Improved survival with second-line hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy after atezolizumab-bevacizumab failure in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: There is no established second-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following atezolizumab-bevacizumab (ate-beva) failure. This study assessed the efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) as a salvage therapy by comparing survival outcomes and treatment responses between HAIC as a first-line treatment and as a second-line option after ate-beva failure.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 100 patients with advanced HCC treated with HAIC between March 2022 and July 2024.

TACE vs. TARE for HCC ≥ 8 cm: A propensity score analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to compare transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and transarterial radioembolization (TARE) as first-line treatments for unresectable HCC > 8 cm.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 129 HCC patients with tumor diameters greater than 8 cm from January 2010 to December 2021, including 40 patients who received TARE, and 89 patients treated with TACE as primary treatment. Following Propensity Score Matching (PSM), 40 patients from each group were harmonized for baseline characteristics.

Clinical Effects and Safety of Intra-Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy with Lipiodol versus Intra-Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy Alone for Treatment of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) in 2 groups of patients: those who receive lipiodol (referred to as the lipiodol group) and those who do not receive lipiodol (referred to as the control group).

Methods: From January 2016 through December 2023, 85 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma were enrolled in this retrospective study. In total, 40 patients received HAIC with lipiodol, while 45 patients were given HAIC without lipiodol.

Comparison of Chemoembolization Outcomes Using 70-150 µm and 100-300 µm Drug-Eluting Beads in Treating Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Korean Multicenter Study.

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) according to the size of the beads for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 212 patients with a single HCC ≤5 cm from five tertiary institutions. One hundred and nine patients were treated with 70-150-µm doxorubicin DEBs (group A), and 103 patients received 100-300-µm doxorubicin DEBs (group B).

Comparison of Small-Sized (70-150 μm) and Intermediate-Sized (100-300 μm) Drug-Eluting Embolics for Transarterial Chemoembolization of Small Hepatocellular Carcinomas (≤3 cm).

Purpose: To compare oncologic outcomes of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) using 70-150-μm and 100-300-μm drug-eluting embolics (DEEs) to treat small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 93 patients with small HCC (≤3 cm) who underwent their first TACE with DEEs: (a) 43 with 70-150-μm DEEs and (b) 50 with 100-300-μm DEEs. Initial tumor response was assessed using per-patient and per-lesion analyses.

Consistent efficacy of hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy irrespective of PD‑L1 positivity in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Atezolizumab/bevacizumab is the first line of treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), combining immune checkpoint inhibitor and anti-VEGF monoclonal antibodies. Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) is administered when the above-described combination fails to confer sufficient clinical benefit. The present study aimed to explore the association between tumor programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) positivity and HAIC response.

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma refractory to transarterial chemoembolization: exploring the influence of prior transarterial chemoembolization and additional transarterial chemoembolization on survival outcomes.

Background: The selection of an efficacious treatment modality for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosed as refractory to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) presents numerous challenges. In addition to systemic therapies, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) may serve as an alternative option. However, it is imperative to identify patients who are appropriate candidates for HAIC to confer a survival benefit.

Higher objective responses by hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy following atezolizumab and bevacizumab failure than when used as initial therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective study.

Purpose: Atezolizumab/bevacizumab (atezo-bev) is the first-line chemotherapy for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) can be used as an alternative. Our aim was to compare the prognosis of HAIC treatment between newly diagnosed patients and patients treated after failure of atezo-bev.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Acute Ischemic Cholecystitis after Transarterial Chemoembolization: Correlation with Cone Beam CT Findings.

Purpose: Acute cholecystitis is a complication of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) that occasionally requires surgical intervention. We aimed to analyze the incidence and risk factors of cholecystitis requiring surgical intervention in patients with embolic material uptake on cone beam CT (CBCT) performed immediately after various TACE procedures.

Materials And Methods: After a retrospective review of 2633 TACE procedures performed over a 6-year period, 120 patients with embolic material retention in the gallbladder wall on CBCT immediately after TACE were selected.

Complete and Incomplete Alcohol Sclerotherapy for Treatment of Symptomatic Hepatic Cysts: Comparison of Volume Reduction and Clinical Outcomes.

: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of incomplete alcohol sclerotherapy with complete treatment for hepatic cysts. : From 2005 to 2021, a total of 80 patients (19 males, 61 females; median age 65 years; age range, 42-86 years) who underwent alcohol sclerotherapy for symptomatic benign hepatic cysts were enrolled and retrospectively reviewed. Complete treatment was defined as injecting 25-33% of the aspirated cyst volume with alcohol in 2-3 cycles, with a maximum of 100 mL per cycle.

Role of Portosystemic Shunt and Portal Vein Stent in Managing Portal Hypertension Due to Hematological Diseases.

Introduction: Patients with hematological diseases experience complications related to portal hypertension, including life-threatening complications such as variceal bleeding.

Methods: We analyzed the prognosis of patients with hematological diseases and portal hypertension treated with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) or portal vein stents. We retrospectively assessed patients with hematological diseases and portal hypertension who had variceal bleeding.

Arterial-Portal Venous Shunt after Drug-Eluting Bead Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients: Risk factors and Impact on Patient Survival.

Introduction: The effectiveness of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been well established. The differential impacts of drug-eluting bead TACE (DEB-TACE) as opposed to conventional TACE (cTACE) on vascular changes, such as arterial-portal venous shunts (APSs), have been recognized. However, their subsequent effects on treatment outcomes have not been fully explored.

Usefulness of tumor perfusion on cone-beam CT after hepatic arterial infusion port implantation for evaluating tumor response to hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.

Purpose: To compare tumor perfusion on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) after hepatic artery infusion port implantation with the tumor response to hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in patients with advanced HCC treated with HAIC from 2015 to 2020. We performed CBCT with contrast injection via a port on the day following implantation.

Comparative Analysis of Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab and Hepatic Artery Infusion Chemotherapy in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Multicenter, Propensity Score Study.

This study aimed to compare the prognosis and characteristics of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with first-line atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (AB) combination therapy and hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC). We retrospectively assessed 193 and 114 patients treated with HAIC and AB combination therapy, respectively, between January 2018 and May 2023. The progression-free survival (PFS) of patients treated with AB combination therapy was significantly superior to that of patients treated with HAIC ( < 0.

Transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: 2023 Expert consensus-based practical recommendations of the Korean Liver Cancer Association.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was introduced in 1977 with the administration of chemotherapeutic agent to gelatin sponge particles through the hepatic artery in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and was established as conventional TACE using Lipiodol in the 1980s. In the 2000s, drug-eluting beads were developed and applied clinically. Currently, TACE is a commonly used non-surgical treatment modality for patients with HCC who are unsuitable for curative treatment.

Transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: 2023 expert consensus-based practical recommendations of the Korean Liver Cancer Association.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was introduced in 1977 with the administration of chemotherapeutic agent to gelatin sponge particles through the hepatic artery in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and was established as conventional TACE using Lipiodol in the 1980s. In the 2000s, drug-eluting beads were developed and applied clinically. Currently, TACE is a commonly used non-surgical treatment modality for patients with HCC who are unsuitable for curative treatment.

Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: 2023 Expert Consensus-Based Practical Recommendations of the Korean Liver Cancer Association.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was introduced in 1977 with the administration of chemotherapeutic agent to gelatin sponge particles through the hepatic artery in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and was established as conventional TACE using Lipiodol in the 1980s. In the 2000s, drug-eluting beads were developed and applied clinically. Currently, TACE is a commonly used non-surgical treatment modality for patients with HCC who are unsuitable for curative treatment.

Impact of aortoceliac angle in implantation of subcutaneous hepatic artery port-catheter system for hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy via femoral approach.

Background: In patients with an acute aortoceliac angle, the diagnostic catheter often fails to enter the common hepatic artery.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the impact of aortoceliac angle on the implantation of a port-catheter system via a femoral approach for hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Material And Methods: A total of 399 patients with advanced HCC underwent percutaneous implantation of a port-catheter system for HAIC.

Upper tract heparin instillation for maintenance of ureteral stent patency.

Purpose: The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of heparin packing after antegrade ureteral stent placement in the renal pelvis to protect against early dysfunction.

Method: From December 2019 to September 2021, 44 double J (DJ) stent placements were performed with heparin packing (heparin packing group). Between February 2008 and March 2014, 250 DJ stent placements without heparin packing were performed (control group).

Chemoembolization combined radiofrequency ablation vs. chemoembolization alone for treatment of beyond the Milan criteria viable hepatocellular carcinoma (CERFA): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Many previous studies evaluated a combination of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for treating early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, studies evaluating combination therapy for beyond-the-Milan criteria HCC are scarce.

Methods: A total of 120 patients with beyond-the-Milan criteria HCC who have viable tumour after first TACE will be enrolled in this multi-institutional, parallel, pragmatic, randomized controlled trial. Patients with metastasis, vascular invasion, or a sum of tumour diameter > 8 cm will be excluded.

Selective arterial embolization of renal angiomyolipoma: comparing ethanol-lipiodol emulsion and polyvinyl alcohol particles as embolic agents.

Purpose: To examine the effectiveness and safety of two embolic agents, an ethanol-lipiodol emulsion and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles, for selective arterial embolization (SAE) of renal angiomyolipoma (AML).

Methods: Retrospectively, we reviewed the medical records and imaging data of renal AML patients who received SAE in our hospitals between July 2007 and January 2018. Among those eligible for analysis were patients with complete medical information, preoperative and postoperative contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans, and follow-up data.

Push-pull monorail technique to overcome a difficult course through the left internal jugular vein.

Background: We assessed the outcomes of a push-pull monorail technique to overcome a difficult anatomical course through the left internal jugular vein in implantable port insertions.

Methods: From December 2018 to May 2021, a total of 5326 patients were referred for implantable port insertion in our interventional unit, among which 472 cases were requested for insertion on the left side. Our monorail technique was applied only when the catheter tip entered the azygos vein instead of the superior vena cava (n = 8).

The effect of newly designed dual-channel elastomeric pump for intravenous patient-controlled analgesia after total laparoscopic hysterectomy: a randomized, double-blind, prospective study.

Background: A newly designed intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device with a dual-channel elastomeric infusion pump has been recently introduced. One channel is a continuous line with a constant flow rate basal infusion, while the other channel has an adjustable flow rate and bolus function and is labeled as a selector-bolus channel. This study compared dual and single-channel intravenous PCA in terms of clinical effect and quality of recovery.

Long-term Clinical Outcomes and Predictive Factors for Living-donor Liver Transplant Recipients With Biliary Strictures.

Background: Biliary strictures frequently occur in living-donor liver transplant (LDLT) recipients. However, long-term clinical outcomes and their associated factors are unclear.

Methods: We analyzed an historical cohort of 228 recipients who underwent LDLT with post-liver transplantation biliary strictures.