Successful treatment of multiple hepatocellular adenomas with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation

Hepatic Adenoma Subtypes on Hepatobiliary Phase of Gadoxetic Acid-Enhanced MRI: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND. Accumulating evidence indicates that hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) may have a higher frequency of hepatobiliary phase (HBP) iso- or hyperintensity than previously reported. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the proportion of HCA that shows iso- or hyperintensity in the HBP of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI, stratified by HCA subtype (HNF1a-inactivated [H-HCA], inflammatory [I-HCA], β-catenin-activated [B-HCA], and unclassified [U-HCA] HCA), and to assess the diagnostic performance of HBP iso- or hyperintensity for differentiating focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) from HCA. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched through February 14, 2022, for articles reporting HBP signal intensity on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI among pathologically proven HCAs, stratified by subtype. The pooled proportion of HBP iso- or hyperintensity was determined for each subtype and compared using metaregression. Diagnostic performance of HBP iso- or hyperintensity for differentiating FNH from all HCA subtypes combined and from B-HCA and U-HCA combined was assessed using bivariate modeling. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS. Twenty-eight studies (12 original investigations, 16 case reports or case series) were included, yielding 364 patients with 410 HCAs (112 H-HCAs, 203 I-HCAs, 33 B-HCAs, 62 U-HCAs). Pooled proportion of HBP iso- or hyperintensity was 14% (95% CI, 4-26%) among all HCAs, 0% (95% CI, 0-2%) among H-HCAs, 11% (95% CI, 0-29%) among U-HCAs, 14% (95% CI, 2-31%) among I-HCAs, and 59% (95% CI, 26-88%) among B-HCAs; metaregression showed significant difference among subtypes (p < .001). In four studies reporting diagnostic performance information, HBP iso- or hyperintensity had sensitivity of 99% (95% CI, 57-100%) and specificity of 89% (95% CI, 82-94%) for differentiating FNH from all HCA subtypes and sensitivity of 99% (95% CI, 53-100%) and specificity of 65% (95% CI, 44-80%) for differentiating FNH from B-HCA or U-HCA. CONCLUSION. HCA subtypes other than H-HCA show proportions of HBP iso- or hyperintensity ranging from 11% (U-HCA) to 59% (B-HCA). Low prevalence of B-HCA has contributed to prior reports of high diagnostic performance of HBP iso- or hyperintensity for differentiating FNH from HCA. CLINICAL IMPACT. Radiologists should recognize the low specificity of HBP iso- or hyperintensity on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI for differentiating FNH from certain HCA subtypes.

Stereotactic radiofrequency ablation as a valid first-line treatment option for hepatocellular adenomas

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of stereotactic radiofrequency ablation (SRFA) in patients with hepatocellular adenomas (HCA).

METHODS

Retrospective analyses of all patients referred for SRFA treatment at our institution between January 2010 and October 2020 revealed 14 patients (10 women; mean age 34.4 [range, 17-73 years]) with 38 HCAs treated through 18 ablation sessions. Ablations were considered successful if a safety margin >5 mm was achieved. Demographic, interventional, and outcome data were collected and analyzed. Primary and secondary technical efficacy rates were assessed based on follow-up images consisting of contrast-enhanced CT or MR scans.

RESULTS

The mean tumor size was 22 mm (range, 7-75 mm). Overall, 37/38 (97.4%) tumors were successfully ablated at the initial SRFA (primary efficacy rate of 97.4%). The median follow-up duration was 49.6 months. No deaths or adenoma-related complications (hemorrhage or malignant transformation) were observed. Disease-free survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years from the date of the first SRFA were 100%, 85.8%, and 85.8%, respectively. Two patients developed new distant tumors retreated with consecutive re-ablation. No major complications occurred during any of the 18 ablation sessions.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous thermal ablation is efficient in the treatment of HCAs and may thus be considered a valid first-line treatment option. In addition, SRFA allows for an effective, minimally invasive treatment of large and multiple hepatic tumors within one session.

Hepatocellular adenoma: An update

Hepatocellular adenomas (HCA) are rare benign liver tumors. Recent technological advancements have helped in the early identification of such lesions. However, precise diagnosis of hepatocellular incidentalomas remains challenging. Studies at the molecular level have provided new insights into the genetics and pathophysiology of these lesions. These in turn have raised questions over their existing management modalities. However, the rarity of the tumor still restricts the quality of evidence available for current recommendations and guidelines. This article provides a comprehensive review on the etiology, molecular biology, patho-physiology, clinical manifestations, and complications associated with HCA. It also elaborates on the genetic advancements, existing diagnostic tools and current guidelines for management for such lesions.

Hepatic adenomatosis: a rare but important liver disease with severe clinical implications

A 56-year-old white female presented to the emergency room (ER) with acute onset of right upper quadrant abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, and she was found to have a sudden drop in hemoglobin. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) with and without intravenous contrast revealed multiple bilobar focal hepatic hypervascular lesions, one of them demonstrating spontaneous rupture with active intraperitoneal bleeding. A moderate hemoperitoneum was present. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy for right hepatic posterior segmentectomy (right posterior sectionectomy) and peritoneal lavage. The histopathology evaluation revealed multiple liver adenomas. Hepatic adenomatosis is a clinical entity characterized by 10 or more hepatic adenomas. It must be distinguished from isolated hepatic adenoma as it bears a much higher risk of complications, such as spontaneous rupture, hemorrhage and malignant transformation. Here we discuss the radiologic and histopathologic findings of the current case along with a review of the English language medical literature.