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Worldwide, breast cancer constitutes the most common malignant neoplasm among females, impacting 2.1 million women annually. Interventional oncology techniques have been recently added as an additional therapeutic and palliative alternative in breast cancer metastatic disease, concerning mainly osseous, liver, and lung metastasis. In the current literature, there are reports of promising results and documented efficacy regarding the ablation of liver and lung metastasis from breast carcinoma, transarterial embolization or radioembolization, as well as the treatment of osseous metastatic disease. These literature studies are limited by the heterogeneity of breast cancer disease, the evaluation of variable different parameters, as well as the retrospective nature in most of the cases. Consequently, dedicated prospective series and randomized studies are required to identify the role of minimally invasive local therapies of interventional oncology armamentarium. The present review paper focuses upon the current role of interventional oncology techniques for the curative or palliative treatment of metastatic breast cancer disease. The purpose of this review paper is to present the current minimally invasive procedures in the treatment of metastatic breast disease, including local control rates and survival rates.

Background: Endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients presenting with Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) 0–5 has not yet proven safe and effective by clinical trials. Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess whether EVT in AIS patients presenting with low ASPECTS is beneficial. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of available studies in accordance with the PRISMA statement. Data sources and Methods: We have searched MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and reference lists of articles published until 28 May 2022 with the aim to calculate (1) modified Rankin scale (mRS) score 0–3 at 3 months, (2) mRS score 0–2 at 3 months, (3) symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and (3) mortality at 3 months. Results: Overall, 24 eligible studies were included in the meta-analysis, comprising a total of 2539 AIS patients with ASPECTS 0–5 treated with EVT. The pooled proportion of EVT-treated patients achieving mRS 0–3 at 3 months was calculated at 38.4%. The pooled proportion of EVT-treated patients achieving mRS 0–2 at 3 months was 25.7%. Regarding safety outcomes, sICH occurred in 12.8% of patients. The 3-month pooled mortality was 30%. In pairwise meta-analysis, patients treated with EVT had a higher likelihood of achieving mRS 0–3 at 3 months compared with patients treated with best medical therapy (BMT, OR: 2.41). sICH occurred more frequently in EVT-treated patients compared with the BMT-treated patients (OR: 2.30). Mortality at 3 months was not different between the two treatment groups (OR: 0.71). Conclusion: EVT may be beneficial for AIS patients with low baseline ASPECTS despite an increased risk for sICH. Further data from randomized-controlled clinical trials are needed to elucidate the role of EVT in this subgroup of AIS patients. Registration: The protocol has been registered in the International Prospective Register of Ongoing Systematic Reviews PROSPERO; Registration Number: CRD42022334417.

Abstract Background We retrospectively investigated outcomes of emergency TAE for the management of life-threatening haemorrhage in patients with uncorrected bleeding diathesis. Materials and methods This multicenter, retrospective, study, was designed to investigate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous TAE for the management of life-threatening haemorrhage in patients with uncorrected bleeding disorder at the time of embolization. All consecutive patients with uncorrected coagulation who underwent TAE for the treatment of haemorrhage, between January 1st and December 31th 2019 in three European centers were included. Inclusion criteria were thrombocytopenia (platelet count 45 s, and/or a pre-existing underlying blood-clotting disorder such as factor VIII, Von Willebrand disease, hepatic cirrhosis with abnormal liver function tests. Primary outcome measures were technical success, rebleeding rate and clinical success. Secondary outcome measures included patients’ 30-day survival rate, and procedure-related complications. Results In total, 134 patients underwent TAE for bleeding control. A subgroup of 17 patients with 18 procedures [11 female, mean age 70.5 ± 15 years] which represent 12.7% of the total number of patients, presented with pathological coagulation parameters at the time of TAE (haemophilia n = 3, thrombocytopenia n = 1, cirrhosis n = 5, anticoagulants n = 7, secondary to bleeding n = 1) and were analyzed. Technical success was 100%, as in all procedures the bleeding site was detected and successfully embolised. Clinical success was 100%, as none of the patients died of bleeding during hospitalization, nor was surgically treated for bleeding relapse. Only one rebleeding case was noted (5.9%) that was successfully treated with a second TAE. No procedure-related complications were noted. According to Kaplan-Meier analysis the estimated 30-day survival rate was 84.2%. Conclusion TAE in selected patients with uncorrected bleeding diathesis should be considered as a suitable individualized management approach. Emergency TAE for life threatening haemorrhage in patients with coagulation cascade disorders should be used as an aid in realistic clinical decision making.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the feasibility, safety and long-term efficacy of super-selective trans-catheter arterial embolization for the management of intractable bladder bleeding. Materials and methods The records of 20 patients with intractable haematuria referred urgently for selective arterial embolization after failed conventional therapy, between 2013 and 2018, were retrospectively analyzed. Primary outcomes were technical (cessation of extravasation and/or stasis of flow within the target vessel) and clinical (bleeding control) success. Secondary outcomes included complication and re-intervention rates. Results Technical success was 90% (18/20 cases), as in 2 cases, embolization was not feasible. Super-selective embolization of the vesical arteries was feasible in 15/18 cases (83.3%). Selective proximal occlusion of the anterior division of the internal iliac artery was performed in two cases (11%) and embolization of the anterior division after coil blockage of the posterior division was performed in one case (5%). Bilateral and unilateral embolization was performed in 10 and 8 cases, respectively. Peri-procedural mortality rate was 5% (1/18 patients). One possible procedure-related death occurred due to myocardial infarction ten days following non-target embolization of the buttocks and the anterior abdominal wall. Mean time follow up was 35 ± 15 months. Bleeding reoccurred in three patients (16.6%), all successfully managed (one conservatively and two with further embolization). Clinical success was 85% (17/20 cases). During follow up 11 more patients died, due to underlying conditions not related to bleeding or the procedure. Conclusions Super-selective angiographic embolization is feasible, safe and effective to control refractory, life threatening bladder bleeding and should be considered as a first line treatment, as to obviate the need for emergency surgery.

Abstract Background The complexity of the case, including the rarefied simultaneous occurrence of complications—iatrogenic, as well as reperfusion injury, invite reporting and publication. Case presentation A 39-year-old woman with a single-functioning left kidney, previous left renal artery stenting (RAS), and known hypercoagulopathy was hospitalized for flash pulmonary edema, elevated serum creatinine (9.7 mg/dl), and refractory hypertension. She was subsequently referred to our center [2] for endovascular treatment of acute renal ischemia (AKI) due to RAS occlusion. Periprocedural complications of guide-wire arterial perforation and reperfusion injury resulted in life-threatening hemorrhage. Conclusions Following more than 48 h of hypoperfusion of the left kidney, revascularization of the thrombosed RAS was successfully attempted with selective, trans-catheter thrombolysis, and balloon angioplasty. Ultra-selective, nephron-sparing coil embolization was successfully performed. The patient’s creatinine level decreased to 2.8 mg/dl at 12 days and to 1.5 mg/dl at 3 months. After 1 year of follow-up, the stent remains patent, and the patient is asymptomatic with stable renal function.

Recent randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) have revolutionized acute ischemic stroke care by extending the use of intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular reperfusion therapies in time windows that have been originally considered futile or even unsafe. Both systemic and endovascular reperfusion therapies have been shown to improve outcome in patients with wake-up strokes or symptom onset beyond 4.5 h for intravenous thrombolysis and beyond 6 h for endovascular treatment; however, they require advanced neuroimaging to select stroke patients safely. Experts have proposed simpler imaging algorithms but high-quality data on safety and efficacy are currently missing. RCTs used diverse imaging and clinical inclusion criteria for patient selection during the dawn of this novel stroke treatment paradigm. After taking into consideration the dismal prognosis of nonrecanalized ischemic stroke patients and the substantial clinical benefit of reperfusion therapies in selected late presenters, we propose rescue reperfusion therapies for acute ischemic stroke patients not fulfilling all clinical and imaging inclusion criteria as an option in a subgroup of patients with clinical and radiological profiles suggesting low risk for complications, notably hemorrhagic transformation as well as local or remote parenchymal hemorrhage. Incorporating new data to treatment algorithms may seem perplexing to stroke physicians, since treatment and imaging capabilities of each stroke center may dictate diverse treatment pathways. This narrative review will summarize current data that will assist clinicians in the selection of those late presenters that will most likely benefit from acute reperfusion therapies. Different treatment algorithms are provided according to available neuroimaging and endovascular treatment capabilities.

Aortic valve stenosis (AS) is the most common valvular heart disease among elderly. Trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become an established and effective alternative therapeutical procedure for inoperable and high-risk patients with symptomatic AS. The procedural success is greatly dependent on a thorough pre-TAVI imaging screening. This requires a comprehensive and multi-modality approach, in which multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) is the cornerstone in the selection of eligible patients, in choosing the appropriate prosthesis and size, and in mapping the safest access route for the intervention. From our experience of more than 400 TAVI procedures and many more MSCTs for screening purposes, we provide clinical and technical details on the use of MSCT pre-TAVI and brief review of the knowledge so far. Keywords: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation, Multi-slice computed tomography

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) along with identifying prognostic factors affecting the progression survival rate. Institutional database retrospective research identified 69 patients with a biopsy proven solitary T1a (82.6%) or TIb (17.4%) RCC who have underwent percutaneous CT-guided MWA. Kaplan–Meier survival estimates for events were graphed and Cox regression analysis was conducted. Mean patient age was 70.4 ± 11.5 years. Mean size of the lesions was 3 ± 1.3 cm. Mean follow up time was 35.6 months (SD = 21.1). The mean progression free survival time from last ablation was 84.2 months. For T1a tumors, the cumulative progression free survival rate for 1, 6, 12 and 36 months were 100% (SE = 0%), 91.2% (SE = 3.7%), 91.2% (SE = 3.7%) and 87.5% (SE = 4.4%); the recurrence free survival rate for T1a RCC was 94.9%. For T1b tumors, the cumulative progression free survival rate for 1, 6, 12 and 36 months were 100% (SE = 0%), 63.6% (SE = 14.5%), 63.6% (SE = 14.5%) and 63.6% (SE = 14.5%). Grade 1 complications were recorded in 5 (7.2%) patients. Significantly greater hazard for progression was found in cases with a tumor size > 4 cm (HR = 9.09, p = 0.048). No statistically important difference regarding tumor progression was recorded between T1a tumors with a diameter ≤3 cm and >3 cm. In summary, the results of the present study show that CT guided percutaneous MWA is an effective technique for treatment of T1a renal cell carcinomas, irrespective of tumor size. T1b tumors were associated with higher progression rates.

Massive Hemoptysis and pulmonary embolism are two very severe and potentially fatal pulmonary emergencies requiring completely different treatments. We present the case of a 45-year old male transmitted to our Hospital for massive hemoptysis who at the same time was found to suffer from pulmonary embolism. Hemoptysis was treated with bronchial artery embolization which resulted in cessation of haemorrhage and allowed the administration of anticoagulant therapy a few days later. This case report gives an answer on how to manage a real therapeutic conundrum which is the coexistence of a massive hemoptysis and a concomitant pulmonary embolism.