Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Back Pain ; complications ; drug therapy ; Blood Sedimentation ; Hemoglobins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; complications ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; complications ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: To review our experience with the management of fragmented and retained pigtail percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) tubes and to explore the reasons for the fragmentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed our institute database from January 2006 to December 2011 for patients who had undergone retrieval of fragmented PCN tubes. We assessed the preoperative factors, operative technique, and post-operative outcomes. RESULTS: A total of seven patients (4 males and 3 females) had been diagnosed with fragmented PCN tubes. The mean age of the patients was 41.5 years. Of the seven patients, five required antegrade instrumentation by way of a percutaneous tract to remove the foreign body, mostly along with stone retrieval. One patient underwent ureterorenoscopy and pneumolithotripsy for a ureteric stone along with ureteroscopic removal of the PCN fragment. Another patient underwent nephrectomy of the kidney containing the PCN fragment because it had become nonfunctioning. All patients were free of stones and symptoms on follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: A prolonged waiting period for definitive surgery, urinary infection, and associated stone disease are significant factors causing fragmentation of PCN tubes. Proper insertion techniques, regular timed changes of the PCN tube, appropriate care of the PCN tube, and early surgery for underlying stone disease are required to avoid this complication. Patients with retained PCN tubes can be managed effectively with antegrade or retrograde endoscopic techniques while definitive management of the primary pathology is carried out, without any additional morbidity.
Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Calculi ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous ; Polyurethanes ; Pregnenolone Carbonitrile ; Pyonephrosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Ureter

Endovascular management of intraparenchymal renal artery pseudoaneurysms is a reasonable and effective therapeutic technique. Endovascular management preserves the maximum amount of renal tissue and reduces the potential risk of nephrectomy. We present the case of an angiocatheter that became stuck in the renal artery following the injection of cyanoacrylate glue for angioembolization of an intrarenal pseudoaneurysm.
Adhesives* ; Aneurysm, False* ; Cyanoacrylates ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Nephrectomy ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous ; Renal Artery

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome is a rare neoplastic disorder characterized by central nervous system (CNS) and visceral tumors. We here present 68Ga-labelled [1, 4, 7, 10-tetraazacyclododecane-1, 4, 7, 10-tetraacetic acid]-1-Nal3-Octreotide positron emission tomography computed tomography findings in a 52 year old female with VHL syndrome, demonstrating both CNS and visceral tumors.
Brain Diseases/radionuclide imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases/radionuclide imaging ; Liver Diseases/radionuclide imaging ; Middle Aged ; Multimodal Imaging/*methods ; Organometallic Compounds/diagnostic use ; Pancreatic Diseases/radionuclide imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography/*methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods ; von Hippel-Lindau Disease/*radionuclide imaging

Acquired bilateral pulmonary artery stenosis in adults due to lung malignancy is infrequently reported. We describe an adult male who presented to us with chief complaints of dyspnea on exertion and one episode of hemoptysis. Two dimensional transthoracic echocardiography with color Doppler showed presence of an extra cardiac mass causing severe extrinsic compression of both the right and left pulmonary artery leading to high pressure severe tricuspid regurgitation and extension of the mass into the left atrium. Three dimensional transthoracic echocardiography clearly delineated the anatomy of the left atrial mass and its surrounding anatomical relationship. The diagnosis of non small cell lung carcinoma was confirmed by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and with MDCT guided biopsy with histopathology. Patient succumbed one month later due to an episode of massive hemoptysis.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea* ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; Heart Atria ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Lung* ; Male ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome of visual internal urethrotomy with a holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser along with intralesional triamcinolone injection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with an anterior urethral stricture less than 3 cm in length were evaluated by clinical history, physical examination, uroflowmetry, and retrograde urethrogram preoperatively. All patients were treated with holmium laser urethrotomy and intralesional triamcinolone (80 mg) injection under general or regional anesthesia. An 18 F urethral catheter was placed for 5 days. All patients were followed up for 12 months postoperatively by history, uroflowmetry, and if required, retrograde urethrogram or urethroscopy every 3 months. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 42.9 years (range, 14 to 70 years). The overall recurrence rate was 24%. The success rate in patients with strictures less than 1 cm in length was 95.8%, whereas that in patients with strictures of 1 to 3 cm in length was 57.7% (p=0.002). The outcome did not depend on age, duration of symptoms, etiology, or location of stricture. CONCLUSIONS: Holmium laser urethrotomy with intralesional triamcinolone is a safe and effective minimally invasive therapeutic modality for urethral strictures. This procedure has an encouraging success rate, especially in those with stricture segments of less than 1 cm in length.
Anesthesia, Conduction ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Holmium ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Lasers, Solid-State ; Physical Examination ; Recurrence ; Triamcinolone ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; Urethral Stricture ; Urinary Catheters

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effects of plasma-rich growth factors (PRGF) on accelerating bone regeneration/repair in fresh extraction sockets, and determined the quality and quantity of bone by assessing the bone density using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients, who had undergone bilateral extractions, were included in this study. In one extraction socket, PRGF was used and covered with an autologous fibrin plug. Nothing was used in the opposite side extraction socket. Thirteen weeks post extraction, the level of bone regeneration was evaluated on both sides with CBCT. RESULTS: At the end of the study, the mean bone density according to the Hounsfield units (HU) in the control group and PRGF group was 500.05 HU (type III bone type) and 647.95 HU (type II bone type), respectively. CONCLUSION: This study recommends the use of PRGF in post extraction sites to accelerate the rate of bone regeneration and improve the quality of regenerated bone. The technique to process PRGF was simple compared to previously mentioned techniques used for platelet-rich plasma (PRP) preparation. PRP preparation requires a two-cycle centrifugation procedure, leading to a longer processing time.
Bone Density ; Bone Regeneration ; Centrifugation ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Dental Implants ; Fibrin ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Plasma ; Platelet-Rich Plasma

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effects of plasma-rich growth factors (PRGF) on accelerating bone regeneration/repair in fresh extraction sockets, and determined the quality and quantity of bone by assessing the bone density using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients, who had undergone bilateral extractions, were included in this study. In one extraction socket, PRGF was used and covered with an autologous fibrin plug. Nothing was used in the opposite side extraction socket. Thirteen weeks post extraction, the level of bone regeneration was evaluated on both sides with CBCT. RESULTS: At the end of the study, the mean bone density according to the Hounsfield units (HU) in the control group and PRGF group was 500.05 HU (type III bone type) and 647.95 HU (type II bone type), respectively. CONCLUSION This study recommends the use of PRGF in post extraction sites to accelerate the rate of bone regeneration and improve the quality of regenerated bone. The technique to process PRGF was simple compared to previously mentioned techniques used for platelet-rich plasma (PRP) preparation. PRP preparation requires a two-cycle centrifugation procedure, leading to a longer processing time.

Background: Platelet aggregation studies using conventional light transmission aggregometry (LTA) have several disadvantages and require strict pre-analytical measures for reliable results.We aimed to examine the utility of flow cytometric platelet aggregation (FCA) assay in detecting platelet function defects (PFDs) in patients with a history of bleeding symptoms. Methods: Sixty-four participants (24 patients and 40 healthy controls) were included in this study.LTA and FCA assay were performed simultaneously in patients and healthy controls. In the FCA assay, two portions of platelets from the same individual were labeled separately with CD31-FITC and CD31-PE. After mixing and stimulation with agonists, the double-colored platelet aggregates were visualized using a flow cytometer. The results generated using the two techniques were compared and correlated. Results: The patients’ median age was 17 years (range, 3‒72 yr) with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.7. There was substantial agreement between LTA and FCA assay in detecting a PFD (κ=0.792). Four patients showing a Glanzmann thrombasthenia-like pattern on LTA exhibited an abnormal FCA. A functional defect in collagen binding was detected on the FCA assay conducted in two immune thrombocytopenic patients with severe bleeding. Conclusion FCA assay can be used to identify functional defects in platelets, with potential applications in thrombocytopenic individuals. It also facilitates the diagnosis of inherited bleeding disorders with platelet defects.

Background: Platelet aggregation studies using conventional light transmission aggregometry (LTA) have several disadvantages and require strict pre-analytical measures for reliable results.We aimed to examine the utility of flow cytometric platelet aggregation (FCA) assay in detecting platelet function defects (PFDs) in patients with a history of bleeding symptoms. Methods: Sixty-four participants (24 patients and 40 healthy controls) were included in this study.LTA and FCA assay were performed simultaneously in patients and healthy controls. In the FCA assay, two portions of platelets from the same individual were labeled separately with CD31-FITC and CD31-PE. After mixing and stimulation with agonists, the double-colored platelet aggregates were visualized using a flow cytometer. The results generated using the two techniques were compared and correlated. Results: The patients’ median age was 17 years (range, 3‒72 yr) with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.7. There was substantial agreement between LTA and FCA assay in detecting a PFD (κ=0.792). Four patients showing a Glanzmann thrombasthenia-like pattern on LTA exhibited an abnormal FCA. A functional defect in collagen binding was detected on the FCA assay conducted in two immune thrombocytopenic patients with severe bleeding. Conclusion FCA assay can be used to identify functional defects in platelets, with potential applications in thrombocytopenic individuals. It also facilitates the diagnosis of inherited bleeding disorders with platelet defects.