Since the introduction of pancreas transplantation more than 40 years ago, surgical techniques and immunosuppressive regiments have improved and both have contributed to increase the number and success rate of this procedure. However, graft survival corresponds to early diagnosis of organ-related complications. Thus, knowledge of the transplantation procedure and postoperative image anatomy are basic requirements for radiologists. In this article, we demonstrate the imaging spectrum of pancreas transplantation with enteric exocrine drainage.
Adult ; Anastomosis, Surgical/methods ; Diagnostic Imaging/methods ; Drainage/methods ; Female ; Graft Rejection/pathology ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Iliac Artery/radiography/surgery ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; *Medical Illustration ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior/radiography/surgery ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas/*blood supply/radiography ; Pancreas Transplantation/adverse effects/*methods ; Pancreatitis, Graft/etiology ; Portal Vein/radiography/surgery ; Postoperative Complications/radiography ; Postoperative Hemorrhage/etiology ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVE: We wanted to assess the usefulness of four-dimensional (4D) ultrasonography (US), i.e., real-time three-dimensional US, as an adjunct for performing various US-guided interventional procedures in superficial lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients were referred for US-guided interventional procedures for superficial lesions, including core biopsy in 19, fine-needle aspiration in eight, therapeutic drug injection in four and needle puncture in two. The procedures were performed under 4D US guidance. We reviewed the pathologic/cytologic results of the core biopsies or needle aspirations, and also the outcomes of drug injection or needle puncture. RESULTS: For all the patients who underwent 4D US-guided core biopsy, the specimens were adequate for making the pathological diagnosis, and specimens were successfully obtained for those patients who underwent 4D US-guided aspiration. The patients treated with 4D US-guided therapeutic drug injection or needle puncture had a good response. No major procedure-related complications occurred. The procedural times were similar to those procedural times with using two-dimensional US. CONCLUSION: Combining the two dimensional and 4D US techniques aids the physician when performing US-guided interventional procedures for the superficial lesions.
Ultrasonography, Interventional/*methods ; Punctures/*methods ; Neoplasms/pathology ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Injections/*methods ; *Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Humans ; Female ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aged ; Adult ; Adolescent