Long-term volume reduction in renal angiomyolipomas embolized by gelatin sponge particles with or without supplementary microcoil embolization.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of supplementary microcoil embolization on the long-term progression of angiomyolipomas embolized using gelatin sponge particles (GSPs). METHODS: This retrospective study included 29 unruptured angiomyolipomas in 25 patients, treated by complete embolization and radiological follow-up for ≥3 years. Embolization was performed using GSPs and supplementary microcoils. Supplementary microcoil embolization affecting >90% of the tumor vasculature was defined as microcoil embolization. Tumor volumes pre- and post-embolization were measured by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Eleven tumors received supplementary microcoil embolization and 18 tumors did not. Relative tumor reduction at >3 years post-embolization was significantly greater in tumors with supplementary microcoil embolization compared with tumors without microcoil embolization (81% ± 8% vs. 55% ± 29%). Fourteen tumors tended to show volume regrowth and the volumes of the remaining 15 tumors continued to decline. Tumors without supplementary microcoil embolization were more likely to show volume regrowth during follow-up than tumors with supplementary microcoil embolization (78% vs. 0%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: When using a combination of GSPs and microcoils, supplementary microcoil embolization should be carried out to ensure maximum long-term reduction in tumor volume in patients with angiomyolipomas.

Use of Non-Contrast-Enhanced MR Angiography to Assess Recanalization after Uterine Artery Embolization.

The purpose of this study was to examine the use of non-contrast-enhanced MR angiography (MRA) for assessing recanalization of uterine arteries (UAs) after uterine artery embolization (UAE) for symptomatic fibroids. Pre-procedural and follow-up unenhanced MRA images of 30 patients were reviewed, and the extent to which the UAs could be visualized was classified on a 4-point scale. An increase in the score between consecutive time points indicates that a previously inconspicuous segment of the UA became visible on follow-up images. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence (or absence) of recanalization. The median UA visualization score at each follow-up was significantly lower than that at baseline (p < 0.01), but there was no significant difference between the scores of the follow-up images. Recanalization was detected in 63% (19/30) of patients. In these patients, the mean decrease in uterine and largest fibroid volume at 12 months after UAE was inferior to the mean decrease in patients for whom recanalization was not detected. Based on MRA assessment, recanalization after UAE occurred in 63% of patients but did not compromise the reduction in uterine and dominant fibroid volumes within 12 months after UAE.

Successful control of a large intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma treated by transarterial chemo-embolization; a single case report.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is hardly diagnosed in early stages as the symptoms are non-specific. Due to an advanced stages at the time of first diagnosis, the therapeutic options for patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma are mostly limited to systemic chemotherapy or radiotherapy, but good local control or preferable prognostic effects are hardly obtained. The transarterial chemoembolization had not been a standard of care because of hepatic functional damages caused by lipiodol and gelatin sponge. A newly developed spherical embolic material causes limited hepatic damages might be an option for these patients. It makes it possible to repeat the procedure in a short period. Eventually, better prognosis can be expected using a spherical embolic material. We report a case of a 15 cm locally advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma treated by chemoembolization using a drug-eluting spherical embolic material and achieved good local tumor control without liver damage. The patient survived longer than 4 years without additional or concomitant treatments.

Prophylactic renal artery embolization before pregnancy in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis and renal angiomyolipoma.

OBJECTIVE: Pregnant patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) and renal angiomyolipomas (AMLs) require care for both renal AMLs and pulmonary dysfunction because AMLs can grow and rupture during pregnancy, potentially causing hemorrhagic shock and fetal death. This study examined whether prophylactic transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) could prevent the pregnancy-associated growth and rupture of renal AMLs in patients with LAM. METHODS: This retrospective study included five women with 14 renal AMLs (initial diameter, ≥2 cm) first encountered between September 2010 and August 2015 who subsequently became pregnant. Seven tumors in five patients were embolized, and seven tumors in two patients were not treated. Changes in the volume of each tumor were evaluated. RESULTS: Untreated tumors were much more likely to grow than embolized tumors both during pregnancy (100% vs. 0%) and at the first follow-up visit after delivery (100% vs. 14%). One untreated hypervascular tumor grew rapidly during pregnancy to 409% of the pretreatment volume. No tumor ruptured. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic pre-pregnancy TAE decreased the growth and bleeding of renal AMLs during pregnancy in patients with LAM. TAE can be recommended for hypervascular tumors before pregnancy regardless of the size of the aneurysm.

[Microsphere TACE with Arterial Infusion of Bevacizumab for Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus by Hepatocellular Carcinoma].

The successful treatment of 2 cases of portal vein tumor thrombus caused by hepatocellular carcinoma was reported. It is difficult to manage portal vein tumor thrombi by conventional transarterial chemoembolization(c-TACE)using lipiodol and a gelatin sponge. On the other hand, drug-eluting-microsphere TACE(DEM-TACE)can preserve hepatic function by maintaining the capillary circulation of sinusoids and the peribiliary arterial plexus. Even in cases of portal vein tumor thrombus, DEM-TACE could be safely performed without hepatic infarction. Bevacizumab, anti-VGEF monoclonal antibody, was injected into hepatic arteries with anti-neoplastic agents, followed by the epirubicin-loaded superabsorbent polymer microsphere( HepaSphere). The tumor thrombi in 2 cases were successfully eliminated after treatment for more than 2 years without deterioration of the hepatic function.

[Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization with HepaSphereTM for Gastric Cancer with Mediastinal Lymph Node Metastases Causing Esophageal Compression and Dysphagia-A Case Report].

A 50s man was diagnosed with esophagogastric junction cancer. Simultaneously, PET-CT demonstrated mediastinal lymph node metastases. Two months later, 4 courses of systemic chemotherapy(SOX)were provided as preoperative therapy. However, the outcome was PD; therefore, radical gastrectomy could not be performed. Two more months later, esophageal dysphagia developed. Mediastinal lymph nodes that compressed the esophagus and the primary lesion of the cardia were considered to be the causes of dysphagia, and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization targeting those 2 lesions was performed. Cisplatin 20 mg, docetaxel 20 mg, and 5-FU 250mg were the drugs administered. These drugs were injected from the right bronchial artery, left gastric artery, and left phrenic artery, followed by mild embolization with HepaSphereTM. The mediastinal lymph nodes shrunk significantly, and dysphagia improved with 2 sessions. The primary lesion was found to have reduced in size with 6 sessions. Currently, no regrowth of the mediastinal lymph nodes has been observed 16 months(9 sessions) after the first session, and control of the primary lesion has been obtained.

Can we predict the existence of extrarenal feeders to renal angiomyolipomas?

OBJECTIVES: To identify factors predicting the presence of extrarenal feeders to renal angiomyolipomas (AMLs) METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 44 patients with 58 renal AMLs embolized in our department. Arteriography obtained during embolization and CT angiography obtained before and after embolization were reviewed to characterize AMLs with and without extrarenal feeders. Tumor characteristics were compared between the two groups. Simple logistic regression and ROC curve analysis were performed. P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: Of the 58 AMLs reviewed, 29% had extrarenal arteries and 71% did not. AMLs with extrarenal feeders were significantly larger than those without, in terms of volume (median, 368 mL versus 109 mL, p < 0.0002) and the largest diameter (mean, 12.0 cm versus 7.7 cm, p < 0.0001). Patient age, presence of tuberous sclerosis complex or sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis, and tumor location did not differ between the groups. The largest diameter and volume had similar predictive values for the presence of extrarenal feeders (AUC, 0.83 versus 0.82, p = 0.673). Extrarenal feeders were present in 0%, 21%, and 79% of the AMLs ≤ 6.5 cm, AMLs 6.6-10.5 cm, and AMLs > 10.5 cm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: AML size correlates with the presence of extrarenal feeders, with the largest diameter and volume being significant predictors. AMLs > 10.5 cm had a high chance of extrarenal feeders, making it mandatory to search for feeders to them in order to avoid incomplete embolization; AMLs ≤ 6.5 cm did not have extrarenal feeders, making a search for them unnecessary in these cases. KEY POINTS: • The presence of extrarenal feeders to renal angiomyolipoma is associated with tumor size, but not with patient age, concomitant disease, or tumor location. • The largest diameter and volume predict the presence of extrarenal feeders to AML, with similar predictive values. • AMLs > 10.5 cm have a high chance (79%) of extrarenal feeders, making it mandatory to search for feeders to them in order to avoid incomplete embolization; AMLs ≤ 6.5 cm do not have extrarenal feeders, making a search for them unnecessary in these cases.

Postembolization Intratumoral Chronic Bleeding, without the Classic CT Feature of Active Extravasation, in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex-Related Renal Angiomyolipoma: Two Case Reports.

Two patients with tuberous sclerosis complex each had multiple bilateral renal angiomyolipomas. After undergoing embolization for a ruptured angiomyolipoma, patient 1 experienced long-lasting abdominal fullness; contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) revealed a large chronic hematoma without contrast extravasation. Patient 2 underwent embolization for the largest right renal angiomyolipoma which contained a chronic hematoma. 2 weeks later, the symptom of abdominal fullness presented, and CECT revealed that the preexisting hematoma had enlarged without contrast extravasation. In both cases, a second embolization of the angiomyolipomas resulted in shrinking of the intratumoral hematomas and alleviation of the associated symptoms. Therefore, chronic postembolization intratumoral bleeding from renal angiomyolipoma may present as a persistently large or growing hematoma with an associated symptom of abdominal fullness but without the typical CECT feature of active extravasation.