Metodologías de Medición de Volumetría Hepática / Methodologies For Measuring Hepatic Volumetry

Lograr determinar el volumen total de un hígado (VHT), o volumetría hepática, pasa a ser de relevancia en diversas situaciones, tales como, vigilancia del progreso de una enfermedad de carácter crónico, planificación de resecciones y trasplantes hepáticos; y observación del clearance hepático de algunos fármacos hepatotropos. La VHT se puede realizar utilizando métodos de segmentación en el curso de una tomografía computarizada (TC), ya sean estos manual, automáticos, y semiautomáticos; mediante resonancia nuclear (RN), utilizando softwares de distintas generaciones (1ª a 4ª). La medición de VHT está indicada en pacientes sometidos a resecciones hepáticas mayores, en el contexto del tratamiento de neoplasias (carcinoma hepatocelular, colangiocarcinoma, metástasis hepáticas o tumores benignos de gran tamaño), abscesos (piogénicos, amebianos), y después de un traumatismo hepático complejo; así como también en la etapa preoperatoria de un trasplante hepático. El objetivo de este manuscrito fue generar un documento de estudio sobre métodos para determinar volumetría hepática.

SUMMARY: Being able to determine the total hepatic volume (THV), or THV, becomes relevant in various situations, such as monitoring the progress of a chronic disease, planning resections and liver transplants; and observation of the hepatic clearance of some hepatotropic drugs. THV can be performed using segmentation methods in the course of a computed tomography (CT), whether manual, automatic, or semi-automated; by nuclear resonance (NR), using software from different generations (1st to 4st). THV measurement is indicated in patients undergoing major liver resections, in the context of treatment of neoplasms (hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, liver metastases or large benign tumors), abscesses (pyogenic, amoebic), and after liver trauma complex, as well as in the preoperative stage of a liver transplant. The aim of this manuscript was to generate a study document regarding methods for determine hepatic volumetry.

Economic burden of liver disease in Colombia

Introduction: Liver diseases have a significant impact on global morbidity and mortality rates, primarily attributed to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the true extent of their impact on patients, healthcare systems, and countries is often underestimated. Materials and methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study aimed to determine the economic burden associated with premature deaths caused by cirrhosis and primary liver cancer. The economic assessment was conducted by analyzing potentially productive years of life lost (PPYLL) due to liver diseases in Colombia between 2009 and 2016. Results and conclusions: The total burden of liver disease accounted for 687,861 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Men experienced a higher number of years of life lost from mortality (YLL), while women had a greater number of years lived with a disability (YLD). The economic burden of deaths caused by cirrhosis and primary liver cancer exceeded USD 8.6 million, highlighting the urgency to enhance intervention strategies ranging from promotion and prevention to timely diagnosis and treatment.

Introducción: la enfermedad hepática representa una de las principales causas de morbimortalidad a nivel mundial, principalmente por cirrosis y hepatocarcinoma; sin embargo, se subestima su impacto para el paciente, sistema de salud y el país. Materiales y métodos: estudio descriptivo de corte transversal que determinó la carga económica asociada a las muertes prematuras por cirrosis y tumores primarios del hígado, mediante la valoración económica de los años productivos de vida potencialmente perdidos (APVPP) en Colombia y de enfermedad hepática en Colombia entre 2009 y 2016. Resultados y conclusiones: la carga total de enfermedad hepática representó 687,861 años de vida saludable perdidos ajustados por discapacidad (AVAD), los hombres con mayores años de vida perdidos por muerte prematura (APMP) y las mujeres con mayores años vividos con discapacidad (AVD). Las muertes por cirrosis y tumores primarios del hígado representan una carga económica que supera los 8,6 millones de dólares, lo cual refleja la necesidad de fortalecer las estrategias de intervención desde la promoción y prevención hasta el diagnóstico y tratamiento oportuno.

The clinical effect of stereotactic radiation therapy combined with sorafenib in the treatment of primary hepatic cancer / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of stereotactic radiation therapy combined with sorafenib in the treatment of primary hepatic cancer (PHC).Methods:Ninety-two PHC patients admitted to Cancer Hospital of China Medical University from January 2017 to May 2018 were selected and divided into the observation group and the control group according to the random number table method, with 46 cases in each group. The control group was treated with stereotactic radiation therapy, and the observation group was treated with sorafenib on the basis of the control group. Clinical efficacy and incidence of adverse reactions in the two groups were compared; the scores of Karnofsky performance scale (KPS) and the levels of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), hypoxia-inducing factor (HIF-1α), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), transforming growth factor (TGF-β1) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) before and after the treatment between the two groups were compared. The overall survival (OS) of patients in both groups was recorded after 36 months of follow-up.Results:The total effective rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group: 84.78%(39/46) vs. 65.22%(30/46), there was statistical difference ( χ2 = 4.70, P<0.05). After the treatment, the score of KPS in the observation group was higher than that in the control group: (85.06 ± 7.19) scores vs. (71.16 ± 7.08) scores; the levels of VEGF, bFGF, HIF-1α, AFP, TGF-β1, sIL-2R in the observation group were lower than those in the control group: (189.52 ± 31.47) ng/L vs. (235.81 ± 35.45) ng/L, (3.89 ± 0.97) ng/L vs. (6.74 ± 1.85) ng/L, (50.17 ± 6.09) ng/L vs. (53.07 ± 6.28) ng/L, (85.76 ± 14.09) μg/L vs. (131.51 ± 18.74) μg/L, (81.07 ± 12.96) μg/L vs. (106.58 ± 15.07) μg/L, (311.58 ± 74.81) kU/L vs. (405.97 ± 85.74) kU/L, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). The results of 36 months follow-up showed that the 1-year and 3-year OS in the observation group were higher than those in the control group: 69.57% (32/46) vs. 58.70% (27/46), 43.47% (20/46) vs. 28.26 %(13/46), there were significant differences ( χ2 = 4.78, 3.94, P<0.05). Conclusions:Stereotactic radiation therapy combined with sorafenib can effectively improve the efficacy of PHC patients, reduce the expression of VEGF and bFGF, effectively inhibit tumor growth, but also prolong the survival time of patients, with both safety and high effectiveness, and good use value.

Risk factors for posthepatectomy liver failure in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and construction of prediction model / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the risk factors for posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and construction of prediction model.Methods:The retrospective case-control study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 116 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent hepatectomy in the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China from January 2019 to January 2022 were collected. There were 99 males and 17 females, aged (59±10)years. Observation indicators: (1) occurrence of PHLF; (2) analysis of factors influencing the occurrence of PHLF; (3) construction and evaluation of prediction model for PHLF. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distri-bution were represented as M( Q1, Q3), and comparison between groups was conducted using the rank sum test. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. The univariate analysis was conducted using the corresponding statistical methods based on data type. Multivariate analysis was conducted using the Logistic regression model with forward method. The regression coefficient was used to construct the prediction model. The receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn, and the area under curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the predictive ability of prediction model. Results:(1) Occurrence of PHLF. Of the 116 patients, there were 27 cases with PHLF and 89 cases without PHLF, respectively. Of the 27 patients with PHLF, 13 cases underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy and 14 cases underwent open hepatectomy. (2) Analysis of factors influencing the occurrence of PHLF. Results of multivariate analysis showed preoperative portal vein tumor thrombus and preoperative indocyanine green retention at 15 minutes (ICG R15) ≥10% were independent risk factors influencing the occurrence of PHLF ( odds ratio=13.463, 4.702, 95% confidence interval as 3.140-57.650, 1.600-13.800, P<0.05). (3) Construction and evaluation of prediction model for PHLF. According to the multivariate analysis, preoperative portal vein tumor thrombus and preoperative ICG R15 were included to construct the prediction model for predicting the occurrence of PHLF in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The AUC, sensitivity, specificity of prediction model was 0.750 (95% confidence interval as 0.654-0.846, P<0.05), 0.551, 0.852, respectively. Conclusions:Preoperative portal vein tumor thrombus and preoperative ICG R15 ≥10% are independent risk factors influen-cing the occurrence of PHLF. The prediction model based on these two factors has good efficacy in predicting PHLF of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Application value of cystic plate approach for extrahepatic right hepatic pedicle dissection in minimally invasive anatomic liver resection / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the application value of cystic plate approach (CPA) for extrahepatic right hepatic pedicle dissection in minimally invasive anatomical hepatectomy (MIALR).Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 42 patients with primary liver cancer who underwent laparoscopic right hemi-hepatectomy in Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University from August 2020 to August 2022 were collected. There were 36 males and 6 females, aged (55±13)years. Of the 42 patients, 25 cases undergoing CPA for extrahepatic right hepatic pedicle dissection were divided into the CPA group, and 17 cases undergoing traditional approach for extrahepatic right hepatic pedicle dissection were divided into the traditional approach group. Observation indicators: (1) surgical situations; (2) postoperative situations. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M( IQR), and comparison between groups was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Comparison of ordinal data was conducted using the non‐parameter rank sum test. Results:(1) Surgical situations. All patients in the two groups underwent laparos-copic right hemi-hepatectomy successfully, with the surgical margin as negative. The operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, time of dissection of the targeted hepatic pedicle, cases under-going dissection of the trunk of right anterior hepatic pedicle and its operation time, cases under-going dissection of the trunk of right posterior hepatic pedicle and its operation time, cases with hepatic pedicle injury, cases with hepatic tissue injury, cases with dissection space as large and small were 150.00(130.00)minutes, 100.00(100.00)mL, 472.00(201.00)seconds, 10 and 366.00(94.75)seconds, 9 and 564.00(138.50)seconds, 2, 2, 25, 0 in patients of the CPA group, versus 140.00(113.00)minutes, 100.00(125.00)mL, 670.00(107.00)seconds, 8 and 663.00(136.00)seconds, 7 and 783.00(189.00)seconds, 8, 5, 2, 19 in patients of the traditional approach group. There were significant differences in the time of dissection of the targeted hepatic pedicle, time of dissection of the trunk of right anterior hepatic pedicle, time of dissection of the trunk of right posterior hepatic pedicle, hepatic pedicle injury, dissection space between the two groups ( Z=-4.809, -3.254, -3.188, χ2=6.493, 34.314, P<0.05) and there was no significant difference in the operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, dissection of the trunk of right anterior hepatic pedicle, dissection of the trunk of right posterior hepatic pedicle, hepatic tissue injury between the two groups ( Z=-0.282, -0.412, χ2=0.095, 0.002, 1.976, P>0.05). (2) Postoperative situations. There was no patient under-going postoperative hemorrhage in both of the two groups. The alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin (TBil) and prothrombin time (PT) at postoperative day 3, cases with postoperative biliary fistula, pathological type of tumor (hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma) were 68.00(48.50)U/L, 52.00(35.50)U/L, 28.30(12.35)mmol/L, 12.40(2.40)seconds, 2, 21, 4 in patients of the CPA group. The above indicators were 58.00(25.00)U/L, 41.00(19.50)U/L, 26.80(14.25)mmol/L, 12.50(2.95)seconds, 5, 15, 2 in patients of the traditional approach group. There was no significant difference in the ALT, AST, TBil, PT at postoperative day 3, postoperative biliary fistula between the two groups ( Z=-1.218, -1.488, -0.205, -0.320, χ2=1.976, P>0.05), and there was no significant difference in the pathological type of tumor between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Application of CPA for extrahepatic right hepatic pedicle dissection in MIALR is safe and feasible.

Safety of minimally invasive liver resection for resectable hepatocellular carcinoma complica-ted with portal hypertension: a multicenter study / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the safety of minimally invasive liver resection for resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) complicated with portal hypertension.Methods:The propensity score matching and retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 807 patients with resectable HCC who underwent minimally invasive liver resection in 8 medical centers, including Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Affiliated with the Zhejiang University School of Medicine et al, from June 2011 to November 2022 were collected. There were 670 males and 137 females, aged 58(50,66)years. Of the 807 patients, 173 cases with portal hypertension were divided into the portal hypertension group, and 634 cases without portal hypertension were divided into the non-portal hypertension group. Observation indicators: (1) propensity score matching and comparison of general data of patients between the two groups after matching; (2) intraoperative and post-operative situations; (3) subgroup analysis. Propensity score matching was done by the 1:1 nearest neighbor matching method, with the caliper setting as 0.001. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M( Q1, Q3), and comparison between groups was conducted using the rank sum test. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Comparison of ordinal data was constructed using the non-parameter rank sun test. Results:(1) Propensity score matching and comparison of general data of patients between the two groups after matching. Of the 807 patients, 268 cases were successfully matched, including 134 cases in the portal hypertension group and 134 cases in the non-portal hypertension group. The elimination of the tumor diameter and robot-assisted surgery confounding bias ensured comparability between the two groups after propensity score matching. (2) Intraoperative and postoperative situations. The occlusion time of porta hepatis, cases with intraoperative blood transfusion, cases with postoperative complication, cases with complication >Ⅱ grade of Clavien-Dindo classification, cases of Clavien-Dindo classification as Ⅰ grade, Ⅱ grade, Ⅲ grade, Ⅳ grade, cases with liver related complication were 27.0(15.0,43.0)minutes, 33, 55, 15, 13, 29, 14, 1, 37 in the portal hypertension group, versus 35.0(22.0,60.0)minutes, 17, 25, 5, 14, 9, 4, 1, 13 in the non-portal hypertension group, showing significant differences in the above indicators between the two groups ( Z=-2.15, χ2=6.30, 16.39, 4.38, 20.72, 14.16, P<0.05). (3) Subgroup analysis. Results of subgroups analysis showed that in cases with major live resection, the operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, duration of postoperative hospital stay were 243.5(174.6,296.3)minutes, 200.0(150.0,600.0)mL, 7.5(6.0,13.0)days in the portal hypertension group, versus 270.0(180.0,314.5)minutes, 200.0 (75.0,450.0)mL, 7.0(5.5,10.0)days in the non-portal hypertension group, showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( Z=-0.54, -1.73, -0.92, P>0.05). In cases with non-major live resection, the operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, duration of postoperative hospital stay were 170.0(120.0,227.5)minutes, 100.0(50.0,200.0)mL, 8.0(5.0,10.0)days in the portal hypertension group, versus 170.0(120.0,227.5)minutes, 100.0(50.0,200.0)mL, 7.0(5.5,9.0)days in the non-portal hypertension group, showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( Z=-1.39, -0.10, 1.05, P>0.05). In cases with anatomical liver resection, the operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, duration of postoperative hospital stay were 210.0(150.0,285.0)minutes, 150.0(50.0,200.0)mL, 8.0(6.0,9.3)days in the portal hypertension group, versus 225.5(146.3,306.8)minutes, 100.0(50.0,250.0)mL, 7.0(6.0,9.0)days in the non-portal hypertension group, showing no significant difference in the above indica-tors between the two groups ( Z=-0.75, -0.26, -0.91, P>0.05). In cases with non-anatomical liver resection, the operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, duration of postoperative hospital stay were 173.5(120.0,231.5)minutes, 175.0(50.0,300.0)mL, 7.0(5.0,11.0)days in the portal hyper-tension group, versus 186.0(123.0,262.5)minutes, 100.0(50.0,200.0)mL, 7.0(5.0,9.5)days in the non-portal hypertension group, showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( Z=-0.97, -1.12, -0.98, P>0.05). Conclusion:Minimally invasive liver resection or even major liver resection is safe and feasible for screened HCC patients complicated with portal hyper-tension, but attention should be paid to the prevention and treatment of postoperative complications.

Application of the left side hepatic parenchymal transection-first approach in laparoscopic central tumor anatomical hepatectomy / 中华消化外科杂志

Acting as a difficult and high risk procedure in the operation, laparoscopic central tumor anatomical hepatectomy possesses various technical points that shall be noted in the process of application. The choice of laparoscopic approach has been recognized to be one of the key technical links for this technique. According to the anatomical characteristics of the middle lobe of liver and "Easy first" strategy, the authors summarize the laparoscopic central tumor anatomical hepatectomy technology with left side hepatic parenchymal transection-first approach. The left side hepatic parenchymal transection-first approach is found to be simple, fast, safe and effective in operation, which overcomes the challenges of complicated target Glisson pedicle operation and high technical risk of laparoscopic anatomical hepatectomy. The approach also better complies with the "no-touch" principle for malignant tumors. Significantly, it exhibits clinical application value in laparoscopic central tumor anatomical hepatectomy.

Application value of cystic plate approach for extrahepatic right hepatic pedicle dissection in minimally invasive anatomic liver resection / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the application value of cystic plate approach (CPA) for extrahepatic right hepatic pedicle dissection in minimally invasive anatomical hepatectomy (MIALR).Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 42 patients with primary liver cancer who underwent laparoscopic right hemi-hepatectomy in Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University from August 2020 to August 2022 were collected. There were 36 males and 6 females, aged (55±13)years. Of the 42 patients, 25 cases undergoing CPA for extrahepatic right hepatic pedicle dissection were divided into the CPA group, and 17 cases undergoing traditional approach for extrahepatic right hepatic pedicle dissection were divided into the traditional approach group. Observation indicators: (1) surgical situations; (2) postoperative situations. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M( IQR), and comparison between groups was conducted using the Mann?Whitney U test. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi?square test or Fisher exact probability. Comparison of ordinal data was conducted using the non‐parameter rank sum test. Results:(1) Surgical situations. All patients in the two groups underwent laparoscopic right hemi-hepatectomy successfully, with the surgical margin as negative. The operative time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, time of dissection of the targeted hepatic pedicle, cases undergoing dissection of the trunk of right anterior hepatic pedicle and its operation time, cases undergoing dissection of the trunk of right posterior hepatic pedicle and its operation time, cases with hepatic pedicle injury, cases with hepatic tissue injury, cases with dissection space as large and small were 150.00(130.00)minutes, 100.00(100.00)mL, 472.00(201.00)seconds, 10 and 366.00(94.75)seconds, 9 and 564.00(138.50)seconds, 2, 2, 25, 0 in patients of the CPA group, versus 140.00(113.00)minutes, 100.00(125.00)mL, 670.00(107.00)seconds, 8 and 663.00(136.00)seconds, 7 and 783.00(189.00)seconds, 8, 5, 2, 19 in patients of the traditional approach group. There were significant differences in the time of dissection of the targeted hepatic pedicle, time of dissection of the trunk of right anterior hepatic pedicle, time of dissection of the trunk of right posterior hepatic pedicle, hepatic tissue injury, dissection space between the two groups ( Z=-4.809, -3.254, -3.188, χ2=6.493, 34.314, P<0.05) and there was no significant difference in the operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, dissection of the trunk of right anterior hepatic pedicle, dissection of the trunk of right posterior hepatic pedicle, hepatic tissue injury between the two groups ( Z=-0.282, -0.412, χ2=0.095, 0.002, 1.976, P>0.05). (2) Postoperative situations. There was no patient undergoing postoperative hemorrhage in both of the two groups. The alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin (TBil) and prothrombin time (PT) at postoperative day 3, cases with postoperative biliary fistula, pathological type of tumor (hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma) were 68.00(48.50)U/L, 52.00(35.50)U/L, 28.30(12.35)mmol/L, 12.40(2.40)seconds, 2, 21, 4 in patients of the CPA group. The above indicators were 58.00(25.00)U/L, 41.00(19.50)U/L, 26.80(14.25)mmol/L, 12.50(2.95)seconds, 5, 15, 2 in patients of the traditional approach group. There was no significant difference in the ALT, AST, TBil, PT at postoperative day 3, cases with postoperative biliary fistula between the two groups ( Z=-1.218, -1.488, -0.205, -0.320, χ2=1.976, P>0.05), and there was no significant difference in the pathological type of tumor between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Application of CPA for extrahepatic right hepatic pedicle dissection in MIALR is safe and feasible.

Role of platelets in the malignant progression of hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华消化外科杂志

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary hepatic malign-ancy in clinic. The prognosis of patients remains extremely poor because of the high malignancy and easy recurrence and metastasis of HCC. In recent years, the roles of platelets in promoting the malignant progression of HCC have increasingly attracted much attention. It is known that platelets could promote HCC cells proliferation and invasion through tumor microenvironment. On the other hand, platelets are capable to promote HCC cells distant metastasis by facilitating tumor cells evasion of immune surveillance. Besides, the platelet-derived growth factors and proangiogenic factors are also involved in the proliferation, invasiveness, and neovascularization of HCC. In addition, patients with HCC normally have a background of cirrhosis, and it is still controversial that whether the thrombocytopenia by portal hypertension and hypersplenism can promote the malignant progress of HCC. In view of this, the diagnostic and prognostic value of platelet levels, as well as platelet-associated scores in HCC have increasingly become research focus. The authors elaborate the detailed mechanisms of platelets in malignant progression of HCC, and discuss the recent research progress of platelets as effective diagnostic or prognostic tools for the assessment of HCC, which is of great importance to optimize the current treatment regimen and explore novel therapeutic strategies against HCC.

Clinical efficacy of immunotherapy plus target therapy for preventing postoperative recurr-ence of hepatocellular carcinoma after associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy / 中华消化外科杂志

Surgical resection in patients with advanced primary carcinoma of liver has high risks of early recurrence and incidence of portal vein tumor thrombus, caused by insufficient resi-dual liver volume after two-steps hepatotomy. At present, the treatment for patients with advanced primary carcinoma of liver is limited, thus can't satisfy the requirement of patient for treatment. The authors introduce the clinical experience of a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma and insufficient residual liver volume who underwent preventive immunotherapy plus target therapy after associa-ting liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy, in order to provide reference for relevant treatment.

The value of preoperative inflammatory markers in predicting recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the value of aspartate aminotransferase/lymphocyte ratio (ALR), γ-glutamyltranspeptidase/lymphocyte ratio (GLR) and aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR) in predicting the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 178 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent liver transplantation in Tianjin First Central Hospital from July 2014 to June 2018 were collected. There were 156 males and 22 females, aged (54±9)years. All patients received the first time of orthotopic liver transplantation. Observation indicators: (1) follow-up; (2) the predictive value and cutoff value of each index for tumor recur-rence of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation; (3) analysis of risk factors for tumor recurrence of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation; (4) cons-truction and evaluation of the predictive model for tumor recurrence of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range), and comparison between groups was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Count data were expressed as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw survival curve and the Log-rank test was used for survival analysis. Factors with P<0.05 in univariate analysis were included in multivariate analysis. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were performed by COX proportional risk regression model with forward method. The regression coefficient was used to build the prediction model. The receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn, and the area under curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the predictive ability of prediction model. Results:(1) Follow-up. All 178 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were followed up for 36(range, 1?74)months after liver transplantation. During the follow-up, there were 41 patients died, 61 patients with tumor recurrence and 117 cases without tumor recurrence. The 3-, 5-year overall survival rates and 3-, 5-year tumor recurrence free survival rates of patients after liver transplantation were 72.8%, 69.9% and 57.3%, 52.8%, respectively. (2) The predictive value and cutoff value of each index for tumor recurrence of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation. The AUC of preoperative serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP), tumor diameter, ALR, GLR, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, AAR in recipients were 0.76, 0.70, 0.69, 0.65, 0.64, 0.65 (95% confidence interval as 0.68?0.83, 0.61?0.79, 0.61?0.77, 0.57?0.74, 0.56?0.73, 0.56?0.74, P<0.05), and the corresponding best cutoff value of each index were 228.00 μg/L, 5.25 cm, 92.90, 122.40, 3.00, 2.42. (3) Analysis of risk factors for tumor recurrence of patients with hepato-cellular carcinoma after liver transplantation. Results of multivariate analysis showed the preoperative serum AFP >228.88 μg/L, number of tumor as multiple, tumor diameter >5.25 cm, ALR >92.90, AAR >2.42 were indepen-dent risk factors for tumor recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation ( hazard ratio=3.13, 1.90, 2.66, 2.40, 2.75, 95% confidence interval as 1.81?5.41, 1.08?3.35, 1.49?4.74, 1.40?4.11, 1.54?4.91, P<0.05). (4) Construction and evaluation of the predictive model for tumor recurrence of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation. According to the results of multivariate analysis, the preoperative serum AFP, number of tumor, tumor diameter, ALR, AAR were used to construct the predictive model for tumor recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation. The AUC, best cutoff value, specificity and sensitivity of the predictive model were 0.83 (95% confidence interval as 0.76?0.89, P<0.05), 5.5, 80.3% and 73.8%. Of the 178 patients, there were 110 patients with low risk of tumor recurrence (scoring as 0?5) and 68 patients with high risk of tumor recurrence (scoring as 6?16) after liver transplantation. The 1-, 3-, 5-year tumor recurrence free survival rates and 1-, 3-, 5-year overall survival rates of patients with high risk of tumor recurrence were 27.7%, 18.2%, 18.2% and 63.7%, 48.9%, 48.9%, respectively. The above indicators of patients with low risk of tumor recurrence were 92.3%, 82.4%, 74.6% and 90.4%, 87.7%, 83.6%, respectively. There were significant differences of the above indicators between patients with high risk of tumor recurrence and low risk of tumor recurrence ( χ2=67.83, 21.95, P<0.05). Conclusions:The preoperative serum AFP, number of tumor, tumor diameter, ALR, AAR are independent influencing factors for tumor recurrence of hepato-cellular carcinoma after liver transplantation. The predictive model constructed based on the above indexes has a good prediction efficiency.

Clinical efficacy of liver transplantation for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a multicenter study / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of liver transplantation for intra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinico-pathological data of 22 patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma who underwent liver trans-plantation in the 5 medical centers, including First Hospital of Jilin University, et al, from September 2005 to December 2021 were collected. There were 18 males and 4 females, aged 57(range, 38?71)years. Observing indicators: (1) clinicopathological characteristics of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma; (2) follow-up; (3) prognosis. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range). Count data were described as absolute numbers or percentages. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw survival curves. The Log-Rank test was used for survival analysis. Results:(1) Clinicopathological characteristics of patients with intrahepatic cholangio-carcinoma. Of the 22 patients, 20 cases were diagnosed as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma before liver transplantation, 7 cases had viral hepatitis type B, 1 case had primary sclerosing cholangitis, 7 cases had tumor treatment before liver transplantation, 7 cases, 6 cases and 9 cases were classified as grade A, grade B and grade C of the Child-Pugh classification, 16 cases had preoperative CA19-9 >40 U/mL, 14 cases had single tumor, 11 cases with tumor located at right lobe of liver, 6 cases with tumor located at both left and right lobe of liver, 5 cases with tumor located at left lobe of liver, 9 cases with tumor vascular invasion. All 22 patients were diagnosed as moderate-poor differentiated tumor. There were 9 cases with liver cirrhosis, 4 cases with tumor lymph node metastasis, 10 cases with tumor burden within Milan criteria. The tumor diameter of 22 patients was 4.5(range, 1.5?8.0)cm. (2) Follow-up. All 22 patients were followed up for 15(range, 3?207)months. Of the 22 patients, 9 cases had tumor recurrence and 8 cases died. (3) Prognosis. The 1-year overall survival rate and 1-year disease-free survival rate of the 22 patients was 72.73% and 68.18%, respectively. Results of subgroup analysis showed there were significant differences in overall survival and disease-free survival between the 10 patients with tumor burden within Milan criteria and the 12 patients with tumor burden beyond Milan criteria who underwent liver transplantation ( hazard ratio=0.13, 0.26, 95% confidence interval as 0.03?0.53, 0.08?0.82, P<0.05). Results of further analysis of the 12 patients with tumor burden beyond Milan criteria showed there were significant differences in overall survival and disease-free survival between the 5 patients with preoperative tumor down-staging treatment and the 7 patients without preoperative tumor down-staging treatment ( hazard ratio=0.18, 0.14, 95% confidence interval as 0.04?0.76, 0.04?0.58, P<0.05). Conclusions:Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients with tumor burden within Milan criteria have a better prognosis than patients with tumor burden beyond Milan criteria after liver transplantation. For patients with tumor burden beyond Milan criteria, active tumor down-staging treatment before liver transplantation can improve the prognosis.

Ponderations around Akamon: from Chinese visiting scholars in the Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery of Tokyo University Hospital / 中华消化外科杂志

It is well known that Tokyo University Hospital (TUH) is one of the most famous medical centers around the world in Japan. Among several departments in TUH, the Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Artificial Organ and Transplantation Division are representative predominant divisions, which have high-quality diagnostic and treatment service systems being at the leading position in the world. The authors visit the Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Artificial Organ and Transplantation Division in 2022. When studying and working in TUH, the authors make a multi-angle comparisons of the development status and technical levels of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery among TUH, western countries and China. It aims to share and exchange with fellow surgeons at home and abroad, and bring benefits or enlightenment to the professional advancement of them.

Progress and strategies of surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus / 中华消化外科杂志

The incidence of portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) in patients with hepato-cellular carcinoma (HCC) is high and the prognosis is poor. The treatment mode of HCC+PVTT is changing to multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment. The authors make a deep investigation on the occurrence basis, classification, surgical treatment indication, postoperative adjuvant treatment and preoperative conversion treatment plan of HCC+PVTT, in order to provide reference for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Discussion on hot issues in liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华消化外科杂志

Liver diseases are common in China and the incidence and mortality of primary liver cancer are among the top in the world. As one of the therapeutic methods for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver transplantation has become an important technique in hepatic surgery. Most of patients with HCC have progressed to stage B or C of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging when diagnosed. How to reduce the dropout rate of HCC patients due to the progression of tumor when waiting for liver transplantation, develop individualized immunosuppressant plans for HCC patients after liver transplantation, and accurately manage patients with HCC recurrence after liver transplan-tation are the current hotspots of research. The authors review the relevant literature, summarize the treatment experience, and discuss the hot issues in liver transplantation for HCC, in order to provide reference for related treatment.

Advances in neoadjuvant therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华消化外科杂志

In recent years, the rapid development of systematic therapy and local therapy, represented by targeted therapy, immunotherapy and vascular interventional therapy, has signifi-cantly improved the therapeutic effects of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and also greatly promoted the development of neoadjuvant therapy of HCC. The main purpose of neoadjuvant therapy is to decrease the size of tumor and the difficulty of surgery, and to reduce the postoperative recurrence rate. But meanwhile it also brings potential risks such as tumor progression and loss of surgical opportunity. At present, most experts recommend that patients with Ⅱb stage and Ⅲa stage HCC according to China Liver Cancer staging system are the preferred target population for neoadjuvant therapy. However, due to the lack of high-quality medical evidence, it is recommended to be cautiously carried out after multidisciplinary discussion. Moreover, it is suggested that neoadjuvant therapy with rapid onset of effect, less and mild side effects, high objective response rate and low probability of disease progression should be carried out. The author expects that neoadjuvant therapy can further improve the prognosis of HCC, and provide more options for clinical practice.

Advances and challenges of conversion therapy and neoadjuvant therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华消化外科杂志

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by a low resection rate and a high postoperative recurrence rate. Conversion therapy and neoadjuvant therapy are effective stra-tegies to improve the long-term prognosis of patients with HCC. With the clinical application of new technologies and methods and the continuous emergence of new anti-tumor drugs, the conversion therapy and neoadjuvant therapy of HCC have ushered in an unprecedented development. At the same time, they are also facing many new challenges. Based on our own clinical experience and the latest progress in conversion therapy and neoadjuvant therapy of HCC, the authors classify and summarize the selection of treatment strategies and the challenges faced in HCC conversion therapy and neoadjuvant therapy.

Prognosis analysis and strategies selection in liver transplantation for intrahepatic cholangio-carcinoma / 中华消化外科杂志

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a complex malignant tumor with poor prognosis. Historically, the prognosis of ICC patients after liver transplantation is poor, which led to that it is once regarded as a contraindication of liver transplantation. However, in recent years, results of multiple studies challenge the above view. These emerging studies demonstrate that under the condition of reasonable selection of recipients or combined with neoadjuvant therapy, liver trans-plantation has achieved considerable prognosis in patients with ICC. In addition, compared with surgical resection and other treatments, liver transplantation can improve the prognosis of patients with ICC. The factors related to the prognosis of ICC patients who underwent liver transplantation include neoadjuvant therapy, overall tumor burden, tumor biological behavior and comprehensive treatment after transplantation, et al. Based on the results from currently existing clinical studies, the authors make a deep elaboration on the prognosis of ICC patients after liver transplantation, prognosis comparison between liver transplantation and other treatment measures for ICC, factors related to the prognosis of ICC patients who underwent liver transplantation, and the selection strategy of recipient of liver transplantation for ICC, and advance and challenge of liver transplantation for ICC.

Comprehensive treatment strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma based on surgical treatment in the era of targeted therapy and immunotherapy / 中华消化外科杂志

Hepatocellular carcinoma is still a severe threat to people′s health of China. Most patients have advanced disease at the time of first diagnosis and lose the opportunity of radical surgery. In the past, the traditional medical drug treatment and radiotherapy are ineffective, which make the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma into a bottleneck. With the emergence of target therapy represented as tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immunotherapy represented by programmed death-1 antibody and programmed death-ligand 1 antibody, the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma has entered a new era and patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma have seen a new hope. The systemic therapy represented by target therapy and immunotherapy has not only greatly improved the survival of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, but also changed the treatment concept of hepatocellular carcinoma from single-drug therapy to combined therapy with multiple means. The treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma has changed from the era of surgery as the king to the era of surgery as the mainstay of whole-process management and comprehensive treatment. The authors review previous studies and their own experience to elaborate on the comprehensive treat-ment strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma based on surgical treatment in the era of targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

Chinese expert guidance on overall application of lenvatinib in hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华消化外科杂志

Lenvatinib mesylate is an oral receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor against targets of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1-3, fibroblast growth factor receptors 1-4, platelet-derived growth factor receptor α, stem cell growth factor receptor, and rearranged during transfection, et al. Lenvatinib has been approved by the National Medical Products Administration of China on September 4,2018, for the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma who have not received systematic treatment before. Up to February 2023, Lenvatinib has been listed in China for more than 4 years, accumulating a series of post-marketing clinical research evidences. Based on the clinical practice before and after the launch of lenvatinib and referring to the clinical experience of other anti-angiogenesis inhibitors, domestic multidisciplinary experts and scholars adopt the Delphi method to formulate the Chinese Expert Guidance on Overall Application of Lenvatinib in Hepatocellular Carcinoma after repeated discussions and revisions, in order to provide reference for reasonable and effective clinical application of lenvatinib for clinicians.