on day 7 after treatment, regardless of in the tumor or adjacent liver tissue. Serum cytokines including IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ were strongly upregulated in the LD group on day 1 after treatment. And there was no significant difference in the hepatorenal function between LD group and LE group after treatment.Conclusion: The combination of TAE and angiogenesis inhibitor donafenib resulted in a potentiated tumoricidal effect, anti-angiogenesis and antitumour T cell response in rabbit VX2 liver tumor model. This may provide a potential basis for exploring the immune-related mechanisms of embolization in liver cancer.Keywords: liver cancer, transcatheter arterial embolization, donafenib, tumor angiogenesis, immune response

Endovascular embolization agents are particles and fluids that can be released into the bloodstream through a catheter to mechanically and/or biologically occlude a target vessel, either temporarily or permanently. Vascular embolization agents are available as solids, liquids, and suspensions. Although liquid adhesives (glues) have been used as embolic agents for decades, experience with them for peripheral applications is generally limited. Cyanoacrylates are the main liquid adhesives used for endovascular interventions and have a major role in managing vascular abnormalities, bleeding, and many vascular diseases. They can only be injected as a mixture with ethiodized oil, which provides radiopacity and modulates the polymerization rate. This review describes the characteristics, properties, mechanisms of action, modalities of use, and indications of the cyanoacrylate-Lipiodol® combination for peripheral embolization.