Kyushu University Academic Staff Educational and Research Activities Database
List of Papers
Masakazu Hirakawa Last modified date:2023.11.27

Associate Professor / Radiology  / Kyushu University Hospital


Papers
1. Hidenari Hirata Atsushi Niida , Nobuyuki Kakiuchi , Ryutaro Uchi , Keishi Sugimachi , Takaaki Masuda , Tomoko Saito , Shun-Ichiro Kageyama , Yushi Motomura , Shuhei Ito , Tadamasa Yoshitake , Daisuke Tsurumaru , Yusuke Nishimuta , Akira Yokoyama , Takanori Hasegawa , Kenichi Chiba , Yuichi Shiraishi , Junyan Du , Fumihito Miura , Masaru Morita , Yasushi Toh , Masakazu Hirakawa , Yoshiyuki Shioyama , Takashi Ito , Tetsuo Akimoto , Satoru Miyano , Tatsuhiro Shibata , Masaki Mori , Yutaka Suzuki , Seishi Ogawa , Kousei Ishigami , Koshi Mimori , The Evolving Genomic Landscape of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Under Chemoradiotherapy, Cancer Research, 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-21-0653, 81, 19, 4926-4938, 2021.08, Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) often recurs after chemoradiotherapy, and the prognosis of ESCC after chemoradiotherapy has not improved over the past few decades. The mutation process in chemoradiotherapy-resistant clones and the functional relevance of genetic alterations remain unclear. To address these problems, we performed whole-exome sequencing of 52 tumor samples from 33 patients with ESCC who received radiotherapy combined with 5-fluorouracil/platinum. In multiregion analyses of pretreatment and locally recurrent lesions from five cases, most driver gene-altered clones remained under chemoradiotherapy selection pressure, while few driver gene alterations were acquired at recurrence. The mutation signatures of recurrent ESCC, including increased deletion frequency and platinum dose-dependent base substitution signatures, were substantially different from those of primary ESCC and reflected the iatrogenic impacts of chemoradiotherapy. Single-region analysis of 28 pretreatment tumors indicated that focal copy-number gain at the MYC locus was significantly associated with poor progression-free survival and overall survival after chemoradiotherapy. MYC gain remained throughout the chemoradiotherapy course and potentially contributes to intrinsic resistance to chemoradiotherapy. Consistent with these findings, MYC copy number and mRNA and protein levels in ESCC cell lines correlated positively with resistance to radiotherapy, and MYC knockdown improved sensitivity to radiotherapy. Overall, these data characterize the clonal evolution process induced by chemoradiotherapy and clinically relevant associations for genetic alterations in ESCC. These findings increase our understanding of therapeutic resistance and support the rationale for precision chemoradiotherapy. SIGNIFICANCE: Whole-exome sequencing reveals the genetic evolution of ESCC during chemoradiotherapy, highlighting MYC gain in pretreatment tumors as a potential marker of therapy resistance..
2. Seiichiro Takao 1, Yasuhiro Ushijima 2, Yushi Motomura 1, Katsumi Sakamoto 1, Masakazu Hirakawa 1, Akihiro Nishie 3, Koshi Mimori 4, Yasuo Yamashita 5, Takashi Tsutsumi 6, Kousei Ishigami 2, Radiology- and gene-based risk stratification in small renal cell carcinoma: A preliminary study, PLoS One, 10.1371/journal.pone.0256471, 16, 9, e0256471, 2021.09, Purpose: Most small renal cell carcinomas (small RCCs) will remain indolent after detection, but some stage I RCCs still metastasize. There are no risk-stratification imaging factors that could be used to identify poor-prognosis patients based on genomic profiling. Here, we evaluated the relationships between imaging parameters and RNA expressions in small RCC and attempted to identify imaging factors that could be used as effective biomarkers.

Methods: We acquired biopsy specimens of 18 clear cell carcinomas that had undergone perfusion CT (pCT) and MRI between April 2018 and March 2019. We performed RNA sequencing, assessed RNA expressions, and calculated each tumor's cell-cycle progression (CCP) score, which has prognostic value in predicting metastatic progression. We classified the tumors into two groups: clear cell type A (ccA) and type B (ccB). CcA has better survival compared to ccB. We evaluated the following characteristics of each tumor: tumor size, presence of pseudocapsule, and fat. We used the pCT and MRI to measure each tumor's volume transfer constant (Ktrans), rate constant (Kep), extracellular extravascular volume fraction (VE), fractional plasma volume (VP), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). The correlations between these small RCC imaging parameters and the tumor size and RNA expressions were determined.

Results: The tumor size was significantly correlated with Kep and inversely correlated with VE, VP, ADC, and hallmark angiogenesis. The CCP score was significantly inversely correlated with Ktrans and Kep. The ccA tumors tended to show a pseudocapsule on MRI.

Conclusion: Tumor size was correlated with low perfusion, but not with prognostic factors based on genomic profiling. Imaging parameters (e.g., Ktrans and Kep) and tumor characteristics (e.g., pseudocapsule) may enable gene-based risk stratification in small RCC..
3. Seiichiro Takao 1, Masakazu Hirakawa 1, Kazuki Takeishi 2, Yushi Motomura 1, Katsumi Sakamoto 1, Hajime Otsu 2, Yusuke Yonemura 2, Koshi Mimori 2, Kousei Ishigami 3, Portal Vein Stenting for Jejunal Variceal Bleeding after Recurrence of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature, Interventional Radiology, 10.22575, 6, 2, 44-50, 2021.07, A 73-year-old woman with portal vein stenosis caused by tumor recurrence after pancreatoduodenectomy was treated with stent placement without embolization of the jejunal varix. Anticoagulation therapy using heparin followed by rivaroxaban was administered after the procedure. She continued to receive systemic chemotherapy as an outpatient. Neither restenosis nor stent thrombosis was observed after 7 months. Based on the presented case and literature review, portal vein stenting is an effective treatment option for jejunal variceal bleeding caused by malignant portal venous stricture after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Antithrombotic therapy following portal venous stenting is required to prevent stent thrombosis in the majority of cases, although it has a risk of inducing recurrent variceal bleeding. Adjunctive jejunal variceal embolization can possibly be omitted in selected cases to obtain sufficient portal-SMV flow reconstruction..
4. Masakazu Hirakawa1)2), Torahiko Yamanouchi2), Satoru Tsuruta3), Akihiro Inoue2), Hidenari Hirata1), Keiji Matsumoto1), Katsumi Sakamoto1), Hironori Sakai3), Koshi Mimori4), Hiroshi Honda5), Midterm Outcomes and Prognostic Factors of Patients Treated Using Microballoon-Occluded Transarterial Chemoembolization with Miriplatin: A Retrospective Study of 37 Cases, Interventional Radiology, 3, 97-109, Interventional Radiology 2018; 3: 97-109, 2018.06, Purpose: This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the overall survival and prognostic factors of patients
treated using microballoon-occluded transarterial chemoembolization (B-TACE) with miriplatin for hepatocellular
carcinoma (HCC).
Materials and Methods: Thirty-seven patients (23 men and 14 women; mean age, 74.1 years; Barcelona
Clinic Liver Cancer stage A:21, B:10, C:6; first TACE, 17) treated using B-TACE with miriplatin were retrospectively
analyzed. Overall survival and progression-free survival were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier methods,
and a multivariate analysis was performed to identify prognostic factors. Side effects were analyzed on
the basis of the National Cancer Institute’s Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (ver. 4.0).
Results: The 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 89.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 74.5-95.9%),
67.3% (95% CI, 50.7-80.4%), and 60.9% (95% CI, 44.1-75.4%), respectively. The median survival time was
3.6 years. The median progression-free survival time was 8 months. Balloon increase (increased tumor stain
under balloon occlusion; hazard ratio, 3.17; 95% CI, 1.135-11.201; P = 0.027) was the only factor significantly
associated with overall survival on the multivariate analysis. No deaths occurred, but grade 2 cholecystitis
requiring conservative treatment developed in 2 patients (4.8%). No adverse events over grade 3 occurred.
Conclusion: B-TACE with miriplatin was associated with comparable tumor control and overall survival
without severe adverse events in patients with HCC. Balloon increase was the only factor significantly associated
with overall survival..
5. Masakazu Hirakawa, Torahiko Yamanouchi, Satoru Tsuruta, Hidenari Hirata, Koushi Mimori, Hiroshi Honda, Comparison of the Local Control Effects of Microballoon-Occluded Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) Using Miriplatin and Using Epirubicin for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study of 62 Cases, Interventional Radiology, 2, 64-73, 2017.06, Purpose: This study aimed to retrospectively compare the local control and safety of microballoonoccluded
transarterial chemoembolization (B-TACE) using miriplatin (MPT) and of conventional TACE (CTACE)
using epirubicin (EPIR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Materials and Methods: Thirty-nine patients (24 men, 15 women; mean age, 73.4 years) were treated using
B-TACE with MPT (MPT-B-TACE group). As a historical comparison, 23 patients (13 men, 10 women;
mean age, 72.2 years) who were treated using C-TACE with EPIR (EPIR-C-TACE group) were investigated.
The therapeutic effect within 2 weeks after treatment was compared between the groups based on the Response
Evaluation Criteria in Cancer of the Liver (RECICL), and time to local recurrence was compared
based on the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank tests. The side effects were compared based on the Common
Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (ver. 4.0).
Results: No significant differences were noted in patients’ characteristics between the groups. The overall
incidence of postembolization syndrome was significantly lower in the MPT-B-TACE group than in the
EPIR-C-TACE group (pBased on the RECICL, the objective response rate, including TE4 and TE3, within 2 weeks after treatment
was significantly higher in the MPT-B-TACE group (89.7%) than in the EPIR-C-TACE group (78.3%). Overall,
local recurrence was significantly less frequent in the MPT-B-TACE group than in the EPIR-C-TACE
group (p=0.02).
Conclusion: MPT-B-TACE was associated with a higher objective response rate and lower local recurrence
rate than EPIR-C-TACE without a significant increase in adverse effects..
6. Hirata H, Sugimachi K, Komatsu H, Ueda M, Masuda T, Uchi R, Sakimura S, Nambara S, Saito T, Shinden Y, Iguchi T, Eguchi H, Ito S, Terashima K, Sakamoto K, Hirakawa M, Honda H, Mimori K., Decreased Expression of Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase Associates with Glucose Metabolism and Tumor Progression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma., Cancer Res, 76, 11, 3265-3276, 2016.06, Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBP1), the rate-limiting enzyme in gluconeogenesis, is reduced in expression in certain cancers where it has been hypothesized to act as a tumor suppressor, including in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we report functional evidence supporting this hypothesis, providing a preclinical rationale to develop FBP1 as a therapeutic target for HCC treatment. Three independent cohorts totaling 594 cases of HCC were analyzed to address clinical significance. Lower FBP1 expression associated with advanced tumor stage, poor overall survival, and higher tumor recurrence rates. In HCC cell lines, where endogenous FBP1 expression is low, engineering its ectopic overexpression inhibited tumor growth and intracellular glucose uptake by reducing aerobic glycolysis. In patient specimens, promoter methylation and copy-number loss of FBP1 were independently associated with decreased FBP1 expression. Similarly, FBP1 downregulation in HCC cell lines was also associated with copy-number loss. HCC specimens exhibiting low expression of FBP1 had a highly malignant phenotype, including large tumor size, poor differentiation, impaired gluconeogenesis, and enhanced aerobic glycolysis. The effects of FBP1 expression on prognosis and glucose metabolism were confirmed by gene set enrichment analysis. Overall, our findings established that FBP1 downregulation in HCC contributed to tumor progression and poor prognosis by altering glucose metabolism, and they rationalize further study of FBP1 as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in HCC patients. .
7. Murahashi M, Hijikata Y, Yamada K, Tanaka Y, Kishimoto J, Inoue H, Marumoto T, Takahashi A, Okazaki T, Takeda K, Hirakawa M, Fujii H, Okano S, Morita M, Baba E, Mizumoto K, Maehara Y, Tanaka M, Akashi K, Nakanishi Y, Yoshida K, Tsunoda T, Tamura K, Nakamura Y, Tani K., Phase I clinical trial of a five-peptide cancer vaccine combined with cyclophosphamide in advanced solid tumors., 166, 45-58, 2016.05, We designed a phase I trial to investigate the safety, immune responses and clinical benefits of a five-peptide cancer vaccine in combination with chemotherapy. Study subjects were patients positive for HLA-A2402 with locally advanced, metastatic, and/or recurrent gastrointestinal, lung or cervical cancer. Eighteen patients including nine cases of colorectal cancer were treated with escalating doses of cyclophosphamide 4days before vaccination. Five HLA-A2402-restricted, tumor-associated antigen (TAA) epitope peptides from KOC1, TTK, URLC10, DEPDC1 and MPHOSPH1 were injected weekly for 4weeks. Treatment was well tolerated without any adverse events above grade 3. Analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes showed that the number of regulatory T cells dropped from baseline after administration of cyclophosphamide and confirmed that TAA-specific T cell responses were associated significantly with longer overall survival. This phase I clinical trial demonstrated safety and promising immune responses that correlated with vaccine-induced T-cell responses. Therefore, this approach warrants further clinical studies..
8. Kohno K, Wang KY, Takahashi M, Kurita T, Yoshida Y, Hirakawa M, Harada Y, Kuma A, Izumi H, Matsumoto S, Mitochondrial Transcription Factor A and Mitochondrial Genome as Molecular Targets for Cisplatin-Based Cancer Chemotherapy., Int J Mol Sci., 16, 8, 19836-19850, 2015.08, Mitochondria are important cellular organelles that function as control centers of the energy supply for highly proliferative cancer cells and regulate apoptosis after cancer chemotherapy. Cisplatin is one of the most important chemotherapeutic agents and a key drug in therapeutic regimens for a broad range of solid tumors. Cisplatin may directly interact with mitochondria, which can induce apoptosis. The direct interactions between cisplatin and mitochondria may account for our understanding of the clinical activity of cisplatin and development of resistance. However, the basis for the roles of mitochondria under treatment with chemotherapy is poorly understood. In this review, we present novel aspects regarding the unique characteristics of the mitochondrial genome in relation to the use of platinum-based chemotherapy and describe our recent work demonstrating the importance of the mitochondrial transcription factor A (mtTFA) expression in cancer cells..
9. Hirata H, Sugimachi K, Takahashi Y,3, Ueda M, Sakimura S, Uchi R, Kurashige J, Takano Y, Nanbara S, Komatsu H, Saito T, Shinden Y, Iguchi T, Eguchi H, Atsumi K, Sakamoto K, Doi T, Hirakawa M, Honda H, Mimori K., Downregulation of PRRX1 Confers Cancer Stem Cell-Like Properties and Predicts Poor Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma., Ann Surg Oncol., 3, S1, 402-409, 2015.12, BACKGROUND:
Downregulation of paired related homeobox 1 (PRRX1) is associated with the acquisition of cancer stem cell (CSC)-like properties and poor prognosis in cancers. The purpose of this study is to clarify the role of PRRX1 expression in predicting prognosis and mediating CSC-like properties in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS:
The association between PRRX1 expression and overall survival (OS) of patients with HCC was analyzed in three independent datasets: 62 resected primary cases, 242 cases from GSE14520, and 162 cases from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). A cell line expressing PRRX1 (HuH7) was established for the functional analyses. The ability to form spheres, the expression levels of the hepatic CSC surface markers (CD13, CD133, and EpCAM), in vitro chemosensitivity to 5-fluorouracil (FU), and radiosensitivity were evaluated.

RESULTS:
Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the 5-year OS of the low PRRX1 expression group was significantly poorer than that of the high PRRX1 expression group (P = 0.024 and P = 0.045, respectively). Consistent with this, the low PRRX1 expression group in GSE14520 and TCGA datasets showed significantly shorter OS (P = 0.027 and P = 0.010, respectively). Gene set enrichment analysis on GSE14520 and TCGA datasets indicated that downregulation of PRRX1 was correlated with the stemness signature. The number of spheres and the expression levels of CSC markers were significantly decreased when PRRX1 was expressed. Moreover, PRRX1 impaired resistance to 5-FU and radiation.

CONCLUSIONS:
Downregulation of PRRX1 expression contributes to the poor prognosis of patients with HCC through acquisition of CSC-like properties..
10. Wataru todoroki, Masakazu Hirakawa, Eiki nagao, Hiroyasu soeda, Satoru Tsuruta, Hiroshi Honda, Transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma using a new double-lumen microballoon catheter with a side hole., J Vasc Interv Radiol, 25, 9, 1485-1486, 2014.09.
11. Masakazu Hirakawa, Akihiro Nishie, Asayama Yoshiki, Fujita Nobuhiro, Kousei Ishigami, Tatsuro Tajiri, tomoaki taguchi, Hiroshi Honda, Efficacy of preoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with systemic chemotherapy for treatment of unresectable hepatoblastoma in children., Jpn J Radiol., 32, 9, 529-536, 2014.09, PURPOSE:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate, retrospectively, the clinical efficacy of preoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with systemic chemotherapy for unresectable hepatoblastoma.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Five boys and three girls (mean age 15.2 months) were treated with preoperative TACE combined with systemic chemotherapy for unresectable hepatoblastomas. Mean tumor diameter and mean alfa-fetoprotein (AFP) level were 11.8 cm and 549,386 ng/mL, respectively. Pretreatment, the extent of disease (PRETEXT) was: II, 1; III, 6; IV, 1. For all patients, preoperative systemic chemotherapy was administered before TACE. At each TACE, carboplatin and adriamycin mixed with iodized oil were infused into the feeding arteries. Tumor response and prognosis after treatment were evaluated.
RESULTS:
TACE resulted in few Grade 1 adverse effects (AEs), without G3 or more AEs, according to CTACAE 3.0. Mean tumor shrinkage was 60.9 %, and the mean AFP decrease from initial levels was 94.8 %. In all cases TACE combined with systemic chemotherapy enabled subsequent safe and complete surgical resection. After a mean follow-up of 59 months, tumor-free survival was 75 %.
CONCLUSION:
Preoperative TACE combined with systemic chemotherapy was effective in inducing surgical resectability of unresectable hepatoblastoma..
12. Katsumi Sakamoto, Masakazu Hirakawa, Kazushige Atsumi, Koshi Mimori, Shibata Kohei, Taro Tobo, Hidetaka Yamamoto, Hiroshi Honda, A case of gastric plexiform fibromyxoma: radiological and pathological findings., Jpn J Radiol., 32, 7, 431-436, 2014.07, Plexiform fibromyxoma is a relatively new pathological category that consists of a rare group of non-gastrointestinal stromal tumors with a peculiar plexiform growth pattern. We report a case of gastric plexiform fibromyxoma in a 60-year-old man. Gastroscopic examination revealed a gastric submucosal tumor in the antrum. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a nodule with distinct signal hyperintensity on T2-weighted images, with strong enhancement peripherally in the early phase to the entire lesion in the delayed phase. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology was performed, and the cytological diagnosis was spindle cell tumor, so partial gastrectomy was performed under a preoperative diagnosis of GIST. The resected tumor demonstrated plexiform architecture, myxoid stroma, prominent vasculature, and spindle cells, reflecting the characteristic findings on MRI. This is the first report to describe radiological findings for gastric plexiform fibromyxoma..
13. Kazushige Atsumi, Katsumasa Nakamura, Koichiro Abe, Masakazu Hirakawa, Ohga Saiji, Shingo Baba, 磯田 拓郎, Hiroshi Honda, Prediction of outcome with FDG-PET in definitive chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer.

, J Radiat Res., 54, 8, 890-898, 2013.09.
14. Hirakawa Masakazu, Eiki Nagao, Hiroyasu Soeda, Satoru Tsuruta, Hironori Sakai, Honda Hiroshi, Transcatheter arterial embolization for chest wall metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma., World J Radiology, 28, 5(2), 45-48, 2013.02, Hemothorax due to rupture of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a very rare complication with high mortality because of uncontrollable hemorrhage. A 71-year-old man treated by transcatheter arterial embolization for HCC with massive bleeding from chest wall metastasis is reported. Enhanced computed tomography and selective intercostal angiogram showed a hypervascular mass in the right chest wall and extravasation of contrast agent. After successful transcatheter arterial embolization with gelatin sponge particles and metallic coils, the patient recovered from shock without major complication. To our knowledge, a successfully treated case of hemothorax due to rupture of metastatic HCC has not previously been described..
15. Hirakawa Masakazu, Nishie Akihiro, Yoshiki Asayama, Ishigami Kousei, Ushijima Yasuhiro, Nobuhiro Fujita, Honda Hiroshi, Clinical outcomes of symptomatic arterioportal fistulas after transcatheter arterial embolization., World J Radiology, 28, 5(2), 33-44, 2013.02, AIM:

To evaluate the complications and clinical outcomes of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for symptoms related to severe arterioportal fistulas (APFs).

METHODS:

Six patients (3 males, 3 females; mean age, 63.8 years; age range, 60-71 years) with chronic liver disease and severe APFs due to percutaneous intrahepatic treatment (n = 5) and portal vein (PV) tumor thrombosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 1) underwent TAE for symptoms related to severe APFs [refractory ascites (n = 4), hemorrhoidal hemorrhage (n = 1), and hepatic encephalopathy (n = 1)]. Control of symptoms related to APFs and complications were evaluated during the follow-up period (range, 4-57 mo).

RESULTS:

In all patients, celiac angiography revealed immediate retrograde visualization of the main PV before TAE, indicating severe APF. Selective TAE for the hepatic arteries was performed using metallic coils (MC, n = 4) and both MCs and n-butyl cyanoacrylate (n = 2). Three patients underwent repeated TAEs for residual APFs and ascites. Four patients developed PV thrombosis after TAE. During the follow-up period after TAE, APF obliteration and symptomatic improvement were obtained in all patients.

CONCLUSION:

Although TAE for severe APFs may sometimes be complicated by PV thrombosis, TAE can be an effective treatment to improve clinical symptoms related to severe APFs.
.
16. Hirakawa Masakazu, Nishie Akihiro, Yoshiki Asayama, Honda Hiroshi, Yoshiura Takashi, Image quality of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the liver using dual-source parallel radiofrequency transmission technology: Comparison with the post-processing correction method for B1 inhomogeneity-induced signal loss., Eur J Radiol, 81, 11, 3035-3040, 2012.11.
17. Ushijima Y, Tajima T, Yoshimitsu K, Irie H, Nishie A, Hirakawa M, Ishigami K, Okamoto D, Kotoh K, Honda H. ,


Radiological catheter placement for transcatheter arterial steroid injection therapy to treat severe acute hepatic failure: technical feasibility and efficacy.


, Acta Radiol. 2012 , 1, 53(2):, 140-6, 2012.03.
18. Hirakawa M, Kobayashi N, Ishiyama M, Fuwa S, Saida Y, Honda H, Numaguchi Y. , Radiological findings as favorable predictors of pain relief in patients with osteoporotic compression fractures after percutaneous vertebroplasty: a retrospective study of 156 cases.


, Jpn J Radiol. 2012 Feb 28. , 2012.02, Abstract

PURPOSE:

We evaluated the relationships between pre-procedural radiological findings and short-term pain relief in patients with osteoporotic compression fractures after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A retrospective review of pre-procedural radiological images of 156 patients with painful osteoporotic compression fracture was performed. Pain was measured with a visual analogue scale (VAS). Complete pain relief was defined as a VAS pain score of 0 or 1 at 3 months after PVP. Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate the relationship between the pre-procedural imaging factors and pain relief using Pearson's chi-squared test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was also performed.

RESULTS:

Complete pain relief was obtained in 45.5% of patients. An intravertebral cleft larger than half the height of the fractured vertebral body (FVB) was a significant key factor in the complete pain relief group after 3 months. Further, ≥40% of the spinal canal occupied by bony fragments of the FVB was related to incomplete pain relief.

CONCLUSION:

A large intravertebral cleft was a favorable short-term outcome predictor in patients with osteoporotic compression fractures after PVP, while severe protrusion of the FVB causing lumbar spinal canal stenosis was not a favorable short-term outcome predictor of complete pain relief..
19. M. Miyasaka, M. Hirakawa, K. Nakamura, F. Tanaka, K. Mimori, M. Mori, H. Honda , The endoscopic diagnosis of nonerosive reflux disease using flexible spectral imaging color enhancement image: a feasibility trial
, Diseases of the Esophagus, 2011.03.
20. Okamoto D, Yoshimitsu K, Nishie A, Tajima T, Asayama Y, Ishigami K, Hirakawa M, Ushijima Y, Kakihara D, Nakayama T, Nishihara Y, Aishima S, Taketomi A, Kishimoto J, Honda H., Enhancement pattern analysis of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma on dynamic MR imaging with histopathological correlation: Validity of portal phase imaging for predicting tumor grade., Eur J Radiol. , 2011.03.
21. Masakazu Hirakawa, Kengo Yoshimitsu, Hiroyuki Irie, Tsuyoshi Tajima, Akihiro Nishie, Yoshiki Asayayama, Kousei Ishigami, Daisuke Kakihara, Akinobu Taketomi, Shin-ichi Aishima and Hiroshi Honda , Performance of radiological methods in diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma preoperatively in a recipient of living related liver transplantation: comparison with step section histopathology
, Jpn J Radiol, 29, 2, 129-37, 2011.02.
22. Nishie A, Tajima T, Asayama Y, Ishigami K, Hirakawa M, Ushijima Y, Kakihara D, Okamoto D, Fujita N, Taketomi A, Yoshimitsu K, Honda H., Radiological assessment of hepatic vein invasion by hepatocellular carcinoma using combined computed tomography hepatic arteriography and computed tomography arterial portography., Jpn J Radiol., 28, 6, 414-22, 2010.07.
23. Nishie A, Tajima T, Ishigami K, Ushijima Y, Okamoto D, Hirakawa M, Nishihara Y, Taketomi A, Hatakenaka M, Irie H, Yoshimitsu K, Honda H., Detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using super paramagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-enhanced MRI: Added value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)., J Magn Reson Imaging, 2010 Feb, 31, 2 , 373-82., 2010.02.
24. Matsumoto K, Ushijima Y, Tajima T, Nishie A, Hirakawa M, Ishigami K, Yamaji Y, Honda H., Recanalization of splenic artery aneurysm after transcatheter arterial embolization using N-butyl cyanoacrylate., Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol, 33, 1, 187-90, 2010.02.
25. Nishie A, Tajima T, Asayama Y, Ishigami K, Hirakawa M, Nakayama T, Ushijima Y, Kakihara D, Okamoto D, Yoshiura T, Masumoto K, Taguchi T, Tsukimori K, Tokunaga S, Irie H, Yoshimitsu K, Honda H., MR prediction of postnatal outcomes in left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia using right lung signal intensity: comparison with that using right lung volume., J Magn Reson Imaging, 30 , 1, 112-20., 2009.07.
26. Hirakawa M, Tajima T, Yoshimitsu K, Irie H, Ishigami K, Yahata H, Wake N, Honda H., Uterine artery embolization along with the administration of methotrexate for cervical ectopic pregnancy: technical and clinical outcomes., AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2009 Jun, 192 , 6, 1601-7., 2009.06.
27. Ishigami K, Yoshimitsu K, Irie H, Tajima T, Asayama Y, Nishie A, Hirakawa M, Ushijima Y, Okamoto D, Honda H. , Lesions arising in or involving the iliopsoas groove.

, J Comput Assist Tomogr. , 2008 Nov-Dec;32(6):975-81.
, 2008.11.
28. Ishigami K, Yoshimitsu K, Irie H, Tajima T, Asayama Y, Hirakawa M, Kakihara D, Shioyama Y, Nishihara Y, Yamaguchi K, Honda H. , Significance of perivascular soft tissue around the common hepatic and proximal superior mesenteric arteries arising after pancreaticoduodenectomy: evaluation with serial MDCT studies.

, Abdom Imaging. , 2008 Nov-Dec;33(6):654-61.
, 2008.11.
29. Yoshimitsu K, Kuroda Y, Nakamuta M, Taketomi A, Irie H, Tajima T, Hirakawa M, Ishigami K, Ushijima Y, Yamada T, Honda H. , Noninvasive estimation of hepatic steatosis using plain CT vs. chemical-shift MR imaging: significance for living donors.

, J Magn Reson Imaging. , 2008 Sep;28(3):678-84.
, 2008.09.
30. Tajima T, Yoshimitsu K, Irie H, Nishie A, Hirakawa M, Ishigami K, Ushijima Y, Okamoto D, Kida M, Kurogi R, Honda H, Kuroiwa T. , Percutaneous transfemoral hepatic arterial infusion catheter placement with the use of a downsized coaxial catheter system: technical feasibility study.
, J Vasc Interv Radiol. , 2008 Aug;19(8):1196-201.
, 2008.08.
31. Tajima T, Yoshimitsu K, Inokuchi H, Irie H, Nishie A, Hirakawa M, Ishigami K, Ushijima Y, Okamoto D, Honda H, Itoh H, Morita M, Kakeji Y. , Microballoon occlusion test to predict colonic ischemia after transcatheter embolization of a ruptured aneurysm of the middle colic artery.

, Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. , 2008 Jul-Aug;31(4):828-32. , 2008.08.
32. Kawano R, Nishie A, Yoshimitsu K, Irie H, Tajima T, Hirakawa M, Ishigami K, Ushijima Y, Okamoto D, Yabuuchi H, Taketomi A, Nishihara Y, Fujita N, Honda H. , Retroperitoneal well-differentiated inflammatory liposarcoma: a diagnostic dilemma.

, Radiat Med. , 2008 Aug;26(7):450-3.
, 2008.08.
33. Okamoto D, Ishigami K, Yoshimitsu K, Irie H, Tajima T, Nishie A, Hirakawa M, Ushijima Y, Nishihara Y, Kakeji Y, Honda H. , Hemorrhagic mesenteric cystic lymphangioma presenting with acute lower abdominal pain: the diagnostic clues on MR Imaging.

, Emerg Radiol. , 2008 Jul 5.
, 2008.07.
34. Nishie A, Yoshimitsu K, Irie H, Tajima T, Hirakawa M, Ishigami K, Ushijima Y, Okamoto D, Nishihara Y, Taketomi A, Honda H., Radiological detectability of minute hepatic venous invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma.




, Eur J Radiol. , 2008 Apr 10., 2008.04.
35. Yoshimitsu K, Kiyoshima K, Irie H, Tajima T, Asayama Y, Hirakawa M, Ishigami K, Naito S, Honda H. , Usefulness of apparent diffusion coefficient map in diagnosing prostate carcinoma: correlation with stepwise histopathology.

, J Magn Reson Imaging. , 2008 Jan;27(1):132-9.
, 2008.01.
36. Nishie A, Yoshimitsu K, Asayama Y, Irie H, Tajima T, Hirakawa M, Ishigami K, Nakayama T, Kakihara D, Nishihara Y, Taketomi A, Honda H. , Radiologic detectability of minute portal venous invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma.

, AJR Am J Roentgenol. , 2008 Jan;190(1):81-7.
, 2008.01.
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