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Johannes Baur,1 Christian O Ritter,2 Christoph-Thomas Germer,1 Ingo Klein,1 Ralph Kickuth,2 Ulrich Steger,1 1Department of General, Visceral, Vascular, and Pediatric Surgery, 2Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany Purpose: In hepatocellular carcinoma patients with large or multinodal tumors, where curative treatment options are not feasible, transarterial therapies play a major role. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with drug-eluting beads (DEB-TACE) is a promising new approach due to higher intratumoral and lower systemic concentration of the chemotherapeutic agent compared to conventional TACE (cTACE). Patients and methods: In a retrospective analysis, 32 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who received either DEB or a cTACE were compared regarding survival time, disease recurrence, and side effects such as pain and fever. Results: No significant differences could be detected between the cTACE and DEB-TACE groups with regard to mean hospital stay, appearance of postinterventional fever, or 30-day mortality. However, the application of intravenous analgesics as postinterventional pain medication was needed more often in patients treated with DEB-TACE (57.1% vs 12.5%, P=0.0281). The overall median survival after the initial procedure was 10.8 months in the cTACE group and 9.2 months in the DEB-TACE group, showing no significant difference. Conclusion: No survival benefit for patients treated with either DEB-TACE or cTACE was observed. Surprisingly, a higher rate of postinterventional pain could be detected after DEB-TACE. Keywords: transarterial chemoembolization, hepatocellular carcinoma, drug-eluting beads

This single-center study investigated the safety and efficacy of transarterial embolization of type II endoleaks for expanding aneurysm sacs following endovascular aortic repair (EVAR).36 patients (33 men, 75.9±6.6 years) underwent a total of 50 endovascular procedures for type II endoleak embolization between 2008 and 2023. Analyses included the assessment of patient risk profiles, aneurysm morphology, and endoleak characteristics. Outcome parameters comprised the technical success (i.e., complete lack of blood flow in the previously perfused aneurysm sac) and complication rates, while clinical success was defined as the absence of endoleak persistence or recurrence and freedom from aneurysm enlargement > 0.5 cm over the follow-up period.Transarterial embolization was technically successful in 84% of procedures with a complication rate of 2%. Most interventions were coil-based (72%), while a small number relied solely on liquid embolic agents (14%). Absence of a persisting endoleak in the earliest follow-up could be demonstrated in 75.6% of cases, whereas the absence rate for endoleak recurrence was substantially lower (46.3%). No aneurysm enlargement > 0.5 cm during follow-up was ascertained after 73.2% of interventions.Transarterial embolization represents a safe treatment for type II endoleaks after EVAR. While embolization was moderately effective in preventing further expansion of aneurysms due to endoleak recurrence, most procedures were successful in permanently eliminating the targeted feeder vessels. · Transarterial embolization of type II endoleaks has a high technical success rate.. · The emergence of new feeder vessels may necessitate multiple procedures over time.. · Patient risk profiles did not factor into the clinical outcome.. · Krompaß K, Grunz JP, Augustin AM et al. Technical and clinical success analysis of transarterial embolization therapy in type II endoleaks following endovascular aortic repair. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2024; DOI 10.1055/a-2384-4601., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Purpose:  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous rotational thrombectomy-assisted endovascular revascularization of acute thromboembolic superior mesenteric artery occlusions in acute mesenteric ischemia., Materials and Methods:  Fifteen cases of percutaneous rotational thrombectomy- assisted (Rotarex S, BD, USA) revascularization were retrospectively analyzed. The etiology was embolic in 40 % of cases and thrombotic in 60 %. A "Thrombectomy in Visceral Ischemia" (TIVI) 5-point score determined vessel patency at presentation, after percutaneous rotational thrombectomy, and after adjunctive technologies. TIVI 3 indicated nearly complete revascularization (minimal residual side branch thrombus). TIVI 4 indicated complete revascularization. Technical success was defined as successful device application and a final TIVI score of 3/4 after adjunctive technologies. Safety and outcome were also analyzed., Results:  Device application via femoral access was feasible in 100 % of cases and improved flow in 86.7 % of cases (1 × TIVI 0→1, 11 × TIVI 0→2, 1 × TIVI 1→2). There was no change in 13.3 % of cases (2 × TIVI 2→2). Additional devices resulted in further flow improvement in 93.3 % of cases (8 × TIVI 3, 6 × TIVI 4). One recanalization failed (TIVI 2→2→2). After adjunctive technologies (10 × manual aspiration, 11 × angioplasty, 9 × stenting), the technical success rate was 93.3 %. The mean procedure time was 40.5(± 14) minutes for embolism and 72.1(± 20) minutes for thrombosis. There was one device-related major complication (catheter tip fracture) resulting in a device-related safety rate of 93.3 %. The overall major complication rate was 20 %. Surgical exploration (13 ×), bowel resection (9 ×) and Fogarty embolectomy/bypass (3 ×) were also performed. The 30-day mortality rate was 40 %., Conclusion:  Percutaneous rotational thrombectomy is an effective adjunct for rapid endovascular recanalization of acute thromboembolic superior mesenteric artery occlusions with an acceptable rate of major procedural complications., Key Points:   · Percutaneous rotational thrombectomy-assisted superior mesenteric artery revascularization in acute occlusive mesenteric ischemia is feasible and effective.. · Percutaneous rotational thrombectomy facilitates rapid flow restoration in native and stented superior mesenteric artery segments.. · Brachial access should be considered in the case of steep take-off angles of the superior mesenteric artery.., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Medical education integrates skills training and simulation to prepare students for clinical tasks. A seminar on interventional radiology was restructured to include specific practical training utilizing a 3D-catheter model. We aimed to investigate the complex interplay between student evaluations, their visual-spatial ability and practical performance., Methods: The seminar comprised a short plenary introduction followed by 3 practical training units. Students were tested for their visual-spatial ability and their catheter insertion performance. Students rated the seminar and their interest in the subject. Data were subjected to descriptive, factorial, regression, and moderating analysis., Results: A total of 141 medical students enrolled in the seminar. They attributed a high didactic and practical quality and expressed great interest in the subject. Male students outperformed females in the cube perspective test. In the practical examination, males needed significantly less time on average (57.9 s) compared to females (73.1 s). However, there were no significant differences in the performance score, with a maximum of 5 attainable points: males 4.61 and females 4.51. The seminar evaluation explained a large portion of the variance (48.6%) in students' interest in the subject. There was a moderating role of practical quality (β = 0.12, P  < .05) on the link between the cube perspective test and the practical examination: rated high practical quality could partly compensate for low cube perspective scores, enhancing performance in the practical examination., Conclusions: Well-designed practical courses and a perceived high teaching quality may assist students with deficits in visual-spatial ability to acquire clinical-practical skills. Such initiatives not only enhance learning outcomes across diverse student groups but also stimulate interest in specialized fields like interventional radiology, thereby potentially guiding future career paths in medicine., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Conservative therapy is favored over revascularization for patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and intermittent claudication (IC) owing to the better long-term results. The adjunctive use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) significantly improves endovascular therapy. However, data on IVUS and IC is scarce. Therefore, the aim of this investigation was to determine the safety and efficacy of IVUS in patients with IC and to evaluate discrepancies compared to angiography and potential consequences for treatment.This was a single-center prospective cohort study. Twenty patients with IC and femoropopliteal disease eligible for endovascular therapy were enrolled. Procedural data and discrepancies between IVUS and angiography were recorded.In total, 30 lesions were treated. IVUS-based measurements yielded substantially higher reference vessel diameters (RVD) and lesion lengths compared to DSA alone (RVD: 5.37 ± 0.71 mm vs. 4.74 ± 0.63 mm, p<.001, lesion length: 62.4 ± 41.4 mm vs. 42.18 ± 30.2 mm, p<.001). In 24 of 30 lesions (80%), a significant discrepancy in RVD (defined as difference >0.5 mm) and lesion length (defined as >20 mm) was determined between IVUS and standard DSA. Subsequently, IVUS assessment led to upsizing in 14 of 30 lesions (47%) and downsizing in 3 of 30 lesions (10%). On average, IVUS led to the selection of considerably larger balloons (5.25 ± 0.62 vs. 4.74 ± 0.63, p<.004) and device length (78.97 ± 44.19 mm vs. 42.18 ± 30.2, p<.001). Serious adverse events did not occur. Technical success was achieved in all cases.IVUS is safe and provides advantages regarding the evaluation of IC by depicting RVD and lesion length more reliably than standard DSA. More precise assessment of lesions resulted in the use of significantly larger devices. · The safety and efficacy of IVUS are confirmed for the distinct cohort of patients with IC.. · IVUS provides advantages for the evaluation of IC by depicting RVD and lesion length more reliably than standard DSA.. · More precise assessment of stenoses resulted in the selection of significantly larger devices, hence suggesting substantial clinical impact.. Hartung V, Augustin AM, Gruschwitz P et al. Endovascular therapy in intermittent claudication: Impact of IVUS guidance on treatment decisions. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2024; DOI 10.1055/a-2379-8857., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Endovascular revascularization of visceral arteries is an important cornerstone of an interdisciplinary treatment concept for both acute and chronic forms of mesenteric ischemia. The advantages lie in the minimally invasive procedure and the speed of restoration of perfusion. This article provides an overview of the indications, techniques and current state of the clinical literature with respect to endovascular revascularization., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.)

Abstract: We report on a 70-year-old man affected with prostate carcinoma (PC) scheduled for prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT using 18 F-PSMA1007. Because of uptake in the liver and corresponding findings on magnetic resonance, diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, G1) was established. The patient was then scheduled for antihormonal treatment for PC and locoregional therapy due to HCC. On follow-up PSMA-targeted PET/CT, we observed durable response to PC-associated therapy, whereas hepatic lesions showed progressive disease. As such, we herein report on a dual-cancer targeting molecular imaging strategy to determine disease extent in a patient affected with both PC and HCC, along with potential of monitoring both systemic and locoregional treatment., Competing Interests: Disclosure: R.A.W. has received speaker honoraria from Novartis and reports advisory board work for Novartis and Bayer. All other authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

International guidelines recommend local therapies (LTs) such as local thermal ablation (LTA; radiofrequency, microwave, cryoablation), transarterial (chemo)embolisation (TA(C)E), and transarterial radioembolisation (TARE) as therapeutic options for advanced adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). However, the evidence for these recommendations is scarce. We retrospectively analysed patients receiving LTs for advanced ACC. Time to progression of the treated lesion (tTTP) was the primary endpoint. The secondary endpoints were best objective response, overall progression-free survival, overall survival, adverse events, and the establishment of predictive factors by multivariate Cox analyses. A total of 132 tumoural lesions in 66 patients were treated with LTA (n = 84), TA(C)E (n = 40), and TARE (n = 8). Complete response was achieved in 27 lesions (20.5%; all of them achieved by LTA), partial response in 27 (20.5%), and stable disease in 38 (28.8%). For the LTA group, the median tTTP was not reached, whereas it was reached 8.3 months after TA(C)E and 8.2 months after TARE ( p < 0.001). The median time interval from primary diagnosis to LT was >47 months. Fewer than four prior therapies and mitotane plasma levels of >14 mg/L positively influenced the tTTP. In summary, this is one of the largest studies on LTs in advanced ACC, and it demonstrates a very high local disease control rate. Thus, it clearly supports the guideline recommendations for LTs in these patients.

International guidelines emphasise the role of local therapies (LT) for the treatment of advanced adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). However, large studies are lacking in this field. Therefore, we performed a review of the literature to synthesise current evidence and develop clinical guidance. PubMed database was searched for systematic literature. We identified 119 potentially relevant articles, of which 21 could be included in our final analysis. All were retrospective and reported on 374 patients treated with LT for advanced ACC (12 studies on radiotherapy, 3 on transarterial chemoembolisation and radioembolisation, 4 on image-guided thermal ablation [radiofrequency, microwave ablation, and cryoablation, and two studies reporting treatment with several different LT]). Radiotherapy was frequently performed with palliative intention. However, in most patients, disease control and with higher dosage also partial responses could be achieved. Data for other LT were more limited, but also point towards local disease control in a significant percentage of patients. Very few studies tried to identify factors that are predictive on response. Patients with a disease-free interval after primary surgery of more than 9 months and lesions<5 cm might benefit most. Underreporting of toxicities may be prevalent, but LT appear to be relatively safe overall. Available evidence on LT for ACC is limited. LT appears to be safe and effective in cases with limited disease and should be considered depending on local expertise in a multidisciplinary team discussion., Competing Interests: MF has served in an advisory board of HRA Pharma on the management of adrenocortical carcinoma. Remunerations paid to his university hospital. MK has received consultancy and speaker honoraria from HRA Pharma and Recordati, and research support from Ipsen, and Enterome (to institution). OK received speaker honoraria from HRA Pharma. UD, BA, CTF, BP, RK declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).)

Clinical Impact: With endovascular therapy becoming the first-line treatment for symptomatic chronic mesenteric ischemia, acute pancreatitis within the context of abdominal ischemia-reperfusion injury may be seen more often in cross-sectional imaging following this kind of interventions and should therefore be kept in mind by the reading physician., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Purpose: To assess radiation exposure and diagnostic performance of bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling for the distinction of pituitary and ectopic adrenocorticotropin-dependent Cushing's syndrome., Materials and Methods: Procedural data of bilateral inferior petrosal sinus procedures were retrospectively evaluated. The analysis included the patients' clinical and demographic data, procedural radiation exposure, and complication rates, sampling results, clinical course of the patients, and calculation of diagnostic performance data., Results: The cases of 46 patients diagnosed with adrenocorticotropin-dependent Cushing's syndrome were evaluated. Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling was successfully performed in 97.8 % of the cases. The overall median procedure-related fluoroscopy time was 7.8 min. (range 3.2-36.2 min.), and the median procedural dose area product was 11.9 Gy*cm 2 (range 2.1-73.7 Gy*cm 2 ). Radiation doses due to digital subtraction angiography series for visualization of the inferior petrosal sinus were 3.6 Gy*cm 2 (range 1.0-18.1 Gy*cm 2 ). Radiation doses due to fluoroscopy had a higher impact on the overall radiation exposure and were significantly influenced by the patients' habitus. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 84 %, 100 %, 100 %, and 72 % before stimulation with corticotropin-releasing hormone, and 97 %, 100 %, 100 %, and 93 % after stimulation. Concordance between magnetic resonance imaging studies and bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling results was only found in 35.6 % of the cases. The periprocedural complication rate was 2.2 %, with one patient experiencing vasovagal syncope during catheterization., Conclusion: Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling is a safe procedure with high technical success rates und excellent diagnostic performance. The procedure-related radiation exposure shows large variations and depends on the complexity of cannulation as well as the patients' habitus. Fluoroscopy accounted for the largest proportion of radiation exposure. Acquisition of digital subtraction angiography series for the verification of correct catheter placement appears justified., Key Points: · Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling with CRH stimulation provides high diagnostic performance in the distinction of pituitary and ectopic Cushing's syndrome.. · The associated radiation exposure is not negligible and is significantly influenced by the use of fluoroscopy and the patients' habitus.. · Digital subtraction angiography contributes less to the overall radiation dose and appears justified for the verification of correct catheter placement.., Citation Format: · Augustin A, Detomas M, Hartung V et al. Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling: Procedural data from a German single-center study. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2023; 195: 1009 - 1017., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BIPSS) is regarded as gold standard to differentiate between Cushing´s disease (CD) and ectopic Cushing's syndrome (ECS). However, published data e.g. on the diagnostic value of additional prolactin analysis is controversial. Thus, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of BIPSS with and without prolactin in a multicenter study., Design and Methods: Retrospective study in 5 European reference centers. Patients with overt adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)-dependent Cushing's syndrome at the time of BIPSS with human corticotropin-releasing hormone stimulation were eligible. Cut-offs for the inferior petrosal sinus (IPS) to peripheral (P) ACTH ratio and the normalized ACTH:prolactin IPS:P ratio were calculated via receiver operator characteristics analyses (reference: CD)., Results: 156 patients with BIPSS were identified. Of these, 120 patients (92 (77%) females; 106 (88%) CD, 14 (12%) ECS) had either histopathologically confirmed tumors or biochemical remission and/or adrenal insufficiency after surgery; only this subgroup was analyzed by ROC analysis. The optimal cut-offs for the ACTH IPS:P ratio were ≥1.9 at baseline (sensitivity 82.1% (95%CI 73.2-88.6), specificity 85.7% (95%CI 56.2-97.5), AUC 0.86) and ≥2.1 at 5 minutes post-CRH (sensitivity 91.3% (95%CI 83.6-95.7), specificity 92.9%(95%CI 64.1-99.6), AUC 0.96). A subgroup underwent additional prolactin analysis. An optimal cut-off of ≥1.4 was calculated for the normalized ACTH:prolactin IPS:P ratio (sensitivity 96.0% (95%CI 77.7-99.9), specificity 100% (95%CI 56.1-100), AUC 0.99)., Conclusion: Our study confirms the high accuracy of BIPSS in the differential diagnosis of ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome and suggests that the simultaneous measurement of prolactin might further improve the diagnostic performance of this test., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Society of Endocrinology.)

Immunotherapy has become the standard of care in advanced HCC but is only approved in first- or second-line treatment. We report a patient with HCC refractory to several lines of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, who was treated with Ipilimumab and Nivolumab (Ipi/Nivo) as the fourth line. The tumor responded profoundly to Ipi/Nivo. Established biomarker-predicting responses to immunotherapy, such as a high PD-L1 staining, a high combined-positive score, microsatellite instability or a high tumor mutational burden, were not detected. Potential negative predictive markers for response to immunotherapy such as CTNNB1 and TERT were present. This constellation puts the spotlight on two mutations observed here in the SET domain-containing 2 (SETD2) and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1b (LRP1B) genes, which may explain the outstanding response. Our case demonstrates that immunotherapy can be efficient in a late-line scenario, resulting in long-term survival. Further studies should prospectively evaluate the value of SETD2 and LRP1B alterations as predictors for the success of immunotherapy in HCC., Competing Interests: F.P.R. has received honoraria for lectures and travel support from the Falk Foundation, Gilead, Ipsen and Novartis. A.S. Advisory Board/Speaker’s Bureau: AGCT, Aignostics, Astra Zeneca, Bayer, BMS, Eli Lilly, Illumina, Incyte, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Seattle Genetics, Takeda, Thermo Fisher Grants: Bayer, BMS, Chugai, Incyte A.G. has received honoraria for lectures, teaching, advisory activities and travel support from AbbVie, Alexion, Bayer, BMS, CSL Behring, Eisai, Gilead, Intercept, Falk, Ipsen, MSD, Merz, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, Sequana and has received research support from Intercept und Falk (NAFLD CSG) and Novartis., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate the technical and clinical outcome of Sinus-XL stent placement in patients with malignant obstruction syndrome of the inferior vena cava., Methods: Between October 2010 and January 2021, 21 patients with different malignant primary disease causing inferior vena cava obstruction were treated with Sinus-XL stent implantation. Procedural data, technical and clinical outcome parameters were retrospectively analyzed., Results: Technical success was 100%. Analysis of available manometry data revealed a significant reduction of the mean translesional pressure gradient following the procedure (p = 0.008). Reintervention rate was 4.8% (1/21). The available follow-up imaging studies showed primary and primary-assisted stent patency rates of 93% (13/14) and 100% (14/14), respectively. Major complications did not occur. The clinical success regarding lower extremity edema was 82.4% (14/17) for the first and 85.7% (18/21) for the last follow-up. Longer lengths of IVC obstruction were associated with reduced clinical improvement after the procedure (p = 0.025). Improvement of intraprocedural manometry results and lower extremity edema revealed only minor correlation. Ascites and anasarca were not significantly positively affected by the procedure., Conclusion: Sinus-XL stent placement in patients with malignant inferior vena cava obstruction showed high technical success and low complication rates. Regarding the clinical outcome, significant symptom improvement could be achieved in lower extremity edema, whereas ascites and anasarca lacked satisfying symptom relief. Based on our results, this procedure should be considered as a suitable therapy in a palliative care setting for patients with advanced malignant disease., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Despite improved shunt patency, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) occlusion remains a serious complication, and effective debulking of the existing tract is needed to restore sufficient blood flow., Purpose: To evaluate the technical and clinical success of percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy in restoring patency of acutely and chronically thrombosed covered TIPS using the Aspirex®S and Rotarex®S system., Material and Methods: We evaluated mechanical thrombectomy-assisted revisions in five patients between January 2012 and April 2021. Two patients had to be revised twice due to recurrent occlusion. We designated thrombosis within 10 days after shunt creation or revision as acute. Insidious deterioration of portal hypertension related symptoms for at least 6-8 weeks was recorded in chronic cases. We treated four acute and three chronic occlusions. After transjugular lesion crossing, we performed two mechanical thrombectomy device passages. If indicated, balloon dilatation, covered stent placement, or variceal embolization were added., Results: The technical success rate was 100%. No procedure-related complications occurred. In one patient with acute decompensation of Budd-Chiari syndrome and acute-on-chronic liver failure, early re-thrombosis occurred twice with patency intervals of up to eight days. In contrast, stable patency was achieved in the other four patients with documented patency intervals of at least five months and improvement of portal hypertension-related symptoms, resulting in a patient based clinical success rate of 80%., Conclusion: In five patients, percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy assisted TIPS recanalization of four acute and three chronic occlusions proved to be technically feasible and safe with a high clinical success rate.

Background: This retrospective study investigates the efficacy and safety of the novel Celt ACD ® vascular closure device (VCD) following antegrade and retrograde common femoral artery (CFA) punctures for the treatment of peripheral artery disease in a challenging patient collective (e.g. calcifications, obesity, and anticoagulation)., Methods: A total of 208 VCDs (i.e. 100 antegrade and 108 retrograde) were deployed between October 2019 and December 2020 in a tertiary referral interventional radiology department. Fifty-two devices were undersized in relation to the introducer sheath (up to 2 Fr). Technical success and VCD related complications were evaluated in the immediate post procedure period and the following 24 h clinically. In 68% of cases, additional duplex ultrasound was performed prior to discharge., Results: The overall technical success rate was 97%. Technical failures following antegrade approach were due to a too acute access angle (⩾60°), rendering it impossible to pass the applicator tip through the sheath lumen. A subgroup analysis of technical success pinpoints severe calcification as another key limiting factor in VCD use ( p  = 0.004). Comparing equally sized with undersized device selection ( p  = 0.196), direction of approach ( p  = 0.265), and body mass index ( p  = 0.184) proved to be insignificant. Five (2%, 5/208) major complications occurred: Four antegrade (i.e. one false aneurysm, one vessel laceration with retroperitoneal hemorrhage, two device migrations; 4%, 4/100) and one following retrograde access (i.e. >6 cm hematoma, 1%, 1/108)). Complications were successfully managed with manual compression or interventional procedures., Conclusions: The novel clip-based VCD proved to be effective with a low VCD related complication rate.

Background: Children with different underlying malignant diseases require long-term central venous access. As for port systems in a pectoral position, peripherally implanted port systems in the forearm revealed high levels of technical and clinical success in adult cohorts., Objective: To investigate the technical and clinical outcomes of percutaneous central venous port implantation in the forearm in adolescents., Materials and Methods: Between April 2010 and August 2020, 32 children ages 9 to 17 years with underlying malignancy received 35 totally implantable venous access ports (TIVAPs) in the forearm. All venous port systems were peripherally inserted under ultrasound guidance. Correct catheter placement was controlled by fluoroscopy. As primary endpoints, the technical success, rate of complications and catheter maintenance were analyzed. Secondary endpoints were the side of implantation, vein of catheter access, laboratory results on the day of the procedure, procedural radiation exposure, amount of contrast agent and reasons for port device removal., Results: Percutaneous TIVAP placement under sonographic guidance was technically successful in 34 of 35 procedures (97.1%). Procedure-related complications did not occur. During the follow-up, 13,684 catheter days were analyzed, revealing 11 complications (0.8 per 1,000 catheter-duration days), Of these 11 complications, 7 were major and 10 occurred late. In seven cases, the port device had to be removed; removal-related complications did not occur., Conclusion: Peripheral TIVAP placement in the forearms of children is a feasible, effective and safe technique with good midterm outcome. As results are comparable with standard access routes, this technique may be offered as an alternative when intermittent venous access is required., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Endovascular revascularization has become the first-line treatment of chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI). The qualitative visual analysis of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is dependent on observer experience and prone to interpretation errors. We evaluate the feasibility of 2D-Perfusion Angiography (2D-PA) for objective, quantitative treatment response assessment in CMI., Methods: 49 revascularizations in 39 patients with imaging based evidence of mesenteric vascular occlusive disease and clinical signs of CMI were included in this retrospective study. To assess perfusion changes by 2D-PA, DSA-series were post-processed using a dedicated, commercially available software. Regions of interest (ROI) were placed in the pre- and post-stenotic artery segment. In aorto-ostial disease, the inflow ROI was positioned at the mesenteric artery orifice. The ratios outflow to inflow ROI for peak density (PD), time to peak and area-under-the-curve (AUC) were computed and compared pre- and post-interventionally. We graded motion artifacts by means of a four-point scale. Feasibility of 2D-PA and changes of flow parameters were evaluated., Results: Motion artifacts due to a mobile vessel location beneath the diaphragm or within the mesenteric root, branch vessel superimposition and inadequate contrast enhancement at the inflow ROI during manually conducted DSA-series via selective catheters owing to steep vessel angulation, necessitated exclusion of 26 measurements from quantitative flow evaluation. The feasibility rate was 47%. In 23 technically feasible assessments, PD outflow /PD inflow increased by 65% (p < 0.001) and AUC outflow /AUC inflow increased by 85% (p < 0.001). The time to peak density values in the outflow ROI accelerated only minimally without reaching statistical significance. Age, BMI, target vessel (celiac trunk, SMA or IMA), stenosis location (ostial or truncal), calcification severity, plaque composition or the presence of a complex stenosis did not reach statistical significance in their distribution among the feasible and non-feasible group (p > 0.05)., Conclusions: Compared to other vascular territories and indications, the feasibility of 2D-PA in mesenteric revascularization for CMI was limited. Unfavorable anatomic conditions contributed to a high rate of inconclusive 2D-PA results., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: To analyze the benefit of color-coded summation images in the assessment of target lumen perfusion in patients with aortic dissection and malperfusion syndrome before and after fluoroscopy-guided aortic fenestration., Methods: Between December 2011 and April 2020 25 patients with Stanford type A (n = 13) or type B dissection (n = 12) and malperfusion syndromes were treated with fluoroscopy-guided fenestration of the dissection flap using a re-entry catheter. The procedure was technically successful in 100% of the cases and included additional iliofemoral stent implantation in four patients. Intraprocedural systolic blood pressure measurements for gradient evaluation were performed in 19 cases. Post-processed color-coded DSA images were obtained from all DSA series before and following fenestration. Differences in time to peak (dTTP) values in the compromised aortic lumen and transluminal systolic blood pressure gradients were analyzed retrospectively. Correlation analysis between dTTP and changes in blood pressure gradients was performed., Results: Mean TTP prior to dissection flap fenestration was 6.85 ± 1.35 s. After fenestration, mean TTP decreased significantly to 4.96 ± 0.94 s (p < 0.001). Available systolic blood pressure gradients between the true and the false lumen were reduced by a median of 4.0 mmHg following fenestration (p = 0.031), with significant reductions in Stanford type B dissections (p = 0.013) and minor reductions in type A dissections (p = 0.530). A moderate correlation with no statistical significance was found between dTTP and the difference in systolic blood pressure (r = 0.226; p = 0.351)., Conclusions: Hemodynamic parameters obtained from color-coded DSA confirmed a significant reduction of TTP values in the aortic target lumen in terms of an improved perfusion in the compromised aortic region. Color-coded DSA might thus be a suitable complementary tool in the assessment of complex vascular patterns prevailing in aortic dissections, especially when blood pressure measurements are not conclusive or feasible., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Microsurgical free flap transfer plays a key role in soft tissue reconstruction of the lower extremities. Through close cooperation between plastic and orthopedic surgery, great progress and success in limb salvage could be achieved over the last decades. The risk for extremity malperfusion is especially high in older patients and after trauma. To maximize the success rate for free flap transfer there is need for interdisciplinary clinical examination and diagnostics. In addition to clinical methods radiological procedures are necessary to evaluate and optimize lower extremity perfusion before surgery.Vascular ultrasound provides important information about the arterial and venous status; however, DSA, CTA and MRA are well-established and exact methods to evaluate arterial inflow. The use of less invasive methods makes it much more feasible, economic and comfortable to perform preoperative selection of patients requiring interventional procedures.In the case of intraluminal stenosis without any option for PTA, a vascular surgeon can be involved at an early stage to evaluate further surgical options. In some cases, similar surgical revascularization and free flap transfer can be performed in a single surgery. The aim of this study is to implement a standardized algorithm for preoperative examination and radiological diagnostics before reconstructive surgery of the lower extremity., (© 2021. Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.)

Purpose:  To determine radiation exposure associated with adrenal vein sampling and its reduction by implementing the rapid cortisol assay and modification of the sampling protocol., Materials and Methods:  A single-center retrospective study of adrenal vein sampling performed between August 2009 and March 2020 revealed data from 151 procedures. Three subgroups were determined. In group I, a sampling protocol including sampling from the renal veins without the rapid cortisol assay was applied. In group II, blood was sampled using the same protocol but applying the rapid cortisol assay. In group III, a modified sampling protocol was used, in which the additional sampling from the renal veins was dispensed with, while the rapid cortisol assay was retained. Primary endpoints were radiation exposure parameters with dose area product, fluoroscopy time, and effective dose. As secondary endpoints, procedural data including technical success, lateralization, the correlation between patient BMI and radiation exposure, and concordance of lateralization with cross-sectional imaging were investigated. Furthermore, the correlation of aldosterone-cortisol ratios between the adrenal and ipsilateral renal vein was calculated to assess the benefit of sampling from the renal veins., Results:  For all procedures performed in the study collective, the median dose area product was 60.01 Gy*cm 2 (5.71-789.31), the median fluoroscopy time was 14.90 min (3.27-80.90), and the calculated median effective dose was 12.60 mSv (1.20-165.76). Significant differences in radiation exposure parameters between the study subgroups could be revealed. Dose area product resulted in reductions of 57.94 % after implementation of the rapid cortisol assay and a further 40.44 % after revision of the sampling protocol. Fluoroscopy time was reduced by 40.48 % after integration of the rapid cortisol assay and a further 40.47 % after protocol refinement. Radiation doses were increased in cases of resampling (dose area product 51.31 vs. 118.11 Gy*cm 2 , fluoroscopy time of 12.48 vs. 28.70 min). A strong correlation between patient BMI and procedural dose area product could be found. After the introduction of the rapid cortisol assay, successive improvement of the technical success rate could be found (33.33 % in group I, 90.22 % in group II and 92.11 % in group III). The correlation of aldosterone-cortisol ratios between adrenal and renal veins was poor., Conclusion:  The introduction of the rapid cortisol assay significantly decreased the radiation exposure and increased the technical success rate. Renal vein sampling did not provide further benefit in the evaluation of primary aldosteronism subtype and its omission resulted in a further reduction of radiation dose., Key Points: · The rapid cortisol assay significantly reduces the procedure-related radiation dose in adrenal vein sampling and increases the procedural technical success.. · Since additional sampling from the renal veins offers no further diagnostic benefit, a refinement of the sampling protocol can enable a further reduction of radiation dose.. · Resampling, technical unsuccessful procedures, and higher patients' BMI are associated with higher radiation exposures.., Citation Format: · Augustin A, Dalla Torre G, Fuss CT et al. Reduction of Radiation Exposure in Adrenal Vein Sampling: Impact of the Rapid Cortisol Assay. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2021; 193: 1392 - 1402., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness and safety of ureteral embolization exclusively using Amplatzer Vascular Plugs (AVPs) in the management of ureteral leakages., Methods: A retrospective analysis of 7 patients with ureteral leakages and fistulas having undergone transrenal ureteral embolization with AVPs was performed. In all cases, AVPs were deployed via a preexisting percutaneous transrenal nephrostomy tube. Technical and clinical success as well as complications were evaluated., Results: During a 4-year study period, 11 ureters in 7 patients were embolized using AVPs. In one case additional coil embolization was conducted. Technical success in terms of sufficient occlusion of the treated ureter was achieved in 100% of the procedures. Median size of used plugs was 16.0 mm (range, 12-18 mm). Number of deployed AVPs ranged between one and three. Median procedural time was 24.00 minutes, and a median dose area product of 58.92 Gy•cm2 was documented. No procedure-related complications occurred. During a median follow-up period of 7 weeks, recurrence of the treated leak could not be observed., Conclusion: Ureteric plug embolization in patients with ureteral leakages or fistulas is a feasible, effective, and safe technique, even without the addition of tissue adhesives. However, due to the often limited prognosis and life expectancy of the affected patients, long-term experiences are still lacking.

Purpose: Repeat surgery in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is associated with an increased risk of complications and failure. This stresses the need for optimized strategies to accurately localize a parathyroid adenoma before repeat surgery is performed. However, evidence on the extent of required diagnostics for a structured approach is sparse., Methods: A retrospective single-center evaluation of 28 patients with an indication for surgery due to pHPT and previous thyroid or parathyroid surgery was performed. Diagnostic workup, surgical approach, and outcome in terms of complications and successful removement of parathyroid adenoma with biochemical cure were evaluated., Results: Neck ultrasound, sestamibi scintigraphy, C11-methionine PET-CT, and selective parathyroid hormone venous sampling, but not MRI imaging, effectively detected the presence of a parathyroid adenoma with high positive predictive values. Biochemical cure was revealed by normalization of calcium and parathormone levels 24-48h after surgery and was achieved in 26/28 patients (92.9%) with an overall low rate of complications. Concordant localization by at least two diagnostic modalities enabled focused surgery with success rates of 100%, whereas inconclusive localization significantly increased the rate of bilateral explorations and significantly reduced the rate of biochemical cure to 80%., Conclusion: These findings suggest that two concordant diagnostic modalities are sufficient to accurately localize parathyroid adenoma before repeat surgery for pHPT. In cases of poor localization, extended diagnostic procedures are warranted to enhance surgical success rates. We suggest an algorithm for better orientation when repeat surgery is intended in patients with pHPT., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background : Arterioureteral fistulas (AUFs) are severe pathologies of different origin and with increasing incidence frequently appear in patients with underlying extensive malignancy and after pelvic surgery. AUF therapy is challenging since symptoms are frequently non-specific and patients are often unsuitable surgical candidates due to comorbidities. Since experiences with endovascular treatment strategies are limited, the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety were evaluated in a consecutive case series. Patients and methods : A retrospective analysis of five patients with endovascular AUF exclusion was performed. Probable predisposing factors for an AUF included history of pelvic malignancy with oncologic surgery in four patients, radiotherapy in four patients, and indwelling ureteral stents in four patients. Clinical presentation, diagnostic management, and site of fistula were assessed. Furthermore, technical and clinical success as well as complications were evaluated. Results : All patients presented with gross haematuria. In four patients, haematuria occurred during endoscopic ureteral stent manipulation. Affected vessels were the internal pudendal artery in one, intrarenal segmental artery and external iliac artery in two, and internal iliac artery in another two patients. Treatment included coil embolisation (n = 2), plug embolisation (n = 3), particulate embolisation (n = 1), and covered stent implantation (n = 2). Technical success was achieved in all procedures. In two cases, re-intervention was necessary due to AUF recurrence, resulting in a clinical success rate of 60.0%. One major complication class D was documented. Conclusions : AUFs can be treated effectively and safely using endovascular techniques. Diagnostic and therapeutic management of this rare entity requires a high level of awareness for potential risk factors as well as an optimal multidisciplinary coordination.