Type II lumbar endoleaks: hemodynamic differentiation by contrast-enhanced ultrasound scanning and influence on aneurysm enlargement after endovascular aneurysm repair.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to differentiate type II lumbar endoleaks on the basis of dynamic features identified by contrast-enhanced ultrasound scanning (CUS) and to evaluate the role of this differentiation in detecting abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) enlargement > or =1 mL/mo.


METHODS
Eighteen male patients (mean age, 71.8 years) with type II lumbar endoleak suspected at CUS underwent computed tomography angiography (CTA) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). On CTA, AAA volumes and endoleak visualization and volume were assessed. At CUS, performed after a bolus of 1.5 to 2.4 mL of a second generation blood pool contrast agent, the following parameters were evaluated: presence of contrast material within the aneurysmal sac (endoleak), delay of endoleak detection (wash-in) and disappearance (washout) from the beginning of contrast injection, visualization of inflow and outflow vessels, and presence of cavity filling. Statistical analysis was performed regarding endoleak features at CUS, endoleak detection at CTA, and rate of AAA enlargement.


RESULTS
DSA confirmed all the endoleaks. Mean +/- standard deviation wash-in and washout times were 121.9 +/- 132.6 and 337.2 +/- 193.7 seconds, respectively; a significant relation was observed between these two parameters (P < .01, analysis of variance). By Youden plots, endoleaks were classified as hyperdynamic when wash-in was <100 seconds (n = 10, 55.5%) and/or washout was <520 seconds (n = 13, 72.2%). A slower washout was associated with nonvisualized outflow (66.7%) and/or inflow arteries (66.7%) ( P < .05). Eight endoleaks (44.4%) were missed at CTA; it occurred in hypodynamic endoleaks, absence of detectable inflow or outflow vessels, and absence of cavity filling at CUS (P < .05). Overall mean AAA volume increase rate was 1.1 +/- 1.7 mL/mo. By multiple logistic regression model, the washout time > or = 520 seconds was the only independent predictor of AAA volume increase > or = 1 mL/mo (8 patients, 44.4%).


CONCLUSIONS
Type II lumbar endoleaks show different hemodynamic features at CUS, which might influence the rate of aneurysm enlargement, addressing the need for treatment.
Bargellini
Irene
I
Division of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56127 Pisa, Italy. irenebargellini@hotmail.com
Napoli
Vinicio
V
Petruzzi
Pasquale
P
Cioni
Roberto
R
Vignali
Claudio
C
Sardella
Savino G
SG
Ferrari
Mauro
M
Bartolozzi
Carlo
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003287:Contrast Media; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
D003287:Contrast Media