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Pier Luigi Filosso1, Alberto Sandri1, Alberto Oliaro1, Andrea Riccardo Filippi2, Maria Carla Cassinis3, Umberto Ricardi2, Paolo Olivo Lausi1, Sofia Asioli4, Enrico Ruffini11Department of Thoracic Surgery, 2Department of Medical and Surgical Disciplines, Radiation Therapy Division, 3Department of Medical and Surgical Disciplines, Diagnostic-Imaging Division, 4Department of Oncology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, ItalyAbstract: Lung cancer (LC) has become the leading cancer-related cause of death in the US and in developed European countries in the last decade. Its incidence is still growing in females and in smokers. Surgery remains the treatment of choice whenever feasible, but unfortunately, many patients have an advanced LC at presentation and one-third of potentially operable patients do not receive a tumor resection because of their low compliance for intervention due to their compromised cardiopulmonary functions and other comorbidities. For these patients the alternative therapeutic options are stereotactic radiotherapy or percutaneous radiofrequency. When surgery is planned, an anatomical resection (segmentectomy, lobectomy, bilobectomy, pneumonectomy, sleeve lobectomy) is usually performed; wedge resection (considered as a nonanatomical one) is generally the accepted option for unfit patients. The recent increase in discovering small and peripheral LCs and/or ground-glass opacities with screening programs has dramatically increased surgeons' interest in limited resections. The role of these resections is discussed. Also, recent improvements in molecular biology techniques have increased the chemotherapic options for neoadjuvant LC treatment. The role and the importance of targeted chemotherapy is also discussed.Keywords: lung cancer, adenocarcinoma, surgery, radiofrequency, radiotherapy, chemotherapy

Purpose: To analyze with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) the evolution and progress to resolution of acute pyelonephritis (APN) foci over a period of 3 months after onset., Methods: 30 women (age 22-51 years) with clinical, laboratory (white blood cell and C-reactive protein), and DW-MRI (4b-values 0, 50, 600, 1000 s/mm 2 ) diagnosis of APN were prospectively enrolled. Two double-blinded radiologists evaluated the number of APN foci, and for each of them dimension (D), absolute diffusion coefficient (ADC), and its ratio R to the ADC of unaffected parenchyma. Signature of radiological recovery was focus no longer visible (DW-) and ADC of its site not inferior to the ADC of the unaffected parenchyma, i.e., R ≥ 0.9. Clinical and DW-MRI follow-ups (FU) were performed at 1 and 3 months., Results: At the acute stage (t 0 ), 187 APN foci were found, with ADC 0  = 1.3 ± 0.2 × 10 -3  mm 2 /s, R 0  = 0.65 ± 0.12, and D 0  = 14 ± 7.5 mm. By the 1-month FU (t 1 ), all patients had no symptoms and physiological laboratory values; despite this, only 80 (43%) foci were solved, increasing to 138 (74%) by at the 3-month FU. The ROC curve (AUC ≥ 0.80) identified R 0  ≤ 0.6 and D 0  > 15 mm as forecast of slow radiologic resolution. About 80% of foci unsolved at 1 month but with R 1  ≥ 0.8 and D 1  ≤ 10 mm reached solution at 3 months., Conclusions: DW-MRI recovery of APN foci does not always coincide with clinical recovery. The evolution of an APN focus is shaped by its initial values R 0 and D 0 . About half of the foci still visible at 1 month reached radiological resolution in the two following months.

Importance and Aims: The role of CT colonography (CTC) as a colorectal cancer (CRC) screening test is uncertain. The aim of our trial was to compare participation and detection rate (DR) with sigmoidoscopy (flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS)) and CTC in a screening setting., Design Setting and Participants: We conducted two randomised clinical trials (RCTs). (1) Participation RCT: individuals, aged 58 years, living in Turin (Italy), were randomly assigned to be invited to FS or CTC screening; (2) detection RCT: residents in northern Italy, aged 58-60, giving their consent to recruitment, were randomly allocated to CTC or FS. Polyps ≥6 mm at CTC, or 'high-risk' distal lesions at FS, were referred for colonoscopy (TC)., Main Outcome Measures: Participation rate (proportion of invitees examined); DR of advanced adenomas or CRC (advanced neoplasia (AN))., Results: Participation was 30.4% (298/980) for CTC and 27.4% (267/976) for FS (relative risk (RR) 1.1; 95% CI 0.98 to 1.29). Among men, participation was higher with CTC than with FS (34.1% vs 26.5%, p=0.011). In the detection RCT, 2673 subjects had FS and 2595 had CTC: the AN DR was 4.8% (127/2673, including 9 CRCs) with FS and 5.1% (133/2595, including 10 CRCs) with CTC (RR 1.08; 95% CI 0.85 to 1.37). Distal AN DR was 3.9% (109/2673) with FS and 2.9% (76/2595) with CTC (RR 0.72; 95% CI 0.54 to 0.96); proximal AN DR was 1.2% (34/2595) for FS vs 2.7% (69/2595) for CTC (RR 2.06; 95% CI 1.37 to 3.10)., Conclusions and Relevance: Participation and DR for FS and CTC were comparable. AN DR was twice as high in the proximal colon and lower in the distal colon with CTC than with FS. Men were more likely to participate in CTC screening., Trial Registration Number: NCT01739608; Pre-results., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.)

The two phenotypes of both limited and diffuse systemic sclerosis (SSc) have different forms of pulmonary involvement: pulmonary arterial hypertension (limited phenotype) or interstitial lung disease (ILD) (diffuse phenotype). We aimed to investigate whether Th17-related cytokines, as measured in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and in serum were connected to ILD in diffuse SSc patients. We found that for both limited and diffuse SSc, the EBC levels of all cytokines and most of the cytokine serum levels were significantly higher in patients than in controls, while, the EBC levels of Th-17 cytokines and the serum levels of IL-10 and TNF-α were significantly higher in diffuse than in limited SSc. Moreover, the thoracic CT-scan score of ILD was significantly associated with the EBC levels of IL-1 beta and with the serum IL-23, TNF-α and IL-10 levels, whereas lung carbon monoxide diffusing capacity was negatively related to the EBC levels of IL-1 beta, IL-17 and serum IL-10. Serum IL-23 was also inversely correlated with vital capacity. In conclusion, in diffuse SSc patients our results show a clear link between Th-17 cytokines measured both in EBC and in serum with interstitial lung involvement. This highlights how important it is to target Th-17 cytokines when developing new treatments for lung fibrosis.

Purpose: To relate the multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) of patients with suspect peripheral prostate cancer (PCa) to the results of the subsequent biopsy: in particular to explore whether DWI and ADC can predict the biopsy outcome and to investigate the relation between ADC and Gleason score (GS)., Materials and Methods: 175 consecutive patients who underwent 1.5 T mp-MRI followed by prostate biopsy were retrospectively analyzed by two independent radiologists. ADC values were measured in the peripheral suspect lesion areas (ADCSL) and in the contralateral zones (ADCNSL) obtaining ADCnorm = ADCSL/ADCNSL. Results on T2W images, DWI, ADC values, and perfusion studies were matched to their corresponding biopsy., Results: Negative DWI and T2W had 100% negative predictive value (NPV). When DWI was positive, ADCSL > 0.90 × 10 > 0.90 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s (ADCnorm > 0.60) identified by the ROC curve (AUC = 0.80) corresponded to NPV = 85%. In positive biopsies, ADCSL and ADCnorm decreased significantly from GS = 6 to GS ≥ 8 with Spearman coefficient ρ = -0.40 and ROC curve AUC = 0.72., Conclusion: mp-MRI allows a reliable prediction of a negative biopsy through the values of DWI, T2W, and ADC. In positive biopsies, there is a moderate correlation between ADC and the various GS levels.

Purpose: To assess reliability of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) in the management of acute pyelonephritis (APN) foci in transplanted kidneys., Materials and Methods: In the 2012-2014 period, 24 kidney-transplanted patients underwent MR screening for clinical suspicion of APN. Two readers independently analyzed all images, establishing presence and location of APN foci. The 22 patients who were positive at the MR exam constituted the study population. For each patient the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was measured in the APN foci and in three sites of the healthy parenchyma (case-control comparison). The data were matched to the laboratory measurements for white blood cell, C-reactive protein, and serum creatinine., Results: Forty-six APN foci were found in 22/24 patients. At the acute stage, the difference in ADC between healthy parenchyma and APN foci was significant (2.06 ± 0.16 vs. 1.43 ± 0.32 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s; p < 0.0001). The performance of ADC as APN indicator was tested by the receiving operating characteristics (ROC) curve: the area under curve AUC = 0.99 witnessed an excellent discriminatory ability, with threshold APN/normal parenchyma 1.9 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s. At the 1-month follow-up 43/46 APN foci were no longer visible, with ADC values significantly higher than at the acute stage; all laboratory data were physiological, with WBC significantly reduced from the acute phase (5.2 ± 1.6 × 10(9)/L vs. 10.6 ± 4.8 × 10(9)/L; p < 0.0001). The other 3 patients underwent further therapy and exams, including a third MR., Conclusions: DW-MRI with ADC measurement seems to be a reliable tool in diagnosing and monitoring APN foci in transplanted kidneys, with clinical impact on patient management.

Purpose: To evaluate Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) performance during dynamic (DYN) phases, hepatobiliary (HB) phase and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) compared with pathological findings in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with different conditions, such as stage of chronic liver disease, histological grading, nodule size, and occurrence of previous treatments., Methods: Retrospective analysis of 64 nodules reported as HCC at pathological analysis on 28 explanted livers, examined about 3 months before OLT using a 1.5 T device and 16 channels array after intravenous GD-EOB-DTPA injection. Lesions features and hepatic functional values were recorded for each patient. Two radiologists performed in consensus the analysis of nodules on DYN, HB, and DWI. MR findings were compared with those of pathological anatomy. Diagnostic indicators were calculated for each technique., Results: DYN and HB showed no statistically significant difference in sensitivity (88% and 98%, respectively), diagnostic accuracy (90.6% and 99.9%), and specificity (both 100%), for all Child-Pugh scores, gradings, sizes, and presence or absence of previous treatments. DWI had a statistically significant lower sensitivity compared to DYN (p = 0.001) and HB (p < 0.0001); its sensitivity was significantly inferior for Child-Pugh Class B nodules than for Child-Pugh Class A ones (p = 0.00005). DWI sensitivity presented a significant increase (p = 0.03) with grading and presence of previous treatments (p = 0.0006). ADC values showed no statistically significant changes with Child-Pugh score, grading and nodules size; statistically significant increase was instead found for treated vs. untreated nodules (p = 0.016)., Conclusions: In a multiparametric HCC MRI assessment, DYN and HB play the leading role, with DWI faring acceptably well for Child-Pugh Class A nodules and treated ones.

Objective: To compare contrast-enhanced (CEMR) and diffusion-weighted (DWI) magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosing acute pyelonephritis (APN) and to assess ADC measurement reliability in differentiating among normal renal parenchyma, APN and abscesses., Methods: Eighty-eight patients (80 women, mean age 36.5 years) with clinical suspicion of APN were retrospectively reviewed. An experienced observer quantified lesions with a score ranging from 0 to 3. DWI and CEMR were compared on the basis of the assigned score, total examination number (88) and on presence (36)/absence (52) of abscesses. ADC values, calculated at the healthy parenchyma, APN and abscessed were compared to each other., Results: Agreement between CEMR and DWI was 94.3 % (83/88 patients; P < 0.05). In the APN group, DWI was awarded the highest visibility score compared to CEMR (P = 0.05), while in the abscess group CEMR had the highest score (P = 0.04). The difference between ADC values of the APN-healthy parenchyma and abscess-APN groups was significant (P < 0.05). The area under the ROC curve of ADC values of the APN-healthy and abscess-APN groups were found to be 0.94 (95 % CI; cutoff value = 2) and 0.78 (95 % CI; cutoff value = 1.2) respectively., Conclusions: Diffusion-weighted imaging appears reliable in the diagnosis and follow-up of acute pyelonephritis and could provide a reasonable alternative to contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: We sought to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of percutaneous treatment of early postoperative biliary complications. The primary aims were to evaluate clinical and technical success and complications and perioperative mortality, and secondary aims were to evaluate treatment duration and recurrence rate., Materials and Methods: Between March 2007 and March 2010, 75 patients (42 men and 33 women; age range, 17-88 years; mean age, 60.8 years) underwent interventional radiology procedures to treat early postoperative biliary complications of biliary and pancreatic-duodenal surgery with biliodigestive anastomosis (37.7%), laparoscopic cholecystectomy (30.6%), hepatic resection (21.1%) and several other surgical procedures (10.6%). Complications included fistulas (73%), stenoses (20%) and complete bile duct transections (7%)., Results: Interventional radiology achieved complete clinical success in 74 cases (85.9%) and in particular in 95.2% of fistulas, 76.5% of stenoses and 33.3% of complete bile duct transections. Mean indwelling catheter time was 34.9 days, with an average of 4.1 procedures. There were two cases of severe haemobilia (2.3%). Minor complications occurred in 7% of cases. Perioperative mortality rate was 1.2% and overall recurrence rate 6.7% (range, 1-18 months; mean, 10 months), with recurrences occurring predominantly in stenoses. All patients were retreated successfully., Conclusions: Percutaneous procedures are feasible, effective and safe for treating early postoperative biliary complications. They provide a valuable alternative to presendoscopy, which is precluded in many of these patients, and to surgery, which has higher morbidity and mortality rates.

Purpose: To assess the effect of computer-aided detection (CAD) as a second reader on the sensitivity and specificity of computed tomographic (CT) colonography in detecting 6-9-mm colorectal cancer (CRC) lesions., Materials and Methods: Individuals with clinical indications for colonoscopy--either for symptoms or as part of participating in a surveillance program or CRC screening--were prospectively enrolled at one of 10 academic centers between July 2007 and May 2009. Institutional review board approval was obtained at each clinical site, and all participants provided written informed consent. All participants underwent CT colonography and colonoscopy on the same day. Experienced readers interpreted the CT colonography images unassisted and then reviewed all colorectal lesion-like structures pinpointed by the CAD algorithm. Segmental unblinding of CT colonoscopy findings at colonoscopy was utilized. The sensitivity and specificity of unassisted and CAD-assisted reading in identifying individuals with 6-9-mm lesions were calculated and compared by means of pairwise analysis., Results: A total of 618 participants (mean age, 57.9 years; 54.5% male) were included in the final analysis. Of these participants, 464 (75.1%) had no lesions 6 mm or larger, and 52 (8.4%) had 6-9-mm lesions. The sensitivity of CT colonography with unassisted reading and that with CAD-assisted reading in identifying individuals with 6-9-mm lesions was 65.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 50.9%, 78.0%) and 76.9% (95% CI: 63.2%, 87.5%; P = .016), respectively. No significant change in specificity was observed: The specificity of CT colonography with unassisted and that with CAD-assisted reading was 91.8% (95% CI: 88.9%, 94.1%) and 90.9% (95% CI: 88.0%, 93.4%; P = .063), respectively. Evaluation of CAD candidates required an additional 1.6 minutes (25th-75th percentile: 1.0 minute to 3.4 minutes)., Conclusion: The addition of CAD to reading performed by experienced readers resulted in a significant benefit in the detection of 6-9-mm polyps at CT colonography in this cohort., Supplemental Material: http://radiology.rsna.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1148/radiol.12120376/-/DC1., (RSNA, 2012)

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the role and clinical impact of dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis and follow-up of acute pyelonephritis (APN)., Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 442 consecutive renal MRI examinations (279 diagnostic and 163 follow-up) performed in 285 patients (mean age 42.17 years), 35 of whom were kidney transplant recipients with a clinical suspicion of APN., Results: MRI showed signal abnormalities suggestive of APN in 125/244 (51.2%) patients with native kidneys. Except for two examinations performed without paramagnetic contrast material, the inflammatory foci appeared as areas of nonenhancement: single in 39/123 cases, multiple in 84/123, unilateral in 60/84 and bilateral in 24/84. Abscesses were present in 40/123 (32.5%) positive cases. During follow-up, we observed complete normalisation of MRI signs in 86/103 patients; 17/103 (16.5%) cases evolved into fibrosis and scarring. In 15/35 (42.8%) patients with transplanted kidney, MRI was positive for APN., Conclusions: Renal MRI is an effective tool for the diagnosis and follow-up of APN both in patients not at risk and those at higher risk, such as those with a transplanted kidney. The high costs of the examination are offset by better treatment planning and early complication detection.

Context: Computed tomographic (CT) colonography has been recognized as an alternative for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in average-risk individuals, but less information is available on its performance in individuals at increased risk of CRC., Objective: To assess the accuracy of CT colonography in detecting advanced colorectal neoplasia in asymptomatic individuals at increased risk of CRC using unblinded colonoscopy as the reference standard., Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a multicenter, cross-sectional study. Individuals at increased risk of CRC due to either family history of advanced neoplasia in first-degree relatives, personal history of colorectal adenomas, or positive results from fecal occult blood tests (FOBTs) were recruited in 11 Italian centers and 1 Belgian center between December 2004 and May 2007. Each participant underwent CT colonography followed by colonoscopy on the same day., Main Outcome Measures: Sensitivity and specificity of CT colonography in detecting individuals with advanced neoplasia (ie, advanced adenoma or CRC) 6 mm or larger., Results: Of 1103 participants, 937 were included in the final analysis: 373 cases in the family-history group, 343 in the group with personal history of adenomas, and 221 in the FOBT-positive group. Overall, CT colonography identified 151 of 177 participants with advanced neoplasia 6 mm or larger (sensitivity, 85.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 79.0%-90.0%) and correctly classified results as negative for 667 of 760 participants without such lesions (specificity, 87.8%; 95% CI, 85.2%-90.0%). The positive and negative predictive values were 61.9% (95% CI, 55.4%-68.0%) and 96.3% (95% CI, 94.6%-97.5%), respectively; after group stratification, a significantly lower negative predictive value was found for the FOBT-positive group (84.9%; 95% CI, 76.2%-91.3%; P < .001)., Conclusions: In a group of persons at increased risk for CRC, CT colonography compared with colonoscopy resulted in a negative predictive value of 96.3% overall. When limited to FOBT-positive persons, the negative predictive value was 84.9%.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiation dose to patients during radiological contrast studies performed after vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) surgery in patients with morbid obesity., Materials and Methods: Dose evaluations were performed on a sample of 39 patients (32 women and 7 men) with a mean weight of 117 kg (range 68-175 kg) and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 43.7 (range 22.2-54.9). Between the second and seventh postoperative day, patients underwent radiological follow-up after oral administration of approximately 70 ml of water-soluble iodinated contrast material (Gastrografin) and images acquired in anteroposterior, right and left oblique projections with the patient upright and then supine. Exposure conditions, dose-area product (DAP) and entrance skin dose (ESD) were recorded for each procedure. On the basis of these data, the effective dose (ED) was calculated using simulation software based on the Monte Carlo method for determining the absorbed dose to organs. To assess the optimal exposure conditions and the dose contributions of fluoroscopy and radiography, the effective dose rates were also evaluated using Plexiglas phantoms of different thickness to simulate different patient sizes., Results: The phantom measurements showed a fourfold dose increase when passing from normal-sized patients to obese patients. Mean DAP value obtained from in-vivo measurements was 70 Gy cm(2) (range 17-147 Gy cm(2)), and mean effective dose was 21 mSv (range 5-45 mSv)., Conclusions: When performing radiological contrast studies in patients with morbid obesity, every possible precaution should be taken to minimise patient dose. Special care should be taken to evaluate justification of the radiological procedure.

Recent technological improvements such as spiral CT, CPMR, PET-CT, US and MRI specific contrast agents have increased the accuracy of non-invasive exams performed by radiologists. US is often the first step of the examination. MRI and PET-CT are considered supplementary. At present, CT is the method of choice for the diagnosis, staging and therapeutic planning of pancreatic tumors for which a multidisciplinary approach is however mandatory.

Ectopic production of biologically active glycoprotein hormones other than hCG has been reported in exceptional cases. A 61-yr-old man came to our Unit complaining of weakness, fatigue and reduced libido with erectile dysfunction. There was also a history of polycythemia, known for about 10 yr and never further investigated. The physical examination showed acne and redness of facial skin and upper chest; no other significant abnormalities were detected. Serum levels of LH were very high, whereas alpha-subunit and hCG were only slightly increased. Testosterone and 17beta-estradiol levels were increased too. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a large hypervascularized mass within the pancreatic tail, which was surgically removed by distal splenopancreatectomy. Diffuse immunoreactivity for LH was detected in more than 70% of the tumor cells. The alpha-subunit was also positive, while chorionic gonadotropin had only a focal reactivity. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Southern Blot analysis confirmed the synthesis of LH by the tumor. Four weeks after surgery, serum levels of LH, alpha-subunit, testosterone, hCG and 17beta-estradiol were all undetectable. The redness of facial skin and upper chest had disappeared, but libido was still reduced. At a further control, 3 months after surgery, serum levels of LH, FSH, hCG, alpha-subunit and 17beta-estradiol were all within the normal range, as well as hemoglobin concentration and the red blood cells count. Testosterone was slightly below normal, but the patient reported an increase of libido. This is an unusual case of ectopic secretion of LH from an endocrine tumor of the pancreas.

Background: The results of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in comparison to other treatments are investigated., Methods: 121 patients were treated in 186 sessions in our Institute from January 1991 to January 1996., Results: The mean survival rates at 1 year were 41.5 and 24.4% at 2 years. The patient's survival period was significantly longer in Child A-B patients, and in those on whom multiple sessions were performed. Personal experience in chemoembolization on HCC are better when compared to the natural history of those untreated patients but worse when compared to the data reported in literature about surgery and PEI (Percutaneous Ethanol Injection). It must be made clear though the all surgery case reports do not included class C Child patients whereas PEI is not carried out on those lesions with a diameter greater than 5 cm and plurifocal ones. Our case reports, on the other hand, as most other case reports found in the literature on chemoembolization having results similar to ours, include those patients normally not included in surgical or PEI case reports; this obviously causes the worsening of the results on global patient survival., Conclusions: Our hypothesis is that in the future the first choice in non-surgical treatment will be an association of TACE and other treatments (PEI and radiofrequency) on Child A and B patients having capsulated lesions >3 cm.

We report our 4 years' experience with intraluminal US of the biliary ducts performed on 24 patients via a biliary transhepatic-duodenal drainage catheter or a surgically inserted T tube (2 cases). The final diagnosis was a malignant disease in 16 patients and a benign disease in 8 patients. We used an Intra Vascular Ultra Sound (Diasonics) unit with a 20 MHz transducer inserted into a 9 F catheter with closed tip, which in turn was pushed through the biliary ducts in a 12 F sheathed introducer which provides a safety metal guide wire in the duodenum. US examinations lasted only a few minutes and caused no additional patient discomfort; no complications followed. Intraluminal US confirmed the results of other clinical and instrumental tests in 18/24 patients and improved the diagnostic yield in assessing lesion nature and operability in 6 cases (25%). Its cost is high, but the Intra Vascular Ultra Sound includes a 3.5 MHz and a 7 MHz probes and can therefore be used for all the other US examinations needed in interventional radiology rooms and in the study of the biliary ducts. To decrease the cost, we used the Intra Vascular Ultra Sound in less than 10% of the patients treated for biliary obstruction in the same period of time, namely those with questionable diagnosis and operability. We conclude that intraluminal US of the biliary ducts is a useful tool in the centers using interventional radiology to treat many obstructive jaundice patients by a transhepatic approach.

We report our personal experience on endorectal US and CT in the preoperative staging of rectal carcinoma. Our series includes 64 cases (38 male and 26 female) evaluated with intrarectal sonography; 38 of these patients underwent also CT-study of the lower abdomen. Using both imaging techniques infiltration of the rectal wall and adjacent structures and lymph node involvement were studied. The results of our study refer to 58 patients who underwent endorectal US, 31 of whom studied also with CT. Referring to the T-parameter with ultrasound 41 correct diagnosis were obtained, in 13 cases the lesion was over-staged and in 4 cases understaged. The sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy was respectively 89.5%, 60% and 79.3%. With CT 23 diagnosis were correct, in 1 case the lesion was overstaged and in 7 cases understaged; sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy concerning rectal wall infiltration were respectively 72%, 83.3% and 74.2%. The evaluation of the N-parameter demonstrated low value of sensitivity with both US (15.8%) and CT (42.9%). Considering the results of our series, we feel that it is necessary to use both imaging techniques because results obtained are complementary referring to the T-parameter, although N-parameter were a little significant.

To assess if the effectiveness of biopsy sampling, whose usefulness is widely recognized, can be influenced by different cutting mechanisms, we compared four different types of needles (A, B, C, D) in 76 patients, each needle being of the same length (15 cm) and calibre (18 G) but with different tip shapes. Forty biopsy samples were obtained with each type of needle for a total of 160 samples in 76 patients; 61 samples were acquired under CT guidance and 99 under US guidance. The results were subdivided in 6 categories based on biopsy result: PI (diagnosis histotype in malignant lesions), PN (diagnosis of malignancy in neoplastic lesions), P (correct diagnosis in benign lesions), S (suspicion of neoplastic lesion), E (misdiagnosis), NI (insufficient material). The results, respectively, for each needle type are: 32.5%, 30%, 2.5%, 7.5%, 12.5% and 15% with needle A; 35%, 30%, 7.5%, 0%, 15% and 12.5% with needle B; 27.5%, 17.5%, 10%, 7.5%, 22.5% and 15% with needle C; 30%, 15%, 7.5%, 15%, 17.5% and 15% with needle D. The sensitivity and specificity for each needle type were, respectively, 84.4% and 85.29% for needle A; 86.66% and 88.57% for needle B; 70% and 73.52% for needle C; 77.41% and 79.41% for needle D. No statistically significant difference was found in the effectiveness of the four needles (chi 2); on the contrary, lesions's size can affect sampling quality.

The authors report their personal experience in 160 patients affected with thyroid conditions examined with US and fine needle aspiration (FNA). Benign nodular hyperplasia, cystic-colloid nodular hyperplasia, colloid cyst, hemorrhagic cyst, adenoma, thyroiditis, follicular and malignant lesions were studied. The latter consisted of 5 papillary carcinomas, 6 follicular carcinomas, 1 medullary carcinoma, 1 Hürthle cell carcinoma, 1 lymphoma and 1 metastatic lesion. The following US patterns were observed: 69.2% of the malignant lesions were hypoechoic, 15.4% were hyperechoic and 7.7% isoechoic. Most of the malignant lesions (84.6%) had inhomogeneous echo texture; 46.1% of them exhibited peripheral microcalcifications. US diagnoses were compared with cytologic and/or histologic findings to assess US accuracy. In the surgical patients US accuracy reached 78.6% in benign lesions and 61.5% in malignant lesions. Since US alone fails to yield enough pieces of information for an accurate diagnosis to be made, especially when malignant lesions are concerned, FNA should be used, while trying to define the actual role of color-Doppler US.

Both prognosis and treatment of lymphomas depend strictly on both clinical staging and histologic classification. The role of US was investigated in the evaluation of patients affected with abdominal lymphoma. To this purpose, 52 patients affected with abdominal lymphoma underwent US and CT studies during staging, treatment, or follow-up. A comparison of the results of the two methods shows that the systematic use of US allows 5% of lymph nodes missed at CT to be demonstrated, together with hepatic and splenic involvement also undetected by CT. It is true, however, that the limited number of cases does not allow this result to be correlated with the histopathologic type of lymphopathy. US has also been the examination of choice to evaluate response to chemotherapy and to study suspected relapses. In the authors' opinion, US should become a complementary technique to CT in the staging of abdominal lymphomas.

Both traditional exams (rectal exploration, rectoscopy, barium enema, CEA) and advanced imaging (31 US, 40 CT and 11 MR) were performed for preoperative evaluation of rectal carcinoma in order to assess the accuracy of radiological imaging in the T and N staging. The results obtained have not been considered satisfactory and it is felt that US, CT and MR should not be employed routinely for rectal staging. Indeed accuracy of US, CT and MR is respectively 64%, 75% and 81% in the T evaluation and 64%, 70% and 64% in the N staging. In order to evaluate the effective usefulness of these three latter imaging techniques a double therapeutical choice was proposed. The first treatment option was suggested on the basis of traditional staging while a second choice was given considering US, TC and MR data also. Operatory findings subsequently allowed a definitive judgement on the influence of the different techniques on treatment selection. US has furnished useful data that could have allowed us to modify treatment in one case while in 5 other cases diagnostic error would have influenced treatment negatively. CT was useful in 5 cases while in 7 cases it would have influenced treatment choice negatively. MR would have been useful in one case and harmful in another. It is concluded that only patients with large neoplasms (stages T3 and T4) benefit from CT and MR staging with the exception of those cases that have tumors above the peritoneal fold or in strict relation with the sphincter structures. US was useful only in evaluating relations of neoplasms of the anterior rectal wall with nearby pelvic structures.

The authors describe their experience in the utilisation of vessel dilators provided with coaxial sheath to insert, with a single puncture two drainage catheters of stated caliber in abscessual cavities.

The authors describe a new method for the treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts using a personal technique: the percutaneous pseudocystogastrostomy. Under US and fluoroscopy guidance at first a percutaneous drainage is introduced in the pseudocyst using a transgastric approach. For seven days the drainage catheter is flushed with antibiotic solution (Rifocin), then under fluoroscopy and endoscopy guidance doubled pig-tail catheter is placed with its curlend ends in the lumen of the stomach and pseudocyst respectively. After 60 days the double pig-tail catheter is removed endoscopically. Two patients with pancreatic pseudocysts were treated successful by this method. No complications or recurrences were observed.

Differential diagnosis problems are caused by the increased, at time occasional, detection of benign and malignant spleen focal lesions in routine superior abdomen ultrasound (US). The following pathologic conditions were reported in 29 patients with focal lesions (excepted systemic diseases): 6 plain cysts, 1 cystic lymphangioma, 3 echinococcus cysts, 3 abscesses, 7 hematomas and 9 metastases. US examination and clinical data together have permitted the differentiation of cysts from solid nodules but has limits in the characterisation of lesions and in the diagnosis of abscesses. Metastases did non present specific US or CT aspects and have been correctly characterized only with aid of anamnestical data and for the coexistence of hepatic lesions. CT has proven superior specificity, compared to US, only in the diagnosis of abscesses and should thus be utilized only in selected cases.

In the last few years there has been an increasing diffusion of endoscopic percutaneous trans-lumbar lithotripsy as a treatment for kidney stones. This technique requires an adequate pyelostomic approach. The authors at this purpose suggest the utilisation of the "One Stick Introducer System Set", that has been created for the biliary tree catheterism as this set is easy to use and rarely traumatic for the patient.

Percutaneous treatment of 74 pancreatic pseudocysts was performed in 70 patients. Initially, single-step fine-needle aspiration was used and had a 71% (15 of 21 patients) recurrence rate. Better results were obtained with prolonged extragastric or transgastric external drainage, performed in 43 patients (46 pseudocysts). Two patients in this series (4.7%) required urgent surgery: one for gastric wall hematoma and the other for intracystic hemorrhage. Three patients (7.0%) were lost to follow-up. The recurrence rate in the remaining 38 patients (41 pseudocysts) was 23.7% (nine of 38 patients). Since 1986, seven patients have been treated with percutaneous pseudocystogastrostomy (one also underwent external drainage and is thus included in the previous series, too) after placement of a transgastric drainage catheter, with no recurrence (follow-up, 2-26 months). It is concluded that transgastric drainage should be performed whenever the anatomic situation is favorable and that a pseudocystogastric stent should be placed in these patients whenever secretions are still abundant after 7-10 days.