INTRODUCTION: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) avoids the complications of general anaesthesia, reduces length of hospitalisation and reduces morbidity from surgery. As such, it is a strong alternative treatment for patients with comorbidities who are not surgical candidates. However, to our knowledge, there have only been 1 systematic review and 3 combined systematic review and meta-analyses on this topic to date. This systematic review and meta-analysis seeks to evaluate the efficacy and safety of RFA in the treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with longer follow-up durations. METHOD: PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched for relevant studies published from 1990 to 2021; 13 studies with a total of 1366 patients were included. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and Sandelowski et al.'s approach1 to "negotiated consensual validation" were used to achieve consensus on the final list of articles to be included. All authors then assessed each study using a rating scheme modified from the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. RESULTS: Pooled volume reduction rates (VRRs) from 1 to 48 months after RFA, complete disappearance rates (CDR) and complications were assessed. Pooled mean VRRs were 96.59 (95% confidence interval [CI] 91.05-102.13, I2=0%) at 12 months2-6 and 99.31 (95% CI 93.74-104.88, I2=not applicable) at 48 months.2,5 Five studies showed an eventual CDR of 100%.2,4,7-9 No life-threatening complications were recorded. The most common complications included pain, transient voice hoarseness, fever and less commonly, first-degree burn. CONCLUSION RFA may be an effective and safe alternative to treating PTC. Larger clinical trials with longer follow-up are needed to further evaluate the effectiveness of RFA in treating PTC.
Humans ; Radiofrequency Ablation/methods* ; Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/surgery* ; Thyroid Neoplasms/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Postoperative Complications/etiology*

Thermal ablation is a good alternative treatment in patients who are unable to undergo adrenalectomy. Even though the Asian Conference on Tumor Ablation (ACTA) has been held for many years, adrenal ablation guidelines have not been established. No guidelines for adrenal ablation are established in American and European countries, either. The aim of this review was to introduce the first version of ACTA guidelines for adrenal tumor ablation.

INTRODUCTION: Many institutions still perform routine chest radiography (CXR) after tube thoracostomies despite current guidelines suggesting that this is not necessary for simple cases. We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of routine CXR following ultrasonography-guided catheter thoracostomies for the detection of complications of symptomatic pleural effusions in hospitalised patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of 2,032 ultrasonography-guided thoracostomies on hospitalised patients with symptomatic effusions at a single institution from April 2012 to May 2015. The aetiology of effusions was not systemically registered, but patient demographics, procedural details and clinical outcomes were collected. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square test. Generalised estimating equation analysis was performed to assess the relationship between CXR findings and complications while controlling for age. RESULTS: Out of 2,032 CXRs, 92.96% (n = 1,889) were normal, 5.81% (n = 118) showed pneumothorax and 1.23% (n = 25) showed catheter kinking. 99 pneumothoraces and 24 kinked catheters were detected in the first hour post procedure. 97.40% (n = 115) of patients with pneumothorax were stable or had minor complications, such as a vasovagal event. 0.20% (n = 4) of the cases had a serious complication following chest drain insertion, resulting in cardiovascular collapse. There was no significant relationship between CXR results and occurrence of complications (p = 0.244). Amount of fluid drained or side of insertion did not affect the clinical outcome. CONCLUSION Routine use of CXR after tube thoracostomy did not significantly change patient management, which was concordant with recent guidelines. Instead, adverse clinical outcomes or procedural factors should guide investigations.

Thermal ablation is a good alternative treatment in patients who are unable to undergo adrenalectomy. Even though the Asian Conference on Tumor Ablation (ACTA) has been held for many years, adrenal ablation guidelines have not been established. No guidelines for adrenal ablation are established in American and European countries, either. The aim of this review was to introduce the first version of ACTA guidelines for adrenal tumor ablation.

INTRODUCTIONThe lung is the most common site of distal metastasis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as seen in more than half of patients with extrahepatic disease. The incidence of pulmonary metastasis in all patients with HCC, however, remains low (between 4.5% to 20%). Their presence, nevertheless, contraindicates curative locoregional therapies. The role of staging chest computed tomography (CT) before locoregional treatment is not well defined. This study aimed to assess the utility of pre-treatment chest CT prior to locoregional therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODSRetrospective review of continuous cases of treatment-naïve HCC referred for locoregional therapy from 2004 to 2013 was performed. Patients with pre-treatment chest CT were evaluated for the presence of pulmonary metastases. HCC features (size, numbers, vascular invasion, nodal status and bone metastases) were recorded. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were performed for significant association.

RESULTSA total of 780 patients were reviewed, of which 135 received staging chest CT. Pulmonary metastases (n = 17, 12.6%), benign lesions (n = 41, 30.4%) and indeterminate lesions (n = 11, 8.1%) were detected. Among the indeterminate lesions, there were losses to follow-up (n = 2) and deaths within the study period (n = 3). All patients with pulmonary metastases were declined locoregional therapy. Univariate analysis showed statistical significant association between pulmonary metastases with the number of intrahepatic lesions (<0.01), primary tumour size (= 0.018) and presence of vascular invasion (<0.01). On multivariate analysis, the number of intrahepatic lesions (OR: 9.7; 95% CI, 1.6 to 57.2;= 0.012) and presence of both hepatic and portal venous invasions (OR: 11.8; 95% CI, 1.1 to 128.8;= 0.043) were the 2 independent positive predictors of pulmonary metastases.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of pulmonary metastasis is low in HCC and our study does not support the routine use of staging chest CT in all treatment-naïve patients. It can, however, be considered in cases with multiple lesions or vascular invasion.

No abstract available.
Humans ; Ultrasonography*

INTRODUCTIONThis study aimed to assess the ability of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) to detect active abdominopelvic haemorrhage in patients with blunt trauma, as compared to digital subtraction angiography (DSA).

METHODSIn this retrospective study, patients who underwent DSA within 24 hours following CECT for blunt abdominal and/or pelvic trauma were identified. The computed tomography (CT) trauma protocol consisted of a portal venous phase scan without CT angiography; delayed phase study was performed if appropriate. All selected CECT studies were independently reviewed for the presence of active extravasation of contrast by two radiologists, who were blinded to the DSA results. Fisher's exact test was used to correlate the presence of extravasation on CT with subsequent confirmed haemorrhage on DSA.

RESULTSDuring the eight-year study period, 51 patients underwent CECT prior to emergent DSA for abdominal or pelvic trauma. Evidence of active extravasation of contrast on CECT was observed in 35 patients and active haemorrhage was confirmed on DSA in 31 of these patients; embolisation was performed in all 31 patients. Two patients who were negative for active extravasation of contrast on CECT but positive for active haemorrhage on DSA had extensive bilateral pelvic fractures and haematomas. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of CECT in detecting active abdominopelvic haemorrhage, as compared to DSA, were 93.9%, 77.8%, 88.6% and 87.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONWhen compared with DSA, dual-phase CECT without CT angiography shows high sensitivity and positive predictive value for the detection of active haemorrhage in patients with blunt abdominopelvic trauma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Observer Variation ; Pelvic Bones ; Pelvis ; injuries ; Radiology ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating ; diagnostic imaging ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*surgery ; Electroporation/*methods ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*surgery ; Male ; *Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic ; *Stents

This manuscript describes an unusual case of rapid intra-hepatic dissemination of hepatocellular carcinoma with pulmonary metastases occurring 1 month after combined chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation. Inferior vena cava and portal vein invasion tumor thrombus was also detected, possibly accounting for the mechanism of disease dissemination route of disease.
Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage/*adverse effects ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/diagnosis/*secondary/therapy ; Catheter Ablation/*adverse effects ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic/*adverse effects ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*pathology/therapy ; Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis/*secondary ; Male