[en] Purpose. To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of endovascular treatment of splenic artery aneurysm (SAAs). Materials and methods. Between May 2000 and June 2003 we treated 11 true SAAs in 9 patients (7 females and 2 males; mean age 58 years), 8 saccular and 3 fusiform, 4 located at the middle tract of the splenic artery, 5 at the distal tract and 2 intra-parenchymal. The diagnosis was performed with colour-Doppler ultrasound and/or CT-angiography; 7 patients were symptomless, 1 had left hypochondriac pain, and 1 had acute abdomen caused by a ruptured SAA. Four SAAs were treated by micro coil embolisation of the aneurysmal sac with preservation of splenic artery patency; in 2 cases this was associated with transcatheter injection of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate. Four cases were treated by endovascular ligature, with sectoral spleen ischaemia. One ruptured SAA received emergency treatment with splenic artery cyanoacrylate embolisation. Two intra-parenchymal SAAs were excluded, one by cyanoacrylate embolisation of the afferent artery and the other by transcatheter thrombin injection in the aneurysmal sac. Results. Technical success was observed in all cases (in 10/11 at the end of the procedure; in 1/11 at CT performed 3 days after the procedure). The follow-up (mean 18 months; range 6-36) was performed by colour-Doppler ultrasound and/or CT-angiography 3, 6 and 12 months after the procedure and subsequently once a year; the complete exclusion of the aneurysms was confirmed in 11/11 cases. The complications were: 4 cases of mild pleuritis; fever and left hypochondriac pain 1 day after the procedure (in the same 4 patients and in one other case); 5 cases of sectorial spleen ischaemia and 1 case of diffuse spleen infarction with partial revascularization by collateral vessels. No alteration of the levels of pancreatic enzymes was found; a transitory increase in platelet count occurred only in the patient with diffuse spleen infarction. Conclusions. Using different techniques, endovascular treatment is feasible in nearly all SAAs. It ensures good immediate and long term results, and no doubt presents some advantages in comparison to surgical treatment, as it less invasive and allows the preservation of splenic function
[it]
Scopo. Verificare l'efficacia del trattamento endovascolare degli aneurismi dell'arteria splenica (AAS). Materiale e metodi. Nel periodo compreso tra maggio 2000 e giugno 2003 sono stati trattati 11 AAS veri in 9 pazienti (7 femmine e 2 maschi; eta media 58 anni), 8 sacciformi e 3 fusiformi, 4 localizzati al tratto medio, 5 al tratto distale e 2 intrasplenici. La diagnosi e stata effettuata con eco color Doppler e/o angio-TC ed e risultata occasionate in 7 pazienti e conseguente a dolore in ipocondrio sinistro in 1 caso; un AAS e stato riscontrato in fase di fissurazione. Quattro AAS sono stati esclusi mediante embolizzazione della sacca con microspirali, con preservazione della continuita dell'asse vascolare; in 2 casi e stata associata l'iniezione transcatetere di cianoacrilato. In 4 casi e stata effettuata una legatura endovascolare, con ischemia settoriaie della milza. Un AAS fisstirato e stato trattato in urgenza con embolizzazione massiva mediante cianoacrilato dell'arteria splenica. I 2 aneurismi intrasplenici sono stati esclusi, l'uno mediante embolizzazione dell'arteria afferente con cianoacrilato e l'altro con iniezione transcatetere di trombina nella sacca aneurismatica. Risultati. E stata ottenuta la devascolarizzazione completa di tutti gli AAS (in 10/11 al termine della procedura; in 1/11 al controllo TC, effettuato dopo 3 giorni). Il follow-up (durata media 18 mesi; range 6-36 mesi) e stato espletato con eco color Doppler e/o angio-TC a 3, 6, 12 mesi e successivamente una volta all'anno; la completa esclusione degli aneurismi e stata confermata in 11/11 casi. Le complicanze riscontrate sono state: 4 casi di pleurite sinistra di modesta entita; febbre e dolore in ipocondrio sinistro il giorno successivo alla procedura (negli stessi 4 pazienti e in un altro caso). Si sono osservati 5 casi di ischemia settoriale e 1 caso di infarto massivo della milza con parziale rivascolarizzazione splenica da parte di circoli collaterali. Non si sono verificate alterazioni degli enzimi pancreatici; e stata rilevata una piastrinosi transitoria solo nel paziente con ischemia diffusa della milza. Conclusioni. Il trattamento endovascolare risulta attuabile, con tecniche differenti, in pressoche tutti gli AAS; garantisce ottimi risultati sia immediati che a distanza, presentando indubbi vantaggi nei confronti del trattamento chirurgico, in relazione alla minore invasivita e alla conservazione della funzionalita splenicaJournal
Radiologia Medica; ISSN 0033-8362; 
; v. 110(1-2); p. 77-87
; v. 110(1-2); p. 77-87
[en] Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the safety and the efficacy of radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) for pain relief and analgesics use reduction in two patients with painful bone metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and methods: Two patients with lytic metastases from HCC located at the left superior ileo-pubic branch and at the middle arch of VII rib, performed RFA displacing a LeVeen Needle (3.5 and 4.0 cm diameter) under US (ultrasonography) and fluoroscopic guidance. Two methods were used to determine the response of both patients: the first method was to measure patient's worst pain with a Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) 1 day after the procedure, every week for 1 month, and thereafter at week 8 and 12 (total follow-up 3 months); Second method was to evaluate patient's analgesics use recorded at week 1, 4, 8 and 12. Analgesic medication use was translated into a morphine-equivalent dose. Results: The RFA were well tolerated by the patients who did not develop any complication. Both patients obtained substantial reduction of pain, which decreased from a mean score of 8 to approximately 2 in 4 weeks. In both patients we observed a reduction in the use of morphine dose-equivalent after a peak at week 1. CT (computed tomography) imaging, performed at 1 month after RFA, demonstrated that both procedures were technically successful and safe because consistent necrosis and no evidence for complications were observed. Conclusion: RFA provides a potential alternative method for palliation of painful osteolytic metastases from HCC; the procedure is safe, and the pain relief is substantial.
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