Thank You to Our Reviewers

Clinical response after laparoscopic fenestration of symptomatic hepatic cysts: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic fenestration is one of the treatment options for symptomatic hepatic cysts, either solitary or in context of polycystic liver disease (PLD), but indications, efficacy and surgical techniques are under debate.

METHODS

A systematic literature search (1950-2017) of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library was performed (CRD42017071305). Studies assessing symptomatic relief or symptomatic recurrence after laparoscopic fenestration in patients with symptomatic, non-parasitic, hepatic cysts were included. Complications were scored according to Clavien-Dindo. Methodological quality was assessed by Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) for cohort studies. Pooled estimates were calculated using a random effects model for meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Out of 5277 citations, 62 studies with a total of 1314 patients were included. Median NOS-score was 6 out of 9. Median follow-up duration was 30 months. Symptomatic relief after laparoscopic fenestration was 90.2% (95% CI 84.3-94.9). Symptomatic recurrence was 9.6% (95% CI 6.9-12.8) and reintervention rate was 7.1% (95% CI 5.0-9.4). Post-operative complications occurred in 10.8% (95% CI 8.1-13.9) and major complications in 3.3% (95% CI 2.1-4.7) of patients. Procedure-related mortality was 1.0% (95% CI 0.5-1.6). In a subgroup analysis of PLD patients (n = 146), symptomatic recurrence and reintervention rates were significantly higher with respective rates of 33.7% (95% CI 18.7-50.4) and 26.4% (95% CI 12.6-43.0). Complications were more frequent in PLD patients, with a rate of 29.3% (95% CI 16.0-44.5).

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic fenestration is an effective procedure for treatment of symptomatic hepatic cysts with a low symptomatic recurrence rate. The symptomatic recurrence rate and risk of complications are significantly higher in PLD patients.

Polycystic liver disease: Hepatic venous outflow obstruction lesions of the noncystic parenchyma have major consequences

In patients with polycystic liver disease (PLD), development of cysts induces hepatic venous outflow obstruction (HVOO) and parenchymal modifications, challenging the paradigm of a normal noncystic liver parenchyma. The aims were to reappraise the pathology of the noncystic parenchyma, by focusing on HVOO lesions; and to investigate the association with outflow obstruction at imaging and perioperative course after liver resection. This is a retrospective study conducted in one tertiary center between 1993 and 2014. PLD patients (n = 125) who underwent resection (n = 90) or transplantation (n = 35) were included. HVOO parenchymal lesions were assessed for all patients and a liver congestion score was built. Imaging was analysed for 45 patients with computed tomography scan, and perioperative course was assessed in resected patients. At pathology, 92% of patients had HVOO lesions, with sinusoidal dilatation being the most common feature. HVOO was more severe in patients who underwent transplantation compared to liver resection, as assessed by the congestion score. At imaging, all patients had HVOO with at least two hepatic veins involved. Mosaic enhancement pattern of the parenchyma was associated with the severity of hepatic vein obstruction (P = 0.045) and the compression of the inferior vena cava (P = 0.014). In case of liver resection, intraoperative course was characterized by hemorrhage, related to HVOO at imaging. Ascites (44%) and liver failure (9%) in the postoperative period were associated with blood losses and transfusions.

CONCLUSION

Hepatic venous outflow obstruction, including development of venous collaterality and parenchymal changes, is frequent in PLD and has major consequences on intraoperative bleeding and postoperative ascites and liver failure. Hepatic venous outflow obstruction should be taken into account to choose the most appropriate surgical treatment. (Hepatology 2017).

An update on the pathophysiology and management of polycystic liver disease

Polycystic liver disease (PLD) is characterized by the presence of multiple cholangiocyte-derived hepatic cysts that progressively replace liver tissue. They are classified as an inherited ciliopathy /cholangiopathy as pathology exists at the level of the primary cilia of cholangiocytes. Aberrant expression of the proteins in primary cilia can impair their structures and functions, thereby promoting cystogenesis. Areas covered: This review begins by looking at the epidemiology of PLD and its natural history. It then describes the pathophysiology and corresponding potential treatment strategies for PLD. Expert commentary: Traditionally, therapies for symptomatic PLD have been limited to symptomatic management and surgical interventions. Such techniques are not completely effective, do not alter the natural history of the disease, and are linked with high rate of re-accumulation of cysts. As a result, there has been a push for drugs targeted at abnormal cellular signaling cascades to address deregulated proliferation, cell dedifferentiation, apoptosis and fluid secretion. Currently, the only available drug treatments that halt disease progression and improve quality of life in PLD patients are somatostatin analogues. Numerous preclinical studies suggest that targeting components of the signaling pathways that influence cyst development can ameliorate growth of hepatic cysts.

Rare benign tumors of the liver: still rare?

Background

Benign liver tumors are common. They do not spread to other areas of the body, and they usually do not pose a serious health risk. In fact, in most cases, benign liver tumors are not diagnosed because patients are asymptomatic. When they are detected, it’s usually because the person has had medical imaging tests, such as an ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), for another condition.

Materials and methods

A search of the literature was made using cancer literature and the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WOS) database for the following keywords: “hepatic benign tumors”, “hepatic cystic tumors”, “polycystic liver disease”, “liver macroregenerative nodules”, “hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma”, “hepatic angiomyolipoma”, “biliary cystadenoma”, and “nodular regenerative hyperplasia”.

Discussion and conclusion

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in some areas of the world; there is an increasing incidence worldwide. Approximately 750,000 new cases are reported per year. More than 75 % of cases occur in the Asia-Pacific region, largely in association with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The incidence of HCC is increasing in the USA and Europe because of the increased incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Unlike the liver HCC, benign tumors are less frequent. However, they represent a chapter always more interesting of liver disease. In fact, a careful differential diagnosis with the forms of malignant tumor is often required in such a way so as to direct the patient to the correct therapy. In conclusion, many of these tumors present with typical features in various imaging studies. On occasions, biopsies are required, and/or surgical removal is needed. In the majority of cases of benign hepatic tumors, no treatment is indicated. The main indication for treatment is the presence of significant clinical symptoms or suspicion of malignancy or fear of malignant transformation.

Treatment of symptomatic polycystic liver disease: transcatheter super-selective hepatic arterial embolization using a mixture of NBCA and iodized oil

BACKGROUND

Surgical therapy for symptomatic polycystic liver disease (PLD) is effective but has substantial mortality and morbidity. Minimally invasive options such as laparoscopic fenestration, percutaneous cyst aspiration with or without injection of a sclerosing solution have had disappointing results. Because the hepatic cysts in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients are mostly supplied from hepatic arteries but not from portal veins, therefore, transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of the hepatic artery branches that supply major hepatic cysts can lead to shrinkage of the cyst and liver size.

AIM

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of TAE using a mixture of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) and iodized oil for massive PLD in ADPKD patients.

METHODS

From February 2007 to March 2011, a total of 21 patients with symptomatic PLD underwent super-selective hepatic TAE with the mixture of NBCA and iodized oil. The patients consisted of 17 women and 4 men (age range 36-64 years, average age 48.8 years). All patients underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the liver before TAE, and at every 3 months for the first year after TAE and at 6-monthly intervals thereafter. Laboratory data, including routine blood tests and liver enzymes, were collected before and 1, 3, 7, and 14 days, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after TAE.

RESULTS

Technical success was achieved in all cases. No serious complications were experienced. The mean follow-up period was 34 ± 20 months (range 12-60 months). At follow-up of 6-12 months, symptoms notably improved in 18 (85.7%) of 21 patients, and these patients experienced further relief of the symptoms during the follow-up period. TAE failed to benefit in 3 patients (14.3%). No patient complained of worsening of the symptoms after the procedure. At follow-up CT, the total liver volume and total intra-hepatic cyst volume decreased significantly (p < 0.001) compared with pre-TAE in 18 (85.7%) of 21 patients at 12 months after TAE. The total liver volume decreased from 8270 ± 3016 to 6120 ± 2680 cm(3) and the total intra-hepatic cyst volume decreased from 7120 ± 3070 to 4530 ± 2600 cm(3). Mild elevation of the liver enzymes was shown in patients at 1-14 days after TAE but returned to the normal range within 1 month.

CONCLUSION

The mixture of NBCA and iodized oil is an acceptable embolic agent for embolization of the hepatic artery branches that supply the hepatic cysts in ADPKD patients. This technique is an option for patient with highly symptomatic PLD who are not candidates for surgical treatment.

Polycystic liver disease: a clinical review

Polycystic liver disease rarely occurs in isolation as part of autosomal dominant polycystic liver disease, but more commonly, it exists as an extra-renal manifestation of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. The pathogenesis of polycystic liver disease involves defects in the primary cilium of the cholangiocyte, with genetic mutations that impair key proteins integral to the complex functioning of cilia. While most patients are asymptomatic and require no intervention aside from reassurance and genetic counseling, in a minority of patients, polycystic liver disease creates a myriad of symptoms from the compressive effects of enlarged cysts, and can even cause malnutrition and liver decompensation in the severest of cases. In patients with symptomatic disease, a variety of interventional radiology or surgical techniques can be considered, including aspiration with sclerotherapy of a dominant cyst, fenestration, segmental hepatic resection, and even liver transplantation. Although there are no curative medical options for polycystic liver disease, somatostatin analogs hold promise and have shown minimal efficacy in human studies. However, further research is needed to develop more efficacious medical treatments.