[Radiologic manifestation of primary pleural tumors]

OBJECTIVES

To show the radiological manifestations of primary pleural tumors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

we carried out a retrospective analysis of radiological findings in 62 patients with primary malignant tumor of pleura.

RESULTS

Study included 39 male and 23 female patients. Malignant tumors were present in 92.7% of the patients and benign ones in 7.2%. The most common malignant tumor was mesothelioma (85.4%), and solitary fibrous tumor prevailed among benign tumors (9.7%). Diffuse malignant mesothelioma manifested on computed tomography (CT) as a pleural thickening and effusion in 67.4% of the patients, tumors and effusion in 11.7%, and only as an effusion in 9.8% cases. Thickening of the pleura appeared diffuse in 54% of patients and most often it had nodular pattern. Both localized malignant and all benign tumors presented as tumor-like changes with the signs of necrosis in 50%.

CONCLUSION

The imaging methods have a key role in the diagnosis of pleural tumors. CT shows different morphologic features of pleural lesions that have been established as a useful tool for differentiating malignant from benign disease. However, magnetic resonance is preferred imaging method for assessing the extent and resectability of pleural tumors.

[Extracorporeal percutaneous biliary-gastric "bypass" in patients with irreversible cholestasis of malignant etiology]

Authors present rarely and unusual original methods for billiary drainage type as combination of exsternal drainage and percutaneus gastrostomy. Method used in four patients with irreversibile obstruction during the last 3 years in Inteventional Radiology Dept. Clinical Center of Serbia. In all cases we have satisfactory results with survival time of about 30 days.

[Delayed MDCT in preoperative analysis of the hypopharyngeal postcricoid carcinomas]

INTRODUCTION

Determination of borders of the postcricoid tumors is of great significance during preoperative analysis, because it can be of considerable influence on operative treatment and its planning. Therefore, exact demarcation, delineation and opacification of tumor zone on CT analysis is crucial.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Late CT scan delay of 150 sec and slow vein flow of contrast agents of 1 ml/sec is radiological method of choice in preoperative evaluation of carcinoma of the post-cricoid region. For our purposes we used modern MSCT Light Speed GE 64, with slice thick of 2.5 mm (retro recon of 0.625) with software postprocesing.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In our study, we have detaily analized 25 patients with clinically proved carcinoma of hypopharynx, of which 8 had the hardest form of tumor. Control group were patients to whom CT scan was done by standard protocol and CT time scan of 50 sec. With all 8 of them, scanned by protocol of delay time of 150 sec, was proved a statistically important validity of interpretation and demarcation of tumors.

CONCLUSION

Delay time on CT scanning is proved to be efficient protocol for visualization of neck soft tissues which includes the walls of hypopharynx.

[How to prevent tissue overgrowth and incrustation of metal stents in the urinary tract in patients with pelvic malignancy] b ]

At the current level of stent application in urology each irreversible urostasis contraindicated for surgical therapy implies consideration of indications for metal stent insertion. Stent incrustation which leads directly into a new uroobstruction is a characteristic complication of this method. Available experience in different uroobstructive conditions has shown that very different clinical aspects of stent usage may directly determine the possibility of their incrustation. Stent incrustation may occur in the early postprocedural course or several months later. After that, prevention of stent incrustation starts with postprocedural evaluation, selection of the stent type, and it is subsequently continued by insertion technique and lasts practically permanently after the insertion (infection control, promotion of diuresis and maintenance of normal urodynamics). Authors present own experianse in clinical aplication of metal stents in uroradiology strictures for period of last 15 years.

[The future of transcatheter antitumor therapy]

Transcatheter antitumor therapy very quickly accepted during the last decade and their importance in the treatment of oncology patients will be increasing. By improvement of new targeted agents, which can be given intraarterial or systemic, efficiency of transcatheteric therapeutic approaches can be drastically increased. Numerous clinical trials (study phase I / II / III) relating to the synergy of two antitumor therapeutic approaches are already in progress. Preliminary results of these trials are already very encouraging. Further improvement in the development of specific therapeutics antitumor drugs and systemic applications will be a big step in the quest for medication against malignant tumors.

[Computerized tomography in postoperative monitoring of patients with the Whipple operation--characteristics of CT findings]

We presented the postoperative CT findings of patients after the Whipple's operation (cephalic pancreaticoduodenectomy), performed for the pancreatic head cancer, or ampullary carcinoma. Technique of the Whipple's operation is described, and normal and pathological postoperative CT findings, which are characteristic for the immediate (early) and delayed (late) follow-up period, are presented. In addition, difficulties in differentiation of afferent jejunal loop from the recurrent tumor by CT are discussed, and references from the literature about the possibilities of successful visualization of the afferent jejunal loop are cited. Possible locations and CT appearances of the tumor recurrences are presented. An overview of the literature is provided.

[Postoperative radiotherapy of the cervical carcinoma in elderly patients (over 60 years)]

The purpose of the study was to analyze survival and late radiation effects according to performed surgery and radiation therapy in elderly patients. Between 1996-1997. year 44 patients with cervical carcinoma older then 60 years were treated with postoperative radiotherapy. Radiotherapy included external beam irradiation with TD 36-45 Gy in 18-22 fractions and endocavitar brachy-therapy with TD 28-35Gy in 4-5 fractions. We analyzed two groups of patients group I 29/44 (65.9%) had radical operation by Werthaim-Meigs vs group II 15/44 (34.1%) patients had standard operation. Median follow-up was 48 months. Survival for all patients was 70.43%. Late postirradiation effects in the gastrointestinal tract were 40.9% and in urinary tract 25%--in both groups. A larger percent of late postirradiation sequeles were on GIT in group I vs group II (44.8% vs 33.3%) and on UR tract also (31.03% vs 13.3%). The doses of external beam irradation were equalize in both groups, while brachytherapy regime 4xTD7,5Gy was more represent in group I. Late side effects and complications after postoperative radiotherapy are acceptable, but it is necessary to carry out randomized trials with different dose regime in brachytherapy.

[Algorithm for percutaneous origin of irreversible icterus ]

It is retrospective analysis of all percutaneous billiary dranage typs used in 600 patients with opstructive icterus in last 10 years.The procedure technics is analysed. It had positiv therapeutical result in about 75% cases. The most frequent complication are showed. The most coressponding percutaneous derivation algorithm is discussed. As initial method is suggested the usage of externo-internal derivation which, in dependence of the procedure, continue by internal derivation-catheteral endoprosthesys or matelic stent. The covered metalic stents usage is suggested as method of choise in metalic endoprosthesys application.