Sharon W. Kwan

The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt: an update.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this article is to review the indications, outcomes, complications, patient selection, and technical aspects of creating a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). CONCLUSION The best available evidence supports the use of TIPS in secondary prevention of variceal bleeding and in refractory ascites, although TIPS is also commonly used for other indications such as Budd-Chiari syndrome, hepatic hydrothorax, and acute variceal hemorrhage. The TIPS procedure was revolutionized by the introduction of covered stents, which dramatically improved long-term shunt patency.

Imaging predictors of the response to transarterial chemoembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a radiological-pathological correlation.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is one of the standard therapies for bridging patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to transplantation. This study was designed to determine which features on pre‐ and post‐TACE imaging are associated with tumor necrosis in pathological specimens. Records of 105 patients with 132 HCC lesions who underwent liver transplantation after TACE were retrospectively reviewed. In 70% of the nodules, >90% necrosis was achieved. The development of >90% lesion necrosis upon pathological analysis was associated with avid lesion enhancement (P = 0.03) and the presence of a feeding vessel larger than 0.9 mm in diameter on the pre‐TACE visceral angiogram (P = 0.01). Near‐complete lesion necrosis was also associated with an extensive accumulation of ethiodized oil within a lesion during TACE administration (P = 0.04). On post‐TACE computed tomography imaging, a lack of residual contrast enhancement (P < 0.0001), a decrease in the lesion size (P = 0.04), a high lesion density due to an accumulation of ethiodized oil (P = 0.03), and a diffuse distribution of ethiodized oil throughout the lesion (P = 0.0001) were also correlated with near‐complete lesion necrosis upon pathological analysis. In conclusion, this study found multiple pre‐ and post‐TACE imaging characteristics of HCC that were associated with near‐complete tumor necrosis upon histopathological analysis after TACE. These findings may help to guide the selection of an optimal treatment strategy for bridging patients with HCC to liver transplantation. Liver Transpl 18:727–736, 2012.

Comparison of Positron Emission Tomography and Bremsstrahlung Imaging to Detect Particle Distribution in Patients Undergoing Yttrium-90 Radioembolization for Large Hepatocellular Carcinomas or Associated Portal Vein Thrombosis

PURPOSE To compare positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging with bremsstrahlung single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in patients after yttrium-90 ((90)Y) microsphere radioembolization to assess particle uptake. MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective study comprised patients with large (> 5 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or tumor-associated portal vein thrombus (PVT), or both. After radioembolization for HCC, patients underwent bremsstrahlung SPECT/CT and time-of-flight PET/CT imaging of (90)Y without additional tracer administration. Follow-up imaging and toxicity was analyzed. Imaging analyses of PET/CT and bremsstrahlung SPECT/CT were independently performed. RESULTS There were 13 patients enrolled in the study, including 7 with PVT. Median tumor diameter was 7 cm. PET/CT demonstrated precise localization of (90)Y particles in the liver, with specific patterns of uptake in large tumors. In cases of PVT, PET/CT showed activity within the PVT. When correlated to short-term follow-up imaging, areas of necrosis correlated with regions of uptake seen on PET/CT. Compared with bremsstrahlung imaging, PET/CT demonstrated at least comparable spatial resolution with less scatter. Quantitative uptake in nontreated regions of interest showed significantly reduced scatter with PET/CT versus SPECT/CT (1% vs 14%, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Evaluation of (90)Y particle uptake with PET/CT potentially demonstrates high spatial resolution and low scatter compared with bremsstrahlung SPECT/CT. Confirmation of particles within PVT on PET/CT correlates with response on follow-up imaging and may account for the efficacy of radioembolization in patients with PVT.

Thermal ablation matches sublobar resection outcomes in older patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer

PURPOSE To compare survival outcomes of sublobar resection and thermal ablation for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in older patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS SEER-Medicare linked data for patients with a diagnosis of lung cancer from 2007-2009 were used. Patients ≥ 65 years old with stage IA or IB NSCLC who were treated with sublobar resection or thermal ablation were identified. Primary outcome was overall survival (OS), and secondary outcome was lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS). Demographic and clinical variables were compared. Unadjusted OS and LCSS curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox model. OS and LCSS curves for propensity score matched groups were also compared. RESULTS The final unmatched study population comprised 1,897 patients. Patients who underwent sublobar resection were significantly younger (P = .006) and significantly less likely to have a comorbidity index > 1 (P = .036), a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P = .017), or adjuvant radiation therapy (P < .0001) compared with patients treated with thermal ablation. Unadjusted survival curves of unmatched groups demonstrated significantly better OS (P = .028) and LCSS (P = .0006) in the resection group. Multivariate Cox model adjusting for demographic and clinical variables found no significant difference in OS between the treatment groups (P = .555); a difference in LCSS (hazard ratio = 1.185, P = .026) persisted. Survival curves for matched groups found no significant difference in OS (P = .695) or LCSS (P = .819) between treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS After controlling for selection bias, this study found no difference in OS between patients treated with sublobar resection and thermal ablation.

90Y Radioembolization of Colorectal Hepatic Metastases Using Glass Microspheres: Safety and Survival Outcomes from a 531-Patient Multicenter Study

Hepatic metastases of colorectal carcinoma are a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Most colorectal liver metastases become refractory to chemotherapy and biologic agents, at which point the median overall survival declines to 4–5 mo. Radioembolization with 90Y has been used in the salvage setting with favorable outcomes. This study reports the survival and safety outcomes of 531 patients treated with glass-based 90Y microspheres at 8 institutions, making it the largest 90Y study for patients with colorectal liver metastases. Methods: Data were retrospectively compiled from 8 institutions for all 90Y glass microsphere treatments for colorectal liver metastases. Exposure to chemotherapeutic or biologic agents, prior liver therapies, biochemical parameters before and after treatment, radiation dosimetry, and complications were recorded. Uni- and multivariate analyses for predictors of survival were performed. Survival outcomes and clinical or biochemical adverse events were recorded. Results: In total, 531 patients received 90Y radioembolization for colorectal liver metastases. The most common clinical adverse events were fatigue (55%), abdominal pain (34%), and nausea (19%). Grade 3 or 4 hyperbilirubinemia occurred in 13% of patients at any time. The median overall survival from the first 90Y treatment was 10.6 mo (95% confidence interval, 8.8–12.4). Performance status, no more than 25% tumor burden, no extrahepatic metastases, albumin greater than 3 g/dL, and receipt of no more than 2 chemotherapeutic agents independently predicted better survival outcomes. Conclusion: This multiinstitutional review of a large cohort of patients with colorectal liver metastases treated with 90Y radioembolization using glass microspheres has demonstrated promising survival outcomes with low toxicity and low side effects. The outcomes were reproducible and consistent with prior reports of radioembolization.

Percutaneous Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty for Pathologic Vertebral Fractures in the Medicare Population: Safer and Less Expensive than Open Surgery

PURPOSE To compare cost and outcomes of surgical and percutaneous treatments of pathologic vertebral fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS Standard Medicare 5% anonymized inpatient files (1999-2009) were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with a diagnosis of vertebral fracture without spinal cord injury and primary or metastatic bony malignancy were divided into percutaneous or surgical groups based on whether they received vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty or surgical treatment. Patients who had no intervention or both interventions were excluded. Cost, length of stay, and type of discharge were examined while controlling for demographic and comorbidity variables. RESULTS A total of 451 patients were included; 52% received percutaneous treatment and 48% received surgery. Patients treated percutaneously were older (P < .001) and more likely to be female (P = .04). Percutaneous therapy predicted

Portosystemic Shunts: Stable Utilization and Improved Outcomes, Two Decades After the Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt

14,862 less Medicare cost and

Outcomes and complications of angioembolization for hepatic trauma: A systematic review of the literature.

13,565 less overall cost (P < .001 for both), and 4.1 fewer inpatient days (P < .001). Patients who underwent surgery had higher odds of death (odds ratio = 3.38, P = .016), discharge to a rehabilitation facility (odds ratio = 3.3, P = .003), and transfer to another inpatient facility (odds ratio = 8.53, P < .001), and lower odds of discharge to home (odds ratio = 0.42, P < .001) and hospice (odds ratio = 0.08, P = .002). CONCLUSIONS In a Medicare population with bony malignancy and vertebral fractures, percutaneous therapy predicted significantly reduced cost and length of stay versus surgery. Patients who underwent percutaneous therapy were significantly less likely to die, be transferred, or be discharged to rehabilitation facilities, and were more likely to be discharged to home or hospice.

Utilization of Angiography and Embolization for Abdominopelvic Trauma: 14 Years' Experience at a Level I Trauma Center

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to assess national trends in utilization, demographics, hospital characteristics, and outcomes of patients undergoing surgical or percutaneous portal decompression since the introduction of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS). METHODS A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing surgical portal decompression and TIPS procedures was conducted using Medicare Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary Master Files from January 2003 through December 2013 and National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample data from 1993, 2003, and 2012. Utilization rates normalized to the annual number of Medicare enrollees, estimated means, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS The Medicare total annual utilization rate per million for all portosystemic decompression procedures decreased by 6.5% during the study period, from 15.3 in 2003 to 14.3 in 2013. TIPS utilization increased by 19.4% (from 10.3 to 12.3 per million), whereas open surgical shunt utilization decreased by 60.0% (from 5.0 to 2.0 per million). TIPS procedures represented 86% of all procedures in 2013. From 1993 to 2012, mean age increased slightly (from 53.0 to 55.5 years, P < .05). The percentage of procedures performed at teaching hospitals increased, whereas in-hospital mortality and length of stay decreased by 42% (P < .05) and 20% (P < .05), respectively. Of factors evaluated, the performance of procedures on an elective basis was the most influential on in-hospital mortality (P < .01, all years studied) and length of stay (P < .0001, all years studied). CONCLUSIONS Approximately two decades after the introduction of TIPS, the utilization of all portal decompression procedures has remained relatively stable. The TIPS procedure represents the dominant portal decompression technique. In-hospital mortality and mean length of stay after decompression have decreased, partially because of the performance of procedures during elective admissions.

Natural Language Processing in Oncology: A Review

BACKGROUND The liver is one of the most frequently injured abdominal organs. Hepatic hemorrhage is a complex and challenging complication following hepatic trauma. Significant shifts in the treatment of hepatic hemorrhage, including the increasing use of angioembolization, are believed to have improved patient outcomes. We aimed to describe the efficacy of angioembolization in the setting of acute hepatic arterial hemorrhage as well as the complications associated with this treatment modality. METHODS A systematic review of published literature (MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane Library) describing hepatic angioembolization in the setting of trauma was performed. Articles that fulfilled the predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria were included. We analyzed the efficacy rate of angioembolization in the setting of traumatic hepatic hemorrhage as well as the complications associated with hepatic angioembolization. RESULTS Four hundred fifty-nine articles were identified in the literature search. Of these, 10 retrospective studies and 1 prospective study met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Efficacy rate of angioembolization was 93%. The most frequently reported complications following hepatic angioembolization included hepatic necrosis (15%), abscess formation (7.5%), and bile leaks. CONCLUSION Although the outcomes of hepatic angioembolization were generally favorable with a high success rate, the treatment modality is not without associated morbidity. The most frequently associated major complication was hepatic necrosis. Rates of complications were affected by study heterogeneity and should be better defined in future studies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Systematic review, level III.