MY CONTENT

This case series of 5 patients describes the authors' approach to using dynamic MRA with direct puncture of venous malformations to define the angioarchitecture and draining veins in these lesions. MultiHance in a 1:100 dilution with normal saline solution was used for the contrast administration. Precontrast images were used as a mask and were digitally subtracted from the postcontrast images (13- and 51-second acquisitions, respectively). The authors conclude that they have developed a method to completely eliminate digital subtraction angiography x-ray radiation exposure during treatment of venous vascular malformations.

Carotid near-occlusion is distal luminal collapse of the internal carotid artery beyond a tight stenosis. Calculating percentage stenosis for carotid near-occlusion is fallacious, and near-occlusion assessment is advised before measuring for percentage stenosis. This systematic review presents what is known about carotid near-occlusion and focuses on definition, terminology, and diagnosis.

This is a retrospective study of imaging-guided spine cryoablation that was performed on 31 vertebral metastases in 14 patients. The lesions were refractory to conventional chemoradiation therapy or analgesics and were ablated to achieve pain palliation and local tumor control. The procedures were performed with the patient under conscious sedation (13 patients) or general anesthesia in 1 case. Postcryoablation MR imaging and PET/CT imaging were available for all patients. Spinal nerve and soft-tissue thermal protection techniques were implemented in all ablations (epidural or neuroforaminal carbon dioxide or warmed 5% dextrose). There were statistically significant decreases in the median numeric pain rating scale score and analgesic usage at 1-week, 1-month, and 3-month time points. Local tumor control was achieved in 96.7% (30/31) of tumors.