Hepatitis status, child-pugh classification, and serum AFP levels predict survival in patients treated with transarterial embolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. Most patients are not surgical candidates, and transarterial embolization (TAE) has been used to treat patients with unresectable HCC. The purpose of this study was to identify factors that predict survival in patients treated with TAE at a Western medical center.

Angiographic findings and embolotherapy in renal arterial trauma.

Purpose: To evaluate the angiographic findings and embolotherapy in the management of traumatic renal arterial injury.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of 22 patients with renal trauma who underwent arteriography and percutaneous embolization from December 1995 to January 2002. Medical records, imaging studies and procedural reports were reviewed to assess the type of injury, arteriographic findings and immediate embolization results.

Locoregional recurrences are frequent after radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Enthusiasm for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has increased. The data for recurrence after RFA for patients with HCC is not well documented. The purpose of this study was to evaluate tumor recurrence patterns after RFA in patients with unresectable HCC.

Transvenous transjugular renal core biopsy with a redesigned biopsy set including a blunt-tipped needle.

A novel 19-gauge, blunt-tipped, side cutting single throw, 70-cm long transjugular needle, specifically designed for transvenous kidney biopsy, was used in seven patients with high risk for bleeding. A mean of 4 device-passes (3-6) per patient resulted in a satisfactory specimen for pathological diagnosis. Immediate post-biopsy nonenhanced CT was performed to evaluate for bleeding at the biopsy site.