MRI-Derived Sarcopenia Associated with Increased Mortality Following Yttrium-90 Radioembolization of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of sarcopenia on survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with 90Y radioembolization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-center retrospective cohort study analyzed 82 consecutive patients (65 men and 17 women, mean age 65 years, range 31-83 years) with HCC treated with 90Y radioembolization between December 2013 and December 2017. Sarcopenia was assessed on pre-procedure MRI performed within 100 days prior to 90Y radioembolization by segmenting the paraspinal musculature at the level of the superior mesenteric artery origin and subtracting fat-intensity pixels to yield fat-free muscle area (FFMA). Sarcopenia was defined as FFMA ≤31.97 cm2 for men and ≤28.95 cm2 for women. Survival at 90 days, 180 days, 1 year, and 3 years following initial treatment was assessed using medical and public obituary records. RESULTS: Sarcopenia was identified in 30% (25/82) of patients. Death was reported for 49% (32/65) of males and 71% (8/17) of females (mean follow-up 19.6 months, range 21 days-58 months). Patients with sarcopenia were found to have increased mortality at 180 days (31.8% vs. 8.9%) and 1 year (68.2% vs. 21.2%). Sarcopenia was an independent predictor of mortality adjusted for BCLC stage and sub-analysis demonstrated that sarcopenia independently predicted increased mortality for patients with BCLC stage B disease. CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia was associated with increased 180-day and 1-year mortality in HCC patients undergoing 90Y radioembolization. Sarcopenia was an independent predictor of survival adjusted for BCLC stage with significant deviation in the survival curves of BCLC stage B patients with and without sarcopenia.

Unexpected Angiography Findings and Effects on Management.

Despite progress in noninvasive imaging with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, conventional angiography still contributes to the diagnostic workup of oncologic and other diseases. Arteriography can reveal tumors not evident on cross-sectional imaging, in addition to defining aberrant or unexpected arterial supply to targeted lesions. This additional and potentially unanticipated information can alter management decisions during interventional procedures.