Hepatocellular carcinoma radiation segmentectomy treatment intensification prior to liver transplantation increases rates of complete pathologic necrosis: an explant analysis of 75 tumors.

PURPOSE: To verify the correlation between yttrium-90 glass microsphere radiation segmentectomy treatment intensification of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and complete pathologic necrosis (CPN) at liver transplantation. METHODS: A retrospective, single center, analysis of patients with HCC who received radiation segmentectomy prior to liver transplantation from 2016 to 2021 was performed. The tumor treatment intensification cohort (n = 38) was prescribed radiation segmentectomy as per response recommendations identified in a previously published baseline cohort study (n = 37). Treatment intensification and baseline cohort treatment parameters were compared for rates of CPN. Both cohorts were then combined for an overall analysis of treatment parameter correlation with CPN. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients with a combined 75 tumors were analyzed. Specific activity, dose, and treatment activity were significantly higher in the treatment intensification cohort (all p < 0.01), while particles per cubic centimeter of treated liver were not. CPN was achieved in 76% (n = 29) of tumors in the treatment intensification cohort compared to 49% (n = 18) in the baseline cohort (p = 0.013). The combined cohort CPN rate was 63% (n = 47). ROC analysis showed that specific activity ≥ 327 Bq (AUC 0.75, p < 0.001), dose ≥ 446 Gy (AUC 0.69, p = 0.005), and treatment activity ≥ 2.55 Gbq (AUC 0.71, p = 0.002) were predictive of CPN. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that a specific activity ≥ 327 Bq was the sole independent predictor of CPN (p = 0.013). CONCLUSION: Radiation segmentectomy treatment intensification for patients with HCC prior to liver transplantation increases rates of CPN. While dose strongly correlated with pathologic response, specific activity was the most significant independent radiation segmentectomy treatment parameter associated with CPN.

Radiation Segmentectomy for the Treatment of Solitary Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Outcomes Compared with Those of Surgical Resection.

PURPOSE: To investigate the outcomes of radiation segmentectomy (RS) versus standard-of-care surgical resection (SR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multisite, retrospective analysis of treatment-naïve patients who underwent either RS or SR was performed. The inclusion criteria were solitary hepatocellular carcinoma ≤8 cm in size, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Cohort performance status of 0-1, and absence of macrovascular invasion or extrahepatic disease. Target tumor and overall progression, time to progression (TTP), and overall survival rates were assessed. Outcomes were censored for liver transplantation. RESULTS: A total of 123 patients were included (RS, 57; SR, 66). Tumor size, Child-Pugh class, albumin-bilirubin score, platelet count, and fibrosis stage were significantly different between cohorts (P ≤ .01). Major adverse events (AEs), defined as grade ≥3 per the Clavien-Dindo classification, occurred in 0 patients in the RS cohort vs 13 (20%) patients in the SR cohort (P < .001). Target tumor progression occurred in 3 (5%) patients who underwent RS and 5 (8%) patients who underwent SR. Overall progression occurred in 19 (33%) patients who underwent RS and 21 (32%) patients who underwent SR. The median overall TTP was 21.9 and 29.4 months after RS and SR, respectively (95% confidence interval [CI], 15.5-28.2 and 18.5-40.3, respectively; P = .03). Overall TTP subgroup analyses showed no difference between treatment cohorts with fibrosis stages 3-4 (P = .26) and a platelet count of <150 × 109/L (P = .29). The overall progression hazard ratio for RS versus SR was not significant per the multivariate Cox regression analysis (1.16; 95% CI, 0.51-2.63; P = .71). The median overall survival was not reached for either of the cohorts. Propensity scores were calculated but were too dissimilar for analysis. CONCLUSIONS: RS and SR were performed in different patient populations, which limits comparison. RS approached SR outcomes, with a lower incidence of major AEs, in patients who were not eligible for hepatectomy.

Biochemical Safety of Ablative Yttrium-90 Radioembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma as a Function of Percent Liver Treated.

PURPOSE: Transarterial radioembolization can serve as an ablative therapy for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Given the volumetric variability of liver segments, this study aimed to characterize the safety of ablative radioembolization by determining percent liver treated (%LT) thresholds associated with biochemical toxicity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with HCC receiving a single ablative radioembolization treatment using glass microspheres from 2017 through 2020 were reviewed. %LT was calculated as treatment angiosome volume divided by whole liver volume. Biochemical toxicities were defined as increases in Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) grade or Child-Pugh (CP) class compared to baseline and albumin or bilirubin adverse events (AEs) per the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Receiver operating characteristic curves and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of %LT on toxicities. RESULTS: Of 141 patients analyzed, 53% (n=75) were ALBI 1, 45% (n=64) ALBI 2, 79% (n=111) CP-A, and 21% (n=30) CP-B. A %LT ≥14.5% was associated with grade/class increases in ALBI 2 (p≤0.01) and CP-B patients (p=0.026). In multivariate analysis, a %LT ≥14.5% was an independent predictor of increases in the ALBI 2 and CP-B groups (p<0.01). No significant %LT threshold was found for ALBI 1 and CP-A patients. No grade 3/4 albumin or bilirubin AEs were reported, while grade 2 AEs were related to an initial whole liver volume <1.3 L (p≤0.01). CONCLUSION: Patients with ALBI 2 and CP-B liver function are less likely to have an increase in their respective grade/class when treating <14.5% of the liver using glass microspheres. ALBI 1 and CP-A patients showed no definitive %LT threshold for biochemical toxicity within the range of this study.

Iliocaval reconstruction of chronically thrombosed cylindrical inferior vena cava filters with balloon expandable covered stent-grafts.

The use of a Viabahn VBX endoprosthesis (W. L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, Ariz) to exclude chronically thrombosed inferior vena cava (IVC) filters refractory to exclusion with self-expanding stents was evaluated. The mean duration of TrapEase IVC (Cordis, Milpitas, Calif) implantation was 7.6 years (range, 2-11 years). Symptoms included leg pain, edema, color changes, and back pain. The mean Villalta score and venous clinical severity score were 17 (range, 13-23) and 13 (range, 11-15), respectively. Indirect ultrasound evidence of stent patency was demonstrated at a mean of 8 months after intervention. The mean Villalta score and venous clinical severity score had decreased by 13 and 10, respectively, at a mean of 9.5 months after intervention. Iliocaval reconstruction with Viabahn VBX balloon expandable stent-graft exclusion of chronically thrombosed TrapEase IVC filters is safe, with favorable short-term results.

Natural History of Incidental Enhancing Nodules on Cone-Beam Computed Tomography during Transarterial Therapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the natural history of incidental enhancing nodules (IENs) on contrast-enhanced cone-beam computed tomography (CT) during transarterial treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A single-center retrospective analysis of 100 patients with HCC who underwent contrast-enhanced cone-beam CT prior to transarterial treatment from August 2015 to June 2019 was performed. Inclusion criteria were patients with segmental distribution sublobar HCC, contrast-enhanced cone-beam CT of the target lesion and nontarget liver parenchyma, and follow-up cross-sectional imaging. Patients with IENs ≥3 mm that did not meet imaging criteria for HCC were analyzed. Exclusion criteria included biphenotypic tumors and IEN present inside the treated area of the liver. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients demonstrated 154 IENs on contrast-enhanced cone-beam CT, of which 13 IENs (8.5%) progressed to HCC. The mean primary tumor size was 29 mm (range: 10.2-189 mm). Ten patients had ≥4 IENs, and 46 patients had 1-3 IENs. The mean IEN size was 6.8 mm (range: 3.0-16.3 mm). The median follow-up interval after contrast-enhanced cone-beam CT was 282 days (interquartile range: 143-522). Increased alpha-fetoprotein before treatment (≥15.5 ng/mL, P = .035), having ≥4 IENs (P = .020), and hepatitis C virus (P = .015) were significantly correlated with IEN progression to HCC. No statistically significant differences were identified in baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, targeted HCC characteristics (size, macrovascular invasion, infiltrative pattern, enhancement pattern, and satellite lesions), and IEN size between those with IEN progression to HCC and those without. CONCLUSIONS: Most IENs of ≥3 mm on contrast-enhanced cone-beam CT in patients with segmental distribution sublobar HCC do not progress to HCC. Patients with segmental distribution sublobar HCC with ≥4 IENs, alpha-fetoprotein elevation (≥15.5 ng/mL), or hepatitis C virus have an increased risk of IEN progression to HCC.

Transportal Technetium-99m Labeled Macroaggregated Albumin Scintigraphy to Quantify Occult Intrahepatic Microvascular Portosystemic Shunting.

Nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) of the liver may lead to noncirrhotic portal hypertension with subsequent development of portosystemic shunts. While extrahepatic and macrovascular shunts are readily visualized with imaging or endoscopy, there is no standard technique to detect intrahepatic microvascular portosystemic shunting and quantitatively assess shunt burden. We present a case of a 53-year-old female with suspected NRH and hepatopulmonary syndrome with inconclusive liver biopsies and absent portosystemic shunts per abdominal imaging. A percutaneous transportal infusion of Technetium-99m labeled macroaggregated albumin (99mTc-MAA) successfully identified intrahepatic microvascular portosystemic shunting and quantified a lung shunt fraction of more than 30%. NRH was subsequently confirmed with a surgical wedge biopsy and the patient was successfuly treated with a liver transplant. Transportal 99mTc-MAA could be used to both identify and quantify otherwise occult microvascular portosystemic shunts in patients with clinical sequelae of portal hypertension.

Percutaneous direct pancreatic duct intervention in management of pancreatic fistulas: a primary treatment or temporizing therapy to prepare for elective surgery.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates preliminary results of image-guided percutaneous direct pancreatic duct intervention in the management of pancreatic fistula after surgery or pancreatitis when initially ineligible for surgical or endoscopic therapy. METHODS: Between 2001 and 2018 the medical records of all patients that underwent percutaneous pancreatic duct intervention for radiographically confirmed pancreatic fistula initially ineligible for surgical or endoscopic repair were reviewed for demographics, clinical history, procedure details, adverse events, procedure related imaging and laboratory results, ability to directly catheterized the main pancreatic duct, and whether desired clinical objectives were met. RESULTS: In 10 of 11patients (6 male and 5 female with mean age 60.5, range 39-89) percutaneous pancreatic duct cannulation was possible. The 10 duct interventions included direct ductal suction drainage in 7, percutaneous duct closure in 3 and stent placement in 1. Pancreatic fistulas closed in 7 of 10, 2 were temporized until elective surgery, and 1 palliated until death from malignancy. The single patient with failed duct cannulation resolved the fistula with prolonged catheter drainage of the peri-pancreatic cavity. There were no major adverse events related to intervention. CONCLUSION: In patients with pancreatic fistulas initially ineligible for endoscopic therapy or elective surgery, direct percutaneous pancreatic duct interventions are possible, can achieve improvement without major morbidity or mortality, and can improve and maintain the medical condition of patients in preparation for definitive surgery.

Increasing Yttrium-90 Dose Conformality Using Proximal Radioembolization Enabled by Distal Angiosomal Truncation for the Treatment of Hepatic Malignancy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate safety and feasibility of improving radiation dose conformality via proximal radioembolization enabled by distal angiosomal truncation where selective administration was not practical. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hepatic malignancies treated via angiosomal truncation between January 2017 and March 2019 were retrospectively evaluated. Thirty-three patients (8 women, 25 men; mean age, 62.2 y; range, 36-78 y) underwent 39 treatments. Of treatments, 74.3% (n = 29) were for hepatocellular carcinomas, 10.2% (n = 4) were for cholangiocarcinomas, and 15.4% (n = 6) were for metastatic tumors (1 colorectal adenocarcinoma, 1 pancreatic adenocarcinoma, 3 melanomas, and 1 endometroid carcinoma). Truncation was achieved using temporary embolic devices including a microvascular plug, detachable coil, gelatin slurry, and balloon microcatheter, after which proximal radioembolization was performed. Range of treatment activity was 0.47-5.75 GBq. Technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin and bremsstrahlung single photon emission computed tomography (CT)/CT threshold analysis was conducted to delineate and compare distribution of activity within the treatment angiosome before and after radioembolization. RESULTS: Dosimetric analysis of 14 patients demonstrated a significant reduction in nontarget liver radiation exposure at 5, 20, and 40% thresholds (P = .002, P = .001, and P = .008, respectively). There were no grade 3 or higher adverse events. There was no significant change in Albumin-Bilirubin grade and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (P = .09 and P = .74) before and 3 months after the procedure. Truncated arteries were patent on subsequent angiography in 11 cases and on MR angiography or CT angiography in 38 of 39 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Proximal radioembolization enabled by distal angiosomal truncation is safe and decreases nontarget parenchymal radioembolization dose in cases not amenable to selective administration.

Transchondral access for irreversible electroporation of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Ablative treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma is standard of care in selected settings and is endorsed by international societal guidelines. Centrally located hepatocellular carcinoma are difficult to treat due to their proximity to vasculature and central bile ducts. Irreversible electroporation is a nonthermal ablation modality that has been shown to preserve the extracellular matrix and is less likely to damage structures such as bile ducts and is not susceptible to vascular heat sink. Successful irreversible electroporation requires the parallel placement of probes which can be prevented by ribs or the sternum. This case report describes the use of the coaxial bone biopsy system to enable transchondral access and facilitate parallel placement of probes during irreversible electroporation IRE for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Intraoperative Irreversible Electroporation in Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: A Guide for the Interventional Radiologist.

Efforts to improve mortality associated with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) have shown minimal gains despite advances in surgical technique, systemic treatments, and radiation therapy. Locoregional therapy with ablation has not been routinely adopted due to the high risk of complications associated with thermal destruction of the pancreas. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is an emerging, nonthermal, ablative technology that has demonstrated the ability to generate controlled ablation of LAPC while preserving pancreatic parenchymal integrity. IRE may be performed percutaneously or via laparotomy and will commonly involve multidisciplinary treatment teams. This article will describe the technical aspects of how multidisciplinary IRE is performed during laparotomy at a single tertiary care institution.

Prognostic factors in patients treated with transarterial radioembolization for unresectable and chemorefractory colorectal cancer with liver metastases.

Background: Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) is used to treat unresectable colorectal cancer with liver metastases (CRCLM). This study aimed to assess survival after TARE and to identify potential prognostic factors in this patient population. Methods: Patients with unresectable and chemorefractory CRCLM treated with TARE at our institution between February 2006 and September 2015 were included in the study. Survival rate, hepatic tumor response, and potential prognostic factors were analyzed. Results: In the 43 study patients, the mean follow-up was 15.0 ± 14.2 months, with a median survival of 13.0 months and 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year survival rates of 52.1%, 24.9%, 21.4%, 21.4%, and 7.1%, respectively. The mean activity of yttrium-90 administered was 1.55 ± 0.28 GBq for the disease-controlled group and 1.19 ± 0.27 GBq for the progressive disease group (p= 0.031). Survival was correlated with Child-Pugh class (p< 0.001), hepatic tumor response (p= 0.001), and baseline carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level (p= 0.013). Conclusion: Child-Pugh class B, low degree of hepatic tumor response, and normal baseline CEA levels are prognostic factors for poorer survival after TARE in patients with unresectable and chemorefractory CRCLM. Hepatic tumor response is related to radiation activity delivered to the liver.

Percutaneous Computed Tomography-Guided Radiotracer-Assisted Localization of Difficult Pulmonary Nodules in Uniportal Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery.

Objective: To report our institutional experience with radiotracer-assisted localization of lung nodules (RALN) in combination with uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (UVATS). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed electronic medical records and radiology images of 27 consecutive adult patients who underwent planned UVATS lung resections combined with RALN from January 2014 to May 2017. Based on preoperative imaging, 29 nondescript nodules were marked with technetium 99 m macroaggregated albumin under computed tomography guidance before resection. Perioperative outcomes were analyzed. Results: All 29 nodules were successfully marked and resected with negative margins by UVATS; 12 (41.5%) were pure ground-glass opacities. Three patients had prior ipsilateral lung resections. There were no conversions to multiport VATS or thoracotomy. The majority (86.5%) of the nodules were malignant. The median nodule size was 8 mm (range: 3-20 mm) and depth, 56 mm (range: 22-150 mm). The majority (21/27; 77.8%) of patients underwent wedge resections alone, while 6 patients had anatomical resections. Median times were as follows: radiotracer injection to surgery, 219 minutes (range: 139-487 minutes); operative time, 85.5 minutes (32-236 minutes); chest tube removal, 1 day (range: 1-2 days); and length of stay, 2 days (range: 1-4 days). Four patients (14.8%) had a pigtail catheter placed for pneumothorax after radiotracer injection. One patient was readmitted 1 week after discharge for a spontaneous pneumothorax. There were no other morbidities or any 90-day mortality. Conclusion: RALN can be combined with UVATS to effectively resect small, deep, or low-density lung lesions that are difficult to visualize or palpate by thoracoscopy.

Image-Guided Renal Intervention.

The role of interventional radiology in the management of renal malignancy has expanded in the past 2 decades, largely because of the efficacy of image-guided ablation in treating renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Clinical guidelines now incorporate ablation into standardized RCC management algorithms. Importantly, both radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation have shown long-term durability in the definitive treatment of RCC, and early outcomes following microwave ablation are equally promising. While selective renal artery embolization has a role in the palliation of select patients with RCC, it can also be used to minimize complications in the ablation of larger renal masses.