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Biomedical subjects

C Charnsangavej

Publications and source records attributed to C Charnsangavej.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Atrophy with compensatory hypertrophy of the liver in hepatic neoplasms: radiographic findings.

Focal hepatic atrophy has numerous causes and in many cases is associated with compensatory hypertrophy. We have observed this phenomenon on CT in patients with hepatic neoplasms. Of 12 patients studied, eight had hepatic metastases, two had hepatocellular carcinoma, and two had bile-duct carcinoma. Focal changes in liver morphology (i.e., atrophy with compensatory hypertrophy) were found in five patients at presentation and developed after treatment with systemic or intraarterial chemotherapy in the others. Atrophic changes affected the right lobe in eight patients, the left lobe in three, and part of both lobes in one. Compensatory hypertrophy of part or all of the unaffected liver was found. Ten patients had obstruction of the portal vein branch to the atrophic segment, four of these 10 also had hepatic vein obstruction, and two of these 10 also had bile duct obstruction. Portal vein obstruction appears to be the most important element in the production of focal hepatic atrophy in patients with hepatic neoplasms. After treatment with chemotherapy, tumor regression and atrophy may be associated with compensatory hypertrophy and enlargement of the uninvolved part of the liver. This must not be mistaken for progression of disease.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Arterial embolization of adrenal tumors: results in nine cases.

Adrenal arterial embolization was performed in nine patients, four with inoperable adrenal cortical carcinoma and five with metastatic adrenal tumors. Embolic agents used were polyvinyl alcohol foam (Ivalon) in seven patients, stainless steel coils in four, ethanol in three, and surgical gelatin (Gelfoam) in two. In eight patients, embolization was performed for palliation, either to decrease tumor bulk (all patients), suppress tumor hormonal function (three patients), or relieve pain (four patients). One patient had an embolization to facilitate subsequent adrenalectomy. In four patients in whom it was possible to assess the effect of embolization on tumor bulk by follow-up CT, a striking reduction in size has occurred in one, the lesions remained stable in size for 12 months in two, and the tumor continued to increase in size in the fourth. A striking reduction in the production of the cortisol for 12 months was seen in two of three patients with Cushing syndrome. This reduction was considered due at least in part to embolization. Adrenal embolization resulted in effective palliation of pain in three of four patients and may have contributed to palliation in the fourth. Apart from a hypertensive episode in one patient, the cause of which was unclear, no serious side effects occurred. Adrenal arterial embolization may play an effective role without serious side effects in palliation of pain and reduction of hormone production in inoperable adrenal lesions.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Islet cell tumors metastatic to the liver: effective palliation by sequential hepatic artery embolization.

The value of sequential percutaneous hepatic artery embolization with polyvinyl alcohol particles was examined in 22 patients with islet cell carcinoma metastatic to the liver. Nine patients had gastrinoma, 2 had glucagonoma, and 11 had no discernible hormonal secretions or syndromes. Ninety-seven embolizations were done with a median number of 4 (range, 1 to 12) per patient. The interval between embolizations ranged from 1 to 8 months. Twelve of twenty evaluable patients had a partial remission, frequently associated with subjective improvement and decrease in hormone levels. The projected median survival of all 22 patients from the initiation of embolization is 33.7 months (range, 1 to 72). Nausea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain occurred with each embolization and subsided usually by day 10 (range, 3 to 35). Sequential hepatic artery occlusion is an effective method for prolonged palliation in this selected group of patients.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗

Adjuvant perioperative hepatic arterial mitomycin C and floxuridine combined with surgical resection of metastatic colorectal cancer in the liver.

Twenty patients with colon cancer metastatic to the liver underwent successful hepatic resection and adjuvant perioperative therapy that included hepatic arterial mitomycin C and floxuridine (FUDR). The median survival for all 20 patients was 51 months: 10 are still alive with a median postoperative follow-up of 49 months; 6 are disease-free with a median postoperative follow-up of 43 months. Among 10 patients in whom the surgical margins of the specimen contained tumor cells, the median survival was 52 months. This survival was comparable to that among 10 patients in whom the surgical margins were tumor free (P = 0.22). Neither the number of metastatic liver deposits nor the disease-free interval between the primary diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma and the development of liver metastases significantly affected survival. A transient chemical hepatitis which resolved before the next scheduled treatment was associated with 50% of arterial chemotherapy cycles (approximately 70% of the patients). Gastric or duodenal ulcerations occurred in 23% of the patients. Surgical complications were either pulmonary such as pleural effusion or atelectasis, or wound infections and subphrenic abscesses. Although these results compare favorably with the results in previously published series, this aggressive adjuvant chemotherapy appears to be particularly justified in patients with tumor positive surgical margins or those with multiple tumor masses and, therefore, are characterized by a poor prognosis.

Adult↗

Repositioning misplaced central venous catheters.

Central venous catheters inserted through the subclavian or basilic veins may be misplaced in the internal jugular vein. A simple technique employing a deflector guide wire allows catheter reposition in a very short time without the need for catheter withdrawal. In this manner, radiation exposure, the risk of catheter contamination, and patient discomfort are lessened.

Catheterization, Central Venous↗

Gastroduodenal mucosal injury during hepatic arterial infusion of chemotherapeutic agents. Lack of cytoprotection by prostaglandin E1 analogue.

Eighteen colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases receiving hepatic arterial infusion of chemotherapeutic agents (mitomycin-C + 5-FUDR) were randomized to receive misoprostol (a prostaglandin E1 analogue) or placebo as a mode of cytoprotection against inadvertent gastroduodenal mucosal injury. Four of 10 patients on misoprostol and 3 of 8 patients on placebo developed gastroduodenal mucosal injury (p greater than 0.1), which was confirmed by endoscopy. Significant tumor responses to chemotherapy were equally distributed between the two groups. Although our sample size was small and type II error (false-negative trial) cannot be excluded, these data strongly suggest that prophylaxis with misoprostol does not prevent the acute gastroduodenal mucosal injury associated with hepatic arterial infusion of chemotherapeutic agents.

Alprostadil↗

Flexible balloon-expanded stent for small vessels. Work in progress.

A new type of flexible, balloon-expanded, stainless steel stent was designed for introduction into small vessels subject to motion. Four stents placed in four dogs were patent at follow-up (4-8 weeks). A fibrocellular proliferation involving the intima and media was responsible for a 20%-25% luminal narrowing observed in all vessels with stents. The stent has longitudinal flexibility, which should permit its insertion into small peripheral, visceral, and coronary arteries.

Animals↗

Self-expanding metallic stents for small vessels: an experimental evaluation.

Thirty-three self-expanding metallic stents were placed in 24 arterial segments of the hind legs and nine arteries of the abdominal viscera in seven dogs. Twelve 5-mm stents, eight 4-mm stents, and 13 3-mm stents were inserted. Follow-up ranged from 4 to 30 weeks. All 4-mm and 5-mm stents were patent at follow-up. Seven (54%) of the 3-mm stents remained patent. Stent wires were completely covered by a proliferation of the intima. No stent migration, occlusion of side branches, or vessel wall perforation was observed. A stent/artery ratio (SAR) was computed using stent and recipient vessel diameters. Good vascular patency was observed when the SAR was less than or equal to 1.2. An SAR greater than 1.2 was associated with immediate spasm, immediate or delayed thrombosis, or excessive intimal proliferation. Selection of correct stent size is a major determinant of patency in small arteries.

Angiography↗

Percutaneous endovascular graft: experimental evaluation.

An arterial endovascular graft was constructed by wrapping a Dacron cylinder around the Gianturco expandable metallic stent. The device was passed through an 11-F Teflon catheter into the normal abdominal or thoracic aortas of nine dogs. At follow-up of 7-35 weeks, all but one graft remained patent. At necropsy, the grafts were almost completely covered by neo-intimal proliferation. Similar proliferation was observed between the graft and the wall of the vessel.

Aneurysm↗

Self-expanding metallic stents: preliminary evaluation in an atherosclerotic model.

The performance of the self-expanding stainless steel (Gianturco) stent in atherosclerotic arteries was examined in a rabbit model. Atherosclerosis was induced by supplementing rabbit chow with 6% peanut oil and 2% cholesterol followed by endothelial disruption of the abdominal aorta with a balloon catheter and continuation on the atherogenic diet for the remainder of the study. Eighteen stents, 1 cm in length and 4 or 5 mm in diameter when fully expanded, were placed in atherosclerotic stenotic lesions in six rabbits. Luminal distention was consistently achieved. At 8 weeks follow-up, no luminal narrowing, stent migration, thrombus formation or branch vessel occlusion had occurred. Atherosclerotic neointimal proliferation occurred around the stent wires following placement, but did not cause significant luminal narrowing.

Animals↗

Hepatic arterial flow distribution with hepatic neoplasms: significance in infusion chemotherapy.

Hepatic artery radionuclide flow studies and hepatic angiography in eight patients with various hepatic neoplasms were evaluated to determine the patterns of arterial flow distribution in the presence of portal vein occlusion. Increased hepatic arterial blood flow to the lobe or segment supplied by the occluded portal vein was observed in all patients. This phenomenon must be taken into account when positioning catheters for hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy; while it may improve the flow of chemotherapeutic agents to tumors located in the area of an occluded portal vein branch, it may also result in diversion of flow to the normal hepatic parenchyma away from tumors occupying the hepatic segments with patent portal venous flow. Hepatic angiography and radionuclide flow studies provide the necessary information for correct positioning of hepatic artery infusion catheters.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Continuous 5-day infusion of vinblastine for percutaneous hepatic arterial chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer.

We assessed the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of continuous hepatic infusion of vinblastine in the treatment of breast cancer predominantly metastatic to the liver. Twenty-six patients previously treated with one or more chemotherapeutic regimens received vinblastine at a dose of 2.0 mg/m2 daily for 5 days, via percutaneously inserted intra-arterial catheters, at 3-4-week intervals. Nine of 25 evaluable patients (36%) achieved partial response and four (16%) had minor response. For responding patients, the median time to disease progression was 21 weeks (range, 12-99), with a median survival of 11 months (range, 4-29) from the beginning of hepatic arterial infusion. The toxicity of the treatment was acceptable, and drug-related effects were comparable to those seen in patients with breast cancer treated by iv continuous infusion of vinblastine at slightly lower doses. We observed two episodes of transient inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion. Percutaneous hepatic arterial infusion of vinblastine had significant activity in the treatment of breast cancer metastatic to the liver.

Adult↗

Percutaneous hepatic arterial infusion of cisplatin for metastatic breast cancer.

We treated 31 patients with breast cancer metastatic to the liver and refractory to prior chemotherapy with percutaneous hepatic arterial infusion of cisplatin (DDP) (120 mg/m2) at 4-week intervals. Partial responses occurred in five of 26 evaluable patients, with a median time to disease progression of 15+ weeks (range, 8+ to 55) and a median duration of survival of 11 months (range, 8-22). Toxic effects were acceptable and, except for catheter-related complications, were essentially similar to those encountered when DDP was given iv. Percutaneous hepatic arterial infusion of DDP has modest activity in the treatment of breast cancer metastatic to the liver.

Adult↗

Treatment of hepatic metastases in ocular melanoma. Embolization of the hepatic artery with polyvinyl sponge and cisplatin.

Patients with ocular melanoma have a high incidence of hepatic metastases, which primarily determine their length of survival. In an attempt to control the neoplastic disease in the liver, embolization of the hepatic artery with a combination of polyvinyl sponge (Ivalon) and a suspension of cisplatin was performed in two patients with hepatic metastases from ocular melanoma. Dramatic regression of the hepatic metastases, lasting 19 and six months, occurred in these two patients after one or two such treatments. Our preliminary, albeit successful, experience with this therapeutic approach suggests that it may offer relatively prolonged periods of remission and warrants further investigation.

Adult↗

Pulsed arterial infusions. Chemotherapeutic implications.

To simulate the intra-arterial infusion of chemotherapy, ink was infused at a steady rate through a vascular catheter inserted in a transparent tube carrying water at a rate similar to that of arterial blood. The ink ran in one or two discrete streams for 10 to 15 cm before mixing with the water, and there were substantial differences in the concentrations of ink in the water collected from side holes made at various distances from the catheter tip. If the ink was delivered in short pulses, however, it mixed with the water 2 to 3 cm beyond the catheter tip, and the samples collected from the side holes showed similar concentrations of ink. A similar situation may be encountered when chemotherapeutic agents are infused into patients. Therefore, pulsation may produce a more homogeneous drug distribution in the infused tissue. The in vitro data was substantiated in patients by the following: (1) the intra-arterial administration of technetium 99m(99mTc)labeled macroaggregated albumin (MAA) by both steady and pulsed infusions; and (2) changes in the severity of inflammatory skin reactions frequently associated with intra-arterial chemotherapy of the extremities. Improved isotope distribution was noted in 19.3% of the liver and 40% of the extremity studies. Reduced skin reactions were observed in approximately 90% of the extremities receiving pulsed chemotherapeutic infusions.

Antineoplastic Agents↗