Outcomes of repeat conventional transarterial chemoembolization in patients with liver metastases.

Introduction And Objectives: Although unlimited sessions of conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) may be performed for liver metastases, there is no data indicating when treatment becomes ineffective. This study aimed to determine the optimal number of repeat cTACE sessions for nonresponding patients before abandoning cTACE in patients with liver metastases.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective, single-institutional analysis, patients with liver metastases from neuroendocrine tumors (NET), colorectal carcinoma (CRC), and lung cancer who underwent consecutive cTACE sessions from 2001 to 2015 were studied.

Impact of Percutaneous Cryoablation on Renal Function in Patients with Stage I Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: To assess the effect of cryoablation on renal function (measured by estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] or serum creatinine) for treating Stage I renal cancer.

Materials And Methods: The MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were systematically searched from inception to May 1, 2023. Cohort studies that included data on change of eGFR and serum creatinine increase were included.

The Importance of Optimal Thermal Ablation Margins in Colorectal Liver Metastases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 21 Studies.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the US. Thermal ablation (TA) can be a comparable alternative to partial hepatectomy for selected cases when eradication of all visible tumor with an ablative margin of greater than 5 mm is achieved. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to encapsulate the current clinical evidence concerning the optimal TA margin for local cure in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLM).

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Liver Cancer Staging at a Multidisciplinary Liver Cancer Clinic.

Unlabelled: To compare liver cancer resectability rates before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Liver cancers usually present with nonspecific symptoms or are diagnosed through screening programs for at-risk patients, and early detection can improve patient outcomes. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic upended medical care across all specialties, but whether the pandemic was associated with delays in liver cancer diagnosis is not known.

Bronchial Artery Chemoembolization With Radiopaque Doxorubicin Eluding Beads in Patients With Malignant Hemoptysis from Metastatic Lung Cancer.

This pilot study was designed to assess the technical feasibility and safety of bronchial artery chemoembolization with radiopaque doxorubicin eluting beads (DEB-BACE) in patients with malignant hemoptysis from pulmonary metastasis. Four patients underwent DEB-BACE using 70-150 μm radiopaque DEB (LC Beads LUMI, Boston Scientific). Beads delivery and deposition were assessed under fluoroscopy and cone beam computed tomography (CT), respectively.

CT-Guided Celiac Ganglion Block for Neurogenic Gastrointestinal Dysmotility.

Purpose: To determine whether celiac ganglion block can serve as a diagnostic test for dysautonomia as the cause of gastrointestinal dysmotility-related symptoms.

Materials And Methods: This was an institutional review board-approved, prospective, single-arm, registered study, from January 2020 to May 2021, and included patients aged 14-85 years with gastrointestinal symptoms of food intolerance, abdominal pain, or angina. Patients with nonneurogenic causes (ie, chronic cholecystitis, peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux, and malabsorption syndrome) were excluded.

Three-Dimensional Quantitative Tumor Response and Survival Analysis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Who Failed Initial Transarterial Chemoembolization: Repeat or Switch Treatment?

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess treatment responses and evaluate survival outcomes between responders and non-responders after each transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) session using the 3D quantitative criteria of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (qEASL) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.

Methods: A total of 94 consecutive patients who underwent MR imaging before and after TACE were retrospectively included. Volumetric tumor enhancement (qEASL) was expressed in cubic centimeters (cm).

Radiofrequency Ablation versus Transarterial Chemoembolization in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Awaiting Liver Transplant: An Analysis of the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients.

Purpose: To evaluate differences in waitlist mortality and dropout in liver transplant candidates with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who undergo radiofrequency (RF) ablation versus transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Material And Methods: From 2004 to 2013, 11,824 patients with HCC in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients who underwent RF ablation or TACE were included and followed until December 31, 2019, or 5 years, whichever came first, and were stratified by the Milan criteria. Competing risk and Cox regression analyses to compare waitlist mortality and dropout were performed using adjusted hazard ratios (asHRs, with RF ablation group as reference).

Response assessment methods for patients with hepatic metastasis from rare tumor primaries undergoing transarterial chemoembolization.

Purpose: This study assessed the response to conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) in patients with liver metastases from rare tumor primaries using one-dimensional (1D) and three-dimensional (3D) quantitative response assessment methods, and investigate the relationship of lipiodol deposition in predicting response.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective bicentric study included 16 patients with hepatic metastases from rare tumors treated with cTACE between 2002 and 2017. Multi-phasic MR imaging obtained before and after cTACE was used for assessment of response.

Image-Guided Percutaneous Ablation for Primary and Metastatic Tumors.

Image-guided percutaneous ablation methods have been further developed during the recent two decades and have transformed the minimally invasive and precision features of treatment options targeting primary and metastatic tumors. They work by percutaneously introducing applicators to precisely destroy a tumor and offer much lower risks than conventional methods. There are usually shorter recovery periods, less bleeding, and more preservation of organ parenchyma, expanding the treatment options of patients with cancer who may not be eligible for resection.

Quaternary nanoparticles enable sustained release of bortezomib for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background And Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the world. Over the past two decades, there has been minimal improvement in therapies as well as clinical outcomes for patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC)-B. These patients are treated with local interventions, including transarterial chemoembolization.

Optimization of the BCLC Staging System for Locoregional Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Using Quantitative Tumor Burden Imaging Biomarkers at MRI.

Background Patients with intermediate- and advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represent a highly heterogeneous patient collective with substantial differences in overall survival. Purpose To evaluate enhancing tumor volume (ETV) and enhancing tumor burden (ETB) as new criteria within the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system for optimized allocation of patients with intermediate- and advanced-stage HCC to undergo transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, 682 patients with HCC who underwent conventional TACE or TACE with drug-eluting beads from January 2000 to December 2014 were evaluated.

Incidence and Contemporary Management of Delayed Bleeding Following Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Background: Delayed bleeding after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is a life-threatening complication. However, the optimal management remains unclear. We summarize our experience of the management of delayed bleeding after PD and define the outcomes associated with different types of management.

Lipiodol Deposition and Washout in Primary and Metastatic Liver Tumors After Chemoembolization.

Background/aim: Lipiodol is the key component of conventional trans-arterial chemoembolization. Our aim was to evaluate lipiodol deposition and washout rate after conventional trans-arterial chemoembolization in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and hepatic metastases originating from neuroendocrine tumors and colorectal carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 44 patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and liver metastasis from neuroendocrine tumors or colorectal carcinoma who underwent conventional trans-arterial chemoembolization.