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Tranarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been established by a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials as the standard of care for nonsurgical patients with large or multinodular noninvasive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) isolated to the liver and with preserved liver function. Although conventional TACE with administration of an anticancer-in-oil emulsion followed by embolic agents has been the most popular technique, the introduction of embolic drug-eluting beads has provided an alternative to lipiodol-based regimens. Experimental studies have shown that TACE with drug-eluting beads has a safe pharmacokinetic profile and results in effective tumor killing in animal models. Early clinical experiences have confirmed that drug-eluting beads provide a combined ischemic and cytotoxic effect locally with low systemic toxic exposure. Recently, the clinical value of a TACE protocol performed by using the embolic microsphere DC Bead loaded with doxorubicin (DEBDOX; drug-eluting bead doxorubicin) has been shown by randomized controlled trials. An important limitation of conventional TACE has been the inconsistency in the technique and the treatment schedules. This limitation has hampered the acceptance of TACE as a standard oncology treatment. Doxorubicin-loaded DC Bead provides levels of consistency and repeatability not available with conventional TACE and offers the opportunity to implement a standardized approach to HCC treatment. With this in mind, a panel of physicians took part in a consensus meeting held during the European Conference on Interventional Oncology in Florence, Italy, to develop a set of technical recommendations for the use of DEBDOX in HCC treatment. The conclusions of the expert panel are summarized.

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Helical computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are used for staging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prior to curative treatments but underestimate tumor extension in 30% to 50% of cases when compared with pathologic explants. This study compares a new technology, MRI angiography (MRA), with triphasic helical CT in detection of HCC. Fifty cirrhotic patients, 29 with HCC, undergoing liver transplantation were analyzed. MRA was performed with a 3-D breath-hold fast spoiled gradient-echo sequence by using an effective section thickness of 2 to 2.5 mm. The gold standard was the pathologic examination (liver cut into 5-mm slices). One hundred twenty-seven lesions were identified at the explant: 76 HCC, 13 high-grade dysplastic nodules, 31 macroregenerative nodules, 7 hemangiomas. Diameter of the main HCC nodules was 29 +/- 14 mm and 11 +/- 7 mm for the 47 additional nodules. On a per nodule basis, sensitivity of MRA was superior to CT (58/76 [76%] vs. 43/70 [61%], respectively, P =.001). Sensitivity of MRA for detection of additional nodules decreased with size (>20 mm: 6/6 [100%]; 10-20 mm: 16/19 [84%]; <10 mm: 7/22 [32%]) and was superior to CT for nodules 10 to 20 mm (84% vs. 47%, P =.016). Nonspecific hypervascular nodules >5 mm at MRA were HCC in two thirds of the cases. In conclusion, MRA has a high diagnostic accuracy for HCC > or =10 mm and is more sensitive than triphasic helical CT in nodules sized 10 to 20 mm. MRA is the optimal technique for HCC staging prior to curative therapies.

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Postpartum hemorrhage is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide. According to the time when postpartum hemorrhage develops, it is classified as (a) primary, or early, postpartum hemorrhage (within the first 24 hours after delivery) or (b) secondary, or late, postpartum hemorrhage (>24 hours to 6 weeks after delivery). Primary postpartum hemorrhage may be caused by uterine atony (75%-90% of cases), trauma of the lower portion of the genital tract, uterine rupture, uterine inversion, bladder flap hematoma, retention of blood clots or placental fragments, and coagulation disorders. Secondary postpartum hemorrhage may be caused by uterine subinvolution, coagulopathies, and abnormalities of the uterine vasculature. Extrauterine sources of bleeding include rectus sheath hematoma, direct arterial injuries, and the HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count) syndrome. Severe postpartum hemorrhage is a life-threatening condition that is diagnosed on the basis of the findings from clinical examination, with or without ultrasonography. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging are useful in the characterization of postpartum hemorrhage when medical treatment fails. Multidetector CT has an important role when intraabdominal bleeding is suspected and can be considered in cases of recurrent bleeding after embolization, as well as for the evaluation of postsurgical complications. A proposed clinical and CT imaging algorithm for postpartum hemorrhage is presented. A multidisciplinary approach to postpartum hemorrhage is essential to optimize the role of diagnostic and interventional radiology in obstetric hemorrhage, to avoid hysterectomy and thus preserve fertility.