Virtual sonographic radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma visualized on CT but not on conventional sonography.

Objective: Some nodules cannot be visualized clearly on conventional sonography but can be visualized on CT. In the present study, we evaluated the usefulness of real-time percutaneous ablation therapy under virtual sonographic guidance for these nodules.

Subjects And Methods: In vitro experiments were performed with gelatin gel to evaluate the accuracy of virtual sonography.

Prognosis following transcatheter arterial embolization for 121 patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma with or without a history of treatment.

Aim: To retrospectively evaluate the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with or without a history of therapy for HCC following transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE).

Methods: One hundred and twenty-one patients with HCC treated with TAE from 1992 to 2004 in our hospital were enrolled in this study. Eighty-four patients had a history of treatment for HCC, while 37 did not.

Carcinoma with shared pathologic characteristics of both hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: α-Fetoprotein (AFP) is a useful marker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II) and fucosylated AFP (AFP-L3) are specific tumor markers.

Objective: The aim of this article was to report a case of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CC) with high levels of expression of AFP, AFP-L3, and PIVKA-II.

Methods: A 70-year-old man weighing 66 kg with a diagnosis of intrahepatic CC presented with a liver tumor 4.

A technique for the measurement of visceral fat by ultrasonography: comparison of measurements by ultrasonography and computed tomography.

Objective: This study aims to create a method of calculating intra-abdominal visceral fat volume by using ultrasound (US). The visceral fat volume measured by US was evaluated by comparison with the volume measured by computed tomography (CT).

Methods: Eighty-seven patients (52 males and 35 females) were enrolled in this study.

Administration of dendritic cells in cancer nodules in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Dendritic cells (DCs), the most potent antigen-presenting cells in vivo, are now used for cancer immunotherapy during which they are usually administered to the blood of patients with cancer. However, the route of administration of DCs affects the magnitude of immune responses. This study was conducted to assess the safety of the direct administration of DCs into cancer nodules.

Small hepatocellular carcinoma associated with Wilson's disease.

We report a 66-year-old male patient with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with Wilson's disease. The patient presented with unresolving abnormal liver function test, decreased serum ceruloplasmin levels and increased 24-hour urine copper excretion. Liver biopsy specimen revealed the presence of increased levels of copper and features suggestive of Wilson's disease.

Efficacy of lamivudine therapy for decompensated liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis B virus with or without hepatocellular carcinoma.

The prognosis for patients with decompensated hepatitis B virus (HBV) related liver cirrhosis (LC-B), especially for those with LC-B complicated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is poor. We investigated the effects of lamivudine in patients with decompensated LC-B, with and without HCC. Decompensated LC-B patients (n=55) with Child-Pugh classification scores (CPS) >7 points were enrolled.

Hepatic encephalopathy due to intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt successfully treated by interventional radiology.

We treated a 66-year-old woman with hepatic encephalopathy secondarily induced by an intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt (IPSVS). In serial observations, the volume of the liver became smaller and encephalopathy could not be controlled with conservative therapy. We occluded the IPSVS successfully using percutaneous transcatheter embolization with micro coils.

Abdominal virtual ultrasonographic images reconstructed by multi-detector row helical computed tomography.

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) images can be generated using thin sections from multi-detector row computed tomography (CT) and computer software, simulating images obtained using conventional ultrasonography (US). This software allows easy diagnosis of abdominal lesions and subsequent treatment of focal liver lesions such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study used newly developed virtual US software for diagnose and treatment of hepatobiliary disease.

Recent clinical features of Wilson's disease with hepatic presentation.

Background: We carried out this study to evaluate recent clinical features of Wilson's disease (WD) with hepatic presentation, especially in terms of age, degree of liver injury, and association with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Sixteen patients with hepatic manifestations were diagnosed with WD in the period 1976-2003. We divided this period into two periods, "past" and "recent".

Clinical characteristics of portal hemodynamics in alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

Background: Low incidence of reversal blood flow at the portal vein has been reported by measurement in larger and extrahepatic blood vessels but not in intrahepatic blood vessels in patients with liver cirrhosis. Moreover, there is little information regarding the incidence of reversal blood on the basis of the cause of liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to measure the reversal blood flow in the portal vein including intrahepatic branches in patients with alcoholic and viral cirrhosis.