Needle tract implantation of hepatocellular carcinoma and pancreatic carcinoma after ultrasound-guided percutaneous puncture: clinical and pathologic characteristics and the treatment of needle tract implantation

Tumor seeding across specialties: a systematic review

Background

Understanding shared characteristics underlying reported tumor seeding episodes can reveal when tumor seeding is most likely to occur and guide clinical decision making. Our goal was to systematically review tumor seeding across specialties and determine what types of instrumentation and primary tumor histology are associated with tumor seeding.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted using PubMed and Web of Science, per PRISMA guidelines. Publications ranged from 1965 to 2022, and studies with five or more reports of seeding were included. Papers were sorted by specialty and assigned a PRISMA Level of Evidence, and data analysis was conducted based on whether each paper supported the clinical significance of seeding.

Results

7,165 papers were screened with 156 papers included for analysis. Overall, there were 8,161 cases of tumors seeding across specialties with the majority from general surgery, gastroenterology, and urology. Laparoscopy (n=1,561) and needle biopsy (n=3,448) were most frequently implicated, and carcinomas (n=5,778) and adenocarcinomas (n=1,090) were the most common primary tumor types.

Discussion

Upon review of the most updated (2023) versions of the NCCN and NICE guidelines across all cancer types, there were identified gaps in the coverage of tumor seeding within these guidelines, with tumor seeding being entirely absent from certain guidelines and partially absent from others.

Conclusions

Given the high cumulative reports of seeding and the deadly and disseminated nature of secondary disease, it is important to consider seeding risk when manipulating tumors and to modify current cancer care guidelines (NCCN/NICE) to ensure that they appropriately address seeding risk.

Case report: Precise NGS and combined bevacizumab promote durable response in ALK-positive lung adenocarcinoma with multiple-line ALK-TKI resistance

Liquid biopsies including pleural fluid or plasma are commonly applied for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and pleural effusion (PE) to guide the treatment. ALK-TKIs are the first options for patients with ALK-positive mutations and combining ALK-TKIs with angiogenic agents may improve survival. We report here one case with ALK-positive lung adenocarcinoma in which the patient achieved a prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) of 97 months after undergoing precise pleural effusion NGS and receiving combined bevacizumab treatment following multiple-line ALK-TKI resistance.

Solid Pseudopapillary Epithelial Neoplasm of the Pancreas in the Paediatric Population: A Report of Two Cases

A rare pathology, the solid pseudopapillary epithelial neoplasm (SPEN) of the pancreas accounts for approximately 1% of pancreatic neoplasms. Initially called ‘Frantz’s tumour’, it has now been renamed to SPEN by the World Health Organization (WHO). This tumour has a predilection for females and a good prognosis with surgical excision being the treatment of choice.

Palpable abdominal masses in children are of significant clinical importance. Identifying cystic lesions in the pancreas from CT or MRI scans always warrant further investigations. Primary pancreatic neoplasms account for 0.1% of pancreatic tumours in the paediatric population; an extremely rare circumstance constituting a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to surgeons. This article comprises two paediatric cases of SPEN in 14- and 11-year-old females, respectively, and a literature review on current management.

Complications of Percutaneous Biliary Procedures

Percutaneous biliary and gallbladder drainage is routinely performed by interventional radiology. These pathologies and techniques are well described in the literature and in this issue. The purpose of this review is to focus on the recognition and management of complications. Percutaneous biliary drains can have a variety of complications which can range from minor skin issues to more serious and complex bleeding issues. Advancements in imaging and techniques improve the safety profile of percutaneous biliary and gallbladder interventions.

Overlooked risk for needle tract seeding following endoscopic ultrasound-guided minimally invasive tissue acquisition

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided minimally invasive tissue acquisition can be performed by two approaches as follows: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB). These have been evolved into leading approaches and widely used for the histological diagnosis of tumors in the gastrointestinal tract and adjacent organs. However, the role of EUS-FNA and EUS-FNB in disease diagnosis and evaluation remains controversial. Although the incidence of surgery-associated complications remains low, the consequences of needle tract seeding can be serious or even life-threatening. Recently, increasing case reports of needle tract seeding are emerging, especially caused by EUS-FNA. This complication needs serious consideration. In the present work, we integrated these case reports and the related literature, and summarized the relevant cases and technical characteristics of needle tract seeding caused by EUS-FNA and EUS-FNB. Collectively, our findings provided valuable insights into the prevention and reduction of such serious complication.

Case Report of Isolated Gastric Metastasis of Pancreatic Cancer From a Diagnostic Biopsy: Management of a Rare Oncologic Entity

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma behaves aggressively, with surgically resectable disease having the best chance of long-term survival. Recurrence after surgery and adjuvant therapy is commonly due to distant metastatic disease and is typically managed with systemic therapies, not surgery. We present a rare case of an isolated gastric metastasis due to endoscopic ultrasound-guided with fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) needle tract seeding that was managed surgically. Treatment was informed by input from a mutlidisciplinary team of medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists, radiologists, and pathologists. Rising carbohydrate antigen (CA)19-9 levels suggested disease recurrence, but the tumor's unusual location and slow growth made diagnosing the cause difficult, resulting in the late identification of the tumor. Palliative resection was performed, rending the patient with no evidence of disease followed by normalized CA19-9 levels. This case highlights the importance of multidisciplinary decision-making in detecting and treating the uncommon but significant tumor seeding with EUS-FNA biopsies in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Role of liver biopsy in hepatocellular carcinoma

The role of liver biopsy in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been challenged over time by the ability of imaging techniques to characterize liver lesions in patients with known cirrhosis. In fact, in the diagnostic algorithm for this tumor, histology is currently relegated to controversial cases. Furthermore, the risk of complications, such as tumor seeding and bleeding, as well as inadequate sampling have further limited the use of liver biopsy for HCC management. However, there is growing evidence of prognostic and therapeutic information available from microscopic and molecular analysis of HCC and, as the information content of the tissue sample increases, the advantages of liver biopsy might modify the current risk/benefit ratio. We herein review the role and potentiality of liver biopsy in the diagnosis and management of HCC. As the potentiality of precision medicine comes to the management of HCC, it will be crucial to have rapid pathways to define prognosis, and even treatment, by identifying the patients who could most benefit from target-driven therapies. All of the above reasons suggest that the current role of liver biopsy in the management of HCC needs substantial reconsideration.

Changing role of histopathology in the diagnosis and management of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and fatal cancer in the world. HCC frequently presents with advanced disease, has a high recurrence rate and limited treatment options, which leads to very poor prognosis. This warrants urgent improvement in the diagnosis and treatment. Liver biopsy plays very important role in the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC, but with technical advancements and progression in the field of imaging, clinical guidelines have restricted the role of biopsy to very limited situations. Biopsy also has its own problems of needle tract seeding of tumor, small risk of complications, technical and sampling errors along with interpretative errors. Despite this, tissue analysis is often required because imaging is not always specific, limited expertise and lack of advanced imaging in many centers and limitations of imaging in the diagnosis of small, mixed and other variant forms of HCC. In addition, biopsy confirmation is often required for clinical trials of new drugs and targeted therapies. Tissue biomarkers along with certain morphological features, phenotypes and immune-phenotypes that serve as important prognostic and outcome predictors and as decisive factors for therapy decisions, add to the continuing role of histopathology. Advancements in cancer biology and development of molecular classification of HCC with clinic pathological correlation, lead to discovery of HCC phenotypic surrogates of prognostic and therapeutically significant molecular signatures. Thus tissue characteristics and morphology based correlates of molecular subtypes provide invaluable information for management and prognosis. This review thus focuses on the importance of histopathology and resurgence of role of biopsy in the diagnosis, management and prognostication of HCC.

Contemporary role of liver biopsy in hepatocellular carcinoma

A correct diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhotic patients with focal liver lesions is one of the most important issues nowadays. Probably one of the oldest debates in the hepatology community is whether to perform liver biopsy (LB) in all cirrhotic patients with focal liver lesions. We now face a time when oncology is moving towards personalized medicine. According to the current European Association for the study of Liver diseases HCC guidelines, LB has only a minor role in the management of HCC. However, the current recommendations were made more than five years ago. As time has passed, the development of high-throughput molecular technologies has helped reveal the main molecular mechanism involved in HCC development and progression. Several subtypes of HCC, with both molecular and histological characterization, have been described. Importantly, some of these subtypes have prognostic impact. In the context of personalized treatment, the role of LB will be carefully reconsidered. Until then, it is mandatory to know the various techniques of LB, their performances, complications and limitations. The balance of risk and benefit defines many of the decisions that we make as providers of medical care. In this review, we discuss not only the risks associated with LB, but also the benefits of biopsy in various clinical scenarios. Not long from now, the role of LB will be reconsidered. It is possible that we will go back in time and once again use biopsy for HCC diagnosis. Then again, we may move back to the future to try to improve the use of liquid biopsy in the follow-up of HCC patients after various treatment modalities.

Rate of seeding with biopsies and ablations of hepatocellular carcinoma: A retrospective cohort study

Biopsies of liver masses that prove to be hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) are associated with a risk of seeding the abdominal or chest wall with tumor cells. The reported frequency of seeding varies greatly in the literature. We performed a retrospective cohort study in a large integrated health care system to examine rates of seeding in patients with HCC who had targeted liver biopsies, ablations, or both performed by community radiologists. We reviewed pathology and radiology records to determine the occurrence of wall seeding, defined as a chest or abdominal wall lesion along a definite or probable needle tract. A total of 1,015 patients had targeted liver biopsies (795), ablations (72), or both (148). Multiple procedures were done in 284 patients (28%). Six cases of seeding were identified. The rate of wall seeding was 2/795 patients (0.13%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.00%-0.60%) if only biopsies were done versus 4/220 (1.82%; 95% CI, 0.05%-3.58%) if ablations were performed (P = 0.01). The rate was 0/72 (0.00%; 95% CI, 0.00%-0.04%) with ablations alone and 4/148 (2.70%; 95% CI, 0.74%-6.78%) if both procedures were done (P = 0.31). Of those with 1 year follow-up (n = 441), the rate of seeding was 2/269 (0.74%; 95% CI, 0.00%-1.77%) if biopsies alone were done and 4/172 (2.33%; 95% CI, 0.07%-4.58%) if ablations were done. In none of the cases was the seeding a proximate cause of death. Conclusion: Biopsies of liver masses are associated with a low rate of wall seeding when performed in a community setting and when they are the sole procedures. Ablations may have a higher rate of seeding, particularly if done with biopsies, but are still rare. (Hepatology Communications 2017;1:841-851).

Pancreatic cancer seeding of percutaneous needle tract

A 65-year old African-American female presents with biliary ductal dilatation due to an obstructive pancreatic head mass. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram performed and biliary drainage catheter placement for decompression of the biliary system. The patient had a Whipple procedure performed several months later. On follow up CT imaging, there was interval development and enlargement of a subcutaneous lesion by the right oblique muscles. Biopsy of this lesion revealed pancreatic adenocarcinoma from percutaneous seeding of the transhepatic needle tract.

Blood Transfusions and Tumor Biopsy May Increase HCC Recurrence Rates after Liver Transplantation

Introduction. Beneath tumor grading and vascular invasion, nontumor related risk factors for HCC recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) have been postulated. Potential factors were analyzed in a large single center experience. Material and Methods. This retrospective analysis included 336 consecutive patients transplanted for HCC. The following factors were analyzed stratified for vascular invasion: immunosuppression, rejection therapy, underlying liver disease, age, gender, blood transfusions, tumor biopsy, caval replacement, waiting time, Child Pugh status, and postoperative complications. Variables with a potential prognostic impact were included in a multivariate analysis. Results. The 5- and 10-year patient survival rates were 70 and 54%. The overall 5-year recurrence rate was 48% with vascular invasion compared to 10% without (p < 0.001). Univariate analysis stratified for vascular invasion revealed age over 60, pretransplant tumor biopsy, and the application of blood transfusions as significant risk factors for tumor recurrence. Blood transfusions remained the only significant risk factor in the multivariate analysis. Recurrence occurred earlier and more frequently in correlation with the number of applied transfusions. Conclusion. Tumor related risk factors are most important and can be influenced by patient selection. However, it might be helpful to consider nontumor related risk factors, identified in the present study for further optimization of the perioperative management.

Management of borderline resectable pancreatic cancer

Borderline resectable pancreatic cancers are those that, although technically resectable, are at high risk for margin-positive resection following surgery de novo. Generally, such cancers are characterized by localized primary tumors that involve the mesenteric vasculature to a limited degree and that may require venous or hepatic arterial resection at pancreatectomy. In this article, we review diagnosis and staging algorithms, pretreatment strategies, and multidisciplinary treatment protocols for patients with this stage of disease. The rationale for and results following treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and chemoradiation and subsequent surgical resection of the primary tumor are described in detail and existing data are reviewed.

Is EUS-FNA of solid-pseudopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas as a preoperative procedure really necessary and free of acceptable risks?

BACKGROUND

Solid-pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPNs) of the pancreas are infrequent tumors since, as of 2014, only 2744 patients have been described. Its rarity, unclear histogenesis, pleomorphic aspect on radiology (cystic, solid or mixed) and unpredictable biological behavior with an insidious high-grade malignant potential make SPN difficult to recognize preoperatively even in its target patient population which is predominantly composed of young women (about 87% of cases).

METHODS

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) showed to improve the preoperative diagnostic yield for this tumor and obviate the risks formerly given by percutaneous biopsy.

RESULTS

In light of our experience, such a procedure could not be so innocuous as generally acknowledged.

CONCLUSION

We report the first case of rupture of pancreatic SPN following EUS-FNA and entertain both the actual and potential complications ensuing from this type of mishap.

Treatment of borderline resectable pancreatic cancer

OPINION STATEMENT

Borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma represents a subset of localized cancers that are at high risk for a margin-positive resection and early treatment failure when resected de novo. Although several different anatomic definitions for this disease stage exist, there is agreement that some degree of reconstructible mesenteric vessel involvement by the tumor is the critical anatomic feature that positions borderline resectable between anatomically resectable and unresectable (locally advanced) tumors in the spectrum of localized disease. Consensus also exists that such cancers should be treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or chemoradiation before resection; although the optimal algorithm is unknown, systemic chemotherapy followed by chemoradiation is a rational approach. Although gemcitabine-based systemic chemotherapy with either 5-FU or gemcitabine-based chemoradiation regimens has been used to date, newer regimens, including FOLFIRINOX, should be evaluated on protocol. Delivery of neoadjuvant therapy necessitates durable biliary decompression for as many as 6 months in many patients with cancers of the pancreatic head. Patients with no evidence of metastatic disease following neoadjuvant therapy should be brought to the operating room for pancreatectomy, at which time resection of the superior mesenteric/portal vein and/or hepatic artery should be performed when necessary to achieve a margin-negative resection. Following completion of multimodality therapy, patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer can expect a duration of survival as favorable as that of patients who initially present with resectable tumors. Coordination among a multidisciplinary team of physicians is necessary to maximize these complex patients' short- and long-term oncologic outcomes.

Accuracy of Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Fine Needle Aspiration in Diagnosing Solid Pseudopapillary Tumor

Background:

Solid pseudopapillary tumors are rare pancreatic tumors. Accurate preoperative diagnosis helps in planning of the surgery.

Aim:

This study was to evaluate accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration and immunohistochemistry in diagnosing solid pseudopapillary tumors.

Materials and Methods:

A retrospective review was performed by reviewing medical records to identify patients treated for solid pseudopapillary tumors over a 5-year period. Patients who were noted to have pancreatic lesions by computer tomography abdomen underwent endoscopic ultrasound. Fine needle aspiration was obtained from each of these lesions and subjected to immunohistochemistry.

Results:

Five patients were identified. Endoscopic ultrasound was able to identify the pancreatic lesions in all five patients noted in computer tomography abdomen. Solid pseudopapillary tumors were diagnosed by immunohistochemistry. All five patients underwent surgery and the resected lesions confirmed solid pseudopapillary tumors in 80% patients.

Conclusion:

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration has a higher degree of accuracy in diagnosing solid pseudopapillary tumors.

Consequences of needle tract seeding of hepatocellular cancer after liver transplant

Although liver biopsy is a relatively safe procedure, needle tract seeding (NTS) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is described in up to 5% of patients after liver biopsy. The rate of NTS in patients with HCC who had liver transplantation is unknown. We performed a retrospective analysis of 759 HCC cases from August 1992 to August 2011. Demographics, ethnicities, risk factors, tumor characteristics, treatments, recurrence, and survival were collected. Patients who underwent percutaneous liver biopsy, resection, and transplant were identified. In all, 359 underwent biopsy to diagnose HCC and 42 patients underwent liver transplant. None of 171 patients who underwent radiofrequency ablation alone had seeding. None of the 11 patients who had biopsy and radiofrequency ablation performed in a single session developed NTS; however, two of 12 patients who had biopsy and radiofrequency ablation performed at separate sessions had NTS. Two patients underwent liver transplantation and subsequently developed needle tract seeding eventually died from HCC. Although the incidence of needle tract seeding was low in liver transplant patients, it can potentially change a curative therapy into a non-curative one. Single-session liver biopsy and radiofrequency ablation may reduce the risk of needle tract seeding of HCC.

Pre-liver transplant biopsy in hepatocellular carcinoma: a potential criterion for exclusion from transplantation?

BACKGROUND

In cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), poor differentiation in pre-liver transplantation (LT) biopsy of the largest tumour is used as a criterion for exclusion from LT in some centres. The potential role of pre-LT biopsy at one centre was explored.

METHODS

A prospective database of patients undergoing orthotopic LT for radiologically diagnosed HCC at St James's University Hospital, Leeds during 2006-2011 was analysed.

RESULTS

A total of 60 predominantly male (85.0%) patients with viral hepatitis were identified. There were discrepancies between radiological and histopathological findings with respect to the number of tumours identified (in 27 patients, 45.0%) and their size (in 63 tumours, 64.3%). In four (6.7%) patients, the largest lesion, which would theoretically have been targeted for biopsy, was not the largest in the explant. Nine (31.0%) patients with multifocal HCC had tumours of differing grades. In two (6.9%) patients, the largest tumour was well differentiated, but smaller tumours in the explant were poorly differentiated. In one patient, the largest lesion was benign and smaller invasive tumours were confirmed histologically.

CONCLUSIONS

The need to optimize selection for LT in HCC remains. In the present series, the largest tumour was not always representative of overall tumour burden or biological aggression and its potential use to exclude patients from LT is questionable.

Technical note: facilitating laparoscopic liver biopsy by the use of a single-handed disposable core biopsy needle

Despite the use of advanced radiological investigations, some liver lesions cannot be definitely diagnosed without a biopsy and histological examination. Laparoscopic Tru-Cut biopsy of the liver lesion is the preferred approach to achieve a good sample for histology. The mechanism of a Tru-Cut biopsy needle needs the use of both hands to load and fire the needle. This restricts the ability of the surgeon to direct the needle into the lesion utilising the laparoscopic ultrasound probe. We report a technique of laparoscopic liver biopsy using a disposable core biopsy instrument (BARD (R) disposable core biopsy needle) that can be used single-handedly. The needle can be positioned with laparoscopic graspers in order to reach posterior and superior lesions. This technique can easily be used in conjunction with laparoscopic ultrasound.

The optimal duration of preoperative biliary drainage for periampullary tumors that cause severe obstructive jaundice

BACKGROUND

Despite routine preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) with periampullary cancer, its optimal duration has not been established. The objective of this study was to investigate PBD in severely jaundiced patients.

METHODS

A total of 120 patients with periampullary tumors who underwent surgery with intent to cure after PBD for severe obstructive jaundice were enrolled. According to the duration of PBD, 66 and 54 patients were classified into the long-term (≥2 weeks) and short-term (<2 weeks) groups.

RESULTS

PBD-related complications occurred in 6 (9.1%) and 14 (25.9%) patients in the short-term and long-term groups, respectively (P = .014). Rates of surgery-related complications and mortalities were not significantly different between the 2 groups. The R0 resection rate tended to be lower (P = .054) and the mean length of hospital stay was significantly longer (P = .039) in the long-term group.

CONCLUSIONS

PBD duration <2 weeks is more appropriate in severely jaundiced patients with periampullary cancer.

Ultrasound-guided vs endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration for pancreatic cancer diagnosis

AIM: To clarify the effectiveness and safety of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer (PC).

METHODS: Patients who were diagnosed with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic PC between February 2006 and September 2011 were selected for this retrospective study. FNA biopsy for pancreatic tumors had been performed percutaneously under extracorporeal ultrasound guidance until October 2009; then, beginning in November 2009, EUS-FNA has been performed. We reviewed the complete medical records of all patients who met the selection criteria for the following data: sex, age, location and size of the targeted tumor, histological and/or cytological findings, details of puncture procedures, time from day of puncture until day of definitive diagnosis, and details of severe adverse events.

RESULTS: Of the 121 patients who met the selection criteria, 46 had a percutaneous biopsy (Group A) and 75 had an EUS-FNA biopsy (Group B). Adequate cytological specimens were obtained in 42 Group A patients (91.3%) and all 75 Group B patients (P = 0.0192), and histological specimens were obtained in 41 Group A patients (89.1%) and 65 Group B patients (86.7%). Diagnosis of malignancy by cytology was positive in 33 Group A patients (78.6%) and 72 Group B patients (94.6%) (P = 0.0079). Malignancy by both cytology and pathology was found in 43 Group A (93.5%) and 73 Group B (97.3%) patients. The mean period from the puncture until the cytological diagnosis in Group B was 1.7 d, which was significantly shorter than that in Group A (4.1 d) (P < 0.0001). Severe adverse events were experienced in two Group A patients (4.3%) and in one Group B patient (1.3%).

CONCLUSION: EUS-FNA, as well as percutaneous needle aspiration, is an effective modality to obtain cytopathological confirmation in patients with advanced PC.

Diagnostic endoscopic ultrasonography: Assessment of safety and prevention of complications

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has gained wide acceptance as an important, minimally invasive diagnostic tool in gastroenterology, pulmonology, visceral surgery and oncology. This review focuses on data regarding risks and complications of non-interventional diagnostic EUS and EUS-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB). Measures to improve the safety of EUS und EUS-FNB will be discussed. Due to the specific mechanical properties of echoendoscopes in EUS, there is a low but noteworthy risk of perforation. To minimize this risk, endoscopists should be familiar with the specific features of their equipment and their patients’ specific anatomical situations (e.g., tumor stenosis, diverticula). Most diagnostic EUS complications occur during EUS-FNB. Pain, acute pancreatitis, infection and bleeding are the primary adverse effects, occurring in 1% to 2% of patients. Only a few cases of needle tract seeding and peritoneal dissemination have been reported. The mortality associated with EUS and EUS-FNB is 0.02%. The risks associated with EUS-FNB are affected by endoscopist experience and target lesion. EUS-FNB of cystic lesions is associated with an increased risk of infection and hemorrhage. Peri-interventional antibiotics are recommended to prevent cyst infection. Adequate education and training, as well consideration of contraindications, are essential to minimize the risks of EUS and EUS-FNB. Restricting EUS-FNB only to patients in whom the cytopathological results may be expected to change the course of management is the best way of reducing the number of complications.

Does the taking of biopsies affect the metastatic potential of tumours? A systematic review of reports on veterinary and human cases and animal models

Clinicians and pathologists are sporadically asked by owners whether the taking of tumour biopsies may affect the behaviour of the tumour, including its potential to metastasise. Unfortunately, systematic studies on this subject are unavailable in veterinary medicine, and the aim of this study was to estimate the risk of adverse effects of biopsy taking on tumour progression in animals. A systematic review of veterinary and human case reports and clinical studies as well as experimental animal models of biopsy-induced tumour metastasis was undertaken. There were only two veterinary case reports of needle tract metastases (NTM) following the taking of needle biopsies from urogenital and pulmonary tumours. Seventeen experimental studies found a high incidence of NTM but only a rat osteosarcoma and a hamster squamous carcinoma model showed an increased incidence of distant or regional metastases after incision or excision biopsy. In human medicine, the occurrence of NTM has been reported after the taking of biopsies from mesotheliomas (15%), melanomas (11%) and gall bladder tumours (11%), liver metastases of colon carcinomas (4%) and mammary carcinomas (4%) but an incidence of only <1% for all other tumours. Circulating tumour cells increased immediately after the taking of biopsies from human squamous cell, prostate, breast and hepatocellular carcinomas. Although no increased risk of biopsy-induced distant metastasis has been reported for any type of tumour, this is inconclusive due to a lack of non-biopsied control groups in human studies. Reports of biopsy-induced metastasis in animal tumours indicate that the taking of transcutaneous biopsies from urogenital tumours may be associated with a risk of NTM. However, there is no evidence of a general increase in risk of distant metastases in any tumour type in people or animals. The overall risk therefore appears to be negligible when compared to the valuable information obtained from biopsies in veterinary practice.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy with a "cooled-tip needle" for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma adjacent to the gallbladder

BACKGROUND

Curative percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy is difficult or contraindicated in patients with tumors adjacent to the gallbladder because of the associated risk of injury. To date, no clinical data have been published regarding the effects and safety of percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy on tumors that are adjacent to the gallbladder.

AIMS

We investigated the efficacy and safety of a combined treatment involving laparoscopic cholecystectomy and subsequent percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma adjacent to the gallbladder.

METHODS

Twenty-three patients with hepatocellular carcinoma nodules (of less than 5 cm diameter) and adjacent to the gallbladder were treated by percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy with a "cooled-tip needle" after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated with enhanced helical computed tomography and sonography, and the rates of complete necrosis as well as postoperative complications were also analyzed.

RESULTS

All of the patients exhibited complete necrosis of their tumor lesions after treatment with percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy. During the follow-up period (which lasted more than 21 months), 22 of 23 patients were alive. Recurrent nodules appeared in other subsegments, but not at the original site treated with percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy. Of note, no fatal complications were observed in any of the patients treated with percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that combined treatment comprising both laparoscopic cholecystectomy and subsequent percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy is an effective and safe approach for patients with small (<5 cm) hepatocellular carcinomas that are adjacent to the gallbladder.

A systematic review of cases reporting needle tract seeding following thyroid fine needle biopsy

BACKGROUND

Because of its accuracy and cost-effectiveness, thyroid fine needle biopsy (FNB) is the procedure of choice in the preoperative management of thyroid nodules. Needle tract seeding (NTS) has been a concern since the earliest days of FNB, contributing to the delayed acceptance of FNB as a safe procedure. In this review we tried to systematically record all reports of NTS after diagnostic thyroid FNB and provide useful hints to minimize the risk of NTS.

METHODS

Computerized advanced search for primary evidence was performed in the PubMed (Public/Publisher Medline) electronic database. The search was not limited by publication time or English language.

RESULTS

Ten relevant articles were found: eight case reports, one case in a surgical series, and one retrospective observational study.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite initial concerns about the risk of NTS, FNB is now considered to be a safe procedure. Although proper FNB technique can reduce its risk, NTS is an unavoidable complication of FNB, which clinicians should be aware of. However, the incidence of NTS is low and it doesn't seem to affect the prognosis because the seedings can be surgically removed without recurrence. The management of the thyroid nodules is to-date based on FNB, and the benefits from FNB (elimination of needless imaging and surgery) far outweigh the potential risk for NTS.

Management of an incidental liver mass

The increased use of sensitive imaging modalities has led to increased identification of the incidental liver mass (ILM). A combination of careful consideration of patient factors and imaging characteristics of the ILM enables clinicians to recommend a safe and efficient course of action. Using an algorithmic approach, this article includes pertinent clinical factors and the specific radiologic criteria of ILMs and discusses the indications for potential procedures. It is the aim of this article to assist with the development of an individualized strategy for each patient with an ILM.

Tumor Implantation into the Intrahepatic Bile Duct after Percutaneous Ethanol Injection Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

A 74-year-old man who had undergone transcatheter arterial embolization for hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (Couinaud's segment III/IV) in April 2003 and percutaneous ethanol injection for recurrence at the same site in February 2006 was found to have dilation of the intrahepatic bile duct by computed tomography in October 2008. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showed a thrombosis occupying the left hepatic duct to the lateral branches with peripheral bile duct dilation. Serum concentration of alpha-fetoprotein was elevated. We performed a left hepatectomy under a preoperative diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma with bile duct invasion. The cut surface of the resected specimen showed a tumor thrombosis occupying the region between the left hepatic duct and lateral branches, but no tumor in the liver parenchyma. Histologic examination showed that the thrombosis in the intrahepatic bile duct was hepatocellular carcinoma. Since part of the hepatocellular carcinoma in the region treated with percutaneous ethanol injection was adjacent to the tumor thrombosis in the intrahepatic bile duct in diagnostic imaging, we diagnosed implantation into the intrahepatic bile duct due to percutaneous ethanol injection. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient is doing well without recurrence 8 months after the operation.

A diagnostic paradigm for resectable liver lesions: to biopsy or not to biopsy?

BACKGROUND

Despite a growing body of evidence reporting the deleterious mechanical and oncological complications of biopsy of hepatic malignancy, a small but significant number of patients undergo the procedure prior to specialist surgical referral. Biopsy has been shown to result in poorer longterm survival following resection and advances in modern imaging modalities provide equivalent, or better, diagnostic accuracy.

METHODS

The literature relating to needle-tract seeding of primary and secondary liver cancers was reviewed. MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library were searched for case reports and series relating to the oncological complications of biopsy of liver malignancies. Current non-invasive diagnostic modalities are reviewed and their diagnostic accuracy presented.

RESULTS

Biopsy of malignant liver lesions has been shown to result in poorer longterm survival following resection and does not confer any diagnostic advantage over a combination of non-invasive imaging techniques and serum tumour markers.

CONCLUSIONS

Given that chemotherapeutic advances now often permit downstaging and subsequent resection of 'unresectable' disease, the time has come to abandon biopsy of solid lesions outside the setting of a specialist multi-disciplinary team meeting (MDT).

Non-surgical tissue biopsy among patients with advanced pancreatic cancer: effect on survival

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to determine the survival of patients with advanced, unresectable pancreatic cancer in relation to whether they underwent nonsurgical biopsy of their primary tumor.

METHODS

A total of 1481 patients with distant stage pancreatic cancer diagnosed between 1992 and 2001 who underwent radiation treatment but not cancer-directed surgery were analyzed. The design is a retrospective cohort study from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program of the US National Cancer Institute. Survival curves were created using Kaplan-Meier method and compared via log-rank test.

RESULTS

Of 1481 patients (median age, 66 years) included in our analysis, 1406 (95%) underwent nonsurgical biopsy (95%) and 75 (5%) did not. There was no statistically significant difference in overall median survival according to receipt of nonsurgical biopsy (Kaplan-Meier curve, log-rank test = 0.09). A subgroup analysis of patients younger than 65 years who did not undergo biopsy revealed a hazard ratio of 1.76 (95% confidence interval, 1.14-2.72); that is, there was a 76% higher hazard for death among younger patients who did not undergo biopsy compared with those who did (P = 0.011).

CONCLUSION

Nonsurgical biopsy did not seem to negatively impact survival among patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma without preoperative tumor biopsy

BACKGROUND

Progress in liver imaging has made pretransplantation tumor biopsy no longer systematic in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

OBJECTIVES

Our aim was to evaluate the accuracy of a preoperative diagnosis of HCC based on clinical and radiological findings in 102 cirrhotics qualified for liver transplantation (LT) between January 1995 and August 2003 at our institution.

METHODS

The diagnostic accuracy of our policy was assessed by comparing pretransplant diagnosis with the pathologic report of explanted livers.

RESULTS

Sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values for the preoperative clinical and radiological diagnosis of HCC were 89%, 94.3%, 77%, and 93.3%, respectively. A false-positive preoperative diagnosis was made in 20 of 102 patients (19.6%) (dysplastic nodules [n=9], regenerative nodules [n=5] cholangiocellular carcinoma [n=1], hemangioma [n=1], and no lesion [n=4]). All tumors larger than 3 cm were correctly diagnosed, irrespective of serum alpha-fetoprotein (sAFP) levels. The risk of overestimating the diagnosis of HCC in the subgroup of patients with tumors less than 3 cm was conversely correlated with preliver transplantation sAFP (sAFP<or=100 ng/L: 28%; sAFP>100: 11%; sAFP>200: 0%).

CONCLUSION

In cirrhotics with nodules larger than 3 cm irrespective of sAFP or nodules less than 3 cm with sAFP greater than 200 ng/L, the pretransplant diagnosis of HCC can be made without performing biopsy. In other cases (i.e., nodules less than 3 cm and sAFP lower than 200 ng/L), histologic confirmation of HCC or a close follow-up imaging should be considered.

Large hepatocellular carcinoma: time to stop preoperative biopsy

BACKGROUND

In Western countries, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often presents at a large size, which is seen as a contraindication to transplantation and often resection. Although diagnosis by imaging and alpha-fetoprotein is usually straightforward, nonspecialist units continue to use biopsy to prove the diagnosis before transfer for specialist surgical opinion. We have looked at the impact of this on our practice.

STUDY DESIGN

We retrospectively analyzed all large HCCs resected in our unit during the last 12 years. Survival data were calculated according to size and univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to determine impact of preoperative, operative, and histologic factors affecting outcomes.

RESULTS

We identified 85 large HCCs (> 3 cm) and classified 42 as giant (> 10 cm). Overall survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 76%, 54%, and 51%. Size did not influence survival, although more complex surgical techniques were required for giant tumors. Predictors of poorer disease-free survival were positive resection margin (p < 0.001), multiple tumors (p = 0.003), macroscopic vascular invasion (p = 0.015), and preoperative lesion biopsy (p = 0.027).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data shows excellent outcomes after resection for large HCC. This supports the management of such patients in large-volume units that are fully equipped and experienced in the management of these patients. Preoperative biopsy should be avoided, as this unnecessary maneuver appears to have worsened our longterm results.

Seeding following percutaneous diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for hepatocellular carcinoma. What is the risk and the outcome? Seeding risk for percutaneous approach of HCC

BACKGROUND

Tumour biopsy is usually considered mandatory for patient management by oncologists. Currently percutaneous ablation is used therapeutically for cirrhotic patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), not suitable for resection or waiting for liver transplantation. However malignant seeding is a recognized complication of both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in patients with HCC. Although percutaneous therapy whether with or without biopsy of a suspected HCC nodule may minimize the risk of seeding, this has not been confirmed.

AIM

To evaluate the risk of seeding, defined as new neoplastic disease occurring outside the liver capsule, either in the subcutaneous tissue or peritoneal cavity following needle biopsy and/or local ablation therapy (LAT).

METHODS

A literature search resulted in 179 events in 99 articles between January 1983 and February 2007: 66 seedings followed liver biopsy, 26 percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), 1 microwave, 22 radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and 64 after combined biopsy and percutaneous treatment (5 microwave; 33 PEI; 26 RFA).

RESULTS

In 41 papers specifying the total number of patients biopsied and/or treated, the median risk of seeding was 2.29% (range 0-11%) for biopsy group; 1.4% (1.15-1.85%) for PEI when used with biopsy and 0.61% (0-5.56%) for RFA without biopsy, 0.95% (0-12.5%) for RFA with biopsy and 0.72% (0-10%) for liver nodules (including non-HCC nodules) biopsied and ablated.

CONCLUSION

Risk of seeding with HCC is substantial and appears greater with using diagnostic biopsy alone compared to therapeutic percutaneous procedures. This risk is particularly relevant for patients being considered for liver transplantation.

Anatomically Based Guidelines for Core Needle Biopsy of Bone Tumors: Implications for Limb-sparing Surgery

Diagnostic image-guided needle biopsy plays a vital role in the work-up and treatment of patients with extremity bone tumors. The radiologist and the orthopedic oncologic surgeon should take a team approach to this procedure, especially when the bone lesion might be a primary sarcoma for which limb-sparing surgery (LSS) would be considered. A set of anatomically based guidelines were developed that can be used by the radiologist, in combination with case-by-case consultation with the surgeon, to plan image-guided core needle biopsies of extremity long bone lesions that may be treatable with LSS. By using these guidelines, along with the aforementioned consultation, the radiologist will be able to preserve the patient's chances of receiving optimal surgical treatment.

Needle tract implantation of papillary thyroid carcinoma after fine-needle aspiration biopsy

Although fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is a useful tool for diagnosing thyroid carcinoma, there are some risks of complications. In this study, we investigated tumor implantation by FNAB of papillary carcinoma. We compared the characteristics of the main tumors and implanted tumors of patients showing FNAB implantations. Between 1990 and 2002, 4912 patients underwent FNAB and were diagnosed as having papillary carcinoma. We encountered 7 cases of needle tract implantation, which account only for 0.14%. We reviewed these 7 cases as well as 3 other patients who underwent FNAB in other hospitals. The intervals between FNAB and detection of the implanted tumor ranged from 2 to 131 months. For these 10 patients, the main tumors in 6 were diagnosed as poorly differentiated carcinoma, and 7 showed extrathyroid extension. Five showed the development of implanted tumor after comparatively shorter intervals (2-68 months), and we classified these as the short interval group. The remaining 5 were classified as the long interval group, because tumor development occurred after 87-131 months. All 5 cases in the short interval group involved preoperatively detectable lymph node metastasis; those in the long interval group did not. The MIB-1 labeling index of the implanted tumor was high in 4 cases in the short interval group, but it was low in all cases in the long interval group. The implanted tumors could be surgically removed without recurrence at the focal sites. These findings indicate that, although high growth activity in the metastatic lesions may be a risk factor of FNAB, inducing the growth of implanted tumors along the needle tract within a short interval after the procedure, FNAB remains the most useful technique for diagnosing thyroid carcinoma. The incidence of implantation was low, and when it did occur, the tumors could be surgically removed without recurrence.

Does preoperative fine needle aspiration-biopsy produce tumor recurrence in patients following liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma?

INTRODUCTION

Liver transplantation (OLT) has been advocated for patients with carcinoma hepatocellular (HCC). A preoperative biopsy (fine needle aspiration biopsy) [FNA] facilitates preoperative diagnosis of adverse pathological factors: vascular invasion or histologicalic differentiation. But a biopsy may cause abdominal dissemination and be related to a higher incidence of recurrence.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From April 1986 to December 2003, we performed 95 OLT for HCC. We divided them in two groups: group A without FNA-biopsy (67.9%) and group B with FNA-biopsy (32.1%).

RESULTS

We obtained the diagnosis of HCC in only 15 patients (57.6%). In two patients an OLT was avoided due to the presence of abdominal dissemination at the time of transplant. Recurrence incidence was higher among group B patients (5.9% vs 31.8%; P = .003) due to extrahepatic recurrence (2% vs 27.3%; P = .003). No differences were observed in morbidity or mortality. The two groups were homogeneous in epidemiological and pathological variables except: sex distribution, Child status, AFP level, tumor size, and pTNM stage. If we compare recurrence rates in the two groups attending to these nonhomogeneous variables, it was significantly higher among patients with tumors larger than 3 cm, pTNM I-III stage, Child B-C, AFP >200 ng/mL, and males or females.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative liver biopsy is associated with a larger incidence of tumor recurrence, so we believe that it is not necessary prior to an OLT for HCC.

Surgery for pancreatic cancer: recent controversies and current practice

Pancreatic duct carcinoma remains a common disease with a poor prognosis. More than 30,000 Americans will die of the disease in 2004, making it the fourth leading cause of cancer death. Despite significant advances in the treatment of many other human tumors, the 5-year survival rate for persons diagnosed with pancreatic cancer has not changed in decades and remains <5%. This is due both to the inherently aggressive biology of the disease and to its late diagnosis in most cases. Surgical resection of localized disease remains the only hope for cure of pancreatic cancer. Over the past 2 decades, significant advances in diagnostic imaging, staging, surgical technique, and perioperative care have led to marked improvement in the surgical management of pancreatic cancer patients. Operative mortality rates for pancreaticoduodenectomy are now <5% at major centers, and the average length of hospital stay has been reduced to <2 weeks. Improvements in patient outcome after pancreatic cancer surgery have made possible, for the first time, the design and conduct of large adjuvant therapy studies in pancreatic cancer. Such clinical trials are critical for improving outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.