A case of complete remission of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with type III portal vein tumor thrombosis treated using transarterial chemoembolization with microspheres and radiation therapy.

Portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) is an extremely locally advanced form of hepatocellular carcinoma. The natural median survival time of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with PVTT is 2.7 to 4.0 months. A 63-year-old woman visited our clinic complaining of abdominal distention and appetite loss, which she had had for 3 weeks prior to admission. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan showed double hepatocellular carcinomas with Type III PVTT and massive ascites caused by arterio-portal shunts within the PVTT. The ascites could not be treated by concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy or diuretics. Transarterial embolization using microspheres followed by radiation therapy against PVTT and five courses of transarterial chemoembolization using microspheres and cisplatin led to the maintaining of complete remission of both ascites and tumors for over 12 months after treatment. Fluoroglucose accumulation of PVTT showed 11.2 as a maximum standard uptake value on positron emission tomography before treatment. No fluoroglucose accumulation within PVTT was observed for over 12 months following treatment. Transarterial chemoembolization using microspheres followed by radiation therapy against Type III PVTT may result in drastic anti-cancer effects and improvement of both serum albumin and intractable ascites after treatment of arterio-portal shunts within the PVTT causing portal hypertension.

Interventional Treatment for Giant Hepatic Hemangioma Accompanied by Arterio-portal Shunt with Ascites.

A 73-year-old woman with massive ascites associated with a giant hepatic mass accompanied by arterio-portal (AP) shunt was admitted to our hospital. Based on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and angiography findings, hepatic hemangioma with AP shunt and ascites due to portal hypertension was diagnosed. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) by N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) was performed without complications. The patient's ascites disappeared, and her liver function test results improved after the treatment. The patient has maintained a steady state for two years. This case indicates that TAE with NBCA is a safe and effective treatment for hepatic hemangioma accompanied by AP shunt.

Suspected Hepatically Localized Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis.

The patient was a 72-year-old woman whose alkaline phosphatase levels had been elevated since she was 56 years old. Liver biopsies obtained when the patient was 64 and 66 years of age led to a suspicion of cholangitis caused by vasculitis. Furthermore, proteinase-3 anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody positivity led to a suspicion of granulomatosis with polyangiitis, but subjective symptoms and disorders in other organs were absent, so this suspicion was not confirmed. Cholangitis caused by vasculitis rarely occurs without vasculitis in other organs. We herein report this case in which we obtained distinctive laparoscopic and imaging findings that raised suspicions of liver circulatory failure.

Chemoembolization by using ethanol-soaked gelatin sponge combined with chemotherapeutic drugs and/or iodized oil for HCC complicated by moderate-to-severe hepatic arterio-portal shunts: analysis of curative effect / 介入放射学杂志

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of peripheral chemoembolization by using ethanol-soaked gelatin sponge (ESG) combined with chemotherapeutic drugs and/or iodized oil in treating patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) complicated by moderate-to-severe hepatic arterio-portal shunts (APS).Methods The clinical data of 106 HCC patients associated with moderate-to-severe APS,who were treated with ESG chemoembolization during the period from June 2008 to December 2015,were retrospectively analyzed.The postoperative improvement of APS,the procedure-related complications,the tumor response,the survival time,the prognostic factors,etc.were statistically analyzed.Results In the 106 HCC patients associated with moderate-to-severe APS,the median survival time was 278 days,and the 6-,12-and 18-month cumulative survival rates were 70.8％,36.1％ and 16％,respectively.Univariate analysis showed that sex,total bilirubin level,maximal tumor diameter,history of previous treatment,tumor response and postoperative improvement of APS were closely correlated with the patient's prognosis.Multivariate regression analysis indicated that tumor response and postoperative improvement of APS were the independent protection factors,while the female sex and the maximal tumor size ≥5 cm were the independent risk factors.Conclusion For the treatment of HCC complicated by moderate-to-severe hepatic APS,transarterial chemoembolization by using ESG combined with chemotherapeutic drugs and/or iodized oil is safe and effective.The presence of tumor response to treatment and the postoperative improvement of APS indicate a better prognosis.The female sex and the maximal tumor size ≥5 cm are the independent prognostic risk factors.

Spontaneous complete necrosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: A case report and review of the literature.

The present study reports the case of a 68-year-old male patient who presented to Tokyo Rosai Hospital for the treatment of alcoholic liver disease. A high density was observed in liver segment S2, while a tumor, 30 mm in size, exhibiting a low density was observed in the delayed phase upon contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), which was performed prior to admission. The tumor appeared slightly poorly defined upon abdominal ultrasound and was observed as a 30 mm low-echoic nodule that was internally heterogeneous. A 5-mm thick contrast enhancement effect was observed in the tumor border in the vascular phase on Sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, while a defect in the entire tumor was observed in the post-vascular phase. Dysphagia had commenced three months prior to presentation and a weight loss of ~3 kg was observed. Therefore, the patient was admitted to Tokyo Rosai Hospital due to the presence of a hepatic tumor, and to undergo a close inspection of the cause of the tumor. Upon close inspection, it was determined that the weight loss and aphagia were caused by progressive bulbar paralysis. A contrast-enhanced CT was performed on post-admission day 29 as a follow-up regarding the hepatic tumor. As a result, although no change in the tumor size was observed, the contrast enhancement in the tumor borderline had disappeared. Necrosis of the tumor was considered. However, as viable persistence of the malignant tumor could not be excluded, a hepatic left lobe excision was performed. The patient was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on the morphology of the cellular necrosis. In addition, occlusion due to thrombus was observed within the blood vessels passing inside the fibrous capsule. It was hypothesized that the formation of a thick fibrous capsule and occlusion due to thrombus in the feeding vessel were possibly involved as the cause of complete spontaneous necrosis. Written informed consent was obtained from the patient.

Embolization of hepatic arterio-portal shunt in patients with HCC complicated by portal vein tumor ;thrombus treated with TACE combined with portal vein stenting：its clinical significance / 介入放射学杂志

Objective To evaluated the clinical significance of embolization of arterio-portal venous shunt (APVS) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with main portal vein tumor thrombus (MPVTT) treated by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and portal vein stenting. Methods Twenty-six HCC patients with MPVTT and marked APVS, who were treated with TACE and portal vein stenting, were enrolled in this study. Portal vein stenting was performed via percutaneous transhepatic approach, which was followed by the embolization of the feeding arteries of APVS by using suitable embolic agents. The portal vein pressure levels were separately measured before, after portal vein stenting and after APVS embolization. The results were statistically analyzed. Results Both the portal vein stenting and APVS embolization were successfully accomplished in all the 26 patients. Hepatic angiography and portal venography performed before portal vein stenting revealed bidirectional portal flow in 16 cases and hepatofugal portal flow in 10 cases. Among the 16 patients with bidirectional portal flow, remarkable improvement of portal vein to liver blood flow after portal vein stenting was seen in 14, and obvious recovery of main portal vein to liver blood flow after APVS embolization in 2. Obvious recovery of main portal vein to liver blood flow after APVS embolization was also demonstrated in 10 cases with hepatofugal portal flow. The portal vein pressure determined before, after portal vein stenting and after APVS embolization was (50.1±6.3) cmH2O,(43.5± 7.5) cmH2O and (36.9 ±8.2) cmH2O respectively. After portal vein stenting the portal vein pressure was significantly decreased when compared with the preoperative pressure, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); after APVS embolization the portal vein pressure was further decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion For HCC patients with MPVTT and marked APVS, portal vein stenting can effectively restore the portal blood flow and reduce the portal vein pressure; and embolization of APVS can further reduce the pressure of portal vein, thus the bidirectional portal flow or hepatofugal portal flow will return to normal hepatopetal flow.

The X-Ray Diagnosis and Interventional Therapy of Arterio-Partal Shunt in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma / 介入放射学杂志

In this paper, we reported the radiographic characteristics of arterio-portal shunt in 59 cases with hepatocellular carcinoma. All eases were arbitrarily divided into three types, the peripheral, central, and mixed. The angiographic manifestations of all types were described in detail with emphases on discusion of the mechanism of the pormation of arterio-portal shun, and the orientation of interventional approach. We suggested that active and solemn attitude should be taken but with different ways be considered rather than ignoring it, for obtaining the positive results.

An experimental study on the reconstruction of hepatic blood flow with flow-restricted arterio-portal shunt / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To study the effect of flow-restricted arterio-portal shunt(APS)on the liver.Methods Experimental model of APS and flow-restricted APS were reproduced in rats,and its effects on hepatic blood flow(HBF)and portal venous pressure(PVP)were observed,and the changes in liver structure were investigated six months after the operation.Results Compared with that of pre-operation,both HBF and PVP in APS group at the sixth month after operation changed significantly(P0.05).The PVP changed significantly(P0.05).No obvious lesions were found in the liver by histological examination.Significant differences of both PVP and HBF were found at the sixth month between the two groups(P