Search

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is defined as a localized enlargement of the aortic cross-section where the diameter is greater than 3 cm or more than 50% larger than the diameter in a normal segment. The most important complication of AAA is rupture, which, if untreated, results in mortality rates of up to 90%. Conventional open surgical repair is associated with significant 30-day mortality. Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a significantly less invasive procedure; it is related to a lower early mortality rate and a lower number of perioperative complications. Although EVAR is a minimally invasive technique, lifelong follow-up imaging is necessary due to possible late complications including endoleak, recurrent aneurysm formation, graft infection, migration, kinking and thrombosis. The total rate of complications after EVAR is estimated at approximately 30%, and the rate of complications that require intervention is 2–3%. Early detection and progression analysis of such situations is crucial for proper intervention.

Atherosclerotic disease is currently one of the most important problems of modern medicine because it is a leading cause of increased morbidity, morbidity and mortality, and disability in the Western World. Atherosclerosis of the lower limbs (peripheral arterial disease - PAD) significantly affects the quality of life and in a considerable proportion of patients is a cause of disability. Radical treatment of PAD, both surgical and endovascular, aims at revascularisation of ischaemic tissues distal to obstructed arteries. Surveillance imaging is an important part of patient management after endovascular repair of PAD. Apart from availability and contraindications, challenges of imaging include calcifications, flow dynamics, and stent-related artefacts. The aim of this paper was to review the current literature on imaging methods for follow-up after endovascular repair of atherosclerotic lesions, with special attention paid to novel techniques. As a non-invasive modality, ultrasound is still the first-line examination, but computed tomography angiography remains a current state-of-the art technique for follow-up. However, since current imaging recommendations seem not to adhere to contemporary imaging possibilities, more attention should be paid to recent improvements in magnetic resonance angiography technology.

Nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) were assessed in 27 women affected by uterine leiomyoma. Tissue samples obtained during surgery were silver-stained according to the method of Ploton et al. The assessed parameters were as follows: the number of argyrophylic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) per nucleus, single AgNOR area, AgNOR intranuclear distribution, and AgNOR coefficient. The parameters were assessed quantitatively. It was found that the AgNOR coefficient was higher in uterine leiomyoma compared to the normal smooth muscle cells. The development of leiomyoma is associated with a marked decrease in myocyte nucleolar area, which accounts for 30% of the nucleus in the normal myometrium. With the comparable AgNOR number in the single nucleus, there were no differences in the single AgNOR granule area (1.21mm 2 70.047 and 1.11mm 2 70.025 in normal myometrium and in leiomyoma, respectively). In the normal myometrium, there was a positive correlation between nuclear area and the single AgNOR granule area, as well as between the AgNOR coefficient and the single AgNOR granule area. There was also a negative correlation between the number of granules per nucleus and their central and peripheral intranuclear distribution. The development of leiomyoma was associated with loss of all correlations observed in the control group. r 2005 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.