Laser-induced hyperthermia in the treatment of liver tumors

Seven patients with malignant liver tumors were treated with Nd:YAG laser induced hyperthermia. The laserthermia was performed during laparotomy using Nd:YAG laser with contact sapphire probes with power settings of 6 W. The contact tip was placed into the middle of the tumor and the temperature in 1.5-2.0 cm from the middle of the tumor was raised and held between 41C and 45C for ten minutes. One fatal complication appeared caused by an air embolism. In the postoperative fine needle biopsies on third and fifth postoperative day the sytologic finding in the tumor was necrosis. However, in 30% of the samples there was also a suspicion of cancer cells. In the computer tomography four weeks after the treatment there were also signs of necrosis. It seems that selective destruction of malignant liver tumors is possible with contact Nd:YAG laser induced hyperthermia.     

Radiofrequency for the treatment of liver tumors

Radiofrequency is performed with thin electrodes that are placed in the center of a tumor under ultrasonographic guidance. Radiofrequency waves induce ionic agitation which destroys neighboring tissues by heat. The most recent equipment can produce necrosis of 4-cm diameter areas. Efficacy is enhanced by blocking intrahepatic blood flow which naturally refreshes the liver parenchyma. The technique has the advantage of minimal invasion and of sparing liver parenchymal tissue. radiofrequency can be performed percutaneously or by laparoscopi or laparotomy. results in most reported series have been good with low morbidity. rapid improvment of material and of new associated procedures (vascular clamping, cooling infusion of the bile ducts, transplaeurodiaphragmatic approach, combination with other new approaches in liver surgery) are continuously modifying performance levels and potential indications curently under validation. radiofrequency, like other tools for local tumor destruction, will greatly change our therapeutic strategies in the neat future.     

Surgical treatment of benign liver tumors

We reviewed the records of 105 patients treated for benign hepatic disease at the Department of Surgery of the Charité since 1979. Treatment has to be tailored to the different pathological processes. Modern imaging techniques are of utmost importance for diagnosis and follow up of all patients regardless if they underwent operative therapy or were treated conservatively. Indications and contraindications in the treatment of benign liver tumours are developed on the basis of 44 liver resections with special reference to adenomas and hemangiomas. In all cases a hemihepatectomy seemed justified inspite of the benign disease process. Postoperative complications were mostly related to the surgical incision and caused by abnormalities of protein synthesis and coagulation, frequently observed after major hepatic surgery. Close monitoring and immediate correction of all clinical and biochemical parameters are essential in the postoperative period.     

Radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of liver tumors in children

Hepatoblastoma and liver metastasis of Wilms' tumors are rare hepatic tumors in children. Treatment of both tumors consists of a combination of chemotherapy and liver surgery. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is frequently used for the treatment of adult liver tumors but is rarely mentioned as a treatment option in pediatric liver tumors. We present a patient with hepatoblastoma and 1 with liver metastasis from a Wilms' tumor. Both patients were treated according to the latest protocols except that surgery included use of RFA. Both are well and recurrence free 8 and 3 years after surgery. Radiofrequency ablation may be a good addition to the existing arsenal of treatment modalities for pediatric liver tumors.     

经皮肝脏射频消融术对肝癌治疗的初步研究

目的 研究射频消融对肝脏恶性肿瘤的治疗效果。方法 对16例肝脏恶性肿瘤患者共18个病灶超声引导下进行射频消融治疗，大小1．9～6．6cm。术前术后均进行增强CT扫描，并定期随访。结果术后病灶完全坏死率为68．7％，复发率为36．6％。完全坏死率的相关因素分析显示病灶直径、介入治疗史、消融温度、电极针大小为相关因素。结论 射频消融是原发性及转移性肝癌安全有效的方法，其长期效果尚待进一步观察。     

中肝切除术在肝脏中部肿瘤的应用

目的 探讨中肝切除术在肝脏中部肿瘤的临床应用,对其适应证、治疗效果,特别是外科手术技术细节进行讨论.方法 回顾2007年12月至2009年3月的3例中肝切除术.分析各病例影像学特点,讨论适应证具体标准,总结手术技术细节、手术后恢复过程及随访结果.结果 3例中肝切除术,原发性肝癌合并肝硬化2例,肝脏巨大血管瘤1例.病变部位为Ⅳ段和(或)Ⅷ段.术中平均出血量为800 ml.平均手术时间为7 h.术后7 d左右肝功能基本恢复.术后7～9 d出院.无术后并发症.术后随访7～15个月,无肿瘤复发.结论 中肝切除术是肝脏中部肿瘤的重要手术方式.遵循解剖性肝切除的概念,灵活应用肝切除新的技术手段,可以保证手术的安全性,并减少出血等并发症.对于肝脏储备功能受损者,与扩大的左或右肝切除术比较,中肝切除术具有更高的安全性.应该适当扩大中肝切除的临床应用并对其进行更多的研究评价,特别是与传统的扩大肝切除术相比.     

肝三叶切除术11例报告

目的 评价肝三叶切除治疗肝巨大肿瘤的手术技术和经验。 方法 本组肝三叶切除术１１例术前肝功能均为Ｃｈｉｌｄ Ａ级，无肝硬化。瘤体最大横径为１２￣３５ｃｍ，行右三叶切除７例，左三叶切除４例。术中施行全肝血流阻断６例，阻断时间为６￣２２分钟，其中在全肝血流阻断下成功修复损伤的下腔静脉和主肝静脉各２例。 结果 术中输血４００￣１６００ｍｌ，无手术死亡。术后并发症：胆瘘和右侧胸腔积液各２例。切除肿瘤湿重量     

Electrochemical lesions in the rat liver support its potential for treatment of liver tumors

BACKGROUND: An effective therapy is needed for patients with surgically unresectable liver tumors who have very limited life expectancy. One possible treatment is electrochemical tumor necrosis. This study investigated the natural history of electrochemical lesions in the normal rat liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A direct current generator, connected to platinum electrodes, was used to create controlled areas of liver necrosis. Animals were sacrificed 2 days, 2 weeks, 2 months, and 6 months after treatment and the macroscopic and histological appearance of the necrotic lesions was followed. RESULTS: No animal died as a result of electrolysis; postoperatively, all gained weight normally. Liver enzymes were significantly (P < 0.001) elevated after treatment, but returned to normal after a week. Two days after electrolysis, histology confirmed an ellipsoidal area of coagulative necrosis at the site of the electrode tip and commonly a segment of peripheral necrosis. After 2 weeks there was histological evidence of healing. By 6 months, very little necrotic tissue remained within a small fibrous scar. CONCLUSIONS: Electrolysis is a safe method for creating defined areas of liver necrosis that heal well with no associated mortality. This study supports the potential of electrolysis for treating patients with unresectable liver tumors.     

Place of cryosurgery in the treatment of malignant liver tumors.

OBJECTIVE: The authors evaluate the results of cryosurgery in malignant liver tumors. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The outcome of primary or secondary liver tumors is poor when resection can not be achieved. Encouraging results of cryosurgery have been reported in unresectable liver tumors, but this treatment needs further evaluation of its efficacy in homogeneous groups of patients. METHODS: From 63 patients with malignant liver tumors with various histology treated by cryosurgery in a 2.5-year period, the authors evaluated the results of 34 patients with nonresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (9 patients) or nonresectable metastases from colorectal cancer (25 patients). Cryosurgery was used either as a single treatment (4 hepatocellular carcinomas, 5 metastases) or in association with liver resection (5 hepatocellular carcinomas, 20 metastases). Systemic chemotherapy was used routinely before surgery and after surgery. RESULTS: There was no intraoperative mortality. Mortality within 2 months was 3% and was unrelated to the procedure. Postoperative morbidity consisted of one sterile fluid collection and one biliary fistula (8%). At a mean follow-up of 16 months, (range, 2-27) local recurrence rate was 0% for hepatocellular carcinoma and 44% for metastases. Cumulative survival at 24 months was 63% and 52%, respectively, with 6 patients (67%) and 5 patients (20%) currently disease free. In the group of patients with metastases, survival was related to the size of the treated tumor (p = 0.06) and the absence of residual disease (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Cryosurgery is safe and increases the number of patients with unresectable liver malignancies in whom surgery can aim at eradicating the tumor. Local recurrence is observed more frequently for metastases than for hepatocellular carcinoma. The benefit in survival is related to the complete treatment of the tumoral disease.