Recently, AAA volume measurement has been proposed as a potentially valuable surveillance method in situations when diameter measurement might fail. Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the results of previous studies comparing AAA diameter and volume measurements. Methods: A systematic search in PubMed, Cochrane, and EMBASE databases was performed to identify studies investigating the use of diameter and volume measurements in AAA diagnosis and prognosis in English, German, and Russian, published until December 2022. The manuscripts were reviewed by three researchers and scored on the quality of the research using MINORS criteria. Results: After screening 752 manuscripts, 19 studies (n = 1690) were included. The majority (n = 17) of the manuscripts appeared to favor volume. It is, however, important to highlight the heterogeneity of methodologies and lack of standardized protocol for measuring both volume and diameter in the included studies, which hindered the interpretation of the results. Conclusions: The clinical relevance of abdominal aortic aneurysm volume measurement is still unclear, although studies show favorable and promising results for volumetric changes in AAA, especially in follow-up after EVAR.

Background and objectives: Microwave thermal ablation (MWT) is one of the treatment options for kidney cancer. However, for patients over 70 years old the safety and oncological efficacy of this treatment is still controversial. The goal of this study was to compare MWT with open partial nephrectomy (OPN) and to find out whether MWT is preferable in maintaining patient renal function and reducing the risk of postoperative complications. Materials and Methods: Depending on the treatment choice, all patients were divided into two groups: an MWT group and an open kidney resection (OPN) group. Data have been retrospectively collected for 7 years, starting with January 2012 up to January 2019. A total number of 33 patients with exophytic, single small renal masses were treated with either OPN (n = 18) or MWT (n = 15). All patients had histologically proven T1 kidney cancer. MWT was performed for patients who refused to have OPN or in those cases where the collecting system, renal calyx, and great vessels were free from tumor margins of more than 1 cm. Results: In the MWT group a median (IQR) patients’ age was 75 years (71–79) years, in the OPN group—71.5 (70–75) years, p = 0.005. A median (IQR) Charleston comorbidity index in the MWT group was 7.5 (5–10) and in the same way in the OPN group it was 5.22 (5–6), p = 0.005. A median (IQR) estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) before surgery was higher in the MWT group 59.9 (49.5–73.8) mL/min/1.73 m² vs. 46.2 (42.7–65.8) mL/min/1.73 m² in the OPN group, p = 0.12. Three days following the surgery a median (IQR) eGFR was 56.45 (46.6–71.9) in MWT group mL/min/1.73 m² vs. 43.45 (38.3–65) mL/min/1.73 m²) in the OPN group, p = 0.30. A median (IQR) of primary hemoglobin level was lower in the MWT group compared with the OPN group (134.5 (124–140) g/L vs. 125 (108–138) g/L), p = 0.41. However, after the surgery a median (IQR) lower hemoglobin level was detected in the OPN group (123.5 (111–134) g/L vs. 126 (112–135)), p = 0.53. The median (IQR) duration of the procedure in MWT group was shorter compared with the OPN group (26 (25–30) min vs. 67.5 (55–90) min), p < 0.0001. A median (IQR) hospitalization time was shorter in MWT group (3 (2–3) days vs. 89 (7–11.5) days), p < 0.0001. Pain by the visual analogue scale (VAS) scale the first day after surgery was significantly lower—median (IQR) in the MWT group was 2 (1–3) vs. 4 (3–6)), p = 0.008. Treatment failure rate was numerically higher in MWT (1/15 vs. 0/18, p = 0.56). Conclusions: Pain level on the next day after surgery, mean number of hospitalization and operation time were significantly lower in the MWT group than in the OPN group. The blood loss estimated glomerular filtration rate and oncologic data between the two groups was not statistically significant.

Purpose Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) growth after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is still unpredictable. The issue of optimal frequency of computed tomography angiography for surveillance and its measurement method accuracy remain unclear. We aimed to assess the value of abdominal...

Background and objectives: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) growth is unpredictable after the endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Continuing aortic wall degradation and weakening due to hypoxia may have a role in post-EVAR aneurysm sac growth. We aimed to assess the association of aortic wall density on computed tomography angiography (CTA) with aneurysm growth following EVAR. Materials and Methods: A total of 78 patients were included in the study. The control group consisted of 39 randomly assigned patients without aortic pathology. Post-EVAR aneurysm sac volumes on CTA were measured twice during the follow-up period to estimate aneurysm sac behavior. A maximum AAA sac diameter, aortic wall and lumen densities in Hounsfield units (HU) on CTA were measured. A relative aortic wall density (the ratio of aortic wall to lumen densities) was calculated. A statistical data analysis was performed using standard methods. Results: An increase in the AAA sac volume was observed in 12 (30.8%) cases. Median relative aortic wall density on CTA scores in both the patient and the control group at the level of the diaphragm were similar: 0.15 (interquartile range (IQR), 0.11–0.18) and 0.16 (IQR 0.11–0.18), p = 0.5378, respectively. The median (IQR) relative aortic wall density score at the level of the maximum AAA diameter in the patient group was lower than at the level below renal arteries in the control group: 0.10 (0.07–0.12) and 0.17 (0.12–0.23), p < 0.0001, respectively. The median (IQR) relative growing AAA sac wall density score was lower than a relative stable/shrinking AAA sac wall density score: 0.09 (0.06–0.10) and 0.11 (0.09–0.13), p = 0.0096, respectively. Conclusions: A lower aortic aneurysm wall density on CTA may be associated with AAA growth after EVAR.