Diagnosis and Management of Pelvic Venous Disorders: AJR Expert Panel Narrative Review.

Pelvic venous disorders (PeVD), previously known by various imprecise terms including pelvic congestion syndrome, have historically been underdiagnosed as a cause of chronic pelvic pain (CPP), a significant health problem associated with reduced quality of life. However, progress in the field has helped to provide heightened clarity with respect to definitions relating to PeVD, and evolution in algorithms for PeVD workup and treatment has been accompanied by new insights into the causes of a pelvic venous reservoir and associated symptoms. Ovarian and pelvic vein embolization, as well as endovascular stenting of common iliac vein compression, should be considered as management options for PeVD. Both treatments have been shown to be safe and effective for patients with CPP of venous origin, regardless of age. Current therapeutic protocols for PeVD exhibit significant heterogeneity owing to limited prospective randomized data and evolving understanding of the factors driving successful outcomes; forthcoming clinical trials are anticipated to improve understanding of CPP of venous origin as well as algorithms for PeVD management. This Expert Panel Narrative Review provides a contemporary update relating to PeVD, summarizing the entity's current classification, diagnostic workup, endovascular treatments, management of persistent or recurrent symptoms, and future research directions.

Characterizing the Impact of Women in Academic IR: A 12-Year Analysis.

PURPOSE: To determine the representation of female interventional radiology (IR) investigators and elucidate possible gender-specific disparities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 4,884 original, peer-reviewed articles from 2006-2017 in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology and CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology. Data abstraction and statistical analysis were performed for first and senior author gender, citations, and grants. RESULTS: We found that 84% of first authors and 91.4% of senior authors were male (P < .01). No significant difference was observed versus expected in terms of author gender collaboration combinations (P = 1.00). Each year reflected a 0.3%-0.4% increase in articles published by women (first author: B-value: 0.3, P = .05; senior author: B-value: 0.4, P = .01). No difference was observed in citations or grants received between genders. Female authors received increasing citations and grants each year (citations: first author: B-value: 0.24, P = .05; senior author: B-value: 0.16, P = .15; grants: B-value: 0.88, P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Women are equally as productive as men as determined by metrics such as number of publications, citations, and grants and are proportionally represented in the literature. No data indicating collaborative or citation/grant discrimination were observed, suggesting that the academic IR community is inclusive of its female constituents and equally respects their research contributions. Based on the statistically significant increases in female authorship observed in this 12-year study, this article reports encouraging trends for the future of women in interventional radiology.

Single- versus Triple-Drug Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Comparing Outcomes by Toxicity, Imaging Response, and Survival.

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of single- versus triple-drug chemoembolization for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, as measured by toxicity, tumor response, time to progression (TTP), and overall survival (OS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-center retrospective review was performed on 337 patients who underwent chemoembolization over a 14-year period; 172 patients underwent triple-drug conventional transarterial chemoembolization, and 165 patients underwent single-agent doxorubicin chemoembolization. Imaging characteristics and clinical follow-up after conventional transarterial chemoembolization were evaluated to determine TTP. Imaging response was determined per World Health Organization and European Association for the Study of Liver criteria. OS from time of first chemoembolization was calculated. RESULTS: Median TTP was similar between groups: 7.9 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.1-9.4) and 6.8 months (95% CI, 4.6-8.6) for triple- and single-drug regimens, respectively (P > .05). For single-agent conventional transarterial chemoembolization, median OS varied significantly by Barcelona Clinic for Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage: A, 40.8 months; B, 36.4 months; C, 10.9 months (P < .01). Median OS for triple-drug therapy also varied significantly by BCLC: A, 28.9 months; B, 18.1 months; C, 9.0 months (P < .01). Single-drug conventional transarterial chemoembolization demonstrated longer median OS compared with triple-drug therapy (P < .05) for BCLC A/B patients. CONCLUSIONS: Single-agent chemoembolization with doxorubicin and ethiodized oil demonstrates acceptable efficacy as measured by TTP and OS. Results compare favorably with traditional triple-drug therapy.

A Comparison of Retrievability: Celect versus Option Filter.

PURPOSE: To compare the retrievability of 2 potentially retrievable inferior vena cava filter devices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective, institutional review board-approved study of Celect (Cook, Inc, Bloomington, Indiana) and Option (Rex Medical, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania) filters was conducted over a 33-month period at a single institution. Fluoroscopy time, significant filter tilt, use of adjunctive retrieval technique, and strut perforation in the inferior vena cava were recorded on retrieval. Fisher exact test and Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test were used for comparison. RESULTS: There were 99 Celect and 86 Option filters deployed. After an average of 2.09 months (range, 0.3-7.6 mo) and 1.94 months (range, 0.47-9.13 mo), respectively, 59% (n = 58) of patients with Celect filters and 74.7% (n = 65) of patients with Option filters presented for filter retrieval. Retrieval failure rates were 3.4% for Celect filters versus 7.7% for Option filters (P = .45). Median fluoroscopy retrieval times were 4.25 minutes for Celect filters versus 6 minutes for Option filters (P = .006). Adjunctive retrieval techniques were used in 5.4% of Celect filter retrievals versus 18.3% of Option filter retrievals (P = .045). The incidence of significant tilting was 8.9% for Celect filters versus 16.7% for Option filters (P = .27). The incidence of strut perforation was 43% for Celect filters versus 0% for Option filters (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Retrieval rates for the Celect and Option filters were not significantly different. However, retrieval of the Option filter required a significantly increased amount of fluoroscopy time compared with the Celect filter, and there was a significantly greater usage of adjunctive retrieval techniques for the Option filter. The Celect filter had a significantly higher rate of strut perforation.

The role of iliac vein stent placement in pelvic venous disorder management.

Pelvic venous disease (PeVD) has historically been challenging to diagnose and treat. This paper describes a comprehensive approach to the diagnosis of PeVD and reviews the role of iliac vein stent placement in treatment. Patient selection is vital for non-thrombotic iliac vein lesions (NIVLs) as only a small subset of patients with an NIVL will benefit from stent placement. There is limited, inconclusive data on optimal treatment for patients with both primary ovarian vein reflux and an NIVL. Patients with chronic post-thrombotic outflow obstruction typically have a more favorable risk/benefit ratio for intervention but require anticoagulation and close follow-up due to poorer long-term stent patency. Intravascular ultrasound is a useful tool for identifying obstructive lesions, sizing stents, and planning landing zones. More research is needed to characterize underlying pathophysiology, validate thresholds for intervention, develop reliable methods for outcomes assessment, and determine treatment response. Until this data is produced, an individualized treatment approach is warranted.

Radioembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein thrombosis: impact of liver function on systemic treatment options at disease progression.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Yttrium-90 ((90)Y) radioembolization is a microembolic procedure. Hence, it is commonly used in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal venous thrombosis (PVT). We analyzed liver function, imaging findings, and treatment options (local/systemic) at disease progression following (90)Y treatment in HCC patients with PVT. METHODS: We treated 291 HCC patients with (90)Y radioembolization. From this cohort, we included patients with liver-only disease, PVT and Child-Pugh (CP) score ≤ 7; this identified 63 patients with HCC and PVT (CP-A:35, CP-B7:27). Liver function, CP status, and imaging findings at progression were determined in order to assess potential candidacy for systemic treatment/clinical trials. Survival, time-to-progression (TTP), and time-to-hepatic decompensation analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier methodology. RESULTS: Of 35 CP-A and 28 CP-B7 patients, 29 and 15 progressed, respectively. Median survival and TTP were 13.8 and 5.6 months in CP-A and 6.5 and 4.9 months in CP-B7 patients, respectively. Of the 29 CP-A patients who progressed, 45% maintained their CP status at progression (55% decompensated to CP-B). Of the 15 CP-B7 patients who progressed, 20% improved to CP-A, 20% maintained their CP score and 60% decompensated. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of liver function and CP score of HCC with PVT progressing after (90)Y is critically relevant information, as these patients may be considered for systemic therapy/clinical trials. If a strict CP-A status is mandated, our study demonstrated that 64% of cases exhibited inadequate liver function and were ineligible for systemic therapy/clinical trials. An adjuvant approach using local therapy and systemic agents prior to progression should be investigated.

Yttrium-90 radioembolization for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the toxicity and response to radioembolization with yttrium-90 ((90)Y) glass microspheres in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and existing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: For treatment of unresectable HCC, 12 patients with a patent TIPS underwent a total of 21 infusions of (90)Y. Toxicity within 90 days of treatment was assessed according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE v4.0). Imaging response within the index lesion was assessed using the World Health Organization (WHO) and European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) guidelines. Survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: All patients had a patent TIPS on imaging before treatment. Clinical toxicities included fatigue (83%), encephalopathy (33%), and abdominal pain (25%). Three patients (25%) experienced new grade 3 or 4 bilirubin toxicity. Imaging response was achieved in 50% and 67% of patients according to WHO and EASL criteria. Six patients (50%) went on to liver transplantation. Median survival censored for liver transplantation was 498 days (95% confidence interval [CI],100-800 d), and uncensored median survival was 827 days (95% CI, 250-2,400 d). CONCLUSIONS: (90)Y radioembolization may be a safe and effective treatment for patients with unresectable HCC and existing TIPS. This minimally embolic therapy may be particularly useful as a bridge to curative liver transplantation.

Optional or permanent: clinical factors that optimize inferior vena cava filter utilization.

PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that patient parameters identifiable at the time of inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement can be used to predict the need for a permanent versus optional filter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive institutional database of details and patient parameters for all optional IVC filters placed at a single institution between December 2008 and July 2011 was reviewed. IVC filters were categorized as removed if removal was attempted or as kept permanent if not. Patient parameters (age, sex, history of venous thromboembolism [VTE], presence of neurologic disease or malignancy, indication for filter placement) were compared between groups by multiple logistic regression analysis, and a prediction model based on these parameters was constructed. RESULTS: A total of 265 optional IVC filters were placed and analyzed; 167 were removed and 98 were kept permanent. In the multivariable model predicting filter disposition, significant factors associated with permanence were age (odds ratio [OR], 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.05), male sex (OR, 3.01; 95% CI, 1.64-5.54), underlying malignancy (OR, 3.27; 95% CI, 1.77-6.03), and an indication of anticoagulation failure (OR, 8.12; 95% CI, 1.83-36.0). Significant factors associated with removal were history of VTE (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.21-0.74), prophylactic filter placement indication (OR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.04-0.43), and high-risk VTE (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.15-0.94). The c-statistic for the prediction model based on these parameters was 0.80. CONCLUSIONS: Patient parameters can be used to quantitatively predict an optional IVC filter being kept permanent. These findings can aid in optimization of prospective decision-making in IVC filter placement.

Yttrium-90 radioembolization for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: safety, response, and survival analysis.

PURPOSE: To present data on safety, antitumoral response, and survival following yttrium-90 ((90)Y) radioembolization for patients with unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study expands on the cohort of 24 patients with ICC described in a pilot study, and includes 46 patients treated with (90)Y radioembolization at a single institution during an 8-year period. Via retrospective review of a prospectively collected database, patients were stratified by performance status, tumor distribution (solitary or multifocal), tumor morphology (infiltrative or peripheral), and presence/absence of portal vein thrombosis. Primary endpoints included biochemical and clinical toxicities, and secondary endpoints included imaging response (World Health Organization [WHO] and European Association for the Study of Liver Disease [EASL] criteria) and survival. Uni-/multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: Ninety-two treatments were performed, with a mean of two per patient. Fatigue and transient abdominal pain occurred in 25 patients (54%) and 13 patients (28%), respectively. Treatment-related gastroduodenal ulcer developed in one patient (2%). WHO imaging findings included partial response (n = 11; 25%), stable disease (n = 33; 73%), and progressive disease (n = 1; 2%). EASL imaging findings included partial/complete response (n = 33; 73%) and stable disease (n = 12; 27%). Survival varied based on presence of multifocal (5.7 mo vs 14.6 mo), infiltrative (6.1 mo vs 15.6 mo), and bilobar disease (10.9 mo vs 11.7 mo). Disease was converted to resectable status in five patients, who successfully underwent curative (ie, R0) resection. CONCLUSIONS: Radioembolization with (90)Y is safe and demonstrates antitumoral response and survival benefit in select patients with ICC. Results are most pronounced in patients with solitary tumors, for whom conversion to curative resection is possible.

Prospective evaluation of patients with early-/intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma with disease progression following arterial locoregional therapy: candidacy for systemic treatment or clinical trials.

PURPOSE: During the course of cancer treatment, patients whose disease progresses despite therapy are offered alternative options. Similarly, patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) whose disease progresses following arterial locoregional therapies (LRTs) cross over to undergo systemic therapies or participate in clinical trials. Per current guidelines, patients must meet inclusion criteria (most importantly Child-Pugh class A status) to qualify for systemic options. The present study analyzed the candidacy for systemic agents or clinical trials of patients whose disease progresses despite LRTs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 245 patients with HCC were treated with LRTs (chemoembolization, n = 123; yttrium-90 [(90)Y] radioembolization, n = 122) as part of a previously published comparative effectiveness study; 96 patients exhibiting disease progression were followed prospectively. Modes of progression (cancer stage, Child-Pugh class) were analyzed to determine candidacy for systemic therapy or clinical trials, as well as assess ultimate treatment(s) received. RESULTS: Among the 96 patients with disease progression, 52% and 48% had Child-Pugh class A and class B/C disease, respectively, thereby substantially limiting the latter group's eligibility for systemic therapy and/or clinical trials. Of those whose disease progressed who had advanced-stage HCC, 63% had Child-Pugh class B/C disease. By size and necrosis criteria, the local disease progression rate was higher with chemoembolization than with (90)Y radioembolization (P = .006 and P = .016, respectively). Of the 96 patients with disease progression, only 13 (13%) ultimately received systemic agents or entered clinical trials. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with advanced HCC that progresses following LRTs were not candidates for clinical trials or systemic agents. There is a need for future research efforts directed at treatment options or novel trial designs that will permit inclusion of patients with progressive liver disease and suboptimal liver function.

Cancer concepts and principles: primer for the interventional oncologist-part I.

A sophisticated understanding of the rapidly changing field of oncology, including a broad knowledge of oncologic disease and the therapies available to treat them, is fundamental to the interventional radiologist providing oncologic therapies, and is necessary to affirm interventional oncology as one of the four pillars of cancer care alongside medical, surgical, and radiation oncology. The first part of this review intends to provide a concise overview of the fundamentals of oncologic clinical trials, including trial design, methods to assess therapeutic response, common statistical analyses, and the levels of evidence provided by clinical trials.

Cancer concepts and principles: primer for the interventional oncologist-part II.

This is the second of a two-part overview of the fundamentals of oncology for interventional radiologists. The first part focused on clinical trials, basic statistics, assessment of response, and overall concepts in oncology. This second part aims to review the methods of tumor characterization; principles of the oncology specialties, including medical, surgical, radiation, and interventional oncology; and current treatment paradigms for the most common cancers encountered in interventional oncology, along with the levels of evidence that guide these treatments.

Radiographic response to locoregional therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma predicts patient survival times.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: It is not clear whether survival times of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are associated with their response to therapy. We analyzed the association between tumor response and survival times of patients with HCC who were treated with locoregional therapies (LRTs) (chemoembolization and radioembolization). METHODS: Patients received LRTs over a 9-year period (n = 463). Patients with metastases, portal venous thrombosis, or who had received transplants were excluded; 159 patients with Child-Pugh B7 or lower were analyzed. Response (based on European Association for the Study of the Liver [EASL] and World Health Organization [WHO] criteria) was associated with survival times using the landmark, risk-of-death, and Mantel-Byar methodologies. In a subanalysis, survival times of responders were compared with those of patients with stable disease and progressive disease. RESULTS: Based on 6-month data, in landmark analysis, responders survived longer than nonresponders (based on EASL but not WHO criteria: P = .002 and .0694). The risk of death was also lower for responders (based on EASL but not WHO criteria: P = .0463 and .707). Landmark analysis of 12-month data showed that responders survived longer than nonresponders (P < .0001 and .004, based on EASL and WHO criteria, respectively). The risk of death was lower for responders (P = .0132 and .010, based on EASL and WHO criteria, respectively). By the Mantel-Byar method, responders had longer survival than nonresponders, based on EASL criteria (P < .0001; P = .596 with WHO criteria). In the subanalysis, responders lived longer than patients with stable disease or progressive disease. CONCLUSIONS: Radiographic response to LRTs predicts survival time. EASL criteria for response more consistently predicted survival times than WHO criteria. The goal of LRT should be to achieve a radiologic response, rather than to stabilize disease.

Radioembolization results in longer time-to-progression and reduced toxicity compared with chemoembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Chemoembolization is one of several standards of care treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Radioembolization with Yttrium-90 microspheres is a novel, transarterial approach to radiation therapy. We performed a comparative effectiveness analysis of these therapies in patients with HCC. METHODS: We collected data from 463 patients who were treated with transarterial locoregional therapies (chemoembolization or radioembolization) over a 9-year period. We excluded patients who were not appropriate for comparison and analyzed data from 245 (122 who received chemoembolization and 123 who received radioembolization). Patients were followed for signs of toxicity; all underwent imaging analysis at baseline and follow-up time points. Overall survival was the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcomes included safety, response rate, and time-to-progression. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: Abdominal pain and increased transaminase activity were more frequent following chemoembolization (P < .05). There was a trend that patients treated with radioembolization had a higher response rate than with chemoembolization (49% vs 36%, respectively, P = .104). Although time-to-progression was longer following radioembolization than chemoembolization (13.3 months vs 8.4 months, respectively, P = .046), median survival times were not statistically different (20.5 months vs 17.4 months, respectively, P = .232). Among patients with intermediate-stage disease, survival was similar between groups that received chemoembolization (17.5 months) and radioembolization (17.2 months, P = .42). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HCC treated by chemoembolization or radioembolization with Yttrium-90 microspheres had similar survival times. Radioembolization resulted in longer time-to-progression and less toxicity than chemoembolization. Post hoc analyses of sample size indicated that a randomized study with > 1000 patients would be required to establish equivalence of survival times between patients treated with these two therapies.

Fibrin cap disruption: an adjunctive technique for inferior vena cava filter retrieval.

Various adjunctive techniques have been reported for challenging inferior vena cava (IVC) filter retrievals (1-4). One particularly challenging obstacle to successful IVC filter retrieval is the formation of a radiolucent fibrin cap over the embedded apex of the IVC filter. This obstacle is a result of filter tilting that creates turbulent blood flow, which promotes fibrin cap formation. The aim of this brief report is to depict a novel technique for IVC filter retrieval: guide wire-manipulated disruption of the fibrin cap.

Role of the EASL, RECIST, and WHO response guidelines alone or in combination for hepatocellular carcinoma: radiologic-pathologic correlation.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: We sought to study receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for assessing response following locoregional therapies individually and in various combinations. METHODS: Eighty-one patients with hepatocellular carcinoma underwent liver explantation following locoregional therapies. Response was assessed using EASL, RECIST, and WHO. Kappa statistics were used to determine inter-method agreement. Uni/multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the variables predicting complete pathologic necrosis. Numerical values were assigned to the response classes: complete response=0, partial response=1, stable disease=2, and progressive disease=3. Various mathematical combinations of EASL and WHO were tested to calculate scores and their ROCs were studied using pathological examination of the explant as the gold standard. RESULTS: Median times (95% CI) to the WHO, RECIST, and EASL responses were 5.3 (4-11.5), 5.6 (4-11.5), and 1.3months (1.2-1.5), respectively. Kappa coefficients for WHO/RECIST, WHO/EASL, and RECIST/EASL were 0.78, 0.28, and 0.31, respectively. EASL response demonstrated significant odds ratios for predicting complete pathologic necrosis on uni/multivariate analyses. Calculated areas under the ROC curves were: RECIST: 0.63, WHO: 0.68, EASL: 0.82, EASL+WHO: 0.82, EASL×WHO: 0.85, EASL+(2×WHO): 0.79 and (2×EASL)+WHO: 0.85. An EASL×WHO Score of ⩽1 had 90.2% sensitivity for predicting complete pathologic necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: The product of WHO and EASL demonstrated better ROC than the individual guidelines for assessment of tumor response. EASL×WHO scoring system provides a simple and clinically applicable method of response assessment following locoregional therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Radioembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma using Yttrium-90 microspheres: a comprehensive report of long-term outcomes.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has limited treatment options; long-term outcomes following intra-arterial radiation are unknown. We assessed clinical outcomes of patients treated with intra-arterial yttrium-90 microspheres (Y90). METHODS: Patients with HCC (n = 291) were treated with Y90 as part of a single-center, prospective, longitudinal cohort study. Toxicities were recorded using the Common Terminology Criteria version 3.0. Response rate and time to progression (TTP) were determined using World Health Organization (WHO) and European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) guidelines. Survival by stage was assessed. Univariate/multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 526 treatments were administered (mean, 1.8; range, 1-5). Toxicities included fatigue (57%), pain (23%), and nausea/vomiting (20%); 19% exhibited grade 3/4 bilirubin toxicity. The 30-day mortality rate was 3%. Response rates were 42% and 57% based on WHO and EASL criteria, respectively. The overall TTP was 7.9 months (95% confidence interval, 6-10.3). Survival times differed between patients with Child-Pugh A and B disease (A, 17.2 months; B, 7.7 months; P = .002). Patients with Child-Pugh B disease who had portal vein thrombosis (PVT) survived 5.6 months (95% confidence interval, 4.5-6.7). Baseline age; sex; performance status; presence of portal hypertension; tumor distribution; levels of bilirubin, albumin, and alpha-fetoprotein; and WHO/EASL response rate predicted survival. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with Child-Pugh A disease, with or without PVT, benefited most from treatment. Patients with Child-Pugh B disease who had PVT had poor outcomes. TTP and overall survival varied by patient stage at baseline. These data can be used to design future Y90 trials and to describe Y90 as a potential treatment option for patients with HCC.

Radioembolization complicated by dissection of the common femoral artery.

The common femoral artery is the most frequently used access site for angiographic procedures in interventional radiology. Potential complications of common femoral arteriotomy include hematoma formation, pseudoaneurysm, uncontrolled groin or retroperitoneal bleeding, acute arterial occlusion, dissection, and arteriovenous fistula formation. In a case such as the one described here, with a common femoral artery dissection with intraluminal thrombus and vessel occlusion, the complication may have occurred at the time of access or at the time of closure, with both procedure-associated and patient-specific risk factors affecting the overall risk of complications. Though some studies have shown an increased risk of complications with the use of arterial closure devices, others have found no increase. In any patient with symptoms following a femoral arteriotomy, rapid diagnosis and treatment is necessary to avoid further complications. Both patient-specific and procedure-associated risk factors should be considered prior to arteriotomy and usage of an arterial closure device.

Hepatic transcatheter arterial chemoembolization complicated by postembolization syndrome.

Postembolization syndrome (PES) is a common complication after embolic procedures, and it is a frequent cause of extended inpatient hospital admissions. PES is a self-limited constellation of symptoms consisting of fevers, unremitting nausea, general malaise, loss of appetite, and variable abdominal pain following the procedure. Although a definite cause is unknown, this syndrome is thought to be a result of therapeutic cytotoxicity, tumor ischemia, and resulting intrahepatic and extrahepatic inflammation. The authors report a case of PES precipitated by transcatheter intrarterial chemoembolization of hepatic metastases.

Chemoembolization with drug-eluting beads complicated by intrahepatic biloma.

Chemoembolization with drug-eluting beads is a type of locoregional therapy currently being used for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic disease to the liver. This treatment has proven effectiveness in controlling tumor growth, extending survival time, and improving quality of life. Chemoembolization with drug-eluting beads have been shown to be safe, but like any other invasive procedure, can have associated complications. The authors present a case of intrahepatic biloma formation occurring as a result of treatment with drug-eluting beads.