Early recurring hepatocellular carcinoma after partial hepatic resection: preoperative CT findings

Two-Trait Predictor of Venous Invasion on Contrast-Enhanced CT as a Preoperative Predictor of Outcomes for Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Hepatectomy

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the two-trait predictor of venous invasion (TTPVI) on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) for the preoperative prediction of clinical outcomes in patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatectomy.

Methods

This retrospective study included 280 patients with surgically resected HCC who underwent preoperative CECT between 2012 and 2013. CT imaging features of HCC were assessed, and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate the CT features associated with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Subgroup analyses were used to summarized the hazard ratios (HRs) between patients in whom TTPVI was present and those in whom TTPVI was absent using a forest plot.

Results

Capsule appearance [HR, 0.504; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.341–0.745; p < 0.001], TTPVI (HR, 1.842; 95% CI, 1.319–2.572; p < 0.001) and high level of alanine aminotransferase (HR, 1.620; 95% CI, 1.180–2.225, p = 0.003) were independent risk factors for DFS, and TTPVI (HR, 2.509; 95% CI, 1.518–4.147; p < 0.001), high level of alpha-fetoprotein (HR, 1.722; 95% CI, 1.067–2.788; p = 0.026), and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (HR, 1.787; 95% CI, 1.134–2.814; p = 0.026) were independent risk factors for OS. A forest plot revealed that the TTPVI present group had lower DFS and OS rates in most subgroups. Patients in whom TTPVI was present in stages I and II had a lower DFS and OS than those in whom TTPVI was absent. Moreover, there were significant differences in DFS (p < 0.001) and OS (p < 0.001) between patients classified as Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage A in whom TTPVI was absent and in whom TTPVI was present.

Conclusions

TTPVI may be used as a preoperative biomarker for predicting postoperative outcomes for patients with early-stage HCC.

Radiation lobectomy: time-dependent analysis of future liver remnant volume in unresectable liver cancer as a bridge to resection

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Portal vein embolization (PVE) is a standard technique for patients not amenable to liver resection due to small future liver remnant ratio (FLR). Radiation lobectomy (RL) with (90)Y-loaded microspheres (Y90) is hypothesized to induce comparable volumetric changes in liver lobes, while potentially controlling the liver tumor and limiting tumor progression in the untreated lobe. We aimed at testing this concept by performing a comprehensive time-dependent analysis of liver volumes following radioembolization.

METHODS

83 patients with right unilobar disease with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; N=67), cholangiocarcinoma (CC; N=8) or colorectal cancer (CRC; N=8) were treated by Y90 RL. The total liver volume, lobar (parenchymal) and tumor volumes, FLR and percentage of FLR hypertrophy from baseline (%FLR hypertrophy) were assessed on pre- and post-Y90 CT/MRI scans in a dynamic fashion.

RESULTS

Right lobe atrophy (p=0.003), left lobe hypertrophy (p<0.001), and FLR hypertrophy (p<0.001) were observed 1 month after Y90 and this was consistent at all follow-up time points. Median %FLR hypertrophy reached 45% (5-186) after 9 months (p<0.001). The median maximal %FLR hypertrophy was 26% (-14 → 86). Portal vein thrombosis was correlated to %FLR hypertrophy (p=0.02). Median Child-Pugh score worsening (6 → 7) was seen at 1 to 3 months (p=0.03) and 3 to 6 months (p=0.05) after treatment. Five patients underwent successful right lobectomy (HCC N=3, CRC N=1, CC N=1) and 6 HCCs were transplanted.

CONCLUSIONS

Radiation lobectomy by Y90 is a safe and effective technique to hypertrophy the FLR. Volumetric changes are comparable (albeit slightly slower) to PVE while the right lobe tumor is treated synchronously. This novel technique is of particular interest in the bridge-to-resection setting.

Early diffuse recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation: analysis of risk factors

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the risk factors affecting early diffuse recurrence within 1 year of percutaneous ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

Out of 146 patients who received transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation (TACE) for treatment of recurrent HCC after percutaneous ultrasound-guided RFA, we selected 23 patients with early diffuse recurrence. Early diffuse recurrence was defined as three or more new recurrent HCCs within 1 year of initial RFA. As a control group, we selected 23 patients, matched exactly for age and sex, in which there was no local tumour progression or new recurrence after RFA. To analyse the risk factors, we examined patient factors and tumour factors.

RESULTS

Recurrent tumours occurred from 30 to 365 days after RFA (median time, 203 days). Univariate analysis indicated that larger tumour size and poorly defined margin were significant risk factors (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that poorly defined margin was a significant risk factor (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Larger tumour size and poorly defined margin may be risk factors for early diffuse recurrence of HCC within 1 year of RFA. Tumours with such risk factors should be treated with a combination of TACE to minimise the potential for therapeutic failure.

Diffusion-weighted imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma for predicting early recurrence and survival after hepatectomy

PURPOSE

The effectiveness of imaging (including apparent diffusion coefficient [ADC] of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging [DWI]) and laboratory variables for predicting early tumor recurrence and overall survival after surgery in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients are analyzed.

METHODS

The present study included 116 consecutive patients with HCC who underwent partial hepatectomy. Patients were classified into two groups: patients with and without early recurrence (<1 year). Preoperative imaging variables (tumor number, size, shape, capsule, ADC, and venous invasion) and laboratory variables were evaluated to predict early recurrence using univariate and multivariate analyses. Overall survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Twenty patients (17 %) developed early recurrence after surgery. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that tumor ADC (p = 0.0002), aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.0121), and serum prothrombin time activity percentage (p = 0.0082) were statistically significant for predicting early recurrence. The optimal ADC cutoff value for predicting early recurrence obtained from receiver operating characteristic analysis was ≤0.898 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s. In patients with ADC ≤0.898 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s, the 3- and 5-year survival rates (77 and 56 %, respectively) were significantly decreased compared with those in patients with ADC >0.898 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s (97 and 97 %, respectively; p = 0.0015).

CONCLUSIONS

Low tumor ADC value by DWI was a risk factor for early postoperative HCC recurrence and was associated with lower patient survival rates.

Preoperative radiologic and postoperative pathologic risk factors for early intra-hepatic recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma patients who underwent curative resection

PURPOSE

The risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence must be considered ahead of surgery. This study was undertaken to identify pre-operative risk factors for early intrahepatic recurrence of HCC after curative resection in a large-scale.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the preoperative three-phase multi-detector CT (MDCT) and laboratory data for 240 HCC patients who underwent curative resection; tumor size, number, gross shape, capsule integrity, distinctiveness of tumor margin, portal vein thrombosis (PVT), alpha-fetoprotein level (AFP), and protein induced by vitamin K absence-II (PIVKA-II) levels were assessed. Surgical pathology was reviewed; tumor differentiation, capsule, necrosis, and micro-vessel invasion were recorded.

RESULTS

HCC recurred in 61 patients within six months (early recurrence group), but not in 179 patients (control group). In univariate analysis, large tumor size (p = 0.018), shape (p = 0.028), poor capsule integrity (p = 0.046), elevated AFP (p = 0.015), and PIVKA-II (p = 0.008) were significant preoperative risk factors. Among the pathologic features, PVT (p = 0.023), Glisson's capsule penetration (p = 0.033), microvascular invasion (p < 0.001), and poor differentiation (p = 0.001) showed statistical significance. In multivariate analysis, only the histopathologic parameters of microvascular invasion and poor differentiation achieved statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative CT and laboratory parameters showed limited value, while the presence of microscopic vascular tumor invasion and poorly differentiated HCC correlated with higher risk of early recurrence after curative resection.

Scirrhous hepatocellular carcinoma: comparison with usual hepatocellular carcinoma based on CT-pathologic features and long-term results after curative resection

OBJECTIVE

To compare the CT and pathologic features and the long-term results of scirrhous hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after a curative resection with those of usual HCC.

METHODS

Twenty-one patients with a scirrhous HCC and 296 patients with a usual HCC underwent contrast-enhanced triple-phase helical CT examinations before and after the curative resection. The CT and pathological features of scirrhous HCC, along with the cumulative survival and recurrence rates after the curative resection using a Kaplan-Meier method were compared with those of a usual HCC.

RESULTS

The common CT features of scirrhous HCC were an ill-defined tumor margin (76%), peripheral rim-like enhancement on arterial and portal phases (62%), presence of area of prolonged and delayed enhancement on equilibrium phase (95%), and hepatic surface retraction (59%) and the uncommon CT features were presence of washout area (19%) and tumor capsule enhancement (5%), which were significantly different from those of usual HCC (p<0.05). Pathologically, the tumor capsule formation (29%) and tumor necrosis or hemorrhage (10%) were significantly less than those (81% and 43%, respectively) in usual HCC (p<0.05), while portal or hepatic vein involvement (33%) was significantly more common than in usual HCC (9%) (p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the 5-year cumulative survival and recurrence rates between the two groups (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Scirrhous HCC showed distinct CT and pathologic features from those of usual HCC. After the curative resection, the long-term results of scirrhous and usual HCCs were not significantly different.

Encapsulated hepatocellular carcinoma: CT-pathologic correlations

This study is a retrospective evaluation of the correlations between the presence and integrity of the capsule of nodular hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) by dynamic CT and histopathology, with histopathologic evidence of tumor propagation to surrounding hepatic parenchyma. Dynamic CT scans of 75 nodular HCCs in 73 patients (61 men, 12 women; age range, 32-81; mean, 53) were evaluated regarding capsule visualization and integrity. Histopathologic findings of HCCs in resected specimens were correlated with the presence of a capsule, tumor invasion onto the capsule, and with the presence of microvascular emboli in the surrounding liver parenchyma. On histopathologic examination, capsules were present in 57 of 75 nodular HCCs; the capsules were invaded by tumor in 18 nodules and there were microvascular emboli around the nodular HCC in 49 cases. Capsule visualization by CT was correlated with the presence of capsule by histopathology (P<0.001). Disruption of capsule by CT was correlated with tumor invasion by histopathology (P=0.003) and with microvascular tumor emboli (P<0.001). The presence and structural integrity of HCC capsules on CT was closely correlated with the presence of capsule on histopathology and the absence of microvascular tumor emboli.

Detecting Postsurgical Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Multiphasic Helical Computed Tomography

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the computed tomography (CT) patterns of postoperative recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

Of 84 patients with histologically proven HCC by hepatectomies, multiphasic helical CT demonstrated 54 HCC lesions of intrahepatic recurrence in 31 (37%) patients. The initial and final appearances of HCC on hepatic arterial phase images were retrospectively determined by the serial CT scans, which were compared with appearances of primary HCC.

RESULTS

The initial appearances of 54 recurrent HCCs were identical to the appearances of primary HCC in 41 (76%) lesions. Serial changes from the initial appearance to the final appearance of recurrent HCC were observed in 10 (42%) of 24 lesions. The 13 discordant lesions and the 10 lesions with altered lesion vascularity in our series implied that at least 43% were of multicentric occurrence.

CONCLUSION

More than 40% of postoperative recurrent HCCs show intranodular hemodynamic changes. The incompatibility between CT findings of primary and recurrent HCCs implies that these tumors contain nodules of multicentric occurrence.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in advanced liver cirrhosis: CT detection in transplant patients

Computed tomography (CT) is being used as the standard pretransplantation imaging for recipients and donors in the evaluation of liver volume, liver reserve function, vascular anatomy, diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and metastasis, and global information of the abdominal cavity. Whereas CT detection of hepatocellular carcinoma in non-cirrhotic patients is satisfactory, detection sensitivity in severely cirrhotic patients is limited, with a reported sensitivity of 53% to 68%. Tumors smaller than 2 cm are more difficult to detect. Innumerable regenerative nodules, localized or diffuse fibrosis, arterioportal shunts, nodular surface, and distorted anatomy in end-stage liver cirrhosis make it difficult to detect small hepatocellular carcinoma. Because of the shortage of cadavers and living donors, judicious use of CT is necessary in the selection of candidates and the decision of priority for liver transplantation in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis.