Modified RECIST to assess tumor response after transarterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma: CT-pathologic correlation in 178 liver explants.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate agreement between modified RECIST (mRECIST) assessed at Computed Tomography (CT) and pathology in a large series of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who were transplanted after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: IRB approval was obtained. The study included 178 patients (M/F=155/23; mean age 55.8 ± 6.3 years) with HCC who were transplanted after TACE from January 1996 to December 2010 and with at least one CT examination before liver transplantation (LT). Two blinded independent readers retrospectively reviewed CT examinations, to assess tumor response to TACE according to mRECIST. Patients were classified in responders (complete and partial response) and non-responders (stable and progressive disease). On the explanted livers, percentage of tumor necrosis was classified as 100, >50 and <50%. RESULTS: The mean interval between latest CT and LT was 57.4 ± 39.8 days. At latest CT examination, the objective response rate was 78.1% (139/178), with 86 cases (48.3%) of complete response (CR). A good intra- (k=0.75 and 0.86) and inter-observer (k=0.81) agreement was obtained. On a per-patient basis, agreement between mRECIST and pathology was obtained in 120 patients (67.4%), with 19 cases (10.7%) of underestimation and 39 cases (21.9%) of overestimation of tumor response at CT. CT sensitivity and specificity in differentiating between responders and non-responders were 93 and 82.9%, respectively. Out of 302 nodules, sensitivity and specificity of CT in detecting complete necrosis were 87.5 and 68.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CT can overestimate tumor response after TACE. Nonetheless, mRECIST assessed at CT after TACE are reproducible and reliable in differentiating responders and non-responders.

Transient elastography is a useful noninvasive tool for the evaluation of fibrosis in paediatric chronic liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Outcome of liver disease in children is mainly determined by severity and progression of liver fibrosis. Liver biopsy is the accepted standard for evaluating fibrosis but is limited by the need for sedation in children, sampling error, and risks including bleeding. The aim of the present study was to compare tools for noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis in a paediatric cohort. METHODS: Children undergoing liver biopsy for chronic liver disease were recruited and underwent transient elastography (TE). Liver biopsies were scored by a hepatohistopathologist from F0 (no fibrosis) to F4 (cirrhosis). TE was compared with biopsy score. RESULTS: During the study period, 104 children (62 boys) were enrolled (median age 13.6 years). Diagnosis was autoimmune liver disease in 27; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in 37; posttransplant in 16; hepatitis B/C in 8; Wilson disease in 5; and the remainder, miscellaneous. TE was successful in all but 7 patients and was a good discriminator of significant fibrosis (≥ F2) (P < 0.001), severe fibrosis (≥ F3) (P < 0.001), and cirrhosis (F4) (P = 0.003). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the prediction of ≥ F2, ≥ F3, and F4 using TE was 0.78, 0.79, and 0.96, respectively. TE performed best in children with autoimmune liver disease and in those posttransplant. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that TE is a reliable tool in distinguishing different stages of liver fibrosis in paediatric patients. Thus, TE may serve as a useful adjunct to liver biopsy for diagnostic purposes providing a reliable method of noninvasively monitoring liver disease progression in children.

Evaluation of living liver donors using contrast enhanced multidetector CT - The radiologists impact on donor selection.

BACKGROUND: Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is a valuable and legitimate treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease. Computed tomography (CT) has proven to be an important tool in the process of donor evaluation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the significance of CT in the donor selection process. METHODS: Between May 1999 and October 2010 170 candidate donors underwent biphasic CT. We retrospectively reviewed the results of the CT and liver volumetry, and assessed reasons for rejection. RESULTS: 89 candidates underwent partial liver resection (52.4%). Based on the results of liver CT and volumetry 22 candidates were excluded as donors (31% of the cases). Reasons included fatty liver (n = 9), vascular anatomical variants (n = 4), incidental finding of hemangioma and focal nodular hyperplasia (n = 1) and small (n = 5) or large for size (n = 5) graft volume. CONCLUSION: CT based imaging of the liver in combination with dedicated software plays a key role in the process of evaluation of candidates for LDLT. It may account for up to 1/3 of the contraindications for LDLT.

Doppler sonography of patients with and without acute cellular rejection after right-lobe living donor liver transplantation.

OBJECTIVES: To compare percent interval changes in the portal blood flow velocity (%PBV) and venous pulsatility index (%VPI), as determined by Doppler sonography, in patients with and without acute cellular rejection after right-lobe living donor liver transplantation. METHODS: Forty-seven patients with biopsy-proven acute cellular rejection underwent Doppler sonography. The control group consisted of 47 age- and sex-matched patients without acute cellular rejection. Doppler spectrograms of the portal vein and right hepatic vein were used to calculate mean peak PBVs and VPIs for the first 3 days after right-lobe living donor liver transplantation, defined as PBV(Baseline) and VPI(Baseline). The PBV and VPI closest in time to biopsy in the patient group or at a matched time in the control group were determined as PBV(Event) and VPI(Event), and %PBV and %VPI values were calculated. RESULTS: The mean PBV(Baseline) values ± SD in the rejection and control groups were 46.0 ± 21.8 and 44.4 ± 20.5 cm/s, respectively; the PBV(Event) values were 32.2 ± 14.5 and 34.4 ± 17.1 cm/s; and the %PBV values were 19.4% ± 39.9% and 2.2% ± 75.4% (P = .73; P = .38; P = .17, respectively). The VPI(Baseline) values were 0.92 ± 0.34 and 0.93 P = .94; P < .001); and the ± 0.38; the VPI(Event) values were 0.46 ± 0.33 and 0.84 ± 0.44 (%VPI values were 45.5% ± 40.1% and 5.6% ± 47.3%, with a greater than 50% VPI observed more frequently in the rejection than in the control group (61.7% versus 12.8%; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The VPI(Event) was significantly lower and a greater than 50% VPI was significantly more frequent in patients with than without acute cellular rejection after right-lobe living donor liver transplantation.

Multidetector CT-guided endovascular treatment of a splenic artery aneurysm in a child with split-liver transplant and surgically ligated splenic artery origin.

We report the case of a child who underwent left lateral split-liver transplantation for biliary atresia and surgical ligation of the origin of the splenic artery at the time of the transplantation. Post-transplant portal vein thrombosis was initially treated with a meso-rex shunt. This shunt subsequently thrombosed and was replaced by a splenorenal shunt. Three months after splenorenal shunt placement, US showed a 3.7-cm pseudoaneurysm at the hilum of the spleen. Multidetector CT with 3-D reconstruction allowed precise identification of the pseudoaneurysm feeding artery and therefore helped in planning the interventional radiology procedure, avoiding explorative selective catheterisation. The pseudoaneurysm was successfully treated with endovascular coil embolisation.

Orthotopic liver transplantation: reversible Doppler US findings in the immediate postoperative period.

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is the only definitive treatment for irreversible acute liver failure and chronic liver disease. In the immediate postoperative period after OLT, patients are closely monitored with Doppler ultrasonography (US) to detect treatable vascular complications and ensure graft survival. The first postoperative Doppler US examination is performed fairly early on the first postoperative day, before surgical wound closure has been performed. The immediate postoperative images, obtained when the effects of surgery are very recent, often reveal an array of findings that may appear alarming but that tend to normalize within a few days and are compatible with changes related to the surgery itself. These findings include a starry-sky appearance of reperfusion hepatic edema, transient foci of increased echogenicity, pneumobilia, small fluid collections, perihepatic hematomas, pleural effusion, temporary elevation of hepatic arterial velocity, transient elevation of resistive index (RI), decreased RI with tardus parvus waveform, increased portal venous flow and mono- or biphasic waveforms of the hepatic veins. Most of these changes revert to normal in the first postoperative week; deterioration atypical of transient changes requires further evaluation.

Comparison of findings of spontaneous splenorenal shunt in color Doppler sonography with multislice CT scan (64 slices) in liver transplant candidates.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation is the only definite treatment for end stage liver disease and it has high costs for the medical system so decreasing its complication and increasing its effectiveness is crucial. One of the factors that affect liver transplantation is the presence of spontaneous splenorenal shunt. Its diagnosis is mainly overlooked in pre-liver transplant patients. Main modality for its diagnosis is multislice CT scan however this is more expensive than sonography. Also, it exposes the patients to ionizing radiation. Considering the advantages of color Doppler ultrasound, studies to determine the sensitivity and specificity for detection of spontaneous splenorenal shunt is essential. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our study 70 cirrhotic patients who were referred by liver transplant surgeons for evaluation of abdomen by CT and sonograhy were assessed for presence of spontaneous splenorenal shunt, left adrenal varix and left renal vein diameter and velocity and sensitivity and specificity of both modalities were checked. Patients in whom left renal vein could not evaluated by sonography and patients with splenectomy and nutcracker syndrome were excluded. RESULTS: In the point of 10 mm diameter of left renal vein in CT scan there was 78.6% sensitivity and 67.9% specificity for the presence of spontaneous splenorenal shunt. Left adrenal varix in CT had sensitivity of 71.4%, specificity of 100%, and positive predictive value of 100% and negative predictive value of 70% and varix below spleen in CT had sensitivity of 54.8%, specificity of 96.4%, and positive predictive value of 95.8% and negative predictive value of 58.7% for the presence of spontaneous splenorenal shunt. In the point of 8 mm diameter of left renal vein in sonography there was 66.7% sensitivity and 85.7% specificity for the presence of spontaneous splenorenal shunt. For the velocity of more than 35 cm/s of left renal vein in sonography there was 61.9% sensitivity and 82.1% specificity for the presence of spontaneous splenorenal shunt. Left adrenal varix in sonography had sensitivity of 45.2%, specificity of 96.4%, positive predictive value of 95% and negative predictive value of 54% for the presence of spontaneous splenorenal shunt. CONCLUSION: There was moderate agreement between CT scan and sonography for detection of spontaneous splenorenal shunt. CT scan is choice for detection of SSRS but sonography is somehow useful. It means that if sonograhy is positive it is sufficient, if negative, then CT should be performed. This is due to low sensitivity of sonography.

Ex vivo hepatic venography for hepatocellular carcinoma in livers explanted for liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is supposed to have a venous drainage system to a portal vein, which makes intrahepatic metastasis possible. However, the mechanism of extrahepatic recurrence, including the possibility of a direct route to the systemic circulation from the HCC nodules, remains unclear. Therefore, we performed retrograde hepatic venography for HCC in livers that had been explanted for liver transplantation in order to explore the possible direct connection between the hepatic vein and HCC nodules. METHODS: Of 105 living-donor liver transplantations (LDLT) performed up to July, 2009 at the Department of Surgery, Nagasaki University Hospital, dynamic hepatic venography was performed with contrast media under fluoroscopy for the most recent 13 cases with HCC. The presence of a tumor stain for each HCC case was evaluated and compared with the histological findings of HCC. RESULTS: Hepatic venography revealed a tumor stain in 2 of 13 cases (15%). Neither showed any microscopic tumor invasion of HCC into the hepatic vein. In the other 11 cases, there were 4 microscopic portal venous invasions and 2 microscopic hepatic venous invasions. No patients have shown HCC recurrence in follow-up (median period, 13 months). CONCLUSION: Using ex vivo hepatic venography, a direct connection to the hepatic vein from HCC in whole liver was revealed in 2 cases without demonstrated histopathological invasion to hepatic vein for the first time in the literature. The finding suggests that there is direct spillage of HCC cells into the systemic circulation via hepatic vein.

Imaging of preoperative liver transplantation in adults: what radiologists should know.

Therapeutic strategies for treating patients with liver failure, particularly optimization of liver transplantation, are constantly being refined, with the goal of improving long-term survival with the lowest risk for toxicity in donors and recipients. Optimal planning for liver transplantation requires a multidisciplinary collaboration between the radiologist, hepatologist, clinical oncologist, and transplant surgeon. Radiologists play an essential role in identifying normal and abnormal variant anatomy and other conditions that may be present, a task that is critical for accurate surgical planning. Radiologists also must understand how their findings affect patient preparation. An awareness of the range of indications for liver transplantation, imaging modalities, and current surgical techniques is important to properly evaluate a patient who may undergo liver transplantation. Establishing a pretransplantation definition of the extent of liver disease and thoroughly evaluating the vascular and biliary anatomy are paramount for proper assessment of potential recipients and donors for liver transplantation.

Accuracy of hepatocellular carcinoma detection on multidetector CT in a transplant liver population with explant liver correlation.

AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhotic patients undergoing liver transplantation. Secondary aims were to examine the effect of radiologist experience and lesion size on diagnostic accuracy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine patients (72% male with a mean age of 56.5 years) underwent liver transplantation following preoperative triple-phase MDCT examination of the liver. MDCT examinations were retrospectively independently reviewed by three radiologists for the presence and location of suspected HCCs, with the diagnostic confidence recorded using a five-point confidence scale. MDCT examinations were compared with explant specimens for histopathological correlation. RESULTS: Histopathological results demonstrated 46 HCCs in 29 of the 39 patients. Analysis demonstrated a sensitivity of 65-75% and specificity of 47-88% for detection of HCC lesions. The sensitivity dropped to 48-57% for lesions of size ≤20mm. As the diagnostic confidence increased, there was a further decrease in the sensitivity (4-26%). The radiologist with the greatest number of years experience was found to have a significantly higher accuracy of detection of HCC lesions compared with the least experienced radiologist. CONCLUSION: Larger lesion size of HCC and greater number of years experience of the radiologist resulted in significantly higher accuracy of HCC lesion detection. The overall sensitivity and specificity results for MDCT detection of HCC are comparable to previous helical CT imaging.

Transjugular liver biopsy in liver transplant patients using an 18-gauge automated core biopsy needle.

Aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate accuracy and safety of transjugular liver biopsy using an 18-gauge automated core biopsy needle, in patients underwent liver transplantation. 183 consecutively transjugular liver biopsy were performed in 115 liver transplant patients. An 18-gauge automated core needle biopsy was used in all patients. Technical success was achieved in 182 procedures (99.5%). In one patient we were not able to obtain a liver sample. The mean number of passages was 1.43 (range 1-5). Mean number of fragments was 2 (range 1-12). Mean total length of the specimens was 1.7 cm (range 0.5-3.4 cm). The specimen was adequate for diagnosis in 172 (94.5%) cases and suboptimal or inadequate in 10 (4.5%). Suboptimal or inadequate samples were associated with higher number of passages (2.0 vs. 1.4, p<0.012), higher number of fragments (4.3 vs. 1.9, p<0.0001) and decreased total length of the specimens (0.99 vs. 1.73, p<0.03). As only complication one patient (0.5%) had a large perihepatic hematoma requiring blood transfusion. In conclusion using an 18-gauge automated core needle biopsy, in most liver transplant recipients, an accurate diagnosis can be obtained with one or two passages. This is associated with a low risk of complications.

Pneumatosis intestinalis after liver transplantation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical features and CT findings of pneumatois intestinalis in recipients following liver transplantation and to determine whether certain clinical and CT findings enable differentiation of indolent pneumatois intestinalis from fulminant cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was approved by our institutional review board, with informed consent waived. Among 2080 liver transplantation recipients at our institution between January 1998 and April 2008, 22 (1%) presented with pneumatois intestinalis on postoperative follow-up. Patients were divided into recovery and mortality groups, and then clinical features and CT findings were compared between two groups. RESULTS: Although indolent pneumatois intestinalis more frequently presented incidentally (61%) after 2 weeks of surgery (89%) than fulminant pneumatois intestinalis (0, 50%), there were no statistically significant differences (P=.14, .09). Right colon was affected in the recovery group without exception (n=18,100%), and all four patients (100%) in mortality group showed small bowel involvement (P<.05). Caliber changes of superior mesenteric artery and vein in mortality group were significantly greater (49.6%, 67.0%) than those in recovery group (101.7%, 99.0%) (P<.05, respectively). Pneumatois intestinalis in mortality group more commonly accompanied portomesenteric air-embolism, visceral infarction, hemorrhagic ascites, and small bowel ileus than indolent counterpart (P<.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Typical indolent pneumatois intestinalis is found incidentally later than 2 weeks of liver transplantation surgery, but there is some overlap between indolent and fulminant pneumatois intestinalis in terms of onset and mode of presentation. Among CT findings, grave signs are small bowel involvement, caliber changes in mesenteric vessels, portomesenteric air-embolism, visceral infarction, hemorrhagic ascites, and small bowel ileus.

Evaluating biliary anatomy and variations in living liver donors by a new technique: three-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasonic cholangiography.

Accurate assessment of the biliary anatomy is important for the safety of liver donors in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). We evaluated the biliary anatomy and variations of 12 living liver donors with 3-D contrast-enhanced ultrasonic cholangiography (3-D CEUSC) by injecting microbubble contrast agents into the common hepatic ducts intraoperatively. Two radiologists assessed the diagnostically adequate, delineation of biliary branch orders, visibility scores (grades 0 to 3) and anatomical patterns of the intrahepatic biliary tree by consensus. The results were compared with findings on intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) and surgery. 3-D CEUSC successfully demonstrated the spatial structure of the intrahepatic biliary tree in all 12 donors. The maximum branching order of intrahepatic bile ducts displayed on 3-D CEUSC was the fifth order in the right lobe and fourth order in the left lobe of the liver, respectively. The visibility scores of the first-order (3.00 +/- 0.00) and second-order (2.67 +/- 0.69) branches were significantly (p < 0.001) higher than that of the third-order (1.98 +/- 1.13) branches, whereas visibility scores of the second-order (2.88 +/- 0.34) and third-order (2.44 +/- 1.01) branches in the right lobe were significantly (p = 0.040 and p < 0.001, respectively) higher than those in the left lobe (2.46 +/- 0.88 and 1.33 +/- 0.99). The 3-D CEUSC images of the 12 donors were diagnostically adequate for evaluating the biliary anatomy. Normal biliary pattern in nine donors and biliary variations in three donors were confirmed by both IOC and surgical findings. 3-D CEUSC may be a potential alternative to IOC in the evaluation of biliary anatomical variation before graft harvesting in LDLT.

Spontaneous meso-portal shunt following orthotopic liver transplantation in a child.

Post-transplant children are regularly followed by colour Doppler US exam. Liver parenchyma, biliary tract and portal, subhepatic and arterial vascularisation are checked. We observed a post-transplant child with spontaneous meso-portal bypass after portal vein thrombosis (PVT). After orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), PVT is frequently observed. When it occurs early (before 3 weeks), it has been identified as a cause of graft failure. On the other hand, late PVT (after 3 weeks) can be extremely well-tolerated, with cavernous transformation of the portal vein and formation of hepatopetal collaterals that deliver blood to the liver. However, extrahepatic portal hypertension (EHPH) and its related complications can develop. Cavernoma transformation is usually seen, but spontaneous shunt is not yet described in transplant patients. Distinction from the classic cavernoma can be achieved by the depiction of a single transcapsular vessel. This bypass partially corrects the EHPH. However it was decided to completely prevent shunt development by performing a surgical mesenterico-left portal vein bypass.

Diagnostic role of colour Doppler US at 1-year follow-up after orthotopic liver transplantation.

PURPOSE: This paper discusses the role of colour Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) in the midterm follow-up of patients after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied 134 patients--102 men and 32 women, age range 21-68 years--who underwent liver transplantation between May 2006 and April 2007. In the first week after OLT, CDUS examination was performed daily in patients with anastomoses at a high risk of thrombosis, and on the basis of clinical and laboratory findings in other patients. After discharge, follow-up was performed 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after transplantation. Any new parenchymal focal lesion was studied by computed tomography (CT) and, where needed, biopsy. RESULTS: CDUS identified the following complications: 22 biliary (B), nine vascular (V) and seven focal lesions (FL). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and diagnostic accuracy were, respectively: 79.2%, 97.3%, 86.3%, 95.5%, 94% (B), 100%, 99.2%, 88.9%, 100%, 99.3% (V) and 100%, 96.9%, 42.8%, 100%, 97% (FL). CDUS also showed 16 blood collections and eight suspected biliary collections (four of which were confirmed by percutaneous puncture). CONCLUSIONS: CDUS is an essential diagnostic tool in the follow-up of OLT. An early diagnosis of complications can improve graft integrity and patient survival.

Right lobe estimated blood-free weight for living donor liver transplantation: accuracy of automated blood-free CT volumetry--preliminary results.

PURPOSE: To determine the relative accuracy of automated blood-free to blood-filled computed tomographic (CT) volumetry for estimation of right-lobe weight in living donor liver transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board; informed consent was waived. Between October 1, 2008, and April 30, 2009, 88 live liver donors (54 men, 34 women; mean age, 26.1 years +/- 6.9 [standard deviation]) who underwent CT and had their right lobes procured in the study institution were included. Automated measurement of blood-filled volume (V(BFill)) and blood-free volume (V(BFree)) of the right lobe was performed by using 16-row multidetector CT performed with 5-mm intervals. Actual hepatic weight was measured blood free during surgery. Percentage blood volume, %V(B), was calculated as follows: %V(B) = V(BFill) - V(BFree)/V(BFill) . 100. Pearson tests were performed to determine correlation coefficients between V(BFill)/1.22 or V(BFree) and weight. Percentage deviation and percentage absolute deviation of V(BFree) from weight were compared with those of V(BFill)/1.22 by using a paired t test or Wilcoxon rank sum test. Regression analysis was performed between V(BFree) and weight. RESULTS: Mean V(BFill), V(BFree), and weight were 789.0 mL +/- 126.4, 713.9 mL +/- 114.4, and 717.8 g +/- 110.4. Percentage blood volume varied from 6.5% to 19.8% (mean, 9.5%). Compared with weight, the correlation coefficient was slightly higher with V(BFree) (r = 0.9140) than with V(BFill)/1.22 (r = 0.8909). Mean percentage deviation and percentage absolute deviation were significantly smaller with V(BFree) (-0.4% +/- 6.3, 5.0% +/- 3.8; P < .001) than with V(BFill)/1.22 (-9.8% +/- 6.5, 10.2% +/- 7.3; P < .001). The equation relating V(BFree) and weight, W, was as follows: W = (0.8815 . V(BFree)) + 88.5117, with R(2) of 0.8355 (P < .001). CONCLUSION: At automated CT volumetry in live liver donors, the percentage blood volume varies. The V(BFree) is more accurate than is V(BFill)/1.22 in estimation of hepatic weight.

Laparoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation as a bridge to liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: preliminary results.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of laparoscopic thermoablation (LTA) as a neoadjuvant therapy prior to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Between January 2008 and January 2009, 12 consecutive patients, including 10 males and 2 females with unresectable HCC within liver cirrhosis, were treated with LTA under ultrasound (US) guidance. Most patients were in Child-Pugh class B (54.1%) with a mean age of 60.7 +/- 7.74 years (range, 45-69; median, 60). RESULTS: The LTA procedure was completed in all patients with thermoablation of 23 HCC nodules. LTA identified 4 new malignant lesions (20%) undetected by preoperative imaging (<0.5 cm). The mean length of surgery was 96 minutes (range, 45-118). Six procedures were performed in 4 patients. No postoperative hepatic insufficiency was reported. The mean hospital stay was 4.5 days; no postoperative morbidity was reported. Complete tumor necrosis was achieved in 19/23 thermoablated nodules (82.6%) as evidenced computed tomography (CT) scan by at 3 weeks after the treatment. All patients underwent OLT without complications. The histology of the native liver showed complete necrosis in 17/23 (74%) treated nodules. DISCUSSION: There is currently no convincing evidence that LTA allows one to expand the current selection criteria for OLT, nor that LTA decreases dropout rates on the waiting list. However, LTA does not increase the risk of postoperative complications. There is insufficient evidence that LTA offers any benefit when used prior to OLT either for early or for advanced HCC.

Portal vein arterialization for hepatic artery thrombosis in liver transplantation: a case report, Doppler-ultrasound aspects, and review of the literature.

Portal vein arterialization (PVA) is a salvage procedure for insufficient hepatic arterial or portal vascularization. It plays a role in auxiliary and orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). In OLT, current indications for PVA include hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT), pre-OLT or post-OLT extended splanchnic vein thrombosis, intraoperative low portal flow, and anatomic variations like the absence of portal and mesenteric veins. Out of the transplantation domain, PVA is used both in extensive surgery for malignancies of the liver, biliary tract, and pancreas and in the treatment of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) due to intoxications. We describe a case of acute post-OLT HAT successfully treated with PVA as a short bridge to retransplantation. By Doppler ultrasound of clinical PVA we detected an increased intrahepatic portal flow velocity, with disappearance of the arterial spikes, a finding that needs further investigation. PVA represents a rare surgical procedure. In fact, it has been used most of all in urgent conditions or in case of abrupt vascular complications during surgery. According to the literature, PVA emerges as a salvage procedure for poor arterial or portal hepatic flow, both in OLT and in general abdominal surgery. The outcome of this procedure is unpredictable. The aim of the shunt is to gain time, awaiting the onset of collateral arterial vessels or the performance of definitive surgery. Its early thrombosis may be a catastrophic event, due to acute liver ischemia. In contrast, a late occlusion is often well tolerated. Strict surveillance is always useful because sometimes it is mandatory to embolize the arterioportal fistula to treat or to prevent the onset of portal hypertension.