Long-Term Hepatotoxicity of Yttrium-90 Radioembolization as Treatment of Metastatic Neuroendocrine Tumor to the Liver.

PURPOSE: To determine long-term hepatotoxicity of yttrium-90 (90Y) radioembolization in patients treated for metastatic neuroendocrine tumor (mNET) and evaluate if imaging and laboratory findings of cirrhosis-like morphology are associated with clinical symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review from 2003 to 2016 was performed for patients with mNET treated with 90Y glass microspheres. Fifty-four patients with > 2 year follow-up were stratified into unilobar (n = 15) vs whole-liver (n = 39) treatment. The most common primary mNET sites were small bowel (19 of 54), pancreas (19 of 54), and unknown (8 of 54). Preradioembolization imaging and laboratory findings were compared with most recent follow-up for indications of worsening portal hypertension and decline in hepatic function. RESULTS: Among patients who underwent unilobar radioembolization, imaging follow-up at a mean of 4.1 years (range, 2.0-15.2 y) revealed cirrhosis-like morphology in 26.7% (4 of 15), ascites in 13.3% (2 of 15), varices in 6.7% (1 of 15), and a 21.9% increase in splenic volume. The respective incidences in patients treated with whole-liver 90Y radioembolization were 56.4% (22 of 39), 41.0% (16 of 39), and 15.4% (6 of 39), with a 64.7% increase in splenic volume. Patients treated with whole-liver radioembolization exhibited significantly decreased platelet counts (P = .023) and lower albumin levels (P = .0002). Eight patients (20.5%) treated with whole-liver radioembolization who exhibited cirrhosis-like morphology showed clinical signs of hepatic decompensation; only 2 of 39 patients (5.1%) had no other causes of hepatotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Whole-liver 90Y radioembolization for patients with mNET results in long-term imaging findings of cirrhosis-like morphology and portal hypertension in > 50% of treated patients, but the majority remain clinically asymptomatic. Long-term hepatotoxicity solely attributable to 90Y develops in a small percentage of patients.

Treatment practices and outcomes of elderly women with breast cancer in a community hospital.

There is a paucity of clinical data available on specific treatment in the oncogeriatric population with breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate treatment patterns and survival outcomes in the elderly to address any disparities at our community hospital. We retrospectively identified a total of 1749 patients diagnosed and treated for breast cancer at our institution between 2001 and 2011. Patient demographics, surgical treatment, stage of disease, tumor characteristics, adjuvant therapy, and 5-year survival data were obtained from tumor registry records. Comparisons between study groups were made using the Pearson χ(2) test and Student's t test. We found more favorable prognostic makers among women older than 70 years of age. Of the women with lymph node-positive disease, 84 per cent of those younger than 70 years and 33 per cent in the older than 70 years of age study group received chemotherapy. Adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy were more frequently performed in the younger group. Overall 5-year survival was 90 per cent and 71 per cent for younger than 70 years and older than 70 years groups, respectively. Women older than 70 years of age have more favorable breast cancer characteristics compared with younger women and received less aggressive treatment and experienced a higher mortality rate. Prospective trials are needed to assess the impact of aggressive multimodality therapy in this oncogeriatric population.