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OBJECTIVES: The goal of our study was to describe the chemoembolization technique of transarterial catheterization using microspheres loaded with doxorubicin and to evaluate its tolerance and short-term efficacy on a small number of patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our retrospective study was conducted over 8 months (December 2007-July 2008). It was done at the Brest University Medical Centre (France), in the radiology and hepato-gastroenterology departments of the Hôpital de la Cavale Blanche. We performed a transarterial chemoembolization using microspheres loaded with doxorubicin to 9 patients who had hepatocellular carcinoma in relation to alcoholic cirrhosis. RESULTS: Eight of 9 patients have benefited from a complete procedure (88.9% technical success) and in 100% of these cases, there were no clinical complications or biologic modifications immediately after embolization. After 4 weeks, there were seven cases of regression of more than 30% of the size of the tumor nodules, six cases of total tumor necrosis, and two cases of contrast uptake inside the nodules (partial tumor necrosis). In three cases (37.5%), there was an emergence of new tumor nodules. CONCLUSION: Chemoembolization accomplished by transarterial catheterization using microspheres loaded with doxoribicin is a probable technique for the future of palliative treatment of hepatocellular carcinomas. The technique is simple to perform and seems to be well tolerated by patients in terms of clinical and biological aspects.

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We report a case of a very rare congenital variant consisting in a dorsal (or left) pancreas agenesis due to the lack of development of the dorsal embryonic bud of the gland. This variant is characterized using helical computed tomography (CT). Three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography reconstruction, especially using the volume rendering technique, is very helpful for assessing this entity, which it is important to recognize due to its potential clinical implication (diabetes mellitus). Associated variants of abdominal vessels were also clearly seen in our patient with this technique, including a hepatomesenteric trunk and left retro-aortic renal vein.

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We assessed the accuracy of venous compression ultrasonography (CUS) for the detection of asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis in 122 consecutive patients, with a mean age of 69 years, who were hospitalised in an internal medicine unit. All included patients had CUS within 48 h of admission. Twelve out of 17 patients with a positive CUS underwent phlebography, as the others withdrew their consent, whereas the remaining 105 patients with a negative serial CUS testing were clinically followed-up at 3 months. We found that CUS had a sensitivity and a specificity of respectively 1 (95% CI, 0.73 to 1) and 1 (95% CI, 0.96 to 1) for the detection of asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis. Kappa-coefficients for intra-observer and inter-observer agreements were respectively 0.88 and 0.56. We concluded that venous compression ultrasonography, performed as described, fulfils requirements of a screening test that could be available for prophylactic clinical trials or epidemiological researches.

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The authors report the case of a 39-year-old man with a common origin of three arteries-the celiac, superior mesenteric, and inferior mesenteric arteries-that has not been described previously in the literature, to their knowledge. This variant, which they call the celiac-bimesenteric trunk, is documented with a selective angiogram, and an embryologic explanation is offered.

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Congenital anomalies of the gallbladder (GB) correspond to the ultimate manifestation of the wide range of anatomical variations that may affect the GB. Anomalies may be numerical: duplication, accessory GB, and, rarely, agenesis. Anomalies of position are more common: ectopic GB, floating or wandering GB. Morphological anomalies (septations) are the most common GB anomalies. Most of these anomalies may result in pitfalls at US imaging.

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