Primary hepatic malignancy: the role of liver transplantation

Between January 1982 and April 1989, 134 patients with a suspected liver neoplasm were referred to the liver unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. In 105 (78 per cent), a primary hepatic neoplasm was histologically confirmed, and 47 patients (45 per cent) proved to have primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Twenty-nine orthotopic liver transplants were performed in 28 of these patients (27 per cent). Twenty patients (71 per cent) survived 30 days or longer (median 11.5 months; range 2-87 months), of whom nine are currently alive. We retrospectively analysed our data to determine the influence of preoperative evaluation, histological type and staging on outcome. Computed tomography proved to be superior to intraoperative assessment (86 versus 58 per cent) in diagnosing tumour positive nodes. Patients with tumour negative lymphadenopathy had a better prognosis. Postoperative stage I/II had a median survival of 16 months (range 3-87 months) compared with 7.5 months (range 2-20 months) for stage III. Non-cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma had the best prognosis; cholangiocellular carcinoma and cirrhotic patients with hepatocelluar carcinoma had the worst outcome with no survivors beyond 1 year. Because of the advanced stage of disease at the time of presentation, the value of liver transplantation in primary liver cancer is limited. For those presenting with advanced disease confined to the liver (stage I/II) in whom conventional hepatic resection is not possible, significant benefit can be achieved in selected cases.     

Experience with laparoscopic ultrasonography for defining tumour resectability in carcinoma of the pancreatic head and periampullary region

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography (CT) is currently the most widely available staging investigation for pancreatic tumours. However, the accuracy of CT for determining tumour resectability is variable and can be poor. Laparoscopic ultrasonography (LUS) is potentially a more accurate method for disease staging. The authors' experience of LUS for staging carcinoma of the pancreatic head and periampullary region is described. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with potentially resectable pancreatic tumours defined at CT underwent further investigation with LUS. Twenty-seven patients subsequently had an open laparotomy. The evaluations of tumour resectability at CT and LUS were compared with the operative findings. RESULTS: At LUS, 24 patients were considered to have resectable tumours, 21 non-resectable tumours and six patients were shown to have no pancreatic tumour mass. Twenty-two patients deemed to have a resectable tumour at LUS underwent surgery. Twenty patients were confirmed to have resectable disease and two patients had non-resectable disease. A further five patients underwent surgery. In all five the ultrasonographic diagnosis was confirmed at surgery (four patients with non-resectable disease and no pancreatic tumour in one patient). LUS prevented unnecessary extensive surgery in 53 per cent of patients. For the 22 patients who underwent surgery for potentially resectable disease, the positive predictive value of LUS for defining tumour resectability was 91 per cent. CONCLUSION: LUS is an accurate additional investigation for defining tumour resectability and directing management in patients with potentially resectable carcinoma of the pancreatic head or periampullary region.     

Influence of laparoscopy on postoperative recurrence and survival in patients with ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing hepatic resection

BACKGROUND: Use of laparoscopy in patients with gastrointestinal cancer has been associated with port-site and peritoneal tumour metastases. The effect of laparoscopy on tumour recurrence and long-term survival in patients undergoing resection of ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. METHODS: Between June 1994 and December 2001, 59 patients with ruptured HCC underwent surgical exploration with a view to hepatic resection. Laparoscopy with laparoscopic ultrasonography was performed in 33 patients; the other 26 patients underwent exploratory laparotomy without laparoscopy. Perioperative and long-term outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Exploratory laparotomy was avoided in 12 of 13 patients with irresectable HCC who had a laparoscopy. The hospital stay of these 12 patients was significantly shorter than that of eight patients found to have irresectable HCC at exploratory laparotomy (median 11 versus 15 days; P = 0.043). Twenty patients had a laparoscopy followed by open resection of HCC, whereas 18 patients underwent laparotomy and resection without laparoscopy. There were no significant differences in disease-free (16 versus 19 per cent; P = 0.525) and overall (32 versus 48 per cent; P = 0.176) survival at 3 years between the two groups. The tumour recurrence pattern was similar between the two groups, and there were no port-site or wound metastases. CONCLUSION: Use of diagnostic laparoscopy in patients with ruptured HCC helps avoid unnecessary exploratory laparotomy. The present data suggest that laparoscopy does not have an adverse effect on tumour recurrence or survival in patients who undergo resection.     

Preoperative treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with intra-arterial injection of 131I-labelled lipiodol

BACKGROUND: Recurrence is common after surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: The efficacy of, and tolerance to, preoperative intra-arterial injection of (131)I-labelled lipiodol was examined in 34 patients with HCC, including 29 with cirrhosis. Twenty-five patients had a single hepatic tumour and the mean(s.d.) tumour size was 5.2(3.7) (range 2-15) cm. The patients received between one and three injections of (131)I-labelled lipiodol (60 mCi per injection) before surgery. Operations included 14 liver transplants, 13 minor hepatectomies, six major hepatectomies and one exploratory laparotomy. RESULTS: There was one complication after lipiodol injection due to acute ischaemia of the small bowel. Three of 34 patients died within 28 days, two after transplantation and one after resection. An objective tumour response (decrease in tumour size) was observed in 19 of 34 patients, and a complete histological response in eight of 34. There was an objective tumour response or major histological necrosis of lesions in 25 of 34 patients. The 5-year survival rate was 48.4(8.0) per cent, 69.0 per cent after transplantation and 36.0 per cent in patients who underwent resection. CONCLUSION: This preoperative method appeared to be well tolerated, and provided promising results in terms of macroscopic and microscopic tumour responses.     

Primary carcinoma of the liver

Seventy-six patients with histologically proved primary cancer of the liver, including fifty-seven with hepatocellular carcinoma, fifteen with cholangiocellular carcinoma, and four with a mixed type, were admitted and treated at the First Surgical Clinic, Kyoto University Medical School during the twenty-two year period from 1951 to 1973. The symptoms, physical signs, and laboratory findings in these patients were reviewed. Of seventy-one patients with surgical exploration, twenty-three (32 per cent) underwent hepatic resection, eight had ligation of the portal branch, seven had ligation of the hepatic artery, and thirty-three had exploratory laparotomy alone. The final diagnosis in the remaining five patients was established by autopsy or percutaneous needle biopsy. Twenty-eight of fifty-seven patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (49 per cent) also clearly had cirrhosis of the liver.Of ten patients with cirrhosis who underwent hepatic resection, two died from hepatic coma within two months, two showed a delayed recovery of liver function after hepatic lobectomy, but the remaining six patients survived with no remarkable changes after segmental resection or procedures of lesser magnitude and one of them was well for seventeen years and five months after left lateral segmentectomy until he was killed in a traffic accident. Operative mortality in all patients who underwent hepatic resection was 9 per cent, and the one year, three year, and five year survival rates were 43, 22, and 13 per cent, respectively. For patients with nonresectable cancer, ligation of one of the main portal branches supplying the main tumor showed some improvement in their prognosis.     

Retrospective analysis of prognostic factors after liver resection and transplantation for cholangiocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Cholangiocellular carcinoma is an uncommon primary liver cancer, which may be mixed with hepatocellular carcinoma. A retrospective analysis was undertaken to evaluate the results of surgical treatment and to identify prognostic factors. METHODS: Between 1978 and 1996, 162 patients underwent surgery for cholangiocellular carcinoma: liver resection (n = 95), liver transplantation (n = 24) and exploratory laparotomy with and without drainage (n = 43). Univariate and multivariate analyses of prognostic factors were performed. RESULTS: Overall survival was 47 per cent at 1 year, 28 per cent at 2 years and 13 per cent at 5 years. Survival rates for patients with resectable tumours were 64, 43 and 21 per cent respectively, and for those who underwent liver transplantation 21, 8 per cent and zero respectively. Univariate analysis showed that the following variables had an effect on survival: age, jaundice, liver resection, T, N and M stage in the tumour node metastasis classification, Union Internacional Contra la Cancrum (UICC) tumour stage, tumour-free margins, vascular infiltration, tumour number, tumour size and serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen. Multivariate analysis identified jaundice, N and M category, and UICC tumour stage as independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: The data underscore the importance and prognostic value of the UICC tumour classification for cholangiocellular carcinoma. The prognosis of mixed tumours is no different. Liver resection remains the treatment of choice; transplantation offers no solution for otherwise unresectable tumours.     

Preoperative portal vein embolization improves prognosis after right hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with impaired hepatic function

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous transhepatic portal vein embolization (PTPE) increases the safety of subsequent major hepatectomy. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of PTPE on long-term prognosis after hepatectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Seventy-one patients with HCC underwent right hepatectomy between 1984 and 1998. Preoperative PTPE was performed in 33 patients (group 1) and was not used in 38 patients (group 2). Outcome after operation was compared between the groups. The patients were further divided according to the median tumour diameter (cut-off 6 cm) and indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min (ICGR15) (cut-off 13 per cent). RESULTS: The cumulative survival rate was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 in patients with an ICGR15 of at least 13 per cent. Tumour-free survival rates were similar in both groups. Of patients with tumour recurrence after right hepatectomy, those in group 1 were more frequently subjected to further treatment. CONCLUSION: Preoperative PTPE improves the prognosis after right hepatectomy for HCC in patients with impaired hepatic function, although it does not prevent tumour recurrence.     

Resection rate and effect of postoperative chemotherapy on survival after surgery for colorectal liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether adjuvant therapy can improve survival after curative resection of colorectal liver metastases. METHODS: Some 235 patients had 256 liver resections for metastatic colorectal cancer. There were no predefined criteria for resectability with regard either to the number or size of the tumours or to locoregional invasion, except that resection had potentially to be complete and macroscopically curative. All patients who had curative hepatic resection were advised to start postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: The resectability rate in screened patients was 91 per cent (235 of 259 patients); the postoperative mortality rate was 4 per cent. In 35 patients resection of the primary tumour was performed simultaneously with partial liver resection. Forty-four patients (19 per cent) developed intra-abdominal recurrence; 14 (6 per cent) underwent reoperation and the recurrent tumour was resected. Adjuvant chemotherapy was given to 99 patients (55 per cent), most treatments being based on 5-fluorouracil with folinic acid. The overall actuarial survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 87, 60 and 36 per cent respectively. In a multivariate analysis, four or more metastases, preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen level higher than 5 ng/ml and a positive resection margin were independent predictors of poor outcome. Adjuvant chemotherapy improved the 5-year survival rate to 53 per cent. CONCLUSION: This study provides some evidence that postoperative chemotherapy is beneficial; however, prospective randomized studies are necessary to define its exact role.     

Efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation for perivascular hepatocellular carcinoma without hepatic inflow occlusion

BACKGROUND: The role of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for perivascular (up to 5 mm from the major intrahepatic portal vein or hepatic vein branches) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear because of possible incomplete tumour ablation and potential vascular damage. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of RFA for perivascular HCC without hepatic inflow occlusion. METHODS: Between May 2001 and November 2003, RFA using an internally cooled electrode was performed on 52 patients with perivascular HCC (group 1) through open (n = 39), percutaneous (n = 9), laparoscopic (n = 2) and thoracoscopic (n = 2) approaches. Hepatic inflow occlusion was not applied during the ablation procedure. The perioperative and postoperative outcomes were compared with those of 90 patients with non-perivascular HCC (group 2) treated by RFA during the same period. RESULTS: The morbidity rate was similar between groups 1 and 2 (25 versus 28 per cent; P = 0.844). One patient in group 1 (2 per cent) and two in group 2 (2 per cent) had developed thrombosis of major intrahepatic blood vessels on follow-up computed tomography scan. There were no significant differences between groups 1 and 2 in mortality rate (2 versus 0 per cent; P = 0.366), complete ablation rate for small HCC (92 versus 98 per cent; P = 0.197), local recurrence rate (11 versus 9 per cent; P = 0.762) and overall survival (1-year: 86 versus 87 per cent; 2-year: 75 versus 75 per cent; P = 0.741). CONCLUSION: RFA without hepatic inflow occlusion is a safe and effective treatment for perivascular HCC.     

Survival after hepatic resection for malignant tumours.

A retrospective analysis of 194 patients who underwent hepatic resection for primary or metastatic malignant disease from January 1962 to December 1988 was undertaken to determine variables that might aid the selection of patients for hepatic resection. Hepatic metastases were the indication for resection in 126 patients. The 5-year survival rate was 17 per cent. For patients with resected metastases from colorectal cancer (n = 104), the survival rate at 5 years was 18 per cent. The 5-year survival rate was 27 per cent when the resection margin was > 5 mm compared with 9 per cent when the margin was < or = 5 mm (P < 0.01). No patient with extrahepatic invasion, lymphatic spread, involvement of the resection margin or gross residual disease survived to 5 years, compared with a 23 per cent 5-year survival rate for patients undergoing curative resection (P < 0.02). The survival rate of patients with poorly differentiated primary tumours was nil at 3 years compared with a 20 per cent 5-year survival rate for patients with well or moderately differentiated tumours (P not significant). The site and Dukes' classification of the primary tumour, the sex and preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen level of the patient, and the number and size of hepatic metastases did not affect the prognosis. The 5-year survival rate for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 42) was 25 per cent. An improved survival rate was found for patients whose alpha-fetoprotein level was normal (37 per cent at 5 years) compared with those having a raised level (nil at 3 years) (P < 0.01). Involvement of the resection margin, extrahepatic spread and spread to regional lymph nodes were associated with an 8 per cent 5-year survival rate versus 44 per cent for curative resection (P < 0.005). The presence of cirrhosis, the presence of symptoms, and the multiplicity and size of the tumour did not affect the prognosis. The 5-year survival rate of 11 patients with hepatic sarcoma was 25 per cent. No patient with peripheral cholangiocarcinoma survived to 1 year in contrast to patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma, all four of whom survived for more than 14 months.     

Extended hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma

The results of extended hepatectomy in 25 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma performed over a 16 year period have been reviewed, analysed and compared with those of 144 patients who underwent lesser liver resection. Five left and 20 right extended hepatectomies were performed for tumours ranging from 3 to 20 cm in diameter. Seventeen (68 per cent) of the patients had non-cirrhotic livers. The major postoperative complications were: haemorrhage in five cases, major bile duct injury in three, subphrenic abscess in two, liver failure in one and wound dehiscence in one. The 30-day (operative) mortality rate was 12 per cent and the median survival duration, including operative mortality, was 9.7 (range 0.2-32.1) months. The survival rate was 46 per cent at 1 year, 33 per cent at 2 years and 22 per cent at 3 years. The morbidity, mortality and survival data of extended hepatectomy were comparable with the results of lesser hepatic resections for hepatocellular carcinoma. We conclude that extended hepatectomy is a worthwhile operation for large hepatocellular carcinomas and a viable alternative to liver transplantation.     

Experience with resection of primary hepatic malignancy

Our experience with hepatic resection for 106 primary hepatic malignancies has been summarized as a part of a total experience with 411 hepatic resections for various indications. The operative mortality rate (death within a month) was 8.5 per cent in treating primary hepatic malignancy, which is significantly higher than that of treating hepatic metastases (0 of 123 resections). Overall operative mortality of 411 hepatic resection was 3.2 per cent. A high operative risk was noted in patients with gross cirrhosis, trauma, abscess, and large malignant tumors. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates of patients with primary hepatic malignancy were 68.5 per cent, 45.1 per cent, and 31.9 per cent, respectively. Survival rates of patients with fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma were significantly higher than those of patients with nonfibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma. Eighteen patients survived more than 5 years after hepatic resection, 14 of whom had been treated by trisegmentectomy. The most extensive partial hepatectomy, such as right and left trisegmentectomy rather than extended lobectomies, should be used to remove massive tumors with adequate tumor-free margins.     

Small liver cancer

We report eight cirrhotic patients with liver cancer of less than 2 cm in diameter, and who were successfully treated by surgery. The sensitivities of diagnostic procedures for small lesions showed that alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was 75 per cent, radionuclide scanning 25 per cent, CT 33 per cent, ultrasonography 40 per cent and angiography 88 per cent. Serial measurement of AFP appears to be the most helpful for detection of hepatocellular carcinoma at the early stage, particularly in cirrhotic patients. Although hepatic imagings are of limited value for small hepatic tumors, those tools are often useful as a back-up for the routine tests but not for initial procedures. It should also be kept in mind that hepatic arteriography performed in the high risk group often leads to detection of small cancers. In cirrhotic patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma, surgical resection should be done, providing the clinical status and hepatocellular reserve are adequate.     

Role of surgery in the treatment of primary carcinoma of the liver: a 31-year experience

During the 31 year period 1954 to 1985, 225 major hepatic resections have been performed for symptomatic primary carcinoma of the liver, of which right hepatic lobectomy was performed in 115, extended right hepatic lobectomy in 11, trisegmentectomy in 2, left hepatic lobectomy in 94, and middle hepatectomy in 3. In addition there were 107 partial hepatic resections for 89 asymptomatic small hepatocellular carcinomas. In the 225 patients undergoing major hepatic resection, the operative mortality was 8.0 per cent. In the 107 patients undergoing partial hepatic resection, the operative mortality was 5.6 per cent. Of the total of 314 hepatic resections for primary carcinoma of the liver, 309 were undertaken for hepatocellular carcinoma and the remaining 5 were carried out for cholangiocarcinoma. All hepatic resections in this series were performed with the finger fracture technique without controlling the hepatic hilar vessels, hepatic ducts or hepatic veins outside the liver, although hepatic clamping and the Pringle manoeuvre were also used in selective cases. Of 207 cases who survived major hepatic resection, 119 cases died within one year after the operation, mainly due to recurrence of cancer in the remaining residual lobe, lung metastasis or late hepatic failure. The 5 year survival rate is 18.0 per cent, 12 patients are still alive and well after more than 5 years and the longest survival is 23 years. Of the 89 patients with small asymptomatic hepatocellular carcinomas, 28 died within one to four years of surgery because of a second new growth.     

Small liver cancer

We report eight cirrhotic patients with liver cancer of less than 2 cm in diameter, and who were successfully treated by surgery. The sensitivities of diagnostic procedures for small lesions showed that alpha-feto-protein (AFP) was 75 per cent, radionuclide scanning 25 per cent, CT 33 per cent, ultrasonography 40 per cent and angiography 88 per cent. Serial measurement of AFP appears to be the most helpful for detection of hepatocellular carcinoma at the early stage, particularly in cirrhotic patients. Although hepatic imagings are of limited value for small hepatic tumors, those tools are often useful as a back-up for the routine tests but not for initial procedures. It should also be kept in mind that hepatic arteriography performed in the high risk group often leads to detection of small cancers. In cirrhotic patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma, surgical resection should be done, providing the clinical status and hepatocellular reserve are adequate.     

Results following the surgical treatment of pancreatic cancer

A retrospective study was conducted into clinical data recorded from 152 patients who had been operated on for carcinoma of the pancreas, between 1967 and July 1986. Tumours could be removed only in 25 cases (16.5 per cent). Non-removing, purely palliative operations had to be performed on 127 patients (83.5 per cent), because of too advanced tumour stages. In most of these cases, surgical action was taken with the view to eliminating obstructive jaundice or pyloric stenosis. The surgical approaches to 22 cases (14.5 per cent) even had to be completed as exploratory laparotomy. Cumulative survival rates revealed extremely unfavourable long-term prognosis of pancreas carcinoma. Five-year survival has proved to be achievable only through radical removal of the carcinoma but was found to be restricted to few cases.     

The value of ultrasound in the diagnosis and treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma

Thirty-two patients with a solitary hepatocellular carcinoma of less than 4 cm diameter were treated during the 13 years from 1971 to 1983, two-thirds of them since 1981. Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels proved to be an excellent diagnostic tool for these early stage carcinomas which are generally asymptomatic. Ultrasonography forms an invaluable test for the detection of occult liver cancer and has enhanced the ability to detect small sized lesions. The accuracy of this method increased from 25 per cent for the period 1971-1980 to 89 per cent for the period 1981-1983. The cumulative survival rates for the 32 patients treated by hepatic resection at 1, 2 and 5 years were 85, 70 and 22.2 per cent (excluded from these figures are four operative deaths giving a 12.5 per cent operative mortality).     

Hepatic resection in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: report of 60 cases

During the last 3 years and 9 months, hepatic resections were carried out on 60 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The resections were radical in 44 and palliative in 16 cases. Simultaneous operations were performed for oesophageal varices in 11 (9 prophylactic and 2 therapeutic) and for cholelithiasis in 9 patients. Fifty-nine patients had underlying hepatic disease; 52 had cirrhosis and 7 chronic hepatitis. Operative mortality rate within 1 month was 10 per cent and overall hospital mortality rate was 16.7 per cent. Excluding operative and hospital deaths, 76.8 per cent of patients who had radical excision and 18.8 per cent with palliative resections are alive. The result indicates that HCCs are frequently resectable even in the presence of liver cirrhosis provided that they are discovered at a relatively early stage.     

Management of bleeding liver tumours in Hong Kong

A retrospective study was undertaken of 41 patients diagnosed as having suffered spontaneous liver rupture over a 4-year period to identify the clinical features, treatment and outcome of this complication in an area in which hepatocellular carcinoma is endemic. Two patients were excluded with a revised diagnosis of haemorrhagic malignant ascites. Of the remaining 39 patients, 37 bled from ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma, one from peliosis hepatis and multiple liver cell adenomas, and one from a malignant hepatic epithelioid haemangioendothelioma. Analysis showed that 59 per cent of patients were in shock on admission and that all but two of the 37 patients with ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma were men with cirrhosis. The association with cirrhosis was significantly higher than in a series of 45 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing elective resection during the same period (P less than 0.05). Treatment consisted of supportive care only in two patients, angiographic embolization in four, emergency liver resection in 11 of whom six died, hepatic artery ligation in 12 of whom eight died, and suture and/or packing in eight of whom six died. One patient died at laparotomy and in another patient bleeding was successfully arrested by intratumoural injection of absolute alcohol. Because of the high operative mortality of emergency surgery in these poor risk patients, prospective evaluation of emergency angiographic embolization is required.     

Spiral computed tomography for preoperative staging of potentially resectable carcinoma of the pancreatic head.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer is often locally invasive. Preoperative staging attempts to identify patients suitable for resection, in order to minimize unnecessary operations. The aim of this study was to assess the improved imaging provided by spiral computed tomography (CT) in the preoperative staging of potentially resectable pancreatic head carcinoma. METHODS: In 56 consecutive patients with pancreatic head carcinoma spiral CT findings were correlated prospectively with operative and histopathological findings. Criteria for irresectability at CT were infiltration of the peripancreatic fat and vascular ingrowth grade D, on a scale from A to F. RESULTS: At operation 27 (48 per cent) of 56 tumours were irresectable. Small metastases were found in seven patients (12 per cent). Ingrowth (adherence) to the portal or mesenteric vein was present in 19 patients (34 per cent). The sensitivity and specificity of CT for irresectability were 78 and 76 per cent respectively. Resection rates with a vascular margin free of tumour were 100 per cent for grade A, 63 per cent for grade B, 44 per cent for grade C, 15 per cent for grade D and 0 per cent for grade E, with a predictive value for ingrowth of 88 per cent for grades D or higher. The resectability rate was 11 per cent (one of nine) when infiltration of the anterior peripancreatic fat was present and 67 per cent when infiltration was absent (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Spiral CT with thin slices seems to improve detection of distant metastases and vascular ingrowth in patients with pancreatic head carcinoma.