Chemoembolization of the liver for unresectable malignancy, although controversial, is being used with increasing frequency. Chemoembolization can be difficult, and there is great potential for causing complications. There are also findings after chemoembolization, particularly on computed tomographic scans, that may appear to indicate complications but are common and of no concern. Chemoembolization requires an understanding of the congenital and acquired variations of arterial anatomy that may be seen supplying the liver. Assessment of the patency of the portal vein is also required. An abnormal portal vein demands significant changes in technique to allow safe chemoembolization. Partial or complete occlusion of the portal vein is associated with significantly decreased survival but does not prevent a worthwhile response to chemoembolization and is not an absolute contraindication. The presence of chemoembolization material in the gallbladder is not uncommon; with the technique used by the authors, the chemoembolization material infrequently causes cholecystitis or gallbladder infarction. Extrahepatic chemoembolization material is commonly seen in other organs but usually does not cause problems, presumably because the dose deposited outside the liver is small compared with the dose delivered to the liver. Other complications include pseudocirrhosis, liver infarction and abscess formation, carcinoid crisis, hepatorenal syndrome, and liver rupture.

Many patients with neurologic impairment due to stroke, multiple sclerosis, trauma, bulbar palsy, and other disorders have difficulty swallowing. Videofluoroscopy can provide important information on patterns of impairment of the swallowing mechanism, allowing important changes in patient treatment. The detailed videofluoroscopic evaluation required to provide this information is now seldom taught and is practiced by relatively few radiologists. The aim of this article is to (a) describe the indications for videofluoroscopic swallowing studies in the evaluation of patients with neurologic conditions affecting swallowing, (b) describe the techniques for evaluating the swallow mechanism with videofluoroscopy in a standardized manner, and (c) use cine videofluoroscopy to illustrate the range of abnormalities that can be demonstrated for some of these conditions and discuss the effect of patient treatment.

The management of aortic dissection can be challenging. Most cases of acute type A dissection are managed surgically. Most cases of acute type B dissection are managed medically, although open surgery or stent-graft placement is sometimes performed. Patients with type B or surgically treated type A dissection may develop vascular complications such as mesenteric or peripheral ischemia, which cannot be managed medically. Aortic fenestration is a method for decompressing the hypertensive false lumen by creating a hole in the distal part of the dissection flap. This procedure allows outflow from the false lumen, thereby reducing intraluminal pressure, relieving branch vessel obstruction, and reducing the risk of extension of the dissection. Urgent revascularization is required to correct mesenteric and renal ischemia and to reestablish distal perfusion if there is resting ischemia. Few operators will acquire extensive personal experience with percutaneous aortic fenestration. Nevertheless, with a good understanding of the pathologic condition, careful demonstration of the anatomy, good technical skills, and access to high-quality imaging (including intravascular ultrasonography) and the requisite equipment, most interventional radiologists skilled in arterial interventions should be capable of performing this procedure. However, because further interventions are frequently required, the radiologist needs to maintain contact with the patient to ensure timely treatment of any subsequent complications.

Intraarterial lidocaine during chemoembolization reduces the severity and duration of pain after chemoembolization resulting in faster recovery thus reducing the length of hospitalization.