CT and MRI imaging and interpretation of hepatic arterioportal shunts

TACE With Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity

Doxorubicin is an effective chemotherapeutic drug used in transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Although very effective, this molecule is known for its potential severe cardiotoxicity, which was the purpose for the development of drug-eluting beads-TACE that showed similar efficacy and improved safety. We present the case of a 58-year-old man with hepatocellular carcinoma who received 5 treatments of conventional TACE with doxorubicin and developed severe cardiotoxicity. Although the cardiotoxic effect of TACE with doxorubicin has already been reported in the literature, this case has serious implications, because the patient had to be removed from the liver transplant waitlist and this development could have been prevented. We believe that this complication of TACE should be more known, and hence more sought out. We also believe that drug-eluting beads-TACE should be preferred because it was proven safer in more frail patients.

I thought it was a hemangioma! A pictorial essay about common and uncommon liver hemangiomas' mimickers

Focal liver lesions are frequently encountered during imaging studies, and hemangiomas represent the most common solid liver lesion. Liver hemangiomas usually show characteristic imaging features that enable characterization without the need for biopsy or follow-up. On the other hand, there are many benign and malignant liver lesions that may show one or more imaging features resembling hemangiomas that radiologists must be aware of. In this article we will review the typical imaging features of liver hemangiomas and will show a series of potential liver hemangiomas' mimickers, giving radiologists some hints for improving differential diagnoses. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: The knowledge of imaging features of potential liver hemangiomas mimickers is fundamental to avoid misinterpretation. KEY POINTS: Liver hemangiomas typically show imaging features that enable avoiding a biopsy. Many benign and malignant liver lesions show imaging features resembling hemangiomas. Radiologists must know the potentially misleading imaging features of hemangiomas' mimickers.

Arterial-Portal Venous Shunt after Drug-Eluting Bead Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients: Risk factors and Impact on Patient Survival

INTRODUCTION

The effectiveness of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been well established. The differential impacts of drug-eluting bead TACE (DEB-TACE) as opposed to conventional TACE (cTACE) on vascular changes, such as arterial-portal venous shunts (APSs), have been recognized. However, their subsequent effects on treatment outcomes have not been fully explored. This study aims to identify risk factors associated with the occurrence of APS in HCC patients treated with DEB-TACE and to evaluate its impact on patient survival.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted from January 2012 to December 2018 including 74 HCC patients receiving DEB-TACE as initial treatment and a 1:1 cTACE. Kaplan-Meier analysis estimated overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Logistic regression identified significant risk factors for APS occurrence after DEB-TACE.

RESULTS

APS incidence was significantly higher after DEB-TACE than cTACE (46.0% vs. 16.2%, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in median OS between APS and non-APS groups after DEB-TACE: 50 months (24.6-75.4) versus 26.9 months (19.5-43.2), p = 0.111; median PFS was 15.6 months (4.1-27.1) and 9.5 months (6.8-12.1) for the two groups, respectively, p = 0.065. Risk factors for APS occurrence after DEB-TACE were more than two feeding arteries (OR: 7.25, 95% CI: 1.82-28.95, p = 0.005) and non-selective embolization (OR: 8.02, 95% CI: 2.30-27.95, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

APS occurrence was higher in DEB-TACE-treated HCC patients, but it did not significantly affect OS and PFS. More than two feeding arteries and non-selective embolization were significant risk factors for APS occurrence after DEB-TACE.

Successful treatment of refractory ascites in a patient with liver cirrhosis combined with hepatic artery-portal vein malformation: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Hepatic artery-portal vein malformation is rarely encountered in clinical practice. Here, we reported a case of liver cirrhosis combined with hepatic artery-portal vein malformation with refractory ascites as the main symptom. And it was successfully treated by us. The present case demonstrates the role of hepatic artery-portal vein malformation in cirrhotic ascites and the importance of early diagnosis and interventional treatment. This article may provides some experience for the treatment of such patients.

PATIENT CONCERNS

The patient was a 72-year-old woman with a 40-year history of Hepatitis B virus surface antigen positivity who sought medical advice with a chief complaint of abdominal distension for 1 week.

DIAGNOSES

Enhanced abdominal computed tomography imaging of this patient revealed liver cirrhosis, splenomegaly, esophageal and gastric varices, massive ascites, and a low-density area in the S4 segment of the liver with an ambiguous boundary. Widening of the left branch of the portal vein was evident, and the portal vein was highlighted in the arterial phase and the venous phase. Digital subtraction angiography revealed substantial thickening of the left hepatic artery, and the administered contrast agent drained through the malformed vascular mass to the thickened left portal vein. Liver cirrhosis combined with hepatic artery-portal vein malformation were diagnosed. And we considered that the artery-portal vein malformation in this patient might be caused by cirrhosis.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient was applied diuretics, entecavir and transcatheter embolization.

OUTCOMES

The patient ascites did not resolve significantly when treated with diuretics alone. After the transcatheter embolization, the patient ascites relieved remarkably.

CONCLUSION

The patient underwent transcatheter embolization for hepatic artery-portal vein malformation, after which her ascites resolved with good short-term curative efficacy. So, the patients who suffered from liver cirrhosis combined with hepatic artery-portal vein malformation and refractory ascites, should be active on transcatheter embolization.

The Portal Vein: A Comprehensive Review

Radiologists are familiar with the appearances of a normal portal vein; variations in its anatomy are commonplace and require careful consideration due to the implications for surgery. These alterations in portal vein anatomy have characteristic appearances that are clearly depicted on CT, MR, and US images. Similarly, there are numerous congenital and acquired disorders of the portal vein that are deleterious to its function and can be diagnosed by using imaging alone. Some of these conditions have subtle imaging features, and some are conspicuous at imaging but poorly understood or underrecognized. The authors examine imaging appearances of the portal vein, first by outlining the classic and variant anatomy and then by describing each of the disorders that impact portal vein function. The imaging appearances of portal vein abnormalities discussed in this review include (a) occlusion from and differentiation between bland thrombus and tumor in vein and the changes associated with resultant hepatic artery buffer response changes, cavernous transformation of the portal vein, and portal biliopathy; (b) ascending thrombophlebitis of the portal vein (pylephlebitis); (c) portal hypertension and its causes and sequelae; (d) the newly described disease entity portosinusoidal vascular disorder; and (e) intra- and extrahepatic shunts of the portal system, both congenital and acquired (including Abernethy malformations), and the associated risks. Current understanding of the pathophysiologic processes of each of these disorders is considered to aid the approach to reporting. ©RSNA, 2023 Quiz questions for this article are available in the supplemental material.

Spontaneous hepatic arterioportal fistula in extrahepatic portal vein obstruction: Combined endovascular and surgical management

Hepatic arterioportal fistulae are abnormal communications between the hepatic artery and portal vein. They are reported to be congenital or acquired secondary to trauma, iatrogenic procedures, hepatic cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, but less likely to occur spontaneously. Extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) can lead to pre-hepatic portal hypertension. A spontaneous superimposed hepatic arterioportal fistula can lead to pre-sinusoidal portal hypertension, further exacerbating its physiology. This report describes a young woman with long-standing EHPVO presenting with repeated upper gastrointestinal variceal bleeding and symptomatic hypersplenism. Computed tomography scan demonstrated a cavernous transformation of the portal vein and a macroscopic hepatic arterioportal fistula between the left hepatic artery and portal vein collateral in the central liver. The hepatic arterioportal fistula was associated with a flow-related left hepatic artery aneurysm and a portal venous collateral aneurysm proximal and distal to the fistula, respectively. Endovascular coiling was performed for the hepatic arterioportal fistula, followed by proximal splenorenal shunt procedure. This case illustrates an uncommon association of a spontaneous hepatic arterioportal fistula with EHPVO and the utility of a combined endovascular and surgical approach for managing multifactorial non-cirrhotic portal hypertension in such patients.

Can MRI features predict clinically relevant hepatocellular carcinoma genetic subtypes?

PURPOSE

Recent studies in cancer genomics have revealed core drivers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) pathogenesis. We aim to study whether MRI features can serve as non-invasive markers for the prediction of common genetic subtypes of HCC.

METHODS

Sequencing of 447 cancer-implicated genes was performed on 43 pathology proven HCC from 42 patients, who underwent contrast-enhanced MRI followed by biopsy or resection. MRI features were retrospectively evaluated including tumor size, infiltrative tumor margin, diffusion restriction, arterial phase hyperenhancement, non-peripheral washout, enhancing capsule, peritumoral enhancement, tumor in vein, fat in mass, blood products in mass, cirrhosis and tumor heterogeneity. Fisher's exact test was used to correlate genetic subtypes with imaging features. Prediction performance using correlated MRI features for genetic subtype and inter-reader agreement were assessed.

RESULTS

The two most prevalent genetic mutations were TP53 (13/43, 30%) and CTNNB1 (17/43, 40%). Tumors with TP53 mutation more often demonstrated an infiltrative tumor margin on MRI (p = 0.01); inter-reader agreement was almost perfect (kappa = 0.95). The CTNNB1 mutation was associated with peritumoral enhancement on MRI (p = 0.04), inter-reader agreement was substantial (kappa = 0.74). The MRI feature of an infiltrative tumor margin correlated with the TP53 mutation with accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 74.4%, 61.5% and 80.0%, respectively. Peritumoral enhancement correlated with the CTNNB1 mutation with accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 69.8%, 47.0% and 84.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

An infiltrative tumor margin on MRI correlated with TP53 mutation and peritumoral enhancement correlated with CTNNB1 mutation in HCC. Absence of these MRI features are potential negative predictors of the respective HCC genetic subtypes that have implications for prognosis and treatment response.

Clinical anatomy of hepatic vessels by computed tomography angiography: A minireview

The liver has a complex vascular anatomy with a unique dual blood supply. Clinical conditions of the liver vary widely and include disorders originating in the vascular and biliary systems as well as the parenchyma. In most vascular disorders, the effects on the liver are generally subclinical because of its abundant blood supply. However, early diagnosis of such vascular diseases can significantly reduce patient morbidity and mortality. Because imaging findings of vascular disease are not always readily apparent, diagnosis can be difficult. Computed tomography angiography is an excellent imaging modality for visualizing the vascular anatomy of patients for treatment planning. In this review article, we focus on the vascular anatomy of the liver and the imaging findings in some acute hepatic vascular diseases.

Transcatheter arterial embolization of iatrogenic massive arterioportal fistula in the liver

BACKGROUND

Massive arterioportal fistula (APF) is naturally irreversible and can induce portal hypertension and portal vein thrombosis (PVT), worsening survival outcomes.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the clinical course and details of transarterial embolization (TAE) procedures for massive APF.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This retrospective single-center observational study evaluated the time until embolization after puncture, imaging, embolization methods, and laboratory data of 10 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with massive APF after puncture and underwent TAE at our hospital from 1 April 2012 to 30 September 2019.

RESULTS

Out of 10 cases, eight demonstrated a simple type and the other two cases a complex network type on the digital subtraction angiography pattern of massive APF. In two simple-type cases for which re-embolization was required, other subsegmental branches were embolized. The two cases showing a complex network type had been embolized via not only the subsegmental branch, but also the extrahepatic and multiple subsegmental branches. Child-Pugh scores were improved in eight of the ten cases. PVT was seen in six cases before embolization, but disappeared after embolization in all cases, despite the fact that three cases had not received anticoagulant therapy. Six cases had digestive varices before embolization, suggesting portal hypertension, and two of the six cases with esophageal varices and one with gastric varices decreased after embolization.

CONCLUSION

TAE for massive APF contributed to the improvement of hepatic reserve, the disappearance of PVT, and the improvement of portal hypertension; however, embolization of multiple branches may still be required in some cases.

Hepatic pseudolesions caused by alterations in intrahepatic hemodynamics

Hepatic pseudolesion may occur in contrast-enhanced computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging due to the unique haemodynamic characteristics of the liver. The concept of hepatic arterial buffer response (HABR) has become mainstream for the understanding of the mechanism of the reciprocal effect between hepatic arterial and portal venous flow. And HABR is thought to be significantly related to the occurrence of the abnormal imaging findings on arterial phase of contrast enhanced images, such as hepatic arterial-portal vein shunt and transient hepatic attenuation difference, which mimic hypervascular tumor and may cause clinical problems. Third inflow to the liver also cause hepatic pseudolesion, and some of the cases may show histopathologic change such as focal hyperplasia, focal fatty liver, and focal sparing of fatty liver, and called pseudotumor. To understand these phenomena might be valuable for interpreting the liver imaging findings.

An Anomalous Cause of Portal Hypertension

Portal hypertension is a syndrome marked by an increase in the pressure of the portal vein. Portal hypertension can be diagnosed clinically or if the measurement of the hepatic venous pressure gradient is greater than 5 mm Hg. Cirrhosis is the most common etiology in Western countries, but there are other causes which lead to presinusoidal portal hypertension. We present a patient with a rare cause of portal hypertension.

Arterioportal Fistulas (APFs) in Pediatric Patients: Single Center Experience with Interventional Radiological versus Conservative Management and Clinical Outcomes

Arterioportal fistulas (APFs) are uncommon vascular abnormalities with a heterogeneous etiology. In pediatric orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), APFs are frequently iatrogenic, following percutaneous liver interventions. The aim of this study was to report the 10-year experience of a tertiary referral center for pediatric OLT in the interventional radiological (IR) and conservative management of acquired APFs. A retrospective search was performed to retrieve pediatric patients (<18 years old) with a diagnosis of APF at color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) or computed tomography angiography (CTA) from 2010 to 2020. Criteria for IR treatment were the presence of hemodynamic alterations at CDUS (resistive index <0.5; portal flow reversal) or clinical manifestations (bleeding; portal hypertension). Conservatively managed patients served as a control population. Clinical and imaging follow-up was analyzed. Twenty-three pediatric patients (median age, 4 years; interquartile range = 11 years; 15 males) with 24 APFs were retrieved. Twenty patients were OLT recipients with acquired APFs (16 iatrogenic). Twelve out of twenty-three patients were managed conservatively. The remaining 11 underwent angiography with confirmation of a shunt in 10, who underwent a total of 16 embolization procedures (14 endovascular; 2 transhepatic). Technical success was reached in 12/16 (75%) procedures. Clinical success was achieved in 8/11 (73%) patients; three clinical failures resulted in one death and two OLTs. After a median follow-up time of 42 months (range 1–107), successfully treated patients showed an improvement in hemodynamic parameters at CDUS. Conservatively managed patients showed a stable persistence of the shunts in six cases, spontaneous resolution in four, reduction in one and mild shunt increase in one. In pediatric patients undergoing liver interventions, APFs should be investigated. Although asymptomatic in most cases, IR treatment of APFs should be considered whenever hemodynamic changes are found at CDUS.

Prospective study of Lipiodol distribution as an imaging marker for doxorubicin pharmacokinetics during conventional transarterial chemoembolization of liver malignancies

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the prognostic potential of Lipiodol distribution for the pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles of doxorubicin (DOX) and doxorubicinol (DOXOL) after conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE).

METHODS

This prospective clinical trial ( ClinicalTrials.gov : NCT02753881) included 30 consecutive participants with liver malignancies treated with cTACE (5/2016-10/2018) using 50 mg DOX/10 mg mitomycin C emulsified 1:2 with ethiodized oil (Lipiodol). Peripheral blood was sampled at 10 timepoints for standard non-compartmental analysis of peak concentrations (C_max) and area under the curve (AUC) with dose normalization (DN). Imaging markers included Lipiodol distribution on post-cTACE CT for patient stratification into 1 segment (n = 10), ≥ 2 segments (n = 10), and lobar cTACE (n = 10), and baseline enhancing tumor volume (ETV). Adverse events (AEs) and tumor response on MRI were recorded 3-4 weeks post-cTACE. Statistics included repeated measurement ANOVA (RM-ANOVA), Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, Fisher's exact test, and Pearson correlation.

RESULTS

Hepatocellular (n = 26), cholangiocarcinoma (n = 1), and neuroendocrine metastases (n = 3) were included. Stratified according to Lipiodol distribution, DOX-C_max increased from 1 segment (DOX-C_max, 83.94 ± 75.09 ng/mL; DN-DOX-C_max, 2.67 ± 2.02 ng/mL/mg) to ≥ 2 segments (DOX-C_max, 139.66 ± 117.73 ng/mL; DN-DOX-C_max, 3.68 ± 4.20 ng/mL/mg) to lobar distribution (DOX-C_max, 334.35 ± 215.18 ng/mL; DN-DOX-C_max, 7.11 ± 4.24 ng/mL/mg; p = 0.036). While differences in DN-DOX-AUC remained insignificant, RM-ANOVA revealed significant separation of time concentration curves for DOX (p = 0.023) and DOXOL (p = 0.041) comparing 1, ≥ 2 segments, and lobar cTACE. Additional indicators of higher DN-DOX-C_max were high ETV (p = 0.047) and Child-Pugh B (p = 0.009). High ETV and tumoral Lipiodol coverage also correlated with tumor response. AE occurred less frequently after segmental cTACE.

CONCLUSIONS

This prospective clinical trial provides updated PK data revealing Lipiodol distribution as an imaging marker predictive of DOX-C_max and tumor response after cTACE in liver cancer.

KEY POINTS

• Prospective pharmacokinetic analysis after conventional TACE revealed Lipiodol distribution (1 vs. ≥ 2 segments vs. lobar) as an imaging marker predictive of doxorubicin peak concentrations (C_max). • Child-Pugh B class and tumor hypervascularization, measurable as enhancing tumor volume (ETV) at baseline, were identified as additional predictors for higher dose-normalized doxorubicin C_max after conventional TACE. • ETV at baseline and tumoral Lipiodol coverage can serve as predictors of volumetric tumor response after conventional TACE according to quantitative European Association for the Study of the Liver (qEASL) criteria.