Adrenal metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): report of 3 cases.

Although autopsy reports show that the adrenal gland is the second most common organ of hematogeneous metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), paradoxically there is found to be a very scarce number of the adrenal metastasis in clinical practice. We have recently experienced rare patients with right adrenal metastasis from HCC. Case 1: A 51 year-old man with a 5-year history of chronic hepatitis was admitted with hematemesis to Nippon Medical School Hospital. CT revealed a main tumor associated with a few daughter tumors in the hepatic posterior segment and in addition another tumor located between the right hepatic lobe and right kidney. The diagnosis of HCC with a right adrenal gland metastasis was made, and hepatectomy and right adrenalectomy was performed. Twenty months after operation he was alive and free of disease. Case 2: A 78 year-old man underwent resection of the lateral segment of the left hepatic lobe for HCC. Twelve months later, recurrent foci in the residual liver were found and those were treated with transarterial embolization (TAE). Right adrenal metastasis was found on CT 26 months after hepatectomy. TAE was done for the hepatic recurrent tumors and adrenal metastasis. Twelve months after, he survived in good condition. Case 3: A 47 year-old man presented with liver cirrhosis with a long history. He was diagnosed as having HCC with multiple intrahepatic metastases and was treated with TAE 4 times. Follow-up CT revealed right adrenal metastasis. TAE was done for hepatic recurrent tumor and right adrenal metastasis. Three months later the patient died of liver failure.     

CASE REPORT: Haemothorax due to hepatocellular carcinoma rupture successfully controlled by transcatheter arterial embolization

A 64-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with multiple hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) lesions in the liver and lung. On the seventh hospital day, a chest radiograph showed a marked increase in right pleural effusion. A thoracentesis revealed a haemothorax. Despite repeated pleural taps and blood transfusions, the patient's clinical status worsened and he developed severe dyspnoea. An inferior phrenic arteriography on the 19th hospital day showed a tumour growing over the diaphragm into the right thoracic cavity, suggesting a tumour rupture. A transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of the inferior phrenic artery successfully controlled the bleeding and improved the haemothorax. There was no rebleeding; however, the patient died of advanced HCC 3 months later. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a haemothorax secondary to a ruptured HCC that was treated successfully with TAE.     

Hepatocellular carcinoma with direct invasion to the stomach causing gastrointestinal hemorrhage

A 54-year-old man had undergone transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) three times to treat hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but recurrence was found in June 2005. A large tumor in the left lateral portion of the liver showed extrahepatic growth and was attached to the gastric wall. TAE was performed a forth time. In September 2005, the patient was admitted with worsening anemia. Computed tomography and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed that the HCC had directly invaded the stomach and caused gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Endoscopic hemostasis was effective, but the patient died because of worsening hepatic failure.     

肝癌动脉化疗栓塞效果的病理评价

目的研究肝细胞癌经动脉化疗栓塞治疗后癌肿的变化，探索提高疗效的方法．方法对动脉化疗栓塞治疗后行手术的３９例肝癌和１１例对照标本进行坏死程度与包膜、治疗次数、病理类型、分化、血管损伤及淋巴细胞浸润诸因素的相关性分析．结果完全坏死者６例，３０％～９５％坏死者１４例，仅５％坏死及无坏死者１９例，１１例ＤＳＡ无坏死．癌肿坏死程度与肿瘤分化、治疗次数、淋巴细胞浸润无关，而与病理类型、包膜、血管损伤有关．结论肝癌动脉化疗栓塞对于有包膜的中晚期肝细胞癌有明显效果．     

Rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma after transcatheter arterial embolization: an unusual case

Rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as a complication of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) is very rare. An unusual rupture of HCC after TAE was treated with successful surgical resection. A 65 year-old woman with liver cirrhosis developed multiple HCC in both lobes of the liver. TAE was attempted for the HCCs, but the original left hepatic artery, obliterated due to the previous repeated TAEs, was replaced by the left gastric artery. Right hepatic arteries were embolized while preserving the replaced left hepatic artery. Nine days after TAE, the patient presented a rupture of HCC in the left lateral segment of the liver, in which no deposit of Lipiodol was recognized. Since additional TAE to achieve hemostasis failed, left lateral segmentectomy was carried out with concern for the poor hepatic functional reserve. The patient was discharged 3 weeks after surgery without any complication. This is the first case of ruptured HCC in the non-embolized part of the liver after TAE, which was resected successfully.     

Hepatocellular carcinoma in the caudate lobe: Early diagnosis and active treatment may result in long-term survival

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the caudate lobe is rare and the prognosis of patients with HCC in the caudate lobe has been reported to be poor. Resection for HCC in the caudate lobe has carried a higher rate of surgical risk and early recurrence. The effect of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) in treating HCC in the caudate lobe remains unknown. With the wide application of modern diagnostic modalities, we can now detect HCC at an earlier stage for active treatment (surgery or TAE). The aim of the present study was to analyse the effect of different treatments for HCC in the caudate lobe. From 1985 to 1994, 15 patients with HCC in the caudate lobe were retrospectively studied. Another 264 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed HCC treated by TAE were selected as the control group. Two patients underwent surgical resection and survived well without recurrence after 43 and 136 months, respectively. Ten patients underwent TAE and their survival rate was similar to that of the 264 consecutively TAE-treated controls with HCC not in the caudate lobe (P=0.19). The 1, 3 and 5 year survival rates for TAE-treated patients in the caudate lobe were 67.7, 31.1 and 12.6%, respectively, while in controls these figures were 53.0, 18.4 and 9.1%, respectively. Two of the three patients receiving supportive treatment died within 1 month after diagnosis. Those patients having a smaller solitary tumour without intrahepatic metastasis tended to survive longer. In conclusion, HCC in the caudate lobe does not always indicate a poor prognosis so long as early detection and active treatment (surgery or TAE) are available. Transcatheter arterial embolization may act as an alternative treatment modality for patients with HCC in the caudate lobe.     

Therapeutic radiological interventional procedures in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: To improve the survival rate of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in whom surgery is not possible, various methods have been developed employing angiographic and percutaneous techniques. We analyzed our experience with various percutaneous therapeutic interventional techniques done for HCC in our center. METHODS: Sixty-one patients with inoperable HCC (mean age 48.9 [SD 13.8] y; 47 men) were treated between January 1997 and December 2000 by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) alone (22), TACE with percutaneous alcohol injection (PEI) (20), transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) with steel coils and gel foam for gastrointestinal bleed (7), percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (1), percutaneous preoperative right portal vein embolization (3) and percutaneous preoperative tumor embolization to reduce blood loss at surgery (8). RESULTS: In 42 patients treated by TACE and PEI and TACE alone, tumor necrosis was scored; over 50% necrosis was seen only after six and nine months in both treatment groups. The survival rates after six and nine months and the median survival were similar in the two groups. Of 7 cases treated with TAE with steel coils and gel foam, the gastrointestinal bleeding stopped in four; in the other three, bleeding did not stop completely although less transfusion was required. In the patient treated by radiofrequency ablation, follow-up contrast-enhanced CT did not show enhancing tumor mass. We noted left lobe enlargement after percutaneous preoperative right portal vein embolization, prior to right hepatectomy. CONCLUSION: In patients with HCC not amenable to surgical intervention, a variety of percutaneous therapeutic interventional techniques may be used.     

A rupture of lung metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma causing haemothorax

A 67 year old male with non-resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in both lobes and liver cirrhosis was treated with transcatheter arterial embolization and regional chemotherapy. He was doing well for 18 months. He was readmitted for fever, chest pain and multiple pulmonary metastases. During interleukin-2 therapy, he suddenly developed dyspnoea and palpitation, and was in shock. Left-sided haemothorax was confirmed by draining 3 L of fresh blood. In spite of intensive care, he died within 36 h. Autopsy showed that the haemothorax was caused by rupture of one of the metastases in the upper lobe of the left lung, and that the primary HCC was totally necrotic. Survey of the literature failed to find a report of fatal bleeding from a lung metastasis of HCC.     

肝癌动脉化疗栓塞效果的病理评价

目的研究肝细胞癌经动脉化疗栓塞治疗后癌肿的变化，探索提高疗效的方法。方法对动脉化疗栓塞治疗后行手术的３９例肝癌和１１例对照标本进行坏死程度与包膜、治疗次数、病理类型、分化、血管损伤及淋巴细胞浸润诸因素相关性的分析。结果完全坏死者６例，３０％＿９５％坏死者１４例，仅５％坏死及无坏死者１９例，１１例ＤＳＡ无坏死。癌肿坏死程度与肿癌分化、治疗次数、淋巴细胞浸润无关，而与病理类型、包膜、血管损伤有关。结论肝癌动脉化疗栓塞是中晚期肝癌目前唯一可取的治疗方法。对于有包膜的肝细胞癌，只要治疗能达到癌肿部位，即使一次治疗，也可收到明显的效果。对于如何使每例都达到彻底的癌肿坏死是值得进一步探讨的。     

Transcatheter partial splenic arterial embolization in patients with hypersplenism: a clinical evaluation as supporting therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cirrhosis

Eleven cases with hypersplenism, one with liver cirrhosis and ten with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with liver cirrhosis, underwent transcatheter partial splenic arterial embolization. In four of ten HCC cases, the spleen was accidentally infarcted during the procedure of transcatheter hepatic arterial embolization (TAE). The mean infarcted area of the spleen was 55.7%. An increase in the peripheral platelet count was particularly remarkable and continued over one year after the embolization. High fever and abdominal pain were observed in all cases. The fever was seen for 18.0 days and pain was noted for an average of 12.8 days after the embolization. Other adverse effects such as pleural effusion and ascites were transitorily observed. Splenic embolization is an effective supporting therapy for hypersplenism in patients with cirrhosis or HCC.     

Malignant lymphoma of the stomach after chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

A rare case of malignant lymphoma of the stomach after treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is reported. A 72-year old man presented with a large mass on the right hypochondrium, which was diagnosed as HCC associated with chronic hepatitis C with cirrhosis. The inoperable tumor was treated conservatively with cisplatin, etoposide, carboplatin, and Lipiodol infused into the hepatic artery, together with transcatheter arterial embolization. The patient presented 38 months later with features suggestive of gastric ulceration. Endoscopy and histological examination of biopsy material confirmed the presence of malignant lymphoma of the stomach. He ultimately died as a result of hepatic failure. The clinical presentation suggests that gastric lymphoma was possibly related to the lymphotropic effect of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and exacerbated by intraarterial injection of the cytotoxic drugs.     

Rapid intrahepatic tumor seeding after percutaneous ethanol injection therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

A 73-year-old man with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) had been treated repeatedly with transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) and percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) since 2000. HCC recurrence near the intrahepatic left portal vein was treated by PEIT in 2004. The patient complained of fatigue and upper abdominal pain 28 days later. Abdominocentesis and abdominal computed tomography demonstrated rupture of the recurrent HCC and multiple intrahepatic recurrences. We successfully performed emergency TAE, but the patient died of liver failure. Rapid seeding of multiple intrahepatic tumors after PEIT is a rare event, but such a possibility must be kept in mind.     

Hepatocellular carcinoma complicated by gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by direct tumor invasion of stomach

A 65-year-old man with multiple hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) underwent intra-hepato-arterial chemotherapy (IHAC) through an implantable port over a period of 10 months after transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) had been performed three times. TAE was performed twice more, and radiotherapy (total dose, 30 Gy; given over a 3-week period) was given for progressive disease in the lateral segment of the liver. Three months after the radiotherapy had finished, the patient suddenly developed melena. Diagnostic imaging revealed gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage from HCC invading the stomach, and total gastrectomy and lateral segmentectomy of the liver were performed because the bleeding could not be controlled. The resected specimen disclosed a centrally necrotic tumor that had invaded the lesser gastric curvature and perforated into the lumen. Pathology examination revealed that the HCC had expansively invaded the gastric mucosa, resulting in exposure in the lumen. The possible mechanisms of direct GI invasion by HCC are briefly discussed, with a review of the literature. GI bleeding secondary to involvement by HCC is rare. The enteric radiation injury seems to have been largely resposible for the GI bleeding in this patient.     

A case of huge intrahepatic cholangiocarcinosarcoma

A 77-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of right-back pain. Dynamic computed tomography (CT) studies showed a huge tumor in the right lobe of the liver. After admission, transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) was immediately performed because of the risk of rupture. The tumor, however, was hypovascular and we judged that the procedure had no effect on preventing rupture. Therefore, based on a diagnosis of cystadenocarcinoma or cholangiocarcinoma, we conducted right trisegmentectomy and caudate lobectomy in July 2010. The definitive pathological diagnosis was intrahepatic cholangiocarcinosarcoma. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day (POD) 17. Afterwards, despite chemotherapy treatment, a local recurrence on the right diaphragm was detected 2 months postoperatively, and she died 4 months postoperatively. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinosarcoma is very rare. We report this case with a review of some relevant literature.     

Hepatocellular carcinoma with peritoneal dissemination which was regressed during vitamin K2 and vitamin E administration

A 65-year-old man with positive anti-hepatitis C antibody and chronic renal failure was diagnosed as having a ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on computed tomography (CT). The patient underwent transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for the HCC. After one more session of TAE, the patient underwent surgery. But HCC seeding peritoneally was pointed out. Vitamin K2 and vitamin E were administered as a conservative treatment. Six months after starting vitamins K2 and E, the primary tumor did not increase in size and intraperitoneal dissemination disappeared on CT with a significant decrease of alpha-fetoprotein. Even though this is only one case, combination therapy of vitamin K2 and E may induce growth suppression of HCC.     

Liver atrophy after transcatheter arterial embolization and percutaneous ethanol injection therapy for a minute hepatocellular carcinoma.

A 63-year-old male patient with compensated cirrhosis underwent transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) and percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) for a minute hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although the HCC was successfully treated, esophageal varices worsened and refractory ascites developed 3 months after the TAE and PEIT. Liver atrophy progressed rapidly compared to the natural course of liver cirrhosis.     

Changes in hepatic functional reserve after transcatheter embolization of hepatocellular carcinoma: Assessment by maximal removal rate of indocyanine green

To clarify the influence of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) on hepatic function, the maximal removal rate of indocyanine green (ICG-Rmax), which represents the hepatic functional reserve, and the plasma disappearance rate of indocyanine green (k-ICG) were measured serially before and after 15 TAE procedures performed on 13 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with underlying hepatic diseases. Compared to the values before TAE, ICG-Rmax values did not change or gradually decreased during 4 weeks in seven of the 13 patients but markedly decreased in the remaining six by as much as 50% during the first week. k-ICG values remained almost unchanged at any time after TAE. Albumin and prothrombin time were serially measured before and after 24 TAE procedures performed on 21 HCC patients with underlying hepatic diseases in whom no plasma products had been used for therapy. Albumin decreased by up to 75% in one of the 21 patients during the first week but did not change or gradually decreased in 20 of the 21 patients. Prothrombin time showed no obvious changes. This study showed that prominent changes occurred in ICG-Rmax, i.e., in the hepatic functional reserve, after TAE.     

Long-term surviving patient with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus and extrahepatic metastasis after spontaneous ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma

We present a case of long-term survival in a patient with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus (IVCTT) and extrahepatic metastasis after resection for spontaneous ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The patient was a 73-year-old Japanese man previously diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B. He was referred to our emergency room and diagnosed with spontaneous ruptured HCC. The patient was immediately treated with transcatheter arterial embolization, and we then performed second-stage hepatic resection 50 days later. Although des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin was reduced to a normal level after hepatectomy, it gradually increased and computed tomography showed a disseminated tumor in the diaphragm near S2 of the liver with IVCTT and right atrium tumor thrombus. Recurrent HCC was treated with monthly transcatheter arterial infusion chemotherapy (TAI) and conformal radiotherapy (RT) of 40 Gy. After TAI and RT procedures, the disseminated tumor and IVCTT completely disappeared. Four years after TAI and RT procedures, the tumors were well controlled with no local recurrence. About 6−7 years after spontaneous ruptured HCC, lung metastasis and spleen metastasis were detected and resected, respectively. The patient is still alive and doing well over 7 years after spontaneous ruptured HCC.     

Combination of preoperative embolization of the right portal vein and hepatic artery prior to major hepatectomy in high-risk patients: a preliminary report

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Preoperative transhepatic portal vein embolization may not always be sufficient to achieve the desired changes in contralateral hepatic volume and function. The beneficial role of additional transcatheter arterial embolization performed after inadequate response to preoperative transhepatic portal vein embolization is described. METHODOLOGY: Four patients underwent both preoperative transhepatic portal vein embolization and transcatheter arterial embolization, and 6 control patients underwent preoperative transhepatic portal vein embolization only. Changes in right liver lobe volume fraction, residual left lobe volume fraction, and prediction score (low-risk, < 45; borderline, 45-55; high-risk > 55); were evaluated. RESULTS: 1) The change in right liver lobe volume after both preoperative transhepatic portal vein embolization and transcatheter arterial embolization (volume after/before) was 0.75 times that of the original level whereas after preoperative transhepatic portal vein embolization, they were only 0.81 times that of the original level. 2) The change in residual left liver volume after both preoperative transhepatic portal vein embolization and transcatheter arterial embolization (volume after/before) was 1.40 times that of the original level whereas after preoperative transhepatic portal vein embolization they were only 1.30 times than the original level. The changes in left liver volume after preoperative transhepatic portal vein embolization/transcatheter arterial embolization was more favorable than those after preoperative transhepatic portal vein embolization only. 3) The change in prediction score after both preoperative transhepatic portal vein embolization and transcatheter arterial embolization (after/before) was 0.81 times that of the original level. All prediction score in high-risk patients recovered to the borderline or safety zone. Change after preoperative transhepatic portal vein embolization only (before/after) was 0.87 times that of the original level. 4) All 4 patients who underwent both preoperative transhepatic portal vein embolization and transcatheter arterial embolization received right hepatic lobectomy successfully and returned to their normal life style. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative occlusion of right hepatic inflow vessels increased the volume and function of the contralateral lobe where high-risk patients recovered to the borderline zone for major hepatic resection.     

Hemobilia immediately after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization using drug‐eluting beads for hepatocellular carcinoma with intrahepatic bile duct invasion

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is used as a palliative treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. Recently, a novel drug delivery–embolic agent, the drug‐eluting bead (DEB), was introduced for TACE. There are a few reports of tumor hemorrhage after TACE using DEB (DEB‐TACE) for HCC. However, there have not been any reports of hemobilia immediately after DEB‐TACE for HCC with intrahepatic bile duct invasion. Here, the first such case is reported. A 71‐year‐old woman was admitted to our hospital to undergo DEB‐TACE for multiple HCCs with worsening left intrahepatic bile duct dilatation. She was diagnosed with HCC that extensively invaded the left hepatic duct. After DEB‐TACE through the left hepatic artery, a hepatic arteriogram showed extra flow of the contrast agent to the left hepatic and common bile ducts. Therefore, transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of the responsible vessel was carried out using coils, and no extra flow of the contrast agent was identified. The patient was discharged 14 days after TAE without deterioration of liver function. Although hemobilia immediately after DEB‐TACE is rare, there may be increased potential for hemobilia when DEB‐TACE is carried out for HCC with extensive bile duct invasion. We suggest that DEB‐TACE may be contraindicated for such cases.