Liver abscess as a complication of microwave ablation for liver metastatic cholangiocarcinoma after bilioenteric anastomosis

Risk Reduction of Intrahepatic Abscess After Locoregional Therapy for Liver Cancer in Patients with Prior Hepatobiliary Intervention

Intrahepatic abscess is an exceedingly rare complication of locoregional therapy for patients with liver cancer. However, in patients who underwent prior hepatobiliary intervention, the incidence of liver abscess increases significantly, causing morbidity and even mortality in such patients. Here, we will review the relative risk of developing a liver abscess after intraarterial and ablative locoregional therapies in patients with liver cancer depending on whether they underwent any kind of prior hepatobiliary procedures that resulted in violation of the Ampulla of Vater. As a result, patients deemed at high risk of developing a liver abscess were treated prophylactically, with the combination of bowel preparation and antibiotics nearly eliminating the occurrence of a liver abscess after locoregional therapy. Therefore, given the significant risk of developing a liver abscess in patients with prior hepatobiliary procedures, management consisting of prophylactic bowel preparation with antibiotic coverage followed by antibiotics post-locoregional therapy is recommended.

The clinical significance of pyogenic liver abscess after transarterial chemoembolization or microwave ablation on malignant liver tumors: A retrospective study

Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is a rare but severe complication of interventional therapy that has been little studied. We aimed to find the risk factors for PLA after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) or microwave ablation (MWA), further explore its clinical significance and summarize our experience with its treatment. Twenty-two patients with PLA and 118 randomly selected patients without PLA after TACE/MWA were enrolled. Logistic regression was used to analyze risk factors, a nonparametric test was used to compare recovery duration, the log-rank test was used to compare progression-free survival, and Spearman correlation coefficient was calculated between the time from fever to drainage and the total duration of fever. The disease process and treatment were summarized. Sphincter of Oddi manipulation increased the risk of PLA by 70.781-fold. The PLA group took longer to recover (36.56 ± 16.42 days) than the control group (5.54 ± 4.33 days), and had a shorter progression-free survival. Escherichia coli was the major pathogenic bacterium, and multidrug resistance was found in 8 patients with E coli or Enterococcus faecium. The time from fever to drainage was 15.89 ± 13.78 days, which was positively correlated with the total duration of fever (24.29 ± 18.24 days). Overall, 18 patients recovered, and 4 patients died of PLA, for a mortality rate of 18.18%. The fever of 10 patients (45.45%) was controlled by cefoperazone sodium and sulbactam sodium or piperacillin sodium and tazobactam sodium; the fever of 7 patients (31.81%) was controlled by imipenem and cilastatin sodium; and the fever of 3 patients (13.63%) was controlled by tigecycline. Sphincter of Oddi manipulation is a high-risk factor for PLA after TACE or MWA. PLA can accelerate cancer progression and even lead to death. E coli was the major pathogenic bacterium, and multidrug resistance was most common in E coli and E faecium. Timely drainage and appropriate antibiotics are the key primary measures for treating PLA. Cefoperazone sodium and sulbactam sodium or piperacillin sodium and tazobactam sodium is a good choice for the first treatment of PLA, especially before pathogenic bacteria are identified. With the emergence of drug resistance, imipenem and cilastatin sodium, and tigecycline can be used for posterior treatment.

Liver abscess after drug-eluting bead chemoembolization in patients with metastatic hepatic tumors

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the incidence and risk factors for liver abscess formation after treatment with drug-eluting bead chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) in patients with metastatic hepatic tumors (MHT).

METHODS

The current study is a retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 137 patients with metastatic hepatic tumors who received DEB-TACE treatment in our institute (Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology) between June 2015 and September 2020. Patients were evaluated for the presence or absence of post-DEB-TACE liver abscess. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify risk factors for liver abscess formation.

RESULTS

The incidence of liver abscess formation after the DEB-TACE procedure was 8.76% per patient and 5.53% per procedure. Univariate analysis showed that larger maximum tumor diameter (p = 0.004), Grade 1 artery occlusion (p < 0.001) and systemic chemotherapy within 3 months before the DEB-TACE procedure (p < 0.001) were all associated with liver abscess formation. However, only systemic chemotherapy within 3 months before the DEB-TACE procedure (OR 5.49; 95% CI 0.34-13.54; p < 0.001) was identified by multivariate analysis to be an independent risk factor.

CONCLUSIONS

Tumor size, Grade 1 artery occlusion and recent systemic chemotherapy may all be associated with increased risk of liver abscess formation following DEB-TACE treatment in patients with metastatic hepatic tumors.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

Identification of risk factors for liver abscess formation following DEB-TACE in patients with MHT. These findings suggest the need for caution and consideration of the aforementioned risk factors on the part of interventional radiologists when designing DEB-TACE strategies and performing post-procedure patient management.

Surgical Approach to Recurrent Cholangiocarcinoma

Background

For recurrent cholangiocarcinoma, systemic chemotherapy is the standard of care. Repeated resection is a potential curative treatment, but data are scarce and outcomes are not well defined so far.

Summary

In the last decade there has been an increasing number of reports suggesting a survival benefit and even cure after repeated surgery. This is particularly true for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, where repeated resections offer similar or even better results than the first resection. In selected cases even a third liver resection is possible. In contrast, in perihilar and distal cholangiocarcinoma, repeated resection is only rarely possible. Although the improved outcome might be attributed to a careful patient selection and a favorable tumor biology, repeated surgical treatment should be attempted whenever possible. This necessitates a structured follow-up after resection.

Key Message

Surgical resection offers the chance for prolonged survival and even for cure in recurrent cholangiocarcinoma. Hence, it is of the utmost importance to better understand the routes of metastases and to define factors qualifying for resection. Whether different patterns of recurrence reflect biological heterogeneity requires further investigation.

Microwave ablation of liver cancer: An updated review

The treatment methods for early liver cancer include surgical resection, liver transplantation, and local ablation. Among them, microwave ablation (MWA) is widely used in clinical practice because of its outstanding advantages, such as minimal invasiveness, radical curative effect, short treatment time, few complications, and no heat-sink effect, especially for the treatment of tumors adjacent to major vessels and hepatic metastases. However, MWA also has limitations such as unpredictable size and shape of the ablation area. This review systematically illustrates the effectiveness and safety of MWA in the treatment of liver cancer. Meanwhile, the relative superiority of the new generation of MWA is discussed, with an aim to provide reference for MWA of liver cancer.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation versus surgical resection for recurrent intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: intermediate-term results

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this study were to compare the clinical outcomes between ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (US-PMWA) and surgical resection (SR) in patients with recurrent intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and to identify the prognostic factors associated with the two treatment methods.

METHODS

This retrospective study was institutional review board approved. A total of 121 patients (102 men and 19 women) with 136 ICCs after hepatectomy from April 2011 to January 2017 were reviewed. Fifty-six patients underwent US-PMWA and 65 patients underwent SR. Survival, recurrence and liver function were compared between the two groups. Effect of changes in key parameters [i.e., overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS)] was statistically analyzed with the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed on clinicopathological variables to identify factors affecting long-term outcome.

RESULTS

The OS and RFS after MWA were comparable to that of SR (p = .405, and p = .589, respectively). Estimated 5-year OS rates were 23.7% after MWA and 21.8% after SR; for RFS, estimated 3-year RFS rates were 33.1% after MWA and 30.6% after SR. Major complication rates in SR group were higher than that in MWA (p < .001) (SR, 13.8% vs. MWA, 5.3%). Multivariate analysis showed tumor number (p = .012), ALBI grade (p = .007), and metastasis (p = .016), may become OS rate predictors.

CONCLUSIONS

US-PMWA had comparable oncologic outcomes with SR and could be a safe and effective treatment for recurrent ICC after hepatectomy.

Sporadic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor: Surgery of the primary tumor

The management of patients with sporadic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET) is multi-disciplinary and often, multimodal. Surgery has a large part in treatment because it is the only potentially curative therapeutic modality if resection can be complete. The update reviews the operative indications and the different surgical techniques available (including parenchymal-sparing surgery) to treat the primary lesion according to patient status, preoperative work-up and whether the tumor is functioning or not. The place of observation for "small" non-functional sporadic PNET is also discussed.

Combined chemoembolization and thermal ablation for the treatment of metastases to the liver

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study was to evaluate safety, time to recurrence, and overall survival (OS) in patients with liver metastases (LM), treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) followed by ablation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included all patients with LM treated with combined TACE and ablation from August 1998 to September 2015. Forty-two patients (12 women, 30 men; age 62.9 ± 11.9 years) were treated for 44 LMs. Tumor characteristics, imaging response to treatment, recurrence, and OS data were reviewed. Statistical analysis included Kaplan-Meier estimation, Cox regression and Fisher's exact, Wilcoxon rank sum, or log rank tests.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 10.3 months. Eighteen patients had 1 hepatic lesion, 16 had 2-5, and 8 had > 5. Median index lesion size was 4.7 cm (range 1.5-8 .0 cm). Tumor response (mRECIST) was available for 41/44 treated lesions, with CR in 32 (78.0%), PR in 8 (19.5%), and PD in 1 (2.4%). Long-term imaging follow-up was available for 38 patients. Freedom from local recurrence was 61% at 1 year and 50% at 2 years. OS was 55% at 1 year and 30% at 2 years (median OS, 14.5 months). Tumor size and histology were not predictors of time to progression or OS. Complications occurred in 19 patients (45%). Major complications occurred in 19% of patients and included hospitalization for fever (n = 2), hepatic abscess (n = 3) and fall requiring transfusion, portal vein thrombus causing lobar infarct, biliary fistula, and retroperitoneal hematoma (n = 1 each).

CONCLUSIONS

Combined TACE and ablation is effective for local tumor control of liver metastases up to 8 cm when part of a multidisciplinary treatment strategy. Major complications occurred in 19% of patients.

The role of interventional radiology in the treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common primary hepatic malignancy after hepatocellular carcinoma. Complete surgical resection remains the only potentially curative option for patients with ICC. However, until now, early diagnosis with potential surgical intervention has been the exception rather than the rule with only 30% of patients qualifying for attempted surgical cure. Many patients are unresectable because of disease stage, anatomic conditions, medical comorbidities, and small future remnant liver. Interventional radiology procedures are available for these types of patients with intra-arterial therapies and/or ablative treatments both for curative and for palliative treatment. The goals of interventional therapy are to control local tumor growth, to relieve symptoms, and to improve and preserve quality of life. The choice of treatment depends largely on tumor extent and patient performance. No randomized studies exist to compare treatments. The present review describes the current evidence of the interventional treatments in the management of the ICC. Moreover, interventional procedures available to increase the future liver reserve before surgery were analyzed.

Thermal ablation versus repeated hepatic resection for recurrent intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Repeated hepatic resection (HR) and thermal ablation therapy (TAT) are increasingly being used to treat recurrent intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (RICC). This study compared the efficacy and safety of these procedures for RICC treatment.

METHODS

Patients were studied retrospectively after curative resection of RICCs by repeated HR (n = 32) or TAT (n = 77). Treatment effectiveness and prognosis were compared between the two treatment groups.

RESULTS

The repeated HR and TAT groups did not differ in their overall survival (OS; p = 0.996) or disease-free survival (DFS; p = 0.692) rates. However, among patients with recurrent tumors >3 cm in diameter, patients in the repeated HR group had a higher OS rate than patients in the TAT group (p = 0.037). The number of recurrent tumors and the recurrence interval were significant prognostic factors for OS. The major complications incidence rate was greater in the repeated HR group than in the TAT group (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Repeated HR and TAT are both effective treatments for RICC with similar overall efficacies. TAT should be preferred in any cases when the RICC is ≤3 cm in diameter and technically feasible. However, for large tumors (>3 cm), repeated HR may be a better choice.