Liver planning software accurately predicts postoperative liver volume and measures early regeneration

Chemotherapy-induced splenic volume increase is independently associated with major complications after hepatic resection for metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

In patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLM), chemotherapy-induced hepatic injury is associated with increased splenic volume, thrombocytopenia, and decreased long-term survival. The current study investigates the relationship between change in splenic volume after preoperative chemotherapy and development of postoperative complications.

STUDY DESIGN

The study group consisted of 80 patients who underwent resection of CRCLM; half received neoadjuvant chemotherapy for 6 months before resection (n = 40) and the other half did not (n = 40). The study group was compared with two control groups: a normal group composed of patients undergoing cholecystectomy for benign disease (n = 40) and a group of untreated, nonmetastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) patients (n = 40). Splenic volume was measured by CT/MRI volumetry. In the study group, the nontumoral liver was graded for steatosis and sinusoidal injury; operative and outcomes characteristics were also analyzed.

RESULTS

Before chemotherapy, CRCLM patients had normalized spleen volumes of 3.2 ± 1.1 mL/kg, significantly higher than normal (2.5 ± 0.8 mL/kg; p < 0.001) and nonmetastatic CRC (2.6 ± 1.3 mL/kg; p < 0.05) patients, with higher splenic volume after 6 months of chemotherapy (4.2 ± 1.7 mL/kg; p < 0.01). After chemotherapy, splenic volume increase was associated with any perioperative complication (p < 0.01) and major complications (p < 0.05). Patients with ≥39% splenic volume increase (maximal chi-square test) were significantly more likely to have major complications (p < 0.01). Spleen volume changes were not correlated with change in platelet count (R(2) = 0.03; p = 0.301).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with CRCLM, the presence of liver metastases and chemotherapy are associated with higher splenic volume. Percent splenic volume increase after 6 months of chemotherapy can aid preoperative risk stratification, as it was an independent predictor of major postoperative complications.

Remnant growth rate after portal vein embolization is a good early predictor of post-hepatectomy liver failure

BACKGROUND

After portal vein embolization (PVE), the future liver remnant (FLR) hypertrophies for several weeks. An early marker that predicts a low risk of post-hepatectomy liver failure can reduce the delay to surgery.

STUDY DESIGN

Liver volumes of 153 patients who underwent a major hepatectomy (>3 segments) after PVE for primary or secondary liver malignancy between September 1999 and November 2012 were retrospectively evaluated with computerized volumetry. Pre- and post-PVE FLR volume and functional liver volume were measured. Degree of hypertrophy (DH = post-FLR/post-functional liver volume - pre-FLR/pre-functional liver volume) and growth rate (GR = DH/weeks since PVE) were calculated. Postoperative complications and liver failure were correlated with DH, measured GR, and estimated GR derived from a formula based on body surface area.

RESULTS

Eligible patients underwent 93 right hepatectomies, 51 extended right hepatectomies, 4 left hepatectomies, and 5 extended left hepatectomies. Major complications occurred in 44 patients (28.7%) and liver failure in 6 patients (3.9%). Nonparametric regression showed that post-embolization FLR percent correlated poorly with liver failure. Receiver operating characteristic curves showed that DH and GR were good predictors of liver failure (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.80; p = 0.011 and AUC = 0.79; p = 0.015) and modest predictors of major complications (AUC = 0.66; p = 0.002 and AUC = 0.61; p = 0.032). No patient with GR >2.66% per week had liver failure develop. The predictive value of measured GR was superior to estimated GR for liver failure (AUC = 0.79 vs 0.58; p = 0.046).

CONCLUSIONS

Both DH and GR after PVE are strong predictors of post-hepatectomy liver failure. Growth rate might be a better guide for the optimum timing of liver resection than static volumetric measurements. Measured volumetrics correlated with outcomes better than estimated volumetrics.