Racial Disparities in Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample From 2007 to 2014.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a deadly disease, with patients' best hope for a cure being liver transplantation; however, access to health care resources, such as donor organs, between ethnic groups has historically been unbalanced. Ensuring equitable access to donor livers is crucial to minimize disparities in HCC outcomes. As a result, we sought to better elucidate the differences in transplantation rates among various ethnic groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was utilized to evaluate for disparities in liver transplantation in patients whose primary or secondary diagnosis was recorded as HCC or hepatoma. The study included admissions between 2007 and 2014 to centers with at least 1 documented liver transplant. RESULTS: A total of 7244 transplants were performed over 70,406 weighted admissions. Black race was associated with lower transplantation rates, with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.46 (95% confidence interval: 0.42-0.51, P <0.01) when accounting for a number of possible confounders including socioeconomic and geographic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our study observed decreased rates of liver transplant in blacks compared with whites for HCC. Furthermore, improved economic status and private insurance had a significantly higher odds ratio for transplantation. Hospital-level studies are needed to clarify confounding factors not apparent in large administrative datasets and help better investigate factors that lead to less optimal transplant rates among blacks. Interventions may include more optimal screening policies and procedures, improved interdisciplinary management, and earlier referrals.

Isolated Gastric Fundal Varices Caused by Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

A 59-year-old man with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, recently diagnosed from a renal biopsy, presented to the emergency department with melena, dizziness, and epigastric pain. He was tachycardic and had a hemoglobin level of 6.4 g/dL. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed isolated gastric fundal varices with stigmata and no esophageal varices. Abdominal ultrasound with Doppler showed a normal-appearing liver, patent splenic vein and hepatic vasculature, and no splenic vein thrombosis. He was managed supportively and discharged. A positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan for staging later revealed extensive neoplastic involvement of the pancreas, gastrohepatic ligament, celiac trunk, and perigastric and splenic hilar regions.

Future Approaches and Therapeutic Modalities for Acute Liver Failure.

The current gold standard for the management of acute liver failure is liver transplantation. However, because of organ shortages, other modalities of therapy are necessary as a possible bridge. This article discusses the current modalities as well as the future management of acute liver failure. Liver assist devices, hepatocyte transplantation, stem cell transplant, organogenesis, and repopulation of decellularized organs are discussed.

Improved Outcomes Following Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) Diagnosis in Patients Screened for HCC in a Large Academic Liver Center versus Patients Identified in the Community.

Background and Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most commonly occurring cancer worldwide. Knowledge and adherence to HCC surveillance guidelines has been associated with earlier detection. We sought to evaluate characteristics and outcomes following HCC diagnosis in patients screened for HCC in a large academic liver center versus patients diagnosed and referred from the community. Methods: We reviewed the records of patients diagnosed with HCC in the liver center of an academic institution from January 1999 till December 2013. Patients were classified into two groups: patients followed in our hepatology clinic and patients with HCC recently referred to our center. Univariate analysis was performed using chi-squared test and multivariate analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0. Results: The records of 410 patients were reviewed, and included 77.3% of patients referred from the community and 22.7% of patients followed in our clinic. In the clinic group, 75.6% were identified with one nodule at initial diagnosis, compared to 65.6% in the referral group. Patients in the referral group were more likely to present with tumors ≥5 cm at diagnosis, with 28.7% compared to 5.4% in the clinic group (p < 0.0001). Patients referred from the community were also less likely to undergo transplant, with 32.2% as compared to 48.4% of the clinic group (p < 0.004). Conclusion: Patients with chronic liver disease managed in an academic liver center present in the early stage of HCC diagnosis and are more likely to meet the Milan criteria and undergo transplant. Early referral to a specialized transplant center, if feasible, where a multidisciplinary approach is utilized might be essential in the management of chronic liver disease.