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Various forms of vasculitis may result in mesenteric ischaemia, ischaemic colitis or aneurysm formation in the aorta or intestinal blood vessels. Vasculitides may involve large- and/or medium-sized vessels, medium- and/or small-sized vessels, or small-sized vessels only. It is essential to differentiate between the different forms of vasculitis since diagnostic tests and therapies differ greatly. Gastrointestinal manifestations of vasculitis can generally be detected using angiography, digital subtraction angiography and/or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Various laboratory tests are helpful in establishing the diagnosis in patients in whom vasculitis is clinically suspected. In addition, the diagnosis should be confirmed using histology or angiography if possible. Treatment of vasculitis not caused by chronic infection consists of high dose corticosteroids and, in the case of polyarteritis nodosa or vasculitis associated with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), cyclophosphamide.

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To evaluate whether combined contrast enhanced MRA and MRI (ce-MRA-MRI) has the potential to replace intra-arterial DSA (i.a.DSA) in patients with impaired graft function or suspected of vascular complications after pancreas and/or kidney transplantation. 7 patients after combined pancreas-kidney and 22 patients after kidney transplantation underwent ce-MRA-MRI and i.a.DSA within a 3 days interval. Qualitative and quantitative comparison of the arterial and venous supply, the parenchyma and urinary collecting system was made. Both ce-MRA and i.a.DSA showed good results in the detection of arterial stenoses. However, ce-MRA falsely suggested stenoses if vascular clips were used; on the other hand, i.a.DSA was less informative if the graft arteries were very tortuous. Ce-MRA was superior in depicting the venous anatomy (p < 0.001) and the parenchymal enhancement of the pancreatic grafts. For the assessment of the contrast excretion, the pyelocalyceal system and the ureter of the renal graft ce-MRA-MRI was superior (p < 0.001), for small caliber arteries in the renal grafts i.a.DSA was of greater value (p < 0.001). The combination of ce-MRA and MRI is reliable for evaluating the vascular anatomy and has several advantages over i.a.DSA after pancreas and/or kidney transplantation. It can replace i.a.DSA in patients with impaired graft function or suspected of vascular complications after pancreas and/or kidney transplantation.

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To evaluate the diagnostic value of combined contrast enhanced MRA (ce-MRA) and MRI compared to that of intra-arterial DSA (i.a.DSA) in liver transplantation, transjugular porto-systemic (TIPSS) and spleno-renal shunt candidates. 50 patients in the workup for liver transplantation underwent ce-MRA/MRI and i.a.DSA within a three days interval. Both examinations were assessed with respect to vessel anatomy and patency of the arterial, portal venous, porto-systemic collateral and systemic venous system. The results were compared with the intra-operative findings when available. Malignancy detection in ce-MRA/MRI and i.a.DSA were compared. There are no significant differences for the arterial part of the vascular supply to the liver that is important for transplantation. Although the differences for the portal system are not significant, the difference between the two techniques is of clinical importance because i.a.DSA failed to detect portal vein occlusion in 4 patients. Ce-MRA is significantly better for the detection of collaterals (p < 0.001) and the assessment of the inferior vena cava, the hepatic and the renal veins (p < 0.001). Although the detection of liver malignancy is poor in both techniques, ce-MRA/MRI is superior to i.a.DSA. This study shows that a one step diagnostic approach with a combination of ce-MRA and MRI is a valuable radiological tool with a superior diagnostic strength compared to i.a.DSA in the liver transplantation and shunt candidate. Therefore, ce-MRA/MRI should replace i.a.DSA in these patients groups.

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The objective of this study to determine a suitable scan timing scheme in contrast enhanced MRA for the depiction of the arterial, the portal and the systemic venous system in the abdomen with maximum signal intensity in healthy subjects and in patients with cirrhosis. The signal intensity in the aorta, hepatic artery, portal vein, left renal vein and the supra- and infrarenal IVC were measured in 40 consecutive orthotopic liver transplantation candidates with cirrhosis and 20 healthy renal donors in a bolus triggered arterial scan and after 30, 60, 90 and 150 s respectively. The aorta and hepatic artery showed the highest signal intensity on the arterial scan. The portal and left renal vein showed the highest signal intensity after 30 s, the suprarenal IVC after 60 s and the infrarenal IVC after 90 s. No significant differences were found between healthy subjects and patients with cirrhosis. The arterial, portal and systemic venous system in the abdomen can be visualized selectively with maximum signal intensity by proper timing of the scans, hereby reducing redundant scans. Scanning at just the right time to achieve optimal vessel opacification can be promoted by using data from this study. The proposed scan scheme is suitable for subjects with and without cirrhosis.

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RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To describe the findings of routinely performed angiographic examinations in patients at discharge 2 months after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and at follow-up 1 year later. METHODS: The findings of 315 angiographic examinations performed in 190 patients 2 months and 1 year after OLT were reviewed, and the changes at the anastomotic site of the hepatic artery and portal vein were analyzed. RESULTS: Routine angiography 2 months and 1 year after OLT demonstrated a normal anastomosis or low-grade stenosis in 82% and 84% of the patients (hepatic artery) and in 88% and 84% (portal vein), respectively. High-grade stenosis occurred in 9% and 5% of the patients (hepatic artery) and in 3% and 5% (portal vein). Hepatic artery occlusion and portal vein occlusion were observed in two and seven patients and in one and three patients, respectively. In 76% of patients, the anastomotic site of the hepatic artery did not change significantly. In eight patients, a normal anastomosis or a low- or medium-grade stenosis developed into high-grade stenosis or occlusion. Conversely, in nine patients, medium- or high-grade stenosis developed into a normal anastomosis or a low-grade stenosis. In all eight patients who initially had a high-grade stenosis, the hepatic artery proved to be patent at 1 year. In 98% of patients, the anastomotic site of the portal vein did not change significantly. In one patient who initially had a normal anastomosis, occlusion was found at I year. CONCLUSIONS: In most patients, routine angiography 2 months and 1 year after OLT demonstrated normal findings or a low-grade stenotic anastomosis of the hepatic artery and portal vein. Significant changes occurred mainly at the anastomotic site of the hepatic artery and could not be predicted by previous angiograms.

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BACKGROUND: Cirrhosis and portal hypertension affect the flow profile of the liver vasculature. In these conditions Doppler ultrasound can provide important information on the hemodynamics of the portal venous system, the hepatic artery and the hepatic veins. METHODS: The value of Doppler ultrasound in the assessment of the patient with cirrhosis and portal hypertension was determined by reviewing the literature. RESULTS: Portal venous blood flow becomes reversed with advanced portal hypertension. Reversed flow is also demonstrated in patients with veno-occlusive disease and portosystemic shunts. Despite general agreement that portal flow velocity is decreased in cirrhotic patients, the absolute values of portal flow velocity in both healthy subjects and cirrhotic patients vary considerably. Errors in Doppler measurements, observer variability and collateral pathways contribute to these variations. Furthermore, portal blood flow is influenced by numerous factors such as changes in the body position, phase of respiration, timing of meals, exercise and cardiac output. Finally, portal flow may be unaltered due to a combination of high inflow from the splanchnic organs and increased resistance within the liver. High resistive index of the hepatic artery is seen in patients with end-stage liver disease, particularly in children with severe cirrhosis secondary to biliary atresia. However, hepatic artery flow remains normal in most patients. Abnormal hepatic vein flow profiles are seen in patients with cirrhosis, but dampening or flattening of the flow profile has a multifactorial origin (Budd-Chiari, metastases, ascites) and can be observed in healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Although many factors may affect the accuracy of volume flow and velocity measurements and the flow profile of the liver vasculature may change in different situations, Doppler ultrasound is useful in the assessment of the patient with cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

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A man aged 70 during a hospital stay over a period of a few weeks developed increasing pain and swelling of the left thigh. Despite extensive diagnostic imaging and surgical drainage, initially no diagnosis could be established. After more than 3 months the tumour proved to be caused by leakage of urine from the pelvis to the soft tissues of the leg. Unfamiliarity of the clinicians with such an extension of an urinoma contributed to the considerable diagnostic delay. Introduction of a bladder catheter stopped the flow of urine to the leg and reduced the leg circumference.

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OBJECTIVES: A description of the clinical presentation, diagnostic procedure and mode of therapy in three patients suffering from chronic mesenteric ischaemia. DESIGN AND INTERVENTIONS: In all cases, the diagnosis was made on the basis of abdominal complaints in combination with angiographic findings. The primary treatment objective was restoration of blood flow via a revascularization procedure, for the patient in whom this could not be accomplished an enteral feeding programme was undertaken. RESULTS: One patient had a panmalabsorption syndrome which was treated with an aortomesenteric bypass operation, the second one presented with multiple gastric ulcerations which only improved after a percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. In the third patient, neither surgery or angioplasty were feasible and a tentative enteral feeding programme was given, after which the ability to consume a normal oral diet without abdominal distress was regained. CONCLUSIONS: These three cases illustrate the diverse clinical pictures by which chronic mesenteric ischaemia may present itself. This diagnosis should be kept in mind when other more common causes of a patient's abdominal complaints cannot be found, hence giving consideration to abdominal angiography as the next diagnostic procedure. With respect to therapy, restoring blood flow through surgery or angioplasty is the primary form of treatment. However, if neither of these therapeutic options is feasible, it is suggested that such patients may benefit from a nutritional training programme.

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BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is of restricted value for the in vivo characterization of tumor types. The applicability of phosphorus-31 (31P) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in the diagnosis of bone and soft tissue tumors is unknown. METHODS: A total of 191 consecutive patients (85 females and 106 males; mean age 41 years, range 1-80) with a well-defined bone or soft tissue tumor on MRI were analyzed for additional 31P spectroscopy. Histology and/or cytology was obtained from all tumors. Because of low sensitivity of the 31P nucleus and the contamination of surrounding tissue, only large, superficially located tumors accessible to the surface coil could be accepted for MRS. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients (11%) could be included in the study. From this remaining group only 12 studies (57%) produced spectra with well resolved phosphorus peaks and an acceptable signal-to-noise ratio. However, these spectra did not allow differentiation between the benign and malignant nature of the lesions. The other 9 studies showed spectra with poor signal intensities and/or poorly defined peaks, making tumor differentiation impossible. CONCLUSION: Only 6% of the bone and soft tissue tumors produced well defined spectra, which implies that localized 31P MRS cannot be considered as a routine technique in the diagnostic and treatment evaluation of bone and soft tissue tumors.

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Arm veins have been used in myocardial revascularisation procedures as a last resort bypass conduit because of their associated low patency. Nevertheless, leg veins and mammary arteries, which are the most commonly used, are sometimes not sufficient, leaving little choice as to the bypass conduit. To assess the properties of arm veins in bypass surgery, we compared a group of 28 patients that underwent an arm vein graft coronary bypass procedure with a matched group of patients in which leg veins were used. In 28 patients, 40 arm vein grafts with 77 distal anastomoses were used (mean 1.9 +/- 0.9; range 1-5). A cerebrovascular accident was the cause of the sole death (2%) during the study period. The mean follow-up was 4.6 years (Standard deviation, SD: 1.5 years). More antianginal medication was used in the arm vein group (P = 0.017). Additionally, the percentage of the expected maximal frequency during exercise testing was lower in the arm vein group as compared to the leg vein group. Digital subtraction angiography showed that the patency of the arm vein bypass grafts was 47% (70% confidence limits, CL: 32%-62%) while the patency of the leg vein grafts was 77% (CL: 64%-87%), which was statistically significant (P = 0.051). Comparison of these figures with the few published reports on arm veins used as coronary bypass grafts reveals similar results. We conclude that the arm vein as a coronary bypass graft is only to be used when mammary arteries and leg veins are not available.

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In order to determine whether intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (= DSA) is a suitable screening method to visualise graft patency and to determine whether DSA can be performed on an outpatient basis, we studied 73 patients shortly after coronary bypass surgery. In two patients DSA was precluded due to technical problems. The patency of the grafts was adequately visualised by means of DSA in 68 of the remaining 71 patients. During the DSA procedure complications occurred in two patients without serious consequences and bleeding at the puncture site was not observed in any patient whether mobilised at 24 or only 2 hours. We conclude that intra-arterial DSA is a suitable screening method to visualise patency in coronary bypass grafts and that it can be performed safely on an outpatient basis.

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Leg lymphoedema is described as an unusual presenting feature of lymphangiomyomatosis. MRI scanning revealed typical lesions. Possible sex hormonal manipulation as a therapy for pulmonary or abdominal involvement is reviewed.

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