尾状叶肝癌的介入治疗

尾状叶肝癌是一种特殊部位肝癌,少见且治疗困难,既往其主要的治疗手段是手术切除。近年来尾状叶肝癌的介入治疗已取得显著进展,并获得较好疗效。简述了肝脏尾状叶的解剖特点和尾状叶肝癌的动脉血供特点,总结了经肝动脉化疗栓塞术和局部消融术治疗尾状叶肝癌的进展,认为联合应用介入方法治疗尾状叶肝癌的优势仍需进一步的临床验证。     

Isolated caudate lobectomy by anterior approach for hepatocellular carcinoma originating in the paracaval portion of the caudate lobe

We aimed to assess isolated caudate lobectomy by the anterior approach for the treatment of large hepatocellular carcinomas originating in the paracaval portion of the caudate lobe. The surgical procedures consisted of ligation and dissection of the caudate branch of the portal vein and short hepatic veins from the right side of the hepatic hilum; liver resection cranially from the right side of the process portion; ligation and dissection of the short hepatic veins from the left side; hepatic resection between the lateral segment and Spiegel lobe; and, finally, dissection of the liver at the right of the Cantlie line, reaching the tumor in the paracaval portion of the caudate lobe. The important point in this procedure was the appropriate management of the short hepatic veins, the branches of the hepatic vein, and the glisson's vessels of the paracaval portion. The operative times for the three patients reported here were 430, 355, and 575 min, with blood loss of 1100, 1180, and 2000 ml, respectively. The duration of the operation was short and blood loss was minimal; severe complications were not observed. Complete recovery of liver function after this surgery tended to be slow. Early recurrence was observed during long-term follow-up. This procedure is considered to be a safe method, with optimal surgical vision for caudate lobe tumors of a relatively large size. However, adjuvant therapy to prevent recurrence is required.     

Percutaneous ethanol injection before liver transplantation in the hepatocellular carcinoma

Background/objectives. The study evaluates the outcome of patients who performed orthotopic liver transplantation (LT) as treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) while on the waiting list, verifying the effectiveness of this treatment in producing tumor necrosis and avoiding dropout and identifying treatment-related complications.Material and methods.Medical records of 97 patients on the waiting list for LT at Hospital Clinic of Barcelona were examined. Sixty-two (56.3%) patients had been treated with PEI (group 1); 35 (31.8%) had not received any anti-tumor therapy before LT (group 2).Results.Complete necrosis of the tumor was observed in 38/59 (64.3%) patients. The presence of additional nodules in the explant and the diameter of the main tumor of group 1 was significantly lower than in group 2 (p = 0.002). Dropout related to tumor progression occurred in 4.8% and 8.5%, and tumor recurrence in 5% and 6.2% for groups 1 and 2, respectively. Major complications were not evidenced after 421 PEI sessions and there was no tumor implant in the needle traject.Conclusions. In conclusion, the percutaneous treatment of HCC with PEI is a safe and effective method before the LT.     

经皮冷消融联合酒精注射治疗不能切除的肝细胞癌

目的：评价经皮冷消融联合经皮酒精注射(PEI)治疗不能切除的肝细胞癌(HCC)的有效性和安全性。方法：65例HCC患者共105个肿瘤块接受经皮冷消融治疗。冷消融采用cRYOCARE系统，氩气作为冷却剂，共给予2次冷却-复温循环，每次冷却时冷冻刀顶端温度为-180℃。其中36例瘤块直径大于6cm的患者，在冷消融治疗后1～2周接受PEI治疗，每周1次，连续4～6次。结果：在平均随访期为16个月(5～21个月)内，32例(49．2％)无瘤生存，22例(33．8％)生存但有肿瘤复发，其中2例骨转移，3例肺转移，其余17例为肝内复发，但仅有3例是原先冷消融部位复发。在随访1年以上的41例患者中，有32例(78％)迄今仍生存，包括无复发和有复发的病例。8例(12．3％)死于肿瘤复发，3例(4．6％)死于非癌性原因。有CT复查资料的43例中，38例(88．4％)显示肿瘤缩小。冷消融治疗后22例行瘤块活检，除1例外，均显示为坏死性疤痕组织。冷消融治疗前血清甲胎蛋白(AFP)升高的病例中，91．3％在治疗后3～6个月内AFP下降至正常或接近正常。冷消融并发症包括1例发生肝包膜开裂，4例发生一过性血小板降低，2例发生无症状性右侧胸腔积液，2例在原先冷消融部位发生肝脓肿。结论：经皮冷消融为不能手术切除的HCC提供了安全而有效的治疗手段。     

Percutaneous cryoablation in combination with ethanol injection for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of percutaneous hepatic cryoablation in combination with percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) in patients with unresectable hepaocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODS: A total of 105 masses in 65 HCC patients underwent percutaneous hepatic cryoablation. The cryoablation was performed with the Cryocare system (Endocare, Irvine, CA, USA) using argon gas as a cryogen.Two freeze-thaw cycles were performed, each reaching a temperature of -180 ℃ at the tip of the probe. PEI was given in 36 patients with tumor masses larger than 6 cm in diameter 1-2 weeks after cryoablation and then once per week for 4 to 6 sessions. The efficacy was evaluated with survival, change of tumor size and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels.RESULTS: During a follow-up duration of 14 months in average with a range of 5 to 21 months, 33 patients (50.8%)were free of tumors, 22 patients (33.8%) alive with tumor recurrence: two had bone metastases, three were found to have lung metastases, and the remaining 17 recurrences occurred in the liver, of whom only 3 developed a cryosite recurrence. Among the 41 patients who were followed up for more than one year, 32(78%) were alive despite of tumor recurrence. Seven patients (10.8%) died due to disease recurrence. Three patients (4.6%) died due to some noncancer-related causes. Among the 43 patients who had a CT scan available for review, 38 (88.4%) had a shrinkage of tumor mass. Among the 22 patients who received biopsies of cryoablated tumor mass, all biopsies except one, showed only dead or scar tissues. Of the patients who had an increased AFP preablatively, 91.3% had a decrease of AFP to normal or nearly normal levels during postablative 3-6 months. Complications of cryoablation included liver capsular cracking in one patient,transient thrombocytopenia in 4 patients and asymptomatic right-sided pleural effusions in 2 patients. Two patients developed liver abscess at the previous cryoablation site at 2 and 4 months, respectively,following cryoablation, and was recovered after treated with antibiotics and drainage.CONCLUSION: Percutaneous cryoablation offers a safe and possibly curative treatment option for patients with HCC that cannot be surgically removed, and its integration with PEI, may serve as an alternative to partial liver resection in selective patients.     

Percutaneous ethanol injection in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In this study we discuss and evaluate the use of percutaneous ethanol injection for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis. METHODOLOGY: Percutaneous ethanol injection was performed under ultrasound guidance, with multiple sessions at an outpatient department or with "single-session" technique under general anesthesia, according to the size and number of the lesions. RESULTS: In our patients with Child A (293), B (149), or C (20) cirrhosis and single hepatocellular carcinoma 5 cm or smaller, the 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 98, 79 and 47%, 93, 63 and 29%, and 64, 12 and 0%, respectively. In our 108 patients with larger hepatocellular carcinoma, 1- and 3-year survival rates were: 72 and 57% in single, encapsulated tumors, 73 and 42% in single infiltrating or multiple encapsulated tumors, and 46 and 0% in symptomatic or with advanced portal thrombosis tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous ethanol injection proved to be a safe, effective, repeatable, easy and low-cost therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Survival after percutaneous ethanol injection was comparable to that after surgical resection, probably because of a balancing between greater complete ablation rate of surgery versus absence of early mortality and liver damage of percutaneous ethanol injection. On the basis of the percutaneous ethanol injection rationale, other ablation techniques were proposed using radiofrequency, laser or acetic acid. Their initial results are promising.     

Management of hepatocellular carcinoma rupture in the caudate lobe

AIM: To demonstrate that caudate lobectomy is a valid treatment in cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) rupture in the caudate lobe based on our experience with the largest case series reported to date.METHODS: A retrospective study of eight patients presenting with spontaneous rupture and hemorrhage of HCC in the caudate lobe was conducted. Two patients underwent ineffective transarterial embolization preoperatively. Caudate lobectomy was performed in all eight patients. Bilateral approach was taken in seven cases for isolated complete caudate lobectomy. Left-sided approach was employed in one case for isolated partial caudate lobectomy. Transarterial chemoembolization was performed postoperatively in all patients.RESULTS: Caudate lobectomy was successfully completed in all eight cases. The median time delay from the diagnosis to operation was 5 d (range: 0.25-9). Median operating time was 200 min (range: 120-310) with a median blood loss of 900 mL (range: 300-1500). Five patient remained in long-term follow-up, with one patient becoming lost to follow-up at 3 years and two patients currently alive at 7 and 19 mo. One patient required reoperation due to recurrence. Gamma knife intervention was performed for brain metastasis in another case. Two patients survived for 10 and 84 mo postoperatively, ultimately succumbing to multiple organ metastases.CONCLUSION: Caudate lobectomy is the salvage choice for HCC rupture in the caudate lobe. Local anatomy and physiologic features of the disease render caudate lobectomy a technically difficult operation. Postponement of surgical intervention is thus recommended while the rupture remains hemodynamically stable until an experienced surgeon becomes available. Prognosis is confounded by numerous factors, but long-term survival can be expected in the majority of cases.     

Prognostic factors in the surgical treatment of caudate lobe hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM:To evaluate the short-and long-term outcomes of liver resection for caudate lobe hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed 114 consecutive patients with HCC,originating from the caudate lobe,who underwent resection between January 2001 and January 2007.Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on several clinicopathologic variables to determine the factors affecting long-term outcome and intrahepatic recurrence.RESULTS:Overall mortality and morbidity were 0% and 18%,respectively.After a median follow-up of 31 mo (interquartile range,11-66 mo),tumor recurrence had occurred in 76 patients (66.7%).The 1-,3-,and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 65.7%,38.1%,and 18.4%,respectively.The 1-,3-,and 5-year overall survival rates were 76.1%,54.7%,and 31.8%,respectively.Univariate analysis showed that subsegmental location of the tumor (45.7% vs 16.2%,P=0.01),liver cirrhosis (12.3% vs 47.9%,P=0.03),surgical margin (18.5% vs 54.6%,P=0.04),vascular invasion (37.9% vs 23.2%,P=0.04) and extended caudate resection (42.1% vs 15.4%,P=0.04) were related to poorer long-term survival.Multivariate analysis showed that only subsegmental location of the tumor,liver cirrhosis and surgical margin were significant independent prognostic factors.CONCLUSION:Hepatectomy was an effective treatment for HCC in the caudate lobe.The subsegmental location of the tumor,liver cirrhosis and surgical margin affected long-term survival.     

Percutaneous ethanol injection for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma. Study of 95 patients

Percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) was applied to 120 lesions in 95 patients with hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) smaller than 3 cm in the past 6 years. All main target tumours, in 67 patients who had been followed by sonography for more than 6 months after PEI, decreased in size; 28 tumours (41.8%) became undetectable and have remained so until now. The 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-year survival rates calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method were 93%, 81%, 65%, 52% and 28% respectively. These survival rates were better than those of patients with HCC smaller than 3 cm who did not receive anticancer treatment (P less than 0.01). The survival of patients of the Child's A or Child's B status was better than that of those with Child's C disease. Recurrence occurred in areas within the liver different from the original lesion in 34% in one year, 61% in two years and 66% in three years after PEI. PEI was then repeated in 61% of such patients.     

Percutaneous ethanol injection, radiofrequency and their combination in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To evaluate the therapeutic effect and the indication of percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI),radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and their combination in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-five patients with HCC received treatment of PEI, RFA or their combination.Group1 (＜ 3 cm in diameter, n=85) was treated with PEI,group2 (＜ 3 cm in diameter, n=153) with RFA. Group3(＞3 cm in diameter, n=86) was divided into two groups.Group 3a (n=34) was treated with RFA, while group 3b(n=52) was treated with RFA for 2 wk after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization or PEI. Contrast-enhanced sonography was performed for 61 patients before and after RFA. Liver function and serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were measured for all patients. Changes of the lesions on ultrasound and contrast-enhanced CT/MRI were evaluated for assessing the therapeutic responses.The 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were recorded after treatment.RESULTS: In group 1, the complete necrosis rate of lesions after 1 mo was 77.6% (66/85). The level of AFP declined conspicuously after 1 mo. The 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year survival rate after treatment was 80.0% (52/65),60.4% (32/53), 52.5% (21/40) and 33.3% (7/21),respectively. In group 2, the complete necrosis rate of lesions after 1 moh was 92.2% (141/153). The level of AFP decreased conspicuously after 1 mo. The 1-, 2-,3- and 5-year survival rate after treatment was 94.6%(88/93), 73.2% (52/71), 63.5% (33/52) and 46.4%(13/28), respectively. In group 3a, the complete necrosis rate of lesions after 1 mo was 23.5% (8/34). AFP dropped down to the normal level in only one patient after 1 mo. The 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rate after treatment was 47.6% (10/21), 42.9% (6/14) and 27.3%(3/11), respectively. Only one patient was still alive after 5 years. In group 3b, the complete necrosis rate of lesions after 1 mo was 57.7% (30/52). The level of AFP decreased after 1 mo. The 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year survival rate after treatment was 68.6% (24/35), 46.2% (12/26),36.8% (7/19) and 27.3% (3/11), respectively.CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of RFA on small HCC is better than that of PEI. Small HCC is the optimal indication of RFA. For recurrent HCC (diameter＞3 cm),the combined treatment of RFA and PEI/ACE should be used.     

Percutaneous ethanol injection, radiofrequency and their combination in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To evaluate the therapeutic effect and the indication of percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and their combination in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-five patients with HCC received treatment of PEI, RFA or their combination. Groupl (< 3 cm in diameter, n=85) was treated with PEI, group2(< 3 cm in diameter, n=153) with RFA. Group3 (>3 cm in diameter, n=86) was divided into two groups. Group 3a (n=34) was treated with RFA, while group 3b (n=52) was treated with RFA for 2 wk after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization or PEI. Contrast-enhanced sonography was performed for 61 patients before and after RFA. Liver function and serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were measured for all patients. Changes of the lesions on ultrasound and contrast-enhanced CT/MRI were evaluated for assessing the therapeutic responses. The 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were recorded after treatment. RESULTS: In group 1, the complete necrosis rate of lesions after 1 mo was 77.6% (66/85). The level of AFP declined conspicuously after 1 mo. The 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year survival rate after treatment was 80.0% (52/65), 60.4% (32/53), 52.5% (21/40) and 33.3% (7/21), respectively. In group 2, the complete necrosis rate of lesions after 1 moh was 92.2% (141/153). The level of AFP decreased conspicuously after 1 mo. The 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year survival rate after treatment was 94.6% (88/93), 73.2% (52/71), 63.5% (33/52) and 46.4% (13/28), respectively. In group 3a, the complete necrosis rate of lesions after 1 mo was 23.5% (8/34). AFP dropped down to the normal level in only one patient after 1 mo. The 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rate after treatment was 47.6% (10/21), 42.9% (6/14) and 27.3% (3/11), respectively. Only one patient was still alive after 5 years. In group 3b, the complete necrosis rate of lesions after 1 mo was 57.7% (30/52). The level of AFP decreased after 1 mo. The 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year survival rate after treatment was 68.6% (24/35), 46.2% (12/26), 36.8% (7/19) and 27.3% (3/11), respectively. CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of RFA on small HCC is better than that of PEL Small HCC is the optimal indication of RFA. For recurrent HCC (diameter>3 cm), the combined treatment of RFA and PEI/ACE should be used.     

Percutaneous ethanol injection under CT fluoroscopy for hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma following transcatheter arterial embolization

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The present study was conducted to accurately monitor the pattern of ethanol distribution during percutaneous ethanol injection by computed tomography fluoroscopy and to examine the relationship between the distribution pattern and therapeutic effect. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-five hypervascular hepatocellular carcinomas were studied. Each was treated with transcatheter arterial embolization. However, as residual parts were detected, percutaneous ethanol injection under real-time computed tomography fluoroscopy was performed. For analysis, ethanol distribution and local recurrence rate were compared. RESULTS: Ethanol distribution in a tumor was classifiable into 3 patterns. In pattern 1, ethanol solution was distributed spherically. In pattern 2, ethanol solution spread forming linear boundaries indicating interruption of distribution by septa. In pattern 3, ethanol spread circumferentially only along the periphery sparing the central part of a tumor. The 6-month recurrence rate of the tumors in which ethanol solution was distributed to the whole viable part was 25% (pattern 1), 100% (pattern 2) and 0% (pattern 3), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In the tumors showing distribution pattern 3 by computed tomography fluoroscopy, a combination therapy of transcatheter arterial embolization and percutaneous ethanol injection was more effective than in other patterns. Computed tomography fluoroscopy was useful for accurate monitoring and predicting the therapeutic effect of percutaneous ethanol injection.     

Percutaneous ethanol injection for small hepatocellular carcinoma: therapeutic efficacy based on 20-year observation

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) for patients with < or = 3 lesions of small (< or = 3 cm diameter) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: PEI was applied to 270 patients with small HCC as the first-line treatment option during a 20-year period. RESULTS: (1) There was no treatment-related deaths, and only 2.2% of severe complications; (2) PEI induced a complete response of all HCCs according to CT evaluation performed within one month after the procedure, and the local recurrence rate at 3 years was 10%; (3) the overall 3- and 5-year survival rates after treatment were 81.6 and 60.3%, respectively, but the rates were higher, 87.3 and 78.3%, in Child A patients with a solitary tumor < or = 2 cm in diameter; (4) factors significantly influencing survival were liver function (P = 0.0033) and serum alpha-fetoprotein level (P = 0.0014), and (5) the recurrence rate at remote sites in the liver was lower in patients with HCC < or = 2 cm (P = 0.0395) and in those with a solitary HCC (P < 0.0001) according to Cox's proportional hazard model. (6) Radiofrequency ablation would not have been performed in approximately 25% of these patients. CONCLUSIONS: PEI is considered a reliable treatment for small HCC in terms of safety and efficacy.     

Clinical effect of ultraselective transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in treating hepatocellular carcinoma originating from the caudate lobe:an analysis of 13 cases

正Objective To investigate the clinical effect of ultraselective transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)originating from the caudate lobe.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for 13 patients with solitary HCC originating from the caudata lobe who were admitted to     

Ultrasonically guided percutaneous ethanol injection therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Ultrasonically guided percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (US-PEIT) was performed in 26 patients with hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) in whom neither surgery nor transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) was indicated, or TAE had proved ineffective. Comparison of results by various diagnostic imaging techniques with histopathological findings revealed that tumor necrosis after US-PEIT was correlated with increased echogenicity of the tumor by US, decreased density of the tumor and disappearance of contrast enhancement by computed tomography (CT), and change to a lower signal in the tumor by magnetic resonance imaging [MRI, 0.15 T permanent magnet, spin-echo sequence, repetition time (TR)/echo time (TE) = 2000/80 ms]. Thus, findings by imaging are useful in evaluating the initial effect of US-PEIT. Of three specimens obtained by liver resection and three obtained at autopsy, four showed complete necrosis after US-PEIT (maximum tumor diameter, 3 cm). This method also appeared to be effective in cases of capsular invasion. In this study, the 2-yr survival rate of patients with HCC was 75%. Although this study was not a controlled clinical trial, we conclude that US-PEIT may be a potentially effective treatment for HCC.