Long-term outcomes of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization before liver transplantation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the long-term therapeutic effects of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) before liver transplantation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-six patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing liver transplantation in our department between November, 2009 and November, 2011 were analyzed. Of these patients, 24 received TACE before the surgery while the other 22 did not. We compared the liver graft function (ALT and AST levels), immune function (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8, NK cells, activated T cells), cumulative survival rate and disease-free survival rate between the two groups at 1 year and 2 years after the operation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The patients receiving preoperative TACE showed significantly better liver functions and immune function than those who did not receive TACE (P<0.01 and 0.05). The cumulative disease-free survival rate in the two groups were 72% and 46% at 1 year, and were 57% and 33% at two years, respectively (P<0.05); the cumulative survival rate in the two groups were 84% and 55% at 1 year, and 63% and 34% at two years, respectively (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TACE prior to liver transplantation can significantly improve the postoperative liver function, immune function, disease-free survival and cumulative survival rates in patients with HCC.</p>

Imaging characteristics of insulinoma / 中华消化外科杂志

Insolinoma is a rare disease,but with an increased incidence in recent years.From March 2003 to October 2010,16 patients with insulinoma had been admitted to the Nanfang Hospital,and the results of imaging investigation were compared with histopathological examination after operation.All cases had typical Whipple's triad,low plasma glucose and high plasma insulin concentrations. Sixteen tumors were found in total.The detection rate of ultrasonography was 44％ (7/16),and the detection rate of enhanced computed tomography (CT)and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were 67％ (8/16) and 75％ (6/8) respectively.The detection rate reached 88％ by combination of CT and MRI.Two patients had no abnormal findings in ultrasonography,CT and MRI,while positive results were found in the arterial stimulation procedure with venous sampiing (ASVS) in both patients.CT or MRI is the preferred approach for localization diagnosis of insulinoma. The ASVS achieves a distinct advantage in localization of insulinoma.