Computed tomography after Lipiodol chemoembolization in hepatocellular carcinoma

In order to ascertain the patterns of Lipiodol uptake and the diagnostic value of Lipiodol-CT in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we present a retrospective analysis of CT and histological findings after Lipiodol chemoembolization. After chemoembolization 22 consecutive patients with H HCC wer studied with CT and pathological cor relat ion was available in all cases. Two patterns of Lipiodol uptake were defined: nodular (with complete or incomplete Lipiodol retention) and diffuse pattern. Lipiodol-CT demonstrated all principal tumors and 7 satellite CT lesions in 16 cases of nodular pattern, while 13 satellite lesions were not detected. Significant tumor necrosis (mean necrotic rate >90 %) was detected in 13cases of nodular pattern with complete Lipiodol retention. No significant necrosis was present in nodular pattern with incomplete retention, nor in diffuse pattern. Lipiodol-CT remain, an important diagnostic cool in presurgical evaluation of HCC, although some satellite lesions remain undetected. Nodular pattern correlates well with significant necrosis, but diffuse pattern does not.     

白芨在经肝动脉化疗栓塞术治疗大鼠肝细胞癌实验中的应用

目的评价白芨在经肝动脉化疗栓塞术(transarterialchemoembolization,TACE)治疗ACI大鼠肝细胞癌实验中的应用价值。方法在30只ACI大鼠肝包膜下植入MorrisHepatom3924A肝癌瘤块(2mm3),移植术后13d进行MR检查,测量肿瘤体积(V1),第14天时,经大鼠胃十二指肠动脉逆行插管至肝动脉,采取以下治疗方案A组01mg丝裂霉素+01ml碘油+10mg白芨(10只);B组01mg丝裂霉素+01ml碘油+10mg白芨+肝动脉结扎(10只);C组01mg丝裂霉素+01ml碘油(对照组,10只)。13d后再次进行MR检查以测量肿瘤体积(V2),比较肝肿瘤体积生长率(V2/V1)。结果介入治疗后与治疗前肿瘤体积之比(V2/V1)分别为A组628,B组153,C组914。与对照组C相比,采取A、B组的治疗方案均能抑制肝肿瘤的生长(P<005和P<001),A组与B组之间的肿瘤生长率差异亦有统计学意义(P<001)。结论白芨作为肝动脉栓塞剂,结合局部化疗术和肝动脉结扎术能明显抑制大鼠肝细胞癌的生长。     

Combined treatment,TACE and RF ablation,in HCC: preliminary results

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a combination of percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation (RF), stop-flow and transcatheter arterial chemo-embolisation (TACE) in the treatment of hepatic neoplasms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From December 1997 to September 2000, 34 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) underwent radiofrequency thermoablation treatment. The choice of method was based on the type of lesion (HCC vs metastasis) and the following dimensional criteria: 1. RF without stop-flow associated with the injection of diagnostic Lipiodol in the case of a single nodule with a maximum diameter smaller than 3 cm; 2. RF with stop-flow of the hepatic artery associated with TACE in the case of a single nodule with a diameter greater than 3 cm; 3. RF with stop-flow of the hepatic artery associated with TACE in the case of 2-3 nodules, a subdivision was made into 2 groups according to the volume: smaller or greater than 80 ml. RESULTS: 10 out of 34 patients affected by HCC with a diameter smaller than 3cm, treated only with RF, demonstrated 100% necrosis in the follow-up period, which varied between 6 and 24 months (average 10 months). The remaining 24 patients affected by HCC and treated with RF associated with stop-flow and TACE showed responses related to the volume of the tumour: 1. patients with a single nodule with a diameter of 3-5 cm showed 100% necrosis; 2. patients affected by multifocal HCC with a maximum of 3 nodules and/or total tumour mass smaller than 80 ml, for a total of 9 lesions, showed 95% necrosis; 3. patients affected by multifocal HCC with more than 3 nodules (total mass less than 40% of liver volume) or tumour mass greater than 80ml, for a total of 13 lesions, showed 90% necrosis. In the group of patients affected by multiple nodules with volumes smaller than 80ml, the technique did not show complete effectiveness, thus these patients cannot be considered cured. Such aspects are even clearer in the more advanced stages. CONCLUSIONS: In our case study, radiofrequency proved effective with lesions up to 3cm in diameter. By reducing thermal dispersion, the association of the stop-flow technique with radiofrequency ablation, determines a greater volume of necrosis, which allows effective treatment of single nodules with a diameter of up to 5cm and/or multiple nodules. The association with TACE: 1. provided a way to highlight and treat lesions not recognizable through other imaging techniques; 2. increased the accumulation of lipid contrast in the tissue surrounding the lesion and in the vessels not occluded by thermal ablation in the lesions with diameters greater than 3 cm; 3. enabled further treatment of tumour residue possibly left untouched by thermal ablation in large tumours; 4. increased the amount of Lipiodol accumulated in normal tissue surrounding the lesion, made evident through the comparison of the dimensions of the nodule's blush between angiography and Lipiodol CT.     

氩氦冷冻在原发巨块型肝癌介入治疗中的临床应用

目的 探讨肝动脉化疗栓塞(TACE)后，应用氩氦冷冻(AHCS)治疗原发性巨块型肝癌的新方法。方法 48例原发性肝癌，肿瘤直径10-14cm，均为富血供。肝功能Child A级38例，Child B级10例。甲胎蛋白阳性40例，阴性8例。随机分组，治疗组26例，对照组22例。治疗组病例均在TACE后4周实施AHCS治疗。各组术后行病理学、肝功能、肿瘤标记物、T淋巴细胞亚群分布，CT或MRI、超声检查。计算肿瘤坏死率采用Cavalieri方法；评价疼痛、生活质量分别采用数字分级法(NRS)和EORTCQLQ．C30方法。结果 技术成功率达100％。术后随访6～14个月，随访率100％。肿瘤平均坏死率TACE为8．07％，AHCS为28．65％。与TACE比较，AHCS后肿瘤标记物下降幅度较大，坏死较为明显。肝功能：与TACE术前比较，TACE术后损害程度较重，持续时间(2周)较长，与TACE比较，AHCS损害轻微，持续时间(1周)较短。T淋巴细胞亚群分布：与。TACE前比较，TACE后细胞免疫功能低下表现更为明显。AHCS后，T淋巴细胞亚群异常分布得到纠正。AHCS术后48h，局部疼痛是惟一较TACE重的副反应。结论 对于巨块型肝癌，TACE与AHCS具有治疗协同和优势互补作用，有利于短期内降低肿瘤负荷，近期疗效满意；TACE是抑制肿瘤血管“热池效应”，提高AHCS治疗效果的关键；AHCS术后能提高细胞免疫功能，有利于改善肝功能状况，相对提高了患者的生活质量。     

Treatment of large hepatocellular carcinoma: comparison between techniques and long term results

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare results over time of Transcatheter Arterial Chemo Embolization (TACE), Percutaneous Ethanol Injection (PEI), Laser Thermal Ablation (LTA) and combined therapy of large Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1995 and 2003, 89 cirrhosis patients (51 Child-Pugh A, 38 Child-Pugh B) with at least one nodule of HCC =/> 40 mm, were included in this randomized study; 21 were treated with TACE, 20 with PEI, 29 with LTA and 19 with combined therapy. The total number of HCC nodules was 92 with a mean diameter of 52.9 mm. RESULTS: No major complication occurred in all procedures. CT scan showed that complete necrosis was achieved in 83% of treated nodules (76 out of 92); as a whole, the disease relapsed in 18 (20.2%) patients (disease free interval being 18.2+/-9.4 months). The cumulative survival rates were 69.6%, 25.1% and 9.8% at 12, 36 and 60 months respectively. Univariate analysis of survival showed statistically significant differences in the comparison between Child-Pugh A group vs B (p<0.0001) and between single nodule vs multiple (p=0.0019). Patients subjected to combined therapy and LTA showed a statistically significant longer survival than those treated with TACE and PEI. CONCLUSIONS: LTA proves to be the most effective treatment for HCC < 50 mm, combined therapy is the best choice for nodules =/> 50 mm since complete necrosis is achieved in almost all cases and better total survival in the treated patients.     

Large-sized hepotocellular carcinoma (HCC): a neoadjuvant treatment protocol with repetitive transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) before percutaneous MR-guided laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT)

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a neoadjuvant treatment protocol with repeated transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) before MR-guided laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) for large-sized hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). Repeated TACE (mean, 3.5 treatments per patient) was performed in 48 patients with neoadjuvant intention (the largest lesion was between 50 and 80 mm in diameter, and there were no more than five lesions). For the TACE treatment, we used 10 mg/m² mitomycin, 10 ml/m² Lipiodol and microspheres. The tumor volume was measured by MRI. Lipiodol retention of the tumors was evaluated with CT. After the diameter of the tumors had decreased to less than 50 mm, the patients were treated with MR-guided LITT 4 to 6 weeks after embolization. Repeated TACE reduced the tumor size in 32 patients (66.7%), forming the basis for performing MR-guided LITT procedures. These patients received one to four laser treatments (mean, 1.9 per patient) for tumor ablation, resulting in a median survival of 36.0 months after the first treatment. For the remaining patients, no reduction in tumor size was achieved in 12 patients and disease progression in 4 patients. Neoadjuvant TACE appears to be an effective treatment of large-sized HCC, which extends the indication for MR-guided LITT.     

MDCT Versus MRI Assessment of Tumor Response After Transarterial Chemoembolization for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate treatment results after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), with a special focus on the influence of Lipiodol on calculation of tumor necrosis according to EASL criteria. A total of 115 nodules in 20 patients (17 males, 3 females; 69.5 ± 9.35 years) with biopsy-proven hepatocellular carcinoma were treated with TACE. Embolization was performed using a doxorubicin-Lipiodol emulsion (group I) or DC Beads loaded with doxorubicin (group II). Follow-up included triphasic contrast-enhanced 64-row MDCT (collimation, 0.625 mm; slice, 3 mm; contrast bolus, 120 ml iomeprol; delay by bolus trigger) and contrast-enhanced MRI (T1 native, T2 native; five dynamic contrast-enhanced phases; 0.1 mmol/kg body weight gadolinium-DTPA; slice thickness, 4 mm). Residual tumor and the extent of tumor necrosis were evaluated according to EASL. Contrast enhancement within tumor lesions was suspected to represent vital tumor. In the Lipiodol-based TACE protocol, MDCT underestimated residual viable tumor compared to MRI, due to Lipiodol artifacts (23.2% vs 47.7% after first, 11.9% vs 31.2% after second, and 11.4% vs 23.7% after third TACE; p = 0.0014, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). In contrast to MDCT, MRI was completely free of any artifacts caused by Lipiodol. In the DC Bead-based Lipiodol-free TACE protocol, MRI and CT showed similar residual tumor and rating of treatment results (46.4% vs 41.2%, 31.9 vs 26.8%, and 26.0% vs 25.6%; n.s.). In conclusion, MRI is superior to MDCT for detection of viable tumor residuals after Lipiodol-based TACE. Since viable tumor tissue is superimposed by Lipiodol artifacts in MDCT, MRI is mandatory for reliable decision-making during follow-up after Lipiodol-based TACE protocols.     

Completeness of treatment in hepatocellular carcinomas treated with image-guided tumor therapies: Evaluation of positive predictive value of contrast-enhanced CT with histopathologic correlation in the explanted liver specimen

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the positive predictive value of contrast-enhanced multiphase computed tomography (CT) in determining the completeness of treatment, after radiofrequency (RF) ablation and/or transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, based on histopathologic correlation in the explanted liver specimen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During a recent 10-year period, 84 consecutive patients who had a history of RF ablation and/or transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) underwent liver transplantation in our institution. Among them, we selected the patients in whom complete treatment had been considered at periodic follow-up CT (29 tumors in 20 patients, M:F = 18:2, mean age, 47.2 years). The mean size of the tumor at the initial CT was 2.2 cm (range, 0.7-3.6 cm). We investigated the necrosis rate of HCC on the basis of microscopic examinations of the explanted liver specimen and calculated the positive predictive value of CT in determining the completeness of treatment. RESULTS: The last CT examinations had been obtained 1-37 days before surgery. The overall necrosis rate of HCC for both RF ablation and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization on microscopic examination was 92.9% +/- 12.3%. The positive predictive value of contrast-enhanced CT in determining completeness of treatment was 69.0% (20/29). The tumor necrosis rate for the RF ablation-only group (n = 12) was 91.5% +/- 15.2% with a positive predictive value of 58.3% (7/12) and that of the transcatheter arterial chemoembolization-only group (n = 11) was 91.4% +/- 19.2% with a positive predictive value of 72.7% (8/11). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that contrast-enhanced CT is limited in accurately determining the completeness of treatment after image-guided tumor ablation for HCC.     

Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization (TACE) with Lipiodol to Treat Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Survey Results from the TACE Study Group of Japan

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively clarify the current status in Japan of TACE using Lipiodol together with anticancer agents to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We retrospectively surveyed 4,659 (average annual total) procedures for HCC over the years 2002–2004 at 17 institutions included in the TACE Study Group of Japan. The survey included six questions that were related mainly to TACE and Lipiodol for HCC treatment. The most frequently applied among the 4,659 procedures at the 17 institutions were TACE (2,310; 50%) and local ablation (1,395; 30%). Five of the institutions applied 201–300 procedures and 4 applied 101–200. Lipiodol was used in “all procedures” and in “90% or more” at seven and nine institutions, respectively. Almost all institutions applied 4–6 (mean, 5) ml of Lipiodol during TACE to treat tumors 5 cm in diameter. In conclusion, this survey clarified that TACE using Lipiodol and anticancer agents is a popular option for HCC treatment in Japan.     

Quantitative Assessment of Lipiodol Deposition after Chemoembolization: Comparison between Cone-Beam CT and Multidetector CT

PurposeTo evaluate the ability of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) performed directly after transarterial chemoembolization to assess ethiodized oil (Lipiodol) deposition in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and compare it with unenhanced multidetector computed tomography (CT).Materials and MethodsConventional transarterial chemoembolization was used to treat 15 patients with HCC, and CBCT was performed to assess Lipiodol deposition directly after transarterial chemoembolization. Unenhanced multidetector CT was performed 24 hours after transarterial chemoembolization. Four patients were excluded because the margin of tumor or area of Lipiodol deposition was unclear. The image enhancement density of the entire tumor and liver parenchyma was measured by ImageJ software, and tumor-to-liver contrast (TLC) was calculated. In addition, volumetric measurement of tumor and Lipiodol was performed by semiautomatic three-dimensional volume segmentation and compared using linear regression to evaluate consistency between the two imaging modalities.ResultsThe mean value of TLC on CBCT was not significantly different from TLC on multidetector CT (337.7 HU ± 233.5 vs 283.0 HU ± 152.1, P = .103).The average volume of the whole tumor and of only the regions with Lipiodol deposition and the calculated average percentage of Lipiodol retention on CBCT were not significantly different compared with multidetector CT (tumor volume, 9.6 cm³ ± 11.8 vs 10.8 cm³ ± 14.2, P = .142; Lipiodol volume, 6.3 cm³ ± 7.7 vs 7.0 cm³ ± 8.1, P = .214; percentage of Lipiodol retention, 68.9% ± 24.0% vs 72.2% ± 23.1%, P = .578). Additionally, there was a high correlation in the volume of tumor and Lipiodol between CBCT and multidetector CT (R² = 0.919 and 0.903).ConclusionsThe quantitative image enhancement and volume analyses demonstrate that CBCT is similar to multidetector CT in assessing Lipiodol deposition in HCC after transarterial chemoembolization.     

Transarterielle Chemoembolisation bei hepatozellulären Karzinomen: Technik, Indikationsstellung, Ergebnisse

BACKGROUND: At time of diagnosis 80% of the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) could not be treated with surgical treatments, so that transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was used as an neoadjuvant or palliative treatment modality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 60 patients were treated with 217 TACE courses, in the mean 3.6 TACE treatments per patient with an 4 week interval. TACE was performed with a dispersion of lipiodol, mitomycin C and spherex. 11 patients (18.3%) were treated in a neoadjuvant protocol with successful ablation. Lipiodol retention and size of the tumors were evaluated by CT and MRI. RESULTS: 60 patients were successful treated with TACE. After treatment a primary high lipiodol retention was displayed and in 68 (63.3%) patients a reduction of the tumor size and in 11 (20%) patients a reduction of tumor growth rate was noted. The 1 year survival rate was 59%. After response to TACE and reducing the tumor size 11 patients could be treated with MR-guided LITT 4 to 6 weeks post embolization. CONCLUSION: Chemoembolization is a minimal invasive and outpatient treatment protocol for HCC. TACE might be indicated as a palliative treatment to control the diseased liver. If repeated TACE alters the size and structure of primary unresectable HCC TACE expands the indication for MR-guided LITT.     

肝细胞癌化疗栓塞方法和肿瘤坏死

目的 评价地细胞癌肿瘤坏死与经动脉化疗栓塞（ＴＡＣＥ０方法的关系。材料与方法 观察１１７例手术观察的肝细胞癌肿块坏死和增长率,其中单纯手术５８例,４种ＴＡＣＥ后Ⅱ期手术切除５９例。结果 肝细胞癌ＴＡＣＥ后环死较自发坏死严重、范围广（Ｐ〈０．０１）,坏死程度和愉体积变化与ＴＡＣＥ方法密切相关（多全塞较单材料栓塞、单纯化疗改变明显,Ｐ〈０．０１）,但与ＴＡＣＥ和手术切除间期无显著相关（Ｐ〉０．０５）,     

Segmental transcatheter arterial chemoembolization treatment in patients with cirrhosis and inoperable hepatocellular carcinomas

PURPOSE: To establish whether segmental transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) treatment may improve the rates of survival in patients with compensated cirrhosis and inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-six patients with compensated cirrhosis and inoperable HCC were treated with segmental TACE. One hundred forty treatments (mean, 2.5 per patient; 30-60 mg Epirubicin, 4-10 mL Lipiodol, and Gelfoam particles) were administered. RESULTS: During the 69-month study, 25 patients (45%) died of tumor progression, 12 (21%) of liver failure, nine (16%) of gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and three (5%) of other causes; seven patients (13%) are still alive. The 3-year rate of survival was 32%. Intention-to-treat analysis determined that patients with Child-Pugh class A disease (n = 44; 79%) or a single <5-cm HCC (n = 21; 37%) had a higher rate of survival than those with Child-Pugh class B disease (n = 12; 21%; P <.002) or a larger HCC (n = 35; 63%; P <.02) and patients (n = 41) who were treated with more than one course of TACE had a higher rate of survival than those who were treated with a single TACE procedure (n = 15; P <.0003). Multivariate analysis was used to predict rates of survival by number of treatments (hazard ratio, 0.6; CI, 0.48-0.86; P <.004), Child-Pugh class (hazard ratio, 2.8; CI, 1.41-5.74; P <.003), and tumor size (hazard ratio, 3.8; CI, 1.81-8.01; P <.001). The 3-year rate of survival in patients with Child-Pugh class A disease and a < or =5-cm-HCC (n = 16) was 56%. This result was similar to the 50% 3-year rate of survival in untreated historic controls with similar characteristics. CONCLUSION: The rate of survival in patients with compensated cirrhosis and inoperable HCC did not appear to improve with use of TACE therapy.     

Dense parenchymal accumulation of Lipiodol after transarterial chemoembolization.

Dense accumulation of Lipiodol in hepatic segmental parenchyma was studied by computed tomography (CT) after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatic tumor. Six patients showed dense accumulation of Lipiodol in hepatic segmental parenchyma on CT two weeks after TACE. Four of the six showed parenchymal accumulation of Lipiodol as dense as that in a tumor at three weeks after TACE. Therefore, it was considered that evaluation with CT should be performed after one month or more in order to differentiate between Lipiodol accumulation in tumors and that in non-neoplastic liver parenchyma.     

Large infiltrative hepatocellular carcinomas: treatment with percutaneous intraarterial ethanol injection alone or in combination with conventional percutaneous ethanol injection

PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate patients' tolerance and the effectiveness of percutaneous intraarterial ethanol injection (PIAEI), alone or combined with conventional percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), for treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Neither institutional review board approval nor informed consent was required for this retrospective study; however, all patients had given their consent to be treated with PIAEI. Fourteen men and four women with cirrhosis and HCC who were ineligible for conventional curative treatment (largest tumor diameter, 35-90 mm; mean, 52 mm +/- 16 [standard deviation]) and whose supplying arteries were visible on computed tomographic (CT) and color Doppler ultrasonographic (US) images were treated with US-guided PIAEI-either alone or combined with PEI. Twelve patients had infiltrative tumors, and six had nodular tumors. Four patients had portal venous tumor involvement. Tumor necrosis and recurrence were evaluated with CT, and 1- and 2-year survival rates were evaluated with Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: In four patients, the main tumor was treated with PIAEI only, and in 14 patients, the main tumor was treated with combined PIAEI and PEI. One patient died of myocardial infarction before CT evaluation. Tumor necrosis was complete in 15 (88%) and incomplete in two (12%) of 17 patients. Results of subsequent surgery performed in three patients confirmed the radiologic findings: complete tumor necrosis in two patients and incomplete necrosis in one patient. Two severe PIAEI-related complications occurred: liver abscess, which resolved, and fatal acute pancreatitis. During the follow-up period (mean, 15 months +/- 6.7), six patients died owing to recurrent HCC, and 10 patients were alive with no detectable tumor after a mean follow-up period of 18 months +/- 11. One- and 2-year survival rates were 76.6% and 44.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: For patients with advanced HCC who are ineligible for other curative options, PIAEI could be an effective treatment, despite the associated risk of severe complications.     

Hepatocellular carcinoma: long-term results of combined treatment with laser thermal ablation and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization

PURPOSE: To determine the potential long-term effectiveness of laser thermal ablation (LTA) followed by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the percutaneous ablation of large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty large HCCs 3.5-9.6 cm in diameter (mean diameter, 5.2 cm) and 15 small HCCs 0.8-3.0 cm (mean diameter, 1.9 cm) were treated with ultrasonographically guided LTA with TACE and with LTA alone, respectively, in 30 patients: 19 with a solitary large HCC, and 11 with one to three additional synchronous small HCCS: A 1.064-microm neodymium yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Nd-YAG) laser at a power of 5.0 W was coupled with one to four quartz optic fibers that were advanced through 21-gauge needles. Segmental TACE was performed 30-90 days after LTA. All lesions were evaluated for change in size at computed tomography (CT), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, recurrence rates, and cumulative survival rates. RESULTS: No major complications occurred in 127 LTA sessions. CT showed complete tumor necrosis in 27 (90%) of 30 large HCCS: Twenty-eight patients were followed up for 6-41 months (mean, 17.1 months). In 25 patients, all lesions appeared stable or smaller at CT. AFP levels decreased to the normal range in all patients with high pretreatment values. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year local recurrence rate was 7% in large HCCS: Complete tumor necrosis was achieved in all 15 (100%) small HCCs; none of them recurred locally. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year cumulative survival rates were 92%, 68%, and 40%, respectively. CONCLUSION: LTA followed by TACE is an effective palliative therapy in treating large HCCS:     

Nitroglycerine use in transcatheter arterial (chemo)embolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and dual-energy CT assessment of Lipiodol retention

Objectives

To investigate whether the addition of nitroglycerine to transcatheter arterial (chemo)embolization (TAE/TACE) can increase the delivery and effectiveness of TAE/TACE in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by dual-energy CT.

Methods

HCC patients (BCLC stage A or B) were randomized to (n?=?51) or not to (n?=?50) receive nitroglycerine and an emulsion of Lipiodol with or without doxorubicin, followed by embolization with Gelfoam pledgets. Dual-energy CT was performed pre- and 1 to 3?months post-embolization to assess changes in tumour diameter and Lipiodol levels in tumours.

Results

Median tumour diameter decreased from baseline in both groups with and without nitroglycerine (7.11?% vs. 12.5?%, respectively), and was statistically significant in the group receiving nitroglycerine (P?=?0.023). There was no difference between the two groups in disease response (P?=?0.237). The concentration and percentage of Lipiodol retained in tumours were significantly greater in patients treated with nitroglycerine compared to those without (median concentration 15.05?mg/mL vs. 4.40?mg/mL, respectively, P?P?Conclusions Nitroglycerine increased delivery of the Lipiodol emulsion via TAE/TACE to HCC tumours with significant tumour reduction. Dual-energy CT can accurately quantify the amount of Lipiodol deposited in tumours.

Key Points

? Nitroglycerine improves delivery of tumour-targeted therapy via enhanced permeability and retention. ? In hepatocellular carcinoma, nitroglycerine added to TAE/TACE showed greater tumour reduction. ? Dual-energy CT can reliably quantify the amount of Lipiodol in TAE/TACE.     

Visualization of hepatic lymphatic vessels during transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma

PURPOSE: To analyze visualization of hepatic lymphatic vessels during transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review was conducted of 255 tumors in 161 patients treated by TACE with catheterization of the most distal portion of the tumor-feeding branches. All TACE procedures were performed with use of a mixture of iodized oil and anticancer drugs followed by gelatin sponge particles. Arteriograms and spot radiographs obtained during TACE were reviewed to determine whether hepatic lymphatic vessels appeared. Serial computed tomography (CT) images after TACE were evaluated along with clinical symptoms in cases that exhibited lymphatic vessel visualization. RESULTS: Hepatic lymphatic vessels were demonstrated in eight tumors (3.1%) in eight patients during TACE. The mean tumor diameter was 1.7 cm +/- 0.7 (range, 1.0-3.3 cm), and mean volume of injected iodized oil was 1.7 mL +/- 1.0 (range, 1-4 mL). Lymphatic vessels were demonstrated followed by marked portal vein visualization (n = 5) or extravasation of a small amount of contrast material (n = 2). In the remaining patient, these were depicted during the early stage of the TACE procedure. On CT after 1 week, iodized oil in the lymphatic systems in the hepatoduodenal ligament was seen in six patients, and it was shown to have been retained in four of these patients on follow-up CT performed 2, 7, 11, and 21 months later, respectively. None of these patients presented any clinical symptom other than postembolization syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic lymphatic vessels were demonstrated in 3.1% of tumors treated by ultraselective TACE. Iodized oil in the lymphatic vessels may be retained for a relatively long time without specific symptoms.     

Treatment of Liver Tumors with Lipiodol TACE: Technical Recommendations from Experts Opinion

Transarterial chemoembolization with Lipiodol (Lipiodol TACE), also called conventional TACE, was developed in the early 1980s and widely adopted worldwide after randomized control trials and meta-analysis demonstrated superiority of Lipiodol TACE to best supportive care. Presently, there is no level one evidence that other TACE techniques are superior to Lipiodol TACE for intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which includes patients with preserved liver function and nonsurgical large or multinodular HCC without distant metastases. In addition, TACE is part of the treatment for progressive or symptomatic liver metastases from gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. When injected into the hepatic artery, Lipiodol has the unique property of selective uptake and retention in hyperarterialyzed liver tumors. Lipiodol/drug emulsion followed by particle embolization has been demonstrated to improve the pharmacokinetic of the drug and tumor response. Radio opacity of Lipiodol helps to monitor treatment delivery, with retention of Lipiodol serving as an imaging biomarker for tumor response. For 30 years, Lipiodol TACE has been inconsistently referenced in many publications with various levels of details for the method of preparation and administration, with reported progressive outcomes following improvements in the technique and the devices used to deliver the treatment and better patient selection. Consequently, there is no consensus on the standard method of TACE regarding the use of anticancer agents, embolic material, technical details, and the treatment schedule. In order to develop an internationally validated technical recommendation to standardize the Lipiodol TACE procedure, a worldwide panel of experts participated in a consensus meeting held on May 10, 2014 .     

肝癌经导管肝动脉化疗栓塞后PET／CT显像的临床价值

目的探讨^18F-脱氧葡萄糖（FDG）PET／CT检查评估肝细胞肝癌（HCC）经导管肝动脉化疗栓塞（TACE）治疗后肿瘤活性及对转移灶的检出能力。方法22例HCC患者TACE后进行^18F-FDGPET／CT检查,以临床随访及部分病理结果为标准进行对照分析。结果22例患者中,18例复发或转移,其余4例全身未见明显FDG代谢异常增高灶。16例患者肝内有1个或多个^18F-FDG放射陛增高灶,其中5例碘油沉积区和非碘油沉积区均有FDG浓聚灶,13例并发肝外转移病灶;2例肝内FDG显像阴性但腹膜后淋巴结放射性浓聚。转移灶分布：肺和淋巴结转移各9例,骨转移2例,门静脉瘤栓和膈脚转移各1例。经随访证实2例肝内^18F-FDG显像为假阴性,^18F-FDGPET／CT检查对肝内肿瘤复发或转移灶的探测灵敏度为88．9％（16／18）,特异性为4／4,准确性为90．9％（20／22）;全身显像对肿瘤复发或转移检测的灵敏度为94．7％（18／19）,特异性为3／3,准确性为95．5％（21／22）。结论^18F-FDGPET／CT显像对HCC介入治疗后的残留或复发灶探测有较高的灵敏度,对肝外转移病灶的检出具有独特的优势。