GAE with Resorbable Beads

First-in-Human Evaluation of a New Resorbable Microspherical Embolic Agent for Genicular Artery Embolization to Treat Pain Secondary to Knee Osteroarthritis

🔍 **Clinical Question:**

Is genicular artery embolization (GAE) using a resorbable microspherical embolic agent a safe and effective treatment for pain secondary to knee osteoarthritis (KOA)?

💡 **Key Insight:**

This first-in-human study reports on the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of a new resorbable embolic agent, SakuraBead (CrannMed, Galway, Ireland), specifically designed for musculoskeletal embolotherapy.

Fifteen patients underwent successful genicular artery embolization with 100% technical success.

There was a statistically significant reduction (P < .001) in mean visual analog scale score of 73.8%, 75.7%, and 63.1% at 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively. There was a 79.1% reduction in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) total score at both 1 and 3 months, and 75.8% reduction was maintained at 6 months (P < .01); this was accompanied by a reduction in WOMAC pain score of 80.3%, 82.4%, and 78.7% at 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively (P < .01).

👉 **Why it matters:**

This limited pilot study demonstrated that genicular artery embolization using alginate resorbable microspheres was safe and provided significant improvement in pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis maintained to 6-month follow-up.

➡️ **Full Article:** 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvir.2025.07.010

#InterventionalRadiology #MSKIR #GAE #OA #MedEd

Mesenteric Lymphangiography

Mesenteric Lymphangiography as a New Diagnostic and Therapeutic Tool for Refractory Chylous Lymphatic Leakages and Protein-Losing Enteropathy

🔍 **Clinical Question:**

Is mesenteric lymphangiography (mLAG) is technically feasible and clinically useful for patients with refractory chylous ascites, chylothorax, and protein-losing enteropathy (PLE)?

💡 **Key Insight:**

Mesenteric lymphangiography (mLAG), via a percutaneous or intraoperative approach, is technically feasible and safe.

The utility of mLAG is in imaging the blind spots of conventional lymphatic studies, especially for chylous ascites and protein-losing enteropathy, and it allows for embolization of mesenteric lymphatics.

👉 **Why it matters:**

mLAG is technically feasible and safe. It can be a useful tool to image the mesenteric lymphatics or perform mesenteric lymphatic embolization.

➡️ **Full Article:** 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvir.2025.08.008

#InterventionalRadiology #Lymphangiography #ChylousAscites #LymphaticIntervention #MedEd

RFA for Multinodular Goiter

Radiofrequency Ablation in the Management of Extensive Multinodular Goiter: A Midterm Single-Center Experience

🔍 **Clinical Question:**

Is radiofrequency (RF) ablation effective in providing cosmetic and symptom relief for patients with extensive multinodular goiter?

💡 **Key Insight:**

This study evaluated the effectiveness of radiofrequency (RF) ablation in patients with extensive multinodular goiter, targeting at least 3 nodules in bilobar distribution with a follow-up of 40.5 months.

RF ablation demonstrated a mean volume reduction of 85.3% in treated thyroid nodules, significantly improving both cosmetic appearance and local symptoms.

Repeated RF ablation sessions were required in 32.5% of patients due to additional target nodules, incomplete ablation, or new nodule growth.

👉 **Why it matters:**

Radiofrequency (RF) ablation in patients with extensive multinodular goiter avoids the need for thyroid hormone replacement therapy or surgery and provides a rate of cosmetic and symptom relief comparable with that achieved by RF ablation in cases of uninodular or binodular goiter.

➡️ **Full Article:** 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvir.2025.06.020

#InterventionalRadiology #IO #Ablation #RFA #Goiter #Thyroid #MedEd