The role of radiotherapy in the treatment of bile duct carcinoma.

Forty-two patients with irresectable bile duct carcinoma (n = 31) or with microscopic evidence of tumor rest after aggressive surgery for bile duct carcinoma (n = 11) were given radiotherapy consisting intentionally of external-beam therapy and intraluminal 192Iridium (192Ir) wire application(s) following bile drainage procedures. The treatment was well tolerated; complications were mainly infectious and related to the success of the drainage. A median survival of 10 months was achieved for the group as a whole. Patients treated following microscopically incomplete resection survived longer than patients with an irresectable tumor (15 vs 8 months median survival, p = 0.06). Gross lymph node involvement also proved to be a prognostic factor.

Hepatic transplantation for primary and metastatic cancers of the liver.

Long-term results of transplantation for primary and metastatic hepatic malignancies were evaluated retrospectively in 637 patients. Recurrence rates and 2-year and 5-year patient survival rates were calculated. The overall recurrence rate was 40%, with 81% of deaths from recurrence occurring within 2 years after transplantation. Best results were obtained with uncommon tumors: incidental hepatomas (13% recurrence; 57% 2-year and 5-year follow-up); epithelioid hemangioendotheliomas (33% recurrence; 82% and 43% 2-year and 5-year survival); hepatoblastomas (33% recurrence; 50% 2-year and 5-year survival); and fibrolamellar hepatomas (39% recurrence; 60% and 55% 2-year and 5-year survival). Hemangiosarcomas had 64% recurrence, and all patients died within 27.5 months. Tumors metastatic to the liver had 59% recurrence, with 38% and 21% 2-year and 5-year survival rates. Transplantation should be abandoned for hemangiosarcomas and most metastatic tumors, except possibly for some slowly growing neuroendocrine tumors. The usual hepatomas had 39% recurrence with 2-year and 5-year survival rates of 30% and 18%, respectively. Cholangiocarcinomas had 44% recurrences with 2-year and 5-year survival rates of 30% and 17%, respectively. Transplantation for hepatomas and cholangiocarcinomas should be reserved for patients with favorable risk factors or when combined with well-defined chemotherapy protocols before and after operation.

Primary hepatic malignancies: resection or liver transplantation?

Liver transplantation in malignancies must be confined to patients with potentially curable disease. The indication is widely accepted, however, in non-resectable tumors or in patients with cirrhosis that excludes major resection. Without treatment prognosis is extremely poor in these patients. In our own experience 12 out of 13 non-cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) died within 9 months, and 17 out of 19 cirrhotic patients died within the first year of non-curative or explorative surgery. None of our patients with HCC in non-cirrhotic livers has lived longer than 38 months, and those with cirrhotic livers more than 61 months even after curative resection. After liver transplantation 1-year survival rate was 54% in 14 patients with primary hepatic carcinomas (12 HCC, 2 CCC). In cirrhotic patients with large or infiltrating HCC the results of resection are worse than after grafting, at least in the Western World, so liver transplantation must be taken into consideration. The lack of grafts limits treatment by transplantation in these patients. Transplantation is only exceptionally indicated for patients with metastatic liver disease.

[Magnetic resonance tomography of focal liver lesions in comparison with computed tomography and sonography]. / Magnetische Resonanztomographie fokaler Leberläsionen im Vergleich zur Computertomographie und Sonographie.

The results of magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) performed in 37 patients with predominantly solitary intrahepatic space-occupying masses are presented. Examinations were carried out with a superconducting magnet operating at a field strength of 0.35 Tesla. The majority of intrahepatic masses exhibited a well distinguishable signal amplification compared to normal hepatic parenchyma when T2 weighted sequences were used. For a further differentiation of the lesion, however, T1 and T2 weighted sequences have to be performed. In all cases diagnostic value of MRT is compared to that of sonography and computed tomography. The assessment of magnetic resonance tomograms of focal hepatic lesions is based on the sequence-depending on the signal behaviour of the mass - especially with regard to morphological criteria. The high soft-tissue contrast of magnetic resonance tomography compensates for the low spatial resolution, thus resulting in a sensitivity of focal lesions comparable to that of sonography and computed tomography. The good visualisation of vessels is an advantage. With the exception of haemangioma, however, MRT does not seem to improve diagnosis of the type of focal hepatic lesions.

Acquired myasthenia gravis and cholangiocellular carcinoma in a dog.

Acquired myasthenia gravis and cholangiocellular carcinoma were diagnosed in a 7-year-old English Setter referred because of forelimb lameness, exercise-induced weakness, and fever. Three months earlier, the dog had had a pleuropulmonary infection caused by a Fusobacterium sp. The concurrent development of myasthenia gravis and cholangiocellular carcinoma in this dog may be explained by a paraneoplastic syndrome, although it is unproven. The cholangiocellular carcinoma may have possessed an acetylcholine receptor-like antigen on the tumor surface, which induced autoantibodies to cross-react with acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction.

Brain and skull metastases of hepatic or pancreatic cancer--report of six cases.

Brain and skull metastases from primary hepatic or pancreatic cancer are very rare. The authors describe six cases of metastatic tumors. These are skull (three cases) and brain (one) metastasis of hepatic cancer and brain metastasis (two) of pancreatic cancer. In three hepatic cancer patients, the metastatic lesions were diagnosed before the diagnosis of primary cancer. In these patients, plain skull x-ray showed osteolytic lesions and vascular enlargement. A postcontrast computed tomographic (CT) scan showed an enhanced high-density epidural mass. Angiograms showed a tumor stain fed by abnormal vessels from the external carotid artery. In one patient with a metastatic brain tumor from hepatic cancer, a CT scan showed a high-density mass with hematoma. In one of the brain metastases from pancreatic cancer, a CT scan revealed a cystic, ring-like enhanced lesion in the thalamus. In the other case, a CT scan showed an isodensity mass in the vermis and hydrocephalus. Metastatic tumors from primary hepatic cancer were soft and hemorrhagic, but they were clearly demarcated from the surrounding tissue. In the case of thalamic metastasis, the cyst content was aspirated and an anticancer agent was administered into the cystic cavity. In the other cases, the tumors were totally removed. The outcome was very poor in all cases.

Intracranial metastasis of hepatic carcinomas: a study of 9 cases within 28 years.

A study was made on nine hepatic carcinomas with intracranial metastases. These cases brought a total number of reported intracranial metametastatic hepatic carcinomas to 32 instances. The secondary intracranial hepatic carcinomas formed a proportion of 1.3 to 2.9 per cent among intracranial metastatic tumors. Nine patients in this series were young with an average age of 37 years. There were five hepatocellular carcinomas and four cholangiocarcinomas. An intracranial secondary hepatocellular carcinoma in a 37-year-old man produced massive intracerebral hemorrhage. Only four cases including the current one have been described as massive intracerebral hemorrhage because of secondary hepatocellular carcinoma. Our case, moreover, had a high level of hematocrits representing a paraneoplastic syndrome.

[Intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy in non-resectable pancreatic cancer using angiotensin-II and implantable drug delivery system].

Over the past 6 years, we have treated 25 cases of pancreatic cancer, 6 cases of cholangioma in pancreas-head and 3 cases of cancer in duodenal papilla (2 cases Stage I, 5 cases stage II, 2 cases stage III, 25 cases stage IV). Twelve cases (10 unresectable cases, 1 hepatic metastasis case, 1 recurrent case) were treated with intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy using implantable Drug Delivery System, combined with angiotensin-II to increase the concentration of anti-cancer agents in cancer tissue. Twenty-four cases (70%) died in less than one year, so operation is not effective except for curative resection of cholangioma and duodenal papilla cancer. But exploratory laparotomy or inoperable cases given intermittent transcatheter arterial infusion chemotherapy (5-FU + ADM + MMC + angiotensin-II), showed favorable results (decrease of tumor size and pain in 2 cases; recanalization of obstruction in choledochus of 1 case). Especially trans-femoral or left subclavian arterial catheterization proved to be effective therapy for possibly giant or recurrent inoperable pancreatic cancer and hepatic metastasis. Using the drug delivery system, the technical approach to arterial infusion therapy and angiography has been readily undertaken. Quality of life has been improved, and course observation of the patient has been possible by imaging diagnosis and multidisciplinary treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer.

Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis and cerebral embolism in a patient with cholangiocarcinoma.

We present a patient who has cholangiocarcinoma, nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) and cerebral embolic infarction. This is the first case report of NBTE proved by pathology in Taiwan.

Unusual presentation of cholangiocarcinoma.

A patient who presented with dysphagia was found to have a cholangiocarcinoma, with metastases in the para-oesophageal lymph nodes. Although dysphagia has been described as a presenting feature of some metastatic carcinomas, to the authors' knowledge, there have been no reports of it as a presenting symptom of a cholangiocarcinoma.

[An autopsy case of pulmonary metastasis of cholangiocellular carcinoma associated with marked fibrotic change of the lungs].

An autopsy case of pulmonary metastasis of cholangiocellular carcinoma is presented. A 44-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnea, general fatigue and a sense of abdominal fullness on February 5, 1990. In November 1986, at an other hospital, she had been diagnosed as having diffuse metastatic lung tumor and multiple bone metastases, by transbronchial lung biopsy and other examinations. During the clinical course, she was not received chest irradiation and chemotherapy which induced fibrotic change of lungs. Chest X-ray film on December 21, 1986 showed diffuse nodular shadows in both lung fields. Chest X-ray film on February 4, 1990 showed diffuse reticular shadows with marked shrinkage of lung fields. She died two months after admission. The primary site of the carcinoma was not determined clinically, but was revealed by autopsy to be cholangiocellular carcinoma of the liver, with generalized metastasis. Microscopic findings of the autopsied lung showed markedly increased connective tissue around bronchi and blood vessels, in areas where microtubular adenocarcinoma was scattered. This is a very rare case of pulmonary metastasis of cholangiocellular carcinoma, associated with marked fibrotic change of the lungs during about 3.5 years. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case.

Clinical significance of implantation metastases after surgical treatment of cholangiocarcinoma.

Cytologic examination of bile obtained during surgery from intrahepatic bile ducts in patients with malignant proximal bile duct obstruction has shown a high incidence of tumor cells. Spill of bile occurs frequently during these operations and postoperative bile leakage often occurs. Typical implantation metastases were detected in three patients who underwent resective surgery for bile duct cancer. In addition, peritoneal spread of bile duct carcinoma was found on postmortem examination in seven of ten patients who died 6 to 27 months after resection of the hilar tumor. A relation between tumor-positive bile cytologic findings, tumor spill, and seeding during surgery is likely to exist. It is recommended that during surgery the utmost care should be taken to prevent spill of bile.

Alpha-fetoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen in patients with primary liver carcinoma, metastatic liver disease, and alcoholic liver disease.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GT) were determined in three groups of patients: 21 with primary liver carcinoma (PLC), 106 with metastatic liver disease, and 110 with various degrees of alcoholic liver diseases. AFP was elevated in 12 out of 14 with hepatocellular carcinoma but in none of 7 with cholangiocarcinoma. CEA was elevated in 8 of 14 with hepatocellular carcinoma and in 5 of 7 with cholangiocarcinoma. In metastatic liver disease, 83% had elevated CEA greater than or equal to 5.0 micrograms/l, 50% having CEA levels greater than 20 micrograms/l. AFP was moderately elevated in 26% of the patients, the values being less than 100 micrograms/l in all but one. In patients with alcoholic liver disease, 31% had elevated CEA levels greater than or equal to 5.0 micrograms/l; one of these had an extremely high value of 245 micrograms/l. AFP was moderately elevated to less than 100 micrograms/l in only 9%. CEA is a sensitive indicator of metastases: a value above 20 micrograms/l is almost always associated with malignancy. However, the presence of alcoholic liver diseases must be considered in evaluating patients with increased CEA levels. AFP and CEA seemed to be of value in differentiation between primary and secondary liver carcinoma. ALP and GT are also relatively sensitive indicators of malignant liver disease, but they are more unspecific than AFP and CEA.

MRI manifestations of peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Three cases of proved peritoneal carcinomatosis were examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Air was used to distend the entire gastrointestinal tract via an antegrade method. The findings included seedings along the small intestine, transverse and sigmoid colon, stellate pattern in the mesentery, plaque-like and bulky tumor masses in the mesentery and greater omentum, and focal thickenings along the right subdiaphragmatic parietal peritoneum. Stenosis caused by tumor encasement at the duodenojejunal junction and ileocolic anastomosis were first detected by MRI and later confirmed by barium studies. Ascites was present in all cases. One case showed ascites located only along the left paracolic gutter. This report shows that MRI is also able to demonstrate peritoneal carcinomatosis by using air as a gastrointestinal contrast medium.