Luigi Solbiati – författare

There is an enormous sense of excitement in the communities of cancer research and cancer care as we move into the middle third of the ?rst decade of the 21st century. For the ?rst time,there is a true sense of c- ?dence that the tools provided by the human genome project will enable cancer researchers to crack the code of genomic abnormalities that allow tumor cells to live within the body and provide highly speci?c, virtually non-toxic therapies for the eradication,or at least ?rm control of human cancers. There is also good reason to hope that these same lines of inquiry will yield better tests for screening, early detection, and prev- tion of progression beyond curability. While these developments provide a legitimate basis for much op- mism, many patients will continue to develop cancers and suffer from their debilitating effects, even as research moves ahead. For these in- viduals, it is imperative that the cancer ?eld make the best possible use of the tools available to provide present day cancer patients with the best chances for cure, effective palliation, or, at the very least, relief from symptoms caused by acute intercurrent complications of cancer. A modality that has emerged as a very useful approach to at least some of these goals is tumor ablation by the use of physical or physiochemical approaches.

Tumor ablation is the most high profile procedure currently in interventional radiology. This guide sets the standard and is one of the first comprehensive references on the subject. The editors, world-renowned in the field, have assembled recognized international authorities. The book is organized into six main sections: Introduction to Ablation, Operations, Imaging, Methods, Organ System Tumor Ablation, and Perspectives. This breadth is coupled with an easy-to-read format that facilitates the application of new techniques. Practitioners in specialties other than radiology, including internal medicine, oncology, anesthesiology, and surgery, add valuable insights. In addition, a chapter depicting the cancer journey by patients and their families provides a unique perspective. More than 380 photographs and diagrams illustrate key concepts. The skillful combination of depth and practicality makes this text essential for anyone who is involved with and wants to expand their knowledge in the ablation field.

There is an enormous sense of excitement in the communities of cancer research and cancer care as we move into the middle third of the ?rst decade of the 21st century. For the ?rst time,there is a true sense of c- ?dence that the tools provided by the human genome project will enable cancer researchers to crack the code of genomic abnormalities that allow tumor cells to live within the body and provide highly speci?c, virtually non-toxic therapies for the eradication,or at least ?rm control of human cancers. There is also good reason to hope that these same lines of inquiry will yield better tests for screening, early detection, and prev- tion of progression beyond curability. While these developments provide a legitimate basis for much op- mism, many patients will continue to develop cancers and suffer from their debilitating effects, even as research moves ahead. For these in- viduals, it is imperative that the cancer ?eld make the best possible use of the tools available to provide present day cancer patients with the best chances for cure, effective palliation, or, at the very least, relief from symptoms caused by acute intercurrent complications of cancer. A modality that has emerged as a very useful approach to at least some of these goals is tumor ablation by the use of physical or physiochemical approaches.

This book is intended as a practical manual on the use of intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) as a tool for imaging guidance during cranial and spinal neurosurgical procedures. Full account is taken of the emergence of novel clinical applications and recent technical advances, with extensive coverage of the impact of developments such as improved probe technology, fusion imaging and virtual navigation, 3D ultrasound imaging, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and elastosonography. Basic principles of ultrasound are elucidated in order to assist in the optimal use of IOUS and clear guidance is provided on the interpretation of imaging findings in various pathologies. Informative comparisons are also made of the use of techniques such as fusion imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasound in general radiology and neurosurgery. The aim of the authors is to enhance the general knowledge regarding intra-operative ultrasound brain imaging, standardizing its use and exploring new techniques, leading in some way toward compensating the lack of specific training in the application of ultrasound among the neurosurgical community. IOUS is a sensitive tool that can improve surgical precision and help to reduce morbidity.

This book is intended as a practical manual on the use of intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) as a tool for imaging guidance during cranial and spinal neurosurgical procedures. Full account is taken of the emergence of novel clinical applications and recent technical advances, with extensive coverage of the impact of developments such as improved probe technology, fusion imaging and virtual navigation, 3D ultrasound imaging, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and elastosonography. Basic principles of ultrasound are elucidated in order to assist in the optimal use of IOUS and clear guidance is provided on the interpretation of imaging findings in various pathologies. Informative comparisons are also made of the use of techniques such as fusion imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasound in general radiology and neurosurgery. The aim of the authors is to enhance the general knowledge regarding intra-operative ultrasound brain imaging, standardizing its use and exploring new techniques, leading in some way toward compensating the lack of specific training in the application of ultrasound among the neurosurgical community. IOUS is a sensitive tool that can improve surgical precision and help to reduce morbidity.

This book is intended as a practical manual on the use of intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) as a tool for imaging guidance during cranial and spinal neurosurgical procedures. Full account is taken of the emergence of novel clinical applications and recent technical advances, with extensive coverage of the impact of developments such as improved probe technology, fusion imaging and virtual navigation, 3D ultrasound imaging, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and elastosonography. Basic principles of ultrasound are elucidated in order to assist in the optimal use of IOUS and clear guidance is provided on the interpretation of imaging findings in various pathologies. Informative comparisons are also made of the use of techniques such as fusion imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasound in general radiology and neurosurgery. The aim of the authors is to enhance the general knowledge regarding intra-operative ultrasound brain imaging, standardizing its use and exploring new techniques, leading in some way toward compensating the lack of specific training in the application of ultrasound among the neurosurgical community. IOUS is a sensitive tool that can improve surgical precision and help to reduce morbidity.

The recent development of sonographic contrast agents (or "microbubbles") has stimulated increasingly intensive studies on the relationships between ultrasound and contrast media. As a result, contrast-specific hard- and software systems have been developed with impressive speed and a new imaging modality, "contrast-enhanced ultrasound" (CEUS), has been introduced. This book is the result of the collaboration of a group of "pioneers" of CEUS, who wish to give the reader a complete overview of second-generation contrast agents, to depict their clinical applications and to present the most updated contrast-specific software for noncardiologic uses, especially for the study of liver diseases. The contents and wealth of illustrations make this volume an invaluable resource for radiologists, hepatologists and oncologists in their everyday clinical practice.

The value of ultrasound contrast agents (USCA) in clinical practice depends on the pharmacokinetics, the signal processing, and the contrast-specific imaging modalities. USCA are exogenous non-toxic substances smaller than red blood cells,which after intravenous administration must be stable enough to pass through the pulmonary capillary bed and enter the blood pool producing the necessary contrast enhancement for the duration of the examination. Recently, second-generation agents, such as SonoVue (Bracco Imaging SpA,Milan,Italy),have been introduced into the market. These agents,taking advantage of the stability of their microbubbles,withstand the acoustic pressure of insonation much better than previous USCA,resulting in an increased half-life of the agent and thus in a prolonged diagnostic window. These agents are blood pool agents that remain in the intravascular compartment and do not leak into the organ tissue. Therefore,they are used to - crease the Doppler signal amplitude during their dynamic vascular phase.Concomitant with the improvement of contrast agents,d- ferent contrast-specific imaging modalities have been developed which,used in combination with USCA and a low mechanical - dex (MI),allow continuous real-time grey-scale imaging. These - cent technical improvements have opened new possibilities in the use of USCA in a variety of indications,as shown in the contributions contained in this book. In the following chapters,some of the most distinguished users of second-generation USCA will share their knowledge and experience. The first contributor is Dr. Thomas Albrecht,Department of - diology, University Hospital of Berlin, Germany.