Youcef Guerrache

HELLP syndrome, which consists of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count is an unusual complication of pregnancy that is observed in only 10% to 15% of women with preeclampsia. Hepatic involvement in HELLP syndrome may present with various imaging features depending on the specific condition that includes nonspecific abnormalities such as perihepatic free fluid, hepatic steatosis, liver enlargement, and periportal halo that may precede more severe conditions such as hepatic hematoma and hepatic rupture with hemoperitoneum. Maternal clinical symptoms may be nonspecific and easily mistaken for a variety of other conditions that should be recognized. Because hepatic hematoma occurring in association with preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome is a potentially life-threatening complication, prompt depiction is critical and may help reduce morbidity and mortality. This review provides an update on demographics, risk factors, pathophysiology, and clinical features of hepatic complications due to HELLP syndrome along with a special emphasis on the imaging features of these uncommon conditions.

The goal of this study was to prospectively describe the imaging presentation of hepatic vein (HV) obstruction in patients with Budd–Chiari syndrome (BCS) on duplex and color Doppler ultrasonography (DCD-US), multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A total of 176 patients with primary BCS (mean age, 33 years; 101 women) were prospectively included. BCS diagnosis was made by direct visualization of HV and/or upper portion of the inferior vena cava (IVC) obstruction on DCD-US and/or MDCT and/or MRI. Location (right, middle, and left HV), type (thrombus, stenosis, or both), and age (recent vs. long-standing) of HV obstruction were described on each imaging examination. HV obstruction was a constant (100%) finding and associated with IVC abnormalities in 51/176 (28.98%) patients. Obstruction of the three HVs was present in 158/176 (89.77%) patients. The prevalences of right, middle, and left HV thrombus were 151/169 (89.35%), 146/169 (86.39%), and 111/169 (65.68%), respectively. Long-standing HV thrombus was observed in more than 92% of patients on the three imaging methods. Agreement between DCD-US, MDCT, and MRI was perfect in the identification of long-standing HV thrombus (κ = 0.9); this agreement was slight to moderate in revealing the type of HV abnormality (i.e., fibrotic cord and non-visible HV). Our results indicate that BCS is a chronic and insidious disease, more often discovered at an advanced stage. These results should warrant further evaluation of screening strategies in patients with risk factors for BCS to identify the disease at an early stage.

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a potentially life-threatening condition, which needs multidisciplinary management. Uterine atony represents up to 80 % of all causes of PPH. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) has now a well-established role in the management of severe PPH. TAE allows stopping the bleeding in 90 % of women with severe PHH, obviating surgery. Pledgets of gelatin sponge as torpedoes are commonly used for safe TAE, and coils, glue, and microspheres have been primarily used in specific situations such as arterial rupture, pseudoaneurysm, and arteriovenous fistula. TAE is a minimally invasive procedure with a low rate of complications, which preserves future fertility. Knowledge of causes of PPH, potential risks, and limitations of TAE is essential for a timely decision, optimizing TAE, preventing irreversible complications, avoiding hysterectomy, and ultimately preserving fertility.

To assess the role and effectiveness of percutaneous arterial embolization (TAE) in patients with hemodynamic instability due to hypovolemic shock secondary to ruptured splanchnic artery pseudoaneurysms (SAPA). Seventeen patients (11 men, 6 women; mean age, 53 years) with hemodynamic instability (systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg) due to hypovolemic shock secondary to ruptured SAPA were treated by TAE. Clinical files, multidetector row computed tomography angiography, and angiographic examinations along with procedure details were reviewed. Seventeen SAPAs were present, predominantly located on gastroduodenal or pancreatic arteries (9/17; 53 %). Angiography showed extravasation of contrast medium from SAPA in 15/17 patients (88 %). Technical success rate of TAE was 100 %. TAE was performed using metallic coils in all patients (100 %), in association with gelatin sponge in 5/17 patients (29 %). TAE allowed controlling the bleeding and returning to normal hemodynamic status in 16/17 patients (94 %). In 1/17 patient (6 %), surgery was needed to definitively control the bleeding. The mortality and morbidity rate of TAE at 30 days were 0 and 12 %, respectively. Morbidity consisted in coil migration in 1/17 patient (6 %) and transient serum liver enzyme elevation in 1/17 patient (6 %). TAE is an effective and safe treatment option for ruptured SAPA in hemodynamically unstable patients, with a success rate of 94 %. Our results suggest that TAE should be the favored option in patients with hemodynamic instability due to ruptured SAPA.

To qualitatively and quantitatively assess the presentation of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) at diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWMRI) using multiple high b values. Twenty-five patients with 27 FNHs had liver DWMRI at 1.5 T using free-breathing acquisition and 3 b values (0, 600, 1000 s/mm2). Focal nodular hyperplasias were evaluated qualitatively using visual analysis of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (DWMR) images and quantitatively using conventional apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and normalized ADC measurements. All FNHs (100%) were visible on b0 DWMR images; 26 of the 27 FNHs (96%), on b600 DWMR images; and 21 of the 27 FNHs (78%), on b1000 DWMR images. A total of 18 of the 27 FNHs (67%) exhibited a hyperintense central scar on the b0 DWMR images that remained visible on the b600 and b1000 DWMR images in 6 of the 27 FNHs (22%). Conventional ADC value of FNHs (1.318 × 10−3 mm2/±0.208) was significantly lower than that of adjacent hepatic parenchyma (1.414 × 10−3 mm2/s ± 1.95) (P = 0.0003), although a substantial overlap was found. The use of normalized ADC using the liver as reference organ resulted in a more restricted distribution of ADC values (variation coefficient, 5.3%). Focal nodular hyperplasias show a wide range of morphological features at DWMRI using high b values. Further studies are needed to fully investigate as to what extent normalized ADC may result in better lesion characterization.