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M Giannetti,
P Piaggi,
G Ceccarini, S Mazzeo,
G Querci,
P Fierabracci,
G Salvetti,
G Galli,
I Ricco,
S Martinelli,
C Di Salvo,
M Anselmino,
A Landi,
P Vitti,
A Pinchera,
F Santini
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ABSTRACT: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a common finding in obese subjects. Increasing evidence has been provided suggesting that it represents the hepatic component of the metabolic syndrome.
Aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the relationships between several anthropometric measures, including the hepatic left lobe volume (HLLV), and various indicators of the metabolic syndrome in a cohort of severely obese women before and after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB).
Seventy-five obese women (mean age 45 ± 10 years and body mass index (BMI) 42.5 ± 4.8 kg m(-2)) underwent LAGB and completed an average (± s.d.) post-surgical follow-up of 24 ± 6 months. Determination of HLLV, subcutaneous and intra-abdominal fat (IAF) was based on ultrasound. The principal component statistical analysis applied to pre-operative measurements, highlighted HLLV as a parameter that clustered with serum insulin, IAF, serum glucose and uric acid, along with triglycerides (TGs), alkaline phosphatase and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. After LAGB, the average reduction of BMI was 23%, 12% for subcutaneous fat (SCF), 42% for HLLV and 40% for visceral fat. Among body weight, BMI, SCF, IAF and HLLV, reduction of the latter was an independent predictor of reduction of serum transaminases and γ-Glutamyltransferase, glucose, insulin and TGs.
In severely obese women: (i) HLLV is a sensitive indicator of ectopic fat deposition, clustering with parameters defining the metabolic syndrome; (ii) weight loss achieved by LAGB is associated with a reduction of liver volume as estimated by HLLV; (iii) among various anthropometric parameters measured, reduction of HLLV that follows LAGB represents the best single predictor of improvement of various cardiometabolic risk factors.
International journal of obesity (2005) 12/2011; 36(3):336-41. · 4.34 Impact Factor
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S Mazzeo,
C Cappelli,
D Caramella,
A Belcari,
F Forasassi,
V Battaglia,
A Giannini,
R Pasquariello,
S Pallocci,
G Caproni,
C Marcocci,
A Pinchera,
P Miccoli,
C Bartolozzi
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ABSTRACT: This study was performed to evaluate the accuracy of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in detecting parathyroid lesions in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.
We included 60 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Preoperative first-line examinations revealed negative and doubtful ultrasound (US) findings in 34 and 26 cases, respectively, and negative, doubtful and positive scintigraphic findings in 19, 20 and 21 cases, respectively. CT findings were compared with the surgical results.
CT examination was positive in 35 cases, negative in 15 cases and doubtful in ten cases. Forty out of 60 patients underwent surgery, and 39 lesions (37 adenomas, two primary hyperplasias) were identified. Surgery was negative in two cases. In eight cases, lesions had ectopic location. Surgery confirmed the CT findings in 23 positive cases. In 8/10 doubtful cases, surgery confirmed the location of the lesion in five cases, identified the ectopic location of lesions in two cases, and was negative in one case. In 9/15 cases with negative CT findings, surgery identified the lesion in eight cases. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy values were 78%, 25% and 73%, respectively.
MDCT is an accurate second-line diagnostic technique in the detection of parathyroid lesions, allowing exploration of the entire cervical and mediastinal regions.
La radiologia medica 09/2007; 112(5):763-75. · 1.44 Impact Factor
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F Santini,
M Giannetti, S Mazzeo,
P Fierabracci,
G Scartabelli,
A Marsili,
R Valeriano,
A Pucci,
M Anselmino,
V Zampa,
P Vitti,
A Pinchera
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ABSTRACT: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a common finding in obese subjects, and increasing evidence has been provided suggesting that it represents the hepatic component of the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the extent of liver enlargement is related to the severity of the metabolic syndrome in obese women. The relationship between ultrasound- measured hepatic left lobe volume (HLLV) and various features of the metabolic syndrome was evaluated in 85 obese women. The mean+/-SD value of HLLV in obese women was 431+/-214 ml (range 46-1019 ml) while it was 187+/-31 ml (range 143-258 ml) in lean subjects. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, ultrasound-measured intra-abdominal fat was the only anthropometric measure independently associated with HLLV. A strong positive association was found between HLLV and serum liver enzymes, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, uric acid, C reactive protein, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, while a negative correlation was observed between HLLV and HDL cholesterol. The values of HLLV corresponding to the cut-off values of various risk factors for the diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome were calculated, yielding a mean value of 465 ml. In conclusion, ultrasound measurement of HLLV represents a simple, reliable and low-cost tool for the evaluation of liver involvement in the metabolic syndrome. The strong association between liver enlargement and various cardiovascular risk factors associated with insulin resistance supports the role of liver steatosis as an important link among the many facets of the metabolic syndrome in human obesity.
Journal of endocrinological investigation 03/2007; 30(2):104-10. · 1.57 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To assess the usefulness of US contrast media in the evaluation of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, with a nodule showing US features of a primary parathyroid lesion but lacking the color Doppler US appearance of a parathyroid mass.
Thirteen patients (7 female, 6 male; age range 51-79 years) were examined with US before and after administration of a stabilized galactose-based microbubble contrast agent. Ten patients underwent surgery and the final histological examination demonstrated parathyroid adenoma in 9 cases and a mesenchymal benign nodule in 1 case. Three nodules were proved to be of thyroid origin at fine-needle aspiration biopsy.
The use of a US contrast agent resulted in a diagnostic gain compared to unenhanced studies in 12/13 cases. Color Doppler findings characteristic of parathyroid lesions were observed in 7/13 cases, of thyroid nodules in 4/13 cases, and nonspecific patterns in 2/13 cases. Contrast-enhanced color Doppler US can be proposed in selected patients in whom unenhanced color Doppler provides uncertain findings. Its ideal application should be the evaluation of cervical lesions without detectable intranodular flow at unenhanced Doppler studies. In these cases, the contrast agent helps in visualizing typical color Doppler signals of the parathyroid lesions ("vascular pole" and "mixed pattern").
Acta Radiologica 10/2000; 41(5):412-6. · 1.37 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Preoperative localization of parathyroid lesions and intraoperative quick parathyroid hormone (PTH) assay have been proposed to minimize the extent of operation in primary hyperparathyroidism. To this purpose, endoscopic procedures have been introduced recently.
During a period of 13 months, 39 of 65 consecutive patients with primary hyperparathyroidism were selected for endoscopic parathyroidectomy on the basis of the following criteria: preoperative echographic diagnosis of a single adenoma, absence of nodular goiter, and no prior neck operations. Unilateral neck exploration and excision of the adenoma was performed through a gasless procedure combined with intraoperative PTH measurements. Mean follow-up after the operation was 7 months (range 1 to 13 months).
Thirty-nine parathyroid adenomas were removed; the mean diameter was 21 mm (range 5 to 30 mm). The mean operative time was 65 minutes (range 30 to 180 minutes). In all cases PTH concentration decreased significantly. Patients who underwent endoscopic parathyroidectomy had less postoperative pain compared with patients who underwent conventional hemithyroidectomy. At follow-up, serum calcium and PTH levels were normal in all cases.
Endoscopic parathyroidectomy proved to be a feasible surgical procedure that can be performed in an acceptable operative time with an excellent cosmetic result. The gasless approach avoided any emphysema.
Surgery 01/1999; 124(6):1077-9; discussion 1079-80. · 3.10 Impact Factor
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C Marcocci, S Mazzeo,
G Bruno-Bossio,
A Picone,
E Vignali,
M Ciampi,
P Viacava,
A G Naccarato,
P Miccoli,
P Iacconi,
A Pinchera
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ABSTRACT: To determine the usefulness of parathyroid hormone (PTH) measurement in needle aspirates of a suspicious neck mass to confirm its parathyroid nature in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.
Thirty-three patients with surgically proved primary hyperparathyroidism were submitted to neck ultrasound (US), parathyroid scintigraphy, and assay of PTH in the aspirate (PTHa) of the suspicious cervical mass.
Based on the results of neck US and parathyroid scintigraphy, patients were divided into two groups. Group 1: 16 patients (seven with nodular goiter) with concordant positive US and scintigraphic results. In all but one patient, PTHa was detectable and often markedly elevated (> 1000 pg in 12 patients, between 292 pg and 803 pg in three patients and 53 pg in one patient). The patient with undetectable PTHa had a small lower left parathyroid adenoma (8x8x10 mm). Group 2: 17 patients (12 with nodular goiter) with discordant US and scintigraphic results. PTHa established the parathyroid nature of the mass in 13 cases (> 1000 pg in 8 patients, between 501 pg and 953 pg in three patients and 90 and 79 pg in two patients): 11 of these had a suspected lesion by US examination but the scintigraphy results were negative; two had a mass that gave positive scintigraphy results but was of uncertain origin according to US: in both cases an intrathyroidal parathyroid adenoma was found. PTHa was undetectable in four cases (three with nodular goiter): all of these had equivocal US results, and three had positive scans and one a negative scan.
Assay of PTHa is a simple method and should be useful for confirming the parathyroid nature of a cervical mass in patients with discordant or non-diagnostic US and scintigraphic results.
European Journal of Endocrinology 07/1998; 139(1):72-7. · 3.42 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study was to establish the usefulness of conventional thyroid ultrasonography (US) and color flow-doppler (CFD) sonography in the assessment of 'cold' thyroid nodules. One hundred and four consecutive patients with thyroid nodules who were to undergo surgery were examined by US and CFD before thyroidectomy. Conventional US evaluated the presence of a halo sign, hypoechogenicity and microcalcifications. The vascular pattern on CFD was classified as follows: Type I, absence of blood flow; Type II, perinodular blood flow; Type III, marked intranodular blood flow. On histology, 30 nodules were diagnosed as malignant (carcinoma, CA) and 74 as benign nodules (BN). On US, the echographic pattern most predictive for malignancy was absent halo sign, which was found in 20/30 CA and in 17/72 BN (P = 0.0001; specificity 77.0%; sensitivity 66.6%). The most specific combination on US, absent halo sign/microcalcifications, was found in 8/30 CA and in 5/74 BN (P < 0.005; specificity 93.2%, sensitivity 26.6%). The Type III pattern on CFD was found in 20/30 CA and 38/74 BN (not statistically significant). The combination of absent halo sign on US with Type III pattern on CFD was found in 15/30 CA and in 8/74 BN (P < 0.0001; specificity 89.0%, sensitivity 50.0%). The combination of absent halo sign/microcalcifications on US with Type III pattern on CFD was the most specific combination of the two techniques, being found in 5/30 CA and in only 2/74 BN (P < 0.01; specificity 97.2%, sensitivity 16.6%). In conclusion, findings on US and CFD become highly predictive for malignancy only when multiple signs are simultaneously present in a thyroid nodule. Thus the predictive value of these techniques increases at the expense of their sensitivity. Only in a small proportion of patients with thyroid carcinoma is US and CFD information highly predictive of malignancy.
European Journal of Endocrinology 01/1998; 138(1):41-6. · 3.42 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) occurs both in abnormal thyroid glands (nodular goiter, latent Graves' disease) (type I AIT) or in apparently normal thyroid glands (type II AIT). Differentiation of the two forms is crucial, because type I AIT responds well to methimazole and potassium perchlorate combined treatment, whereas type II AIT is effectively managed by glucocorticoids. Differential diagnosis is often difficult, although thyroid radioactive iodine uptake is usually low-to-normal in type I and low-suppressed in type II, and serum interleukin-6 levels are normal/slightly elevated in type I, markedly elevated in type II. Color flow Doppler sonography (CFDS) is a technique that shows intrathyroidal blood flow and provides real-time information on thyroid morphology and hyperfunction. To investigate the usefulness of CFDS in differentiating the two types of AIT, 27 consecutive AIT patients, 11 type I and 16 type II, were evaluated by CFDS before starting antithyroid treatment. Gender, age, severity of thyrotoxicosis, and cumulative amiodarone dose were similar in the two groups. All type II AIT patients had a CFDS pattern 0 (ie, absent vascularity), in agreement with the pathogenesis of the disease, due to thyroid damage. Likewise, nine patients with subacute thyroiditis, another destructive process of the thyroid gland, also had a CFDS pattern 0. Eleven patients with type I AIT had a CFDS pattern ranging from pattern I (presence of parenchymal blood flow with patchy uneven distribution) (7 patients, 64%) to pattern II (ie, mild increase of color flow Doppler signal with patchy distribution) (1 patient, 9%) and pattern III (markedly increased color flow Doppler signal with diffuse homogeneous distribution)(3 patients, 27%), similar to that found in patients with untreated Graves' disease patients, thus indicating a hyper-functioning gland. Control subjects and euthyroid patients under long-term amiodarone treatment had absent thyroid hypervascularity and a CFDS pattern 0. These findings demonstrate that CFDS distinguishes type I and II AIT. Because of its rapidity and noninvasive features, CFDS represents a valuable tool for a quick differentiation between the two types of AIT. This can avoid any delay in initiating the appropriate treatment for a rapid control of thyrotoxicosis in patients whose tachyarrhythmias or other cardiac disorders make thyroid hormone excess extremely deleterious.
Thyroid 09/1997; 7(4):541-5. · 4.79 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of our study was to clarify possible differential color Doppler US features between parathyroid lesions and other cervical masses. A total of 56 parathyroid lesions in 54 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism were preoperatively examined with color Doppler sonography. Color Doppler flow patterns were compared with those of 72 thyroid nodules and 20 cervical lymph nodes. In 38 parathyroid lesions a correlation between color Doppler patterns and size, location, and pathological findings was performed. Color Doppler sonography showed five vascular distribution patterns: pattern I, absence of flow; pattern II, focal peripheral flow ("vascular pole") with arterial Doppler spectrum; pattern III, peripheral flow; pattern IV, internal flow ("parenchymal pattern"); pattern V, peripheral and intranodular flow. Pattern I was not specific for any cervical lesion considered. Conversely, pattern IV was observed solely in parathyroid lesions, and pattern II was observed in only one nonparathyroid lesion (thyroid nodule). Mixed pattern (pattern V) was observed solely in thyroid nodules. In addition, pattern III was a characteristic finding of thyroid nodules and was observed in only one parathyroid lesion. Color Doppler patterns of the parathyroid masses did not correlate with the size of the lesion or pathological findings, but only with the location of the gland. Our study showed that color Doppler assessment of parathyroid lesions is a useful integration of gray-scale US and may be helpful in distinguishing parathyroid lesions from other cervical masses.
European Radiology 02/1997; 7(1):90-5. · 3.22 Impact Factor
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S Mazzeo,
D Caramella,
R Lencioni,
N Molea,
A De Liperi,
C Marcocci,
P Miccoli,
P Iacconi,
G B Bossio,
P Viacava,
E Lazzeri,
C Bartolozzi
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ABSTRACT: This study prospectively evaluated the sensitivity of high-resolution sonography compared with double-tracer 201Tl-99mTc scintigraphy (Tl-Tc) subtractive scintigraphy and double-phase 99mTc-sestamibi (Tc-MIBI) scintigraphy prior to surgery in the assessment of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism in a geographic region where areas of endemic thyroid goiter are present.
Sonography and scintigraphy were used as first-step imaging procedures in 73 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. In 30 (41%) of 73 cases, we found an association with a thyroid abnormality. We compared sonography with double-tracer Tl-Tc scintigraphy in 41 cases, with Tc-MIBI scintigraphy in 22 other cases, and with both scintigraphic studies in 10 other cases.
Surgery demonstrated 68 solitary parathyroid lesions (66 adenomas, one hyperplasia, and one carcinoma), two adenomas in two patients, and multiple hyperplastic glands in two patients for a total of seven lesions. In one case no abnormal parathyroid gland was found. Overall sensitivity of sonography, Tl-Tc, and Tc-MIBI scintigraphy was 85%, 62%, and 82%, respectively. In patients with concomitant thyroid disease, the sensitivity of sonography, dual-tracer Tl-Tc, and Tc-MIBI was 77%, 67%, and 80%, respectively.
Our study proves that sonography and scintigraphy are equally able to detect parathyroid lesions before surgery in patients with concomitant thyroid diseases. In patients without thyroid abnormalities, detection rates of sonography and Tc-MIBI do not show any statistical difference, and the detection rate of Tl-Tc is significantly inferior to that of sonography. Sonography alone should be used as the first step for localization of abnormal parathyroid glands prior to surgery, and Tc-MIBI scintigraphy should be used as the second step when sonography is negative.
American Journal of Roentgenology 07/1996; 166(6):1465-70. · 2.78 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The authors report their 3-year experience with the diagnosis of parathyroid lesions in primary hyperparathyroidism patients in a geographic area where the occurrence of endemic goiter is medium. Our study was aimed at prospectively assessing preoperative imaging results in these patients. The following imaging methods were used: high-definition and color-Doppler ultrasonography (US), double-tracer 201Thallium-99mTechnetium (T1/Tc) subtraction scintigraphy, Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and US-guided fine-needle aspiration of the suspected parathyroid lesions. Preoperative US and scintigraphy were performed in 50 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism; in addition, color-Doppler US studies were performed in 33 patients for vascular characterization of the lesions. In 19 patients, the suspected lesions were punctured under US guidance to measure parathormone (PTHa) and thyroglobulin (TGa) levels in the aspirated material. CT and MRI were performed in 9 patients, to identify a possible ectopic parathyroid gland. Surgery demonstrated 48 solitary parathyroid lesions and one double parathyroid adenoma. In one patient no abnormal parathyroid gland was found. Overall sensitivity rates of US and scintigraphy were 85.7% and 61.2%, respectively. In multinodular goiter patients, the sensitivity rates of US and scintigraphy were 71.4% and 47.6%, respectively. At color-Doppler US the presence of parenchymal vascularization was specific of parathyroid nodules and the method helped differentiate parathyroid lesions from thyroid nodules in 14 multinodular goiter patients. Overall PTHa sensitivity was 72.2% and its specificity 100%. Overall TGa sensitivity was 100% and specificity 94.7%. CT and MRI allowed the detection of 8 ectopic parathyroid lesions. In conclusion, in our personal experience, US should be preferred to double-tracer T1/Tc subtraction scintigraphy in the early examination of primary hyperparathyroidism patients. When US detects a suspected parathyroid lesion, color-Doppler US and PTH and TG sampling can make useful diagnostic tools for reducing false-positive results, especially when thyroid disease is associated.
La radiologia medica 01/1996; 90(6):747-55. · 1.44 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Thyroid hypoechogenicity at ultrasound is a characteristic of autoimmune thyroid diseases, with an overlap of this echographic pattern in patients affected by Graves' disease or Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Aim of the present paper was to study the thyroid blood flow (TBF) by color-flow doppler (CFD) and peak systolic velocity (PSV) at the inferior thyroid artery in 37 Graves' and 45 goitrous Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients. CFD pattern was defined as normal (or type 0): TBF limited to peripheral thyroid arteries (PSV = 17.7 +/- 3 cm/sec, mean +/- SD); type I: TBF mildly increased; type II: TBF clearly increased; type III: TBF markedly increased. The CFD was in direct relationship to the PSV. Out of 18 patients with Graves' disease and untreated active hyperthyroidism CFD pattern was type III in 17 and type II in 1. The PSV was 42.1 +/- 15 cm/sec. In 17 patients euthyroid under methimazole, the CFD pattern was type 0 in 3 (17%) type I in 5 (30%), type II in 5 (30%), type III in 4 (23%). In this group of Graves' patients the PSV was 36 +/- 14 cm/sec. In two patients, hypothyroid after radioiodine treatment, the CFD pattern was type 0 in 1 and type I in 1. In the group of Hashimoto's patients TBF was in no relationship with thyroid status or treatment and was type 0 in 22 (49%), type I in 20 (44%), type II in 3 (7%), while none had type III CFD pattern. Thyroid hypoechogenicity at ultrasound was present in 32/37 (86%) Graves' and 41/45 (91%) Hashimoto's patients. All the four patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and normal thyroid ultrasound pattern had also a normal CFD pattern, while 4/5 patients with Graves' disease and normal echographic pattern had an increased TBF. In conclusion, a diffusely increased thyroid blood flow is pathognomonic of untreated Graves' disease and an abnormal CFD pattern identifies the majority of Graves' patients with a normal thyroid ultrasound pattern. Thus, CFD sonography may be useful in distinguishing patients with Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis having a similar thyroid echographic pattern at ultrasound.
Journal of endocrinological investigation 01/1996; 18(11):857-61. · 1.57 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To compare the efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) versus repeated TACE in the treatment of large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Fifty-three patients with cirrhosis and a large HCC (main tumor, 3.1-8.0 cm in diameter with no more than two daughter nodules) were enrolled in a prospective, randomized study. Twenty-six patients underwent a single TACE session followed by PEI (TACE-PEI group), whereas 27 patients underwent two to five TACE sessions (TACE group). Both groups of patients were similar with regard to liver function. Follow-up ranged from 8 to 39 months.
Complete therapeutic responses were higher (P < .05) and tumor recurrences during follow-up were lower (P < .05) in the TACE-PEI group than in the TACE group. Patients in the TACE-PEI group survived longer than those in the TACE group, although the difference was not significant (P > .1). The rates of survival without recurrence were better in the TACE-PEI group than in the TACE group (P < .05).
Use of a single TACE session combined with PEI is more effective than repeated TACE in the treatment of large HCC.
Radiology 12/1995; 197(3):812-8. · 5.73 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In a retrospective analysis performed on 4167 routine abdominal sonographic (US) examinations (September 1989 to December 1991), 93 US reports strongly suggesting the presence of gastrointestinal (GI) tract disorders were found. Neoplastic GI tract diseases were indicated in 65.6 % of cases and non-neoplastic conditions in 34.4 %. The final diagnoses confirmed all the cases of non-neoplastic disease, while 3 patients sonographically suspected as having a neoplasm proved not to have any GI tract abnormality. In the period January 1992 to December 1992, 62 patients with a suspected GI tract abnormality were enrolled in a prospective double-masked US study after being submitted to conventional radiological studies only in 28 of 62 cases, after conventional studies and CT in 24 of 62 cases, and after CT only in 10 of 62 cases. Sonography furnished additional diagnostic information in 28 of 62 cases when the previous radiological examination did not include CT, but sonography misinterpreted 4 inflammatory disorders as tumours. Our study confirmed the important role of US alone or in association with other imaging modalities in the study of GI tract diseases.
European Radiology 07/1995; 5(4):347-353. · 3.22 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Pseudomembranous colitis (PC) is a dangerous inflammatory disease which arises as a complication of systemic antibiotic therapy. The colon is the preferred localization of PC, which is caused by the alteration in the bacterial population of the bowel which favors the growth and activation of several germ types--e.g., the Clostridium difficile, whose toxins can damage the colonic mucosa deeply. Later, the condition may affect extramucosal structures thus causing an actual parietal alteration. Clinically, PC patients present with diarrhea, abdominal pain, onset or worsening of fever, impairement of the main body functions. The colonic mucosa appears macroscopically edematous and is covered with yellowish plaques, called "pseudomembranes", which adhere strictly to the mucosa. Pseudomembranes are made by fibrin, mucus, leucocytes and epithelial remnants. The diagnosis is made on the basis of laboratory tests--i.e. the demonstration of Clostridium difficile or its toxins in the feces. Endoscopy is the examination of choice when PC is suspected because it can demonstrate the typical mucosal alterations directly. In this paper the main etiologic, pathologic and clinical features of PC are presented and the role of diagnostic imaging examinations is discussed, not only in demonstrating the typical lesions but also in the spatial evaluation of the condition and in its follow-up.
La radiologia medica 07/1994; 87(6):775-82. · 1.44 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of our work was to implement and validate a system for the acquisition, local management and remote transmission of diagnostic images using two interconnected brrnldbarud Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs). The MAN technoloy is compliant with the IEEE 8()2.6 standard, also known as DiStribrutell Queue Dual Bus (D()1)B). Application domains included tcleradiblogy and teleprocessing of diagnostic incages. Teleradiology was focused on the enhancement of the radiologist to clinician information flow witlcirc the framework of the European Project EurIPACS. An intrainstitutional scenario was taken as a paradigm in the field of staging, nonstrrgical treatment, and follow-up of hepatocellular carcinoma. Remote processing of diagnostic images using the broadband MAN allowed a cooperative work with scientific institutions in an area often limited by the complexity of image transfer acrd the lack of timely feedback concerning tlce. clinical usefulness of processed images. ()ur preliminary experience demonstrated that the DQDB MAN provided a fast and reliable means for transmitting diagnostic images.
European Radiology 06/1994; 4(4):377-381. · 3.22 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of unenhanced and enhanced MR imaging in evaluating the response of hepatocellular carcinoma to percutaneous injection of ethanol.
Thirty-one patients with 40 hepatocellular carcinomas less than 5 cm in diameter were examined with MR imaging before and after percutaneous injection of ethanol. Unenhanced T1- and T2-weighted and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted spin-echo images were obtained. CT and percutaneous biopsy were performed 1 month after the final injection of ethanol and repeated at 6-month intervals to establish the outcome of treatment: complete tumor necrosis was shown in 36 lesions and incomplete tumor necrosis was seen in four lesions.
Of the 36 proved necrotic lesions, 31 showed homogeneously low signal intensity on T2-weighted MR images obtained after treatment, owing to coagulative necrosis of the tumor. In the remaining five necrotic lesions, hypointense and hyperintense areas coexisted; the hyperintense areas were caused by liquefactive necrotic material in two cases and by chronic inflammatory tissue along the boundary of the necrotic area in three cases. None of the 36 necrotic lesions showed contrast enhancement on T1-weighted images obtained after IV injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine. In the four lesions with incomplete necrosis, the viable portion of the tumor was identified as a hyperintense area on T2-weighted images and as an enhancing area on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images. No correlation was found between lesion features on unenhanced T1-weighted images and outcome of therapy.
Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR images allow a reliable evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment and are more accurate than unenhanced MR studies. Contrast-enhanced MR imaging may be considered a valuable alternative to contrast-enhanced CT in the follow-up of hepatocellular carcinomas treated with percutaneous injection of ethanol.
American Journal of Roentgenology 05/1994; 162(4):827-31. · 2.78 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Adenomatous hyperplastic nodules (AHNs) in cirrhotic liver are considered a precancerous condition which may lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we treated a total of 23 AHNs in 15 patients with percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI). The treatment included 6 to 8 PEIs, performed on an out-patient basis under sonographic guidance. A 22 G (0.7 mm) spinal needle was used. The total amount of alcohol delivered into each lesion was 8 to 25 ml (mean 14.9 ml). At the end of treatment, complete necrosis of the nodule was proved in all cases by multiple fine-needle biopsies and confirmed by CT and MR findings. During follow-up (9-41 months, mean 24 months) no recurrences were demonstrated. However, HCC occurred elsewhere in the liver of 4 patients and additional AHNs were detected in 2 patients. Thus, PEI proved able to cause complete ablation of AHNs, presumably preventing their malignant transformation. However, patients with AHN remain at high risk for developing HCC.
Acta Radiologica 04/1994; 35(2):138-42. · 1.37 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sonographically guided percutaneous injection of ethanol for treating autonomous thyroid nodules in order to assess that technique's feasibility as an alternative to traditional ablative (radionuclide and surgical) therapies.
Thirty-two patients with autonomous thyroid nodules were included in the study: seven had thyrotoxicosis, and 25 were in the pretoxic clinical phase. Ethanol was injected percutaneously on an outpatient basis once or twice a week for a total of three to 10 injections per nodule, mainly depending on the nodule's size. Scintigrams obtained 3 months after the end of treatment were used to assess response to this therapy. The follow-up period was from 3 to 30 months.
Thyroid scintigraphy 3 months after percutaneous injection of ethanol showed complete recovery of function in extranodular tissue in 26 patients (81%), partial recovery in five patients (16%), and no recovery in one patient (3%). In all patients, the volume of the nodules decreased by more than 50% after treatment. In three of five patients in whom scintigraphy showed only partial recovery of function in extranodular tissue, a second percutaneous injection of ethanol was given after 15 months. The therapy was well tolerated, and after a total of 216 injections, no patient had permanent side effects.
Our experience shows that percutaneous injection of ethanol is a practical alternative to traditional treatments for autonomous thyroid nodules and that it is an option for treating pretoxic adenoma.
American Journal of Roentgenology 11/1993; 161(4):871-6. · 2.78 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Twenty-nine small hepatocellular carcinomas (sHCCs) less than 5 cm in diameter were treated with percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) under US guidance in 24 cirrhotic patients. The nodules were treated on an outpatient basis with 6-18 ethanol injections; the total amount of alcohol delivered to each lesion was 10-103 ml. Twenty-seven of the 29 HCCs (93.1%) showed no evidence viable neoplastic tissue at a dynamic CT scan combined with multiple fine-needle biopsies performed one month after the end of treatment; in 10 cases MR confirmed the presence of necrosis showing marked hypointensity of the lesions in T2-weighted images. None of the 27 necrotized sHCCs recurred locally during a 4-44 months' follow-up period (mean 18 months). Two lesions larger than 4 cm showed incomplete response to treatment. No complications occurred after a total number of 264 alcohol injections. The 1-year survival rate in the 16 patients with a follow-up longer than 12 months was 93.7%. PEI proved to be a safe and effective treatment for sHCCs. In particular, PEI can be viewed as a reliable alternative to surgery in the management of nodules less than 3 cm in diameter, considering the operative hazards and the high risk of new lesions occurring in resected livers.
La radiologia medica 12/1992; 84(5):596-601. · 1.44 Impact Factor
