Downstaging disease in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma outside of Milan criteria: strategies using drug-eluting bead chemoembolization

PURPOSE

To assess downstaging rates in patients with United Network for Organ Sharing stage T3N0M0 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with doxorubicin-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization to meet Milan criteria for transplantation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A single-center retrospective review of 239 patients treated with doxorubicin-eluting bead (DEB) chemoembolization between September 2008 and December 2011 was undertaken. Baseline and follow-up computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging was assessed for response based on the longest enhancing axial dimension of each tumor (ie, modified Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors measurements), and medical records were reviewed. Fisher exact tests and exact logistic regression were used to test the association of patient and disease characteristics with downstaging.

RESULTS

After exclusions, 22 patients remained in the analysis, 17 of whom (77%) had their HCC downstaged to meet Milan criteria. Among those whose disease was downstaged, seven underwent transplantation, one remained listed for transplantation, six had disease progression beyond Milan criteria, two underwent conventional transarterial chemoembolization, and one underwent radiofrequency ablation. The seven patients who received transplants were still living, but recurrent HCC developed in two. Baseline age (P = .25), Model for End-stage Liver Disease score (P = .77), and α-fetoprotein (AFP) level (P = 1.00) were similar between patients with and without downstaged HCC. No associations were observed between the odds of downstaging and sex (P = .21), Child-Pugh class (P = .14), Child-Pugh class controlling for baseline tumor multiplicity (P = .15), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (P = 1.00), tumor burden (P = .31), multiple tumors (P = .31), or hepatitis C virus infection (P = 1.00). Fifteen patients who did not receive transplants were alive at 1 year, with two progression-free. Baseline AFP levels differed between those who survived 1 year and those who did not (P = .02), but did not differ by progression-free survival status (P = .62).

CONCLUSIONS

T3N0M0 HCC treatment with DEB chemoembolization has a high likelihood (77%) of downstaging the disease to meet Milan criteria.

Minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty: surgical implications for recovery

BACKGROUND

Despite growing interest in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques for total knee arthroplasty (TKA), few randomized controlled trials have compared MIS and conventional TKA using a combination of functional performance, knee pain, knee range of motion (ROM), and surgical and radiographic outcomes.

METHODS

A prospective, randomized investigation comparing early outcomes of TKA using conventional or MIS approaches (n = 44). Patients were assessed preoperatively, 48 hours, 4 and 12 weeks postoperatively by blinded evaluators. Outcome measures included timed-up-and-go, 100-ft walk, knee pain, passive knee ROM, Knee Society Score, blood loss, tourniquet time, hospital length of stay, surgical complications, and radiographic outcomes.

RESULTS

No significant differences in functional performance, knee pain, knee ROM, surgical, or radiographic outcomes were observed between groups at 48 hours, 4 or 12 weeks postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

While surgical and radiographic outcomes were not compromised with MIS surgery, there were also no improvements in pain, ROM, or functional performance with MIS TKA.

Minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty improves early knee strength but not functional performance: a randomized controlled trial

A prospective, randomized investigation compared early clinical outcomes of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using conventional or minimally invasive surgical (MIS) approaches (n = 44). Outcome measures included isometric quadriceps and hamstrings strength, quadriceps activation, functional performance, knee pain, active knee range of motion, muscle mass, the Short Form-36, and Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index, assessed preoperatively and 4 and 12 weeks after TKA. Four weeks after TKA, the MIS group had greater hamstring strength (P = .02) and quadriceps strength (P = .07), which did not translate to differences in other outcomes. At 12 weeks, there were no clinically meaningful differences between groups on any measure. Although MIS may lead to faster recovery of strength in patients undergoing TKA, there was no benefit on longer-term recovery of strength or functional performance.