Transcatheter arterial embolization for massive hemobilia with N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) Glubran 2.

BACKGROUND: Massive hemobilia is a life-threatening condition and therapeutic challenge. Few studies have demonstrated the use of N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) for massive hemobilia. PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) using NBCA Glubran 2 for massive hemobilia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between January 2012 and December 2019, the data of 26 patients (mean age 63.4 ± 12.6 years) with massive hemobilia were retrospectively evaluated for TAE using NBCA. The patients' baseline characteristics, severities of hemobilia, and imaging findings were collected. Emergent TAE was performed using 1:2-1:4 mixtures of NBCA and ethiodized oil. Technical success, clinical success, procedure-related complications, and follow-up outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: Pre-procedure arteriography demonstrated injuries to the right hepatic artery (n = 24) and cystic artery (n = 2). Initial coil embolization distal to the lesions was required in 5 (19.2%) patients to control high blood flow and prevent end-organ damage. After a mean treatment time of 11.2 ± 5.3 min, technical success was achieved in 100% of the patients without non-target embolization and catheter adhesion. Clinical success was achieved in 25 (96.2%) patients. Major complications were noted in 1 (3.8%) patient with gallbladder necrosis. During a median follow-up time of 16.5 months (range 3-24 months), two patients died due to carcinomas, whereas none of the patients experienced recurrent hemobilia, embolic material migration, or post-embolization complications. CONCLUSION: NBCA embolization for massive hemobilia is associated with rapid and effective hemostasis, as well as few major complications. This treatment modality may be a promising alternative to coil embolization.

Comparison of complete pathologic response and hepatic injuries between hepatic arterial infusion and systemic administration of oxaliplatin in patients with colorectal liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: Whether hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of oxaliplatin influences the rates of complete pathologic response (CPR) and severe oxaliplatin-related lesions (SOxL) in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) is unknown. This study aimed to compare the incidence of CPR and SOxL between systemic (intravenous, IV) and HAI administration. METHODS: All patients with initially unresectable CRLM who had undergone hepatic resection in two expert centers between 2004 and 2010 after at least 6 cycles of oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy administered either via HAI (n = 18) or IV (n = 50) were included. The presence of CPR and SOxL were evaluated by two pathologists. A 1:2 case match using a propensity score was used. RESULTS: A CPR was observed significantly more often after HAI (33 vs. 10 %, P = 0.03). However, SOxL had occurred more frequently in patients in the HAI group versus the IV group, 66 and 20 %, respectively (P < 0.001). On a well-balanced cohort, HAI was associated with higher chance of CPR (odds ratio 9.33, 95 % confidence interval 1.59-54.7) but also higher risk of SOxL (odds ratio 13.7, 95 % confidence interval 3.08-61.3). A CPR markedly enhanced overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (median OS of 114 vs. 42 months, P = 0.02; median disease-free survival of 51 vs. 12 months, P = 0.002). Patients with SOxL did not experience different outcome (median OS of 42 vs. 50 months, respectively; P = 0.92) CONCLUSIONS: HAI of oxaliplatin increases the likelihood of a CPR at the cost of a higher incidence of SOxL in patients with initially unresectable CRLM.

Angiographic evaluation of hepatic arterial damage after transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence, degree, and predictors of hepatic arterial damage (HAD) after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 33 patients with unresectable HCC underwent TACE alone using a mixture of iodized oil, epirubicin, and gelatin sponge. A follow-up angiogram was available for 76 of 109 sessions, and HAD was evaluated at each subsegment of the hepatic artery using a three-grade scale (1, no or slight wall irregularity; 2, overt stenosis; 3, occlusion). Grades 2 and 3 were considered to indicate significant HAD. The predictors of HAD were analyzed by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 161 hepatic arteries were embolized from the lobar (n = 43), segmental (n = 40), subsegmental (n = 72), or more distal (n = 6) level. The follow-up period between the initial and last sessions ranged from 70 to 1505 days (median 497 days). Significant HAD occurred in 37 of 231 subsegmental hepatic arteries (16%) and in 16 of 33 patients (48%). The accumulated dose of epirubicin per artery (P = 0.001) and Child-Pugh score (P < 0.001) were significant predictors. CONCLUSION: TACE is more likely to induce HAD in cirrhotic patients with impaired liver function and when a high dose of the chemotherapeutic agent was used.

5-Fluorouracil incorporation into RNA and DNA in relation to thymidylate synthase inhibition of human colorectal cancers.

BACKGROUND: The mechanism of action of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been associated with inhibition of thymidylate synthase (TS) and incorporation of 5-FU into RNA and DNA, but limited data are available in human tumor tissue for the latter. We therefore measured incorporation in human tumor biopsy specimens after administration of a test dose of 5-FU alone or with leucovorin. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients received 5-FU (500 mg/m(2)) with or without high-dose leucovorin, low-dose leucovorin or l-leucovorin, and biopsy specimens were taken after approximately 2, 24 or 48 h. Tissues were pulverized and extracted for nucleic acids. 5-FU incorporation was measured using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry after complete degradation to bases of isolated RNA and DNA. RESULTS: Maximal incorporation into RNA (1.0 pmol/micrograms RNA) and DNA (127 fmol/micrograms DNA) of 59 and 46 biopsy specimens, respectively, was found at 24 h after 5-FU administration. Incorporation into RNA but not DNA was significantly correlated with intratumoral 5-FU levels. However, DNA incorporation was significantly correlated with the RNA incorporation. Primary tumor tissue, liver metastasis and normal mucosa did not show significant differences, while leucovorin had no effect. Neither for RNA (30 patients) nor DNA (24 patients) incorporation was a significant correlation with response to 5-FU therapy found. However, in the same group of patients, response was significantly correlated to TS inhibition (mean TS in responding and non-responding groups 45 and 231 pmol/h/mg protein, respectively; P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: 5-FU is incorporated at detectable levels into RNA and DNA of human tumor tissue, but no relation between the efficacy of 5-FU treatment and incorporation was found, in contrast to TS.

Iodized oil retention due to postbiopsy arterioportal shunt: a false positive lesion in the investigation of hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Iodized-oil computed tomography (CT) is useful for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, but there may be false-positive results in patients who have undergone some percutaneous transhepatic interventional procedures. The purpose of the present study was to verify the correlation between subsegmental hepatic parenchymal retention of iodized oil on CT and the arterioportal shunt caused by liver biopsy. METHODS: Iodized-oil CT scans were reviewed in 24 patients with hepatic tumors who had liver biopsy and subsequent iodized oil chemoembolization. Iodized oil chemoembolization was performed shortly after biopsy (1-10 days; mean = 2.6 days). The results were correlated with hepatic arteriography, with a special emphasis on the presence of hepatic arterioportal shunt. RESULTS: Wedge-shaped subsegmental retention of iodized oil along or adjacent to the biopsy needle path was observed in iodized-oil CT in 17 of the 24 patients. In three patients, there was subsegmental enhancement on prebiopsy helical dynamic liver CT at the same area of iodized oil retention, and therefore iodized oil retention was considered to be due to hepatocellular carcinoma. In the remaining 13 (54%) patients, the peripheral iodized oil retention was considered to be due to biopsy-induced arterioportal shunt. In all these patients, arterioportal shunt was confirmed by hepatic arteriography. CONCLUSION: Wedge-shaped hepatic parenchymal retention of iodized oil is commonly observed in iodized-oil CT due to biopsy-induced arterioportal shunt, and this appearance should not be confused with a hepatocellular carcinoma.