Clinical Experience with Cone-Beam CT Navigation for Tumor Ablation

PURPOSE: To describe clinical use and potential benefits of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) navigation to perform image guided percutaneous tumor ablations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All ablations performed between February 2011 and February 2013 using CBCT navigation, were included. Sixteen patients underwent 20 ablations for 29 lesions. CBCT ablation planning capabilities include multimodality image fusion and tumor segmentation for visualization, depiction of the predicted ablation zones for intra-procedural planning and segmentation of the ablated area for immediate post-treatment verification. Number and purpose of CBCT were examined. The initial ablation plan defined as number of probes and duration of energy delivery was recorded for 20/29 lesions. Technical success and local recurrences were recorded. Primary and secondary effectiveness rates were calculated. RESULTS: Image fusion was utilized for 16 lesions and intra-procedural ultrasound for 4. Of the 20/29 lesions, where the ablation plans were recorded, there was no deviation from the plan in 14. In the remaining 6/20, iterative planning was needed for complete tumor coverage. An average of 8.7 ± 3.2 CBCT were performed per procedure, including 1.3 ± 0.5 for tumor segmentation and planning, 1.7 ± 0.7 for probe position confirmation, 3.9 ± 2 to ensure complete coverage. Mean follow-up was 18.6 ± 6.5 months. 28/29 ablations were technically successful (96.5%). Of ablations performed with curative intent, technical effectiveness at one-month was 25/26 (96.1%) and 22/26 (84.6%) at last follow-up. Local tumor progression was observed in 11.5% (3/26). CONCLUSION: CBCT navigation may add information to assist and improve ablation guidance and monitoring

Case of Brown Sequard syndrome with ipsilateral peripheral vasodilation.

Brown-Sequard Syndrome is a neurologic disorder caused by partial spinal cord injury and disruption of the corticospinal tract, dorsal columns, and spinothalamic tract. We present a 32-year-old male with partial T11-12 cord transection due to a penetrating knife injury. In addition to the classical neurological symptoms of Brown-Sequard Syndrome, he also exhibited ipsilateral peripheral vasodilatation below the level of injury. This finding is attributed to the disruption of the intermediolateral columns of the spinal cord and impaired sympathetic tone on the peripheral vasculature. Awareness of this finding can raise the radiologist's suspicion for spinal cord injury in the setting of trauma and peripheral vasodilation

Therapy in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is challenging. Several randomized clinical trials are investigating the efficacy of systemic therapy, immunotherapy, and locoregional therapy as monotherapy or combined with other modalities in the treatment of HCC. Systemic therapy is the preferred treatment in advanced disease. To date, multiple first-line and second-line agents received Food and Drug Administration approval. For over a decade, sorafenib was the only first-line agent. In May 2020, combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab has been approved as a first-line systemic regimen. Lenvatinib is another first-line agent that has multikinase activity. Second-line agents include cabozantinib, regorafenib, ramucirumab, and nivolumab. Adoptive cell transfer therapy is a highly specific immunotherapy that has shown antitumor activity against HCC. Oncolytic viruses are genetically modified viruses that infect cancer cells and induce apoptosis. Locoregional therapies such as transarterial chemoembolization and radioembolization have shown a potential benefit in selected patients with advanced HCC. In this review, we aim to summarize the treatment options available for advanced HCC

Case of Brown Sequard syndrome with ipsilateral peripheral vasodilation.

Brown-Sequard Syndrome is a neurologic disorder caused by partial spinal cord injury and disruption of the corticospinal tract, dorsal columns, and spinothalamic tract. We present a 32-year-old male with partial T11-12 cord transection due to a penetrating knife injury. In addition to the classical neurological symptoms of Brown-Sequard Syndrome, he also exhibited ipsilateral peripheral vasodilatation below the level of injury. This finding is attributed to the disruption of the intermediolateral columns of the spinal cord and impaired sympathetic tone on the peripheral vasculature. Awareness of this finding can raise the radiologist's suspicion for spinal cord injury in the setting of trauma and peripheral vasodilation