RESUMO
In this paper, all the intrahepatic arterioportal shunts (IHAPSs) that result from the functional redistribution of hepatic arterial and portal venous blood flow are defined as functional IHAPSs (F-IHAPSs) so as to make the differentiation from organic IHAPSs (O-IHAPSs) that result from the intrahepatic arterioportal fistula or direct communication, such as those IHAPSs that are associated with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other malignant hepatic tumors as well as those IHAPSs that are accompanied by congenital hepatic vascular malformations, hereditary hemorrhagic telangioectasia (HHT) and liver trauma (including iatrogenic injury), etc. In F-IHAPSs, the most common one is formed by the compensatory (or secondary) increase of arterial blood flow that is caused by the decrease of hepatopetal portal blood flow due to a variety of reasons; its formation mechanisms can be divided into three categories:(1) trans-sinusoidal type, such as the F-IHAPSs that is associated with cirrhosis;(2) post-sinusoidal type, such as the F-IHAPSs that is accompanied with the acute stage of Budd-Chiari syndrome; and (3) pre-sinusoidal type, such as the F-IHAPSs that occurs along with the gastrointestinal hemorrhagic shock. Another kind of F-IHAPSs has been commonly seen in some hepatic diseases that have primary increase of hepatic arterial blood flow, including hypervascular hepatic cavernous hemangioma, small hepatocellular carcinoma that has rich blood supply, hepatobiliary inflammatory diseases, etc.;and in this paper they are all classified as F-IHAPSs category, however, the formation mechanisms of such F-IHAPSs vary with their basic diseases. Clinically, imaging diagnosis of F-IHAPSs can be made based on the following three signs:(1) all kinds of hepatic diseases that have concomitant intrahepatic arterioportal fistula or direct communication, as mentioned above, have been definitely excluded:(2) hepatic artery DSA reveals early visualization of portal vein in arterial phase, known as the characteristic sign of F-IHAPSs;and/or: (3) hepatic dynamic enhanced CT/MR scanning demonstrates transient enhancement of liver parenchyma in arterial phase, especially early visualization of portal vein is also present; in this case the diagnosis of F-IHAPSs can be undoubtedly confirmed. However, in making differential diagnosis, F-IHAPSs must be carefully differentiated from O-IHAPSs, local hepatic parenchymal perfusion caused by hepatic aberrant vein or by abnormal hepatopetal draining vein from systemic circulation, etc. In addition, when cirrhosis-related transient hepatic parenchymal enhancement presents as a solitary small nodule, differentiation with small HCC should be taken into consideration. In order to provide the readers with a complete and up-to-date understanding of F-IHAPSs, the relevant example illustrations, figures and graphics are accompanied with the text.
RESUMO
Objective To evaluate the long-term effect of hepatic arterial embolization with pingyangmycin-lipiodol emulsion (PLE) in patients with cavernous hemangiomas of the liver (CHL)and its influence factors.Methods One hundred and fifty-six hemangiomas that were diagnosed by imaging examinations or confirmed pathologically by surgery in 105 patients with integral follow-up data were analyzed retrospectively in this paper.All hemangiomas were divided into 4 groups according to their size (the largest size of hemangioma)by the authors as follows; A group(≤3 cm, n=25); B group(>3 cm and<5 cm, n =32) ;C group(≥5 cm and<10 cm, n=58); and D group(> 10 cm, n=41) .According to the number of abnormal sinusoids filled with the contrast medium in the angiography, 156 hemangiomas of this series were further classified as three types: abundant type (n=90) ; sparse type (n=9) and the middle type (n=57) .Hepatic arterial embolization with PLE was performed in the 105 patients with total 135 procedures (including single procedure in 75 patients, twice procedures in 30 patients).All of the 105 patients were followed up 3 to 8 years(mean 4 years) using US, CT or MRI or DSA.The criteria for the evaluation of curative effect were classified as best, good, recovery and no change in this series, and the sum of best and good effects were defined as the total effective rate.Then, the total effective rate of single procedure between the A, B groups and C, D groups; and the total effective rate of single procedure and twice procedures in the D groups, were compared statistically by X~2 test respectively.And the influence factors, included of the variant size of hemangiomas, abundant or sparse of abnormal sinusoids and the number of treatment procedures, were also analyzed and evaluated respectively.Results The total effective rate of the 156 hemangiomas in 105 patients was 92.95% (145/156).After single procedure of hepatic arterial embolization with PLE, the total effective rate of A and B groups were 100% (57/57), that of C and D groups were 85.86% (85/99), and the difference reach significant (X ~2=8.8553, P<0.01).In the D group, the total effective rate in group with twice procedures (100.00%,30/30) was significant higher (X~2 =5.2642,P<0.05) than those of group with single procedure (72.73%,8/11).Of this series, during the period of following-up, no recurrent or severe complications were observed.Conclusions A best long-term curative effect (complete cure) is usually obtained in the small hemangiomas with abundant abnormal sinusoids, and a satisfactory long-term curative effect can also be achieved in the larger or multiple hemangiomas, particularly in those hemangiomas with abundant abnormal sinusoids by using the repeat procedures of hepatic arterial embolization with PLE.