Purpose
The purpose of this study is to review indications and results of surgical treatments of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This tumor, which represents one of the most common malignancies ...worldwide, is characterized by its prominent development in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Liver transplantation (LT) is considered as the ideal treatment of limited HCC removing both tumor(s) and the pre-neoplasic underlying diseased liver. However, this treatment, which is not available in many countries, is restricted to patients with minimum risk of tumor recurrence under immunosuppression. The risk of recurrence is minimized in patients fulfilling the Milan criteria with a tendency to accept slight expansion of size in patients with favourable natural history and low AFP level. Increasing duration in the waiting list before LT leads several teams to use neoadjuvant therapies such as percutaneous ablation, TACE and liver resection. Liver resection in cirrhotic patients with good liver function remains the most available efficient treatment of patients with HCC. Better liver function assessment, understanding of the segmental liver anatomy with more accurate imaging studies and surgical technique refinements are the most important factors that have contributed to reduce mortality with an expecting 5 years survival of 70%. There is considerable interest in combined treatment associating resection and LT. Transplantable patients with good liver function should be considered for liver resection as primary therapy and for LT in case of tumor recurrence. This salvage strategy is refined using pathological analysis of the resected specimen which identifies histological pejorative factors allowing selecting patients who should transplanted before recurrence.
Conclusions
The improvement of survival in HCC patients after surgical treatment results from refinements in surgical technique and better identification of adverse prognostic factors.
Background and aims: Splanchnic vein thrombosis is a significant source of complications in candidates for liver transplantation. The aims of this study were: (a) to determine the prevalence of and ...risk factors for splanchnic vein thrombosis in cirrhotic patients awaiting transplantation and (b) to assess the usefulness of anticoagulation. Methods: A total of 251 cirrhotic patients listed for transplantation were analysed. All underwent systematic screening for thrombosis with Doppler ultrasonography. During the second period of the study, all patients with thrombosis received anticoagulation up to transplantation while during the first period none had received anticoagulation. Results: The incidence of splanchnic vein thrombosis at evaluation was 8.4%. Seventeen additional patients (7.4%) developed de novo thrombosis after evaluation. Independent risk factors for thrombosis were low platelet count (77.4 (36.3) v 111.6 (69.2) 109/l; p = 0.001), a past history of variceal bleeding (47.4% v 29.1%; p = 0.003), and a prolonged interval from listing to transplantation (8.5 (6.8) v 4.8 (4.4) months; p = 0.002). The proportion of partial or complete recanalisation was significantly higher in those who received (8/19) than in those who did not receive (0/10, p = 0.002) anticoagulation. Survival was significantly lower in those who had complete portal vein thrombosis at the time of surgery (p = 0.04). Conclusion: These results support a systematic screening for splanchnic vein thrombosis in patients awaiting transplantation. They suggest that in these patients, anticoagulation is safe and has a significant impact on recanalisation as well as prevention of extension of thrombosis.
Liver transplantation (LTx) for metastatic endocrine tumors (MET) remains controversial due to the lack of clear selection criteria. From 1989 to 2005, 85 patients underwent LTx for MET. The primary ...tumor was located in the pancreas or duodenum in 40 cases, digestive tract in 26 and bronchial tree in five. In the remaining 14 cases, primary location was undetermined at the time of LTx. Hepatomegaly (explanted liver ≥120% of estimated standard liver volume) was observed in 53 patients (62%). Extrahepatic resection was performed concomitantly with LTx in 34 patients (40%), including upper abdominal exenteration (UAE) in seven.
Postoperative in‐hospital mortality was 14%. Overall 5‐year survival was 47%. Independent factors of poor prognosis according to multivariate analysis included UAE (relative risk (RR): 3.72), primary tumor in duodenum or pancreas (RR: 2.94) and hepatomegaly (RR: 2.63). After exclusion of cases involving concomitant UAE, the other two factors were combined into a risk model. Five‐year survival rate was 12% for the 23 patients presenting both unfavorable prognostic factors versus 68% for the 55 patients presenting one or neither factor (p < 10−7).
LTx can benefit selected patients with nonresectable MET. Patients presenting duodeno‐pancreatic MET in association with hepatomegaly are poor indications for LTx.
Upper abdominal exenteration, location of the primary tumor in duodenum or pancreas, and hepatomegaly are predictors of poor outcome.
Abstract Background Lymph node (LN) invasion in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most important prognostic factor after surgical resection. The mechanisms of LN invasion include ...lymphatic spreading and/or direct extension from the main tumor. However, few studies have assessed the impact of these different patterns of invasion on prognosis. Patients and methods Pathologic reports of pancreatic resections for PDAC from 1997 to 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. The mode of LN invasion was defined as follows: standard lymphatic metastases (S), contiguous from the main tumor (C) and standard with extracapsular invasion (EI). Clinical outcomes were compared according to the mode of invasion and the number of invaded LN. Results 306 patients were reviewed. Median age at resection was 61 years (range, 34–81). Eighty seven patients were N− (28.9%) and 214 were N+ (71.1%). Of the N+ patients, 195 (91.1%) were S+, 35 (16.3%) were C+, and 24 (12.3% of the S+ patients) were EI+. Median survival in N+ patients was lower than in N− patients (29 vs . 57 months, p < 0.001). In patients without standard involvement, C+ patients ( n = 19) had worse survival than C− patients ( n = 47) (34 vs. 57 months, p = 0.037). In S+ patients, C status was correlated with prognosis when the number of LN S+ was <2 ( p = 0.07). EI status had no influence on prognosis. On multivariate analysis, only perineural invasion ( p = 0.02) and LN ratio ( p = 0.042) were independent prognostic factors. Conclusion Direct invasion of LN by the tumor is predictive of reduced survival, but has little impact compared to standard LN involvement and perineural invasion.
Background
Imaging occasionally fails to differentiate hepatic simple cysts from malignant or premalignant mucinous cystic lesions such as biliary cystadenomas. Hepatic simple cysts can be treated ...conservatively, whereas malignant or premalignant cysts require complete resection. This study assessed the ability of intracystic tumour marker concentrations to differentiate these disease entities.
Methods
Intracystic fluid was sampled in patients undergoing partial or complete resection of a cystic lesion of the liver. The indication for surgery in hepatic simple cysts was symptoms or suspicion of a biliary cystadenoma. Intracystic concentrations of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19‐9 and tumour‐associated glycoprotein (TAG) 72 were measured to assess the diagnostic accuracy of these tumour markers. Cut‐off values were defined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.
Results
The study population comprised 118 patients (94 women) with a median age of 59 years. There were 75 patients with hepatic simple cysts, 27 with mucinous cysts (19 biliary cystadenomas, 4 biliary cystadenocarcinomas, 4 intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the bile duct) and 16 with miscellaneous cysts. Unlike CEA and CA19‐9, a TAG‐72 concentration of more than 25 units/ml differentiated hepatic simple cysts from mucinous cysts with a sensitivity and a specificity of 0·79 and 0·97 respectively. The area under the ROC curve was 0·98 for mucinous versus hepatic simple cysts.
Conclusion
The concentration of TAG‐72 in cyst fluid accurately identified hepatic cysts that required complete resection.
Useful method
Liver transplantation (LT) which is currently an established therapy for sma1l, early stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis requires in most cases long waiting period. Tumor ...development during the waiting period may be associated with vascular invasion which is a strong factor of postoperative recurrence. Therefore, local treatment of the tumor including trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE), percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) or partial liver resection can be used before transplantation. In the present paper we reviewed the efficacy of these treatments prior to LT. Although, TACE induced complete tumor necrosis in some patients there is no convincing arguments showing that this treatment reduces the rate of drop out before LT, nor improves the survival after LT. Although, RF can induce complete necrosis in the majority of small tumors (<2.5 cm), there is no data demonstrating that this treatment reduce the rate of drop out before LT, nor improves the survival after LT. It has been showed that both short and long term survival after LT was not compromised by previous partial liver resection of HCC. However, there is no data demonstrating that liver resection before LT, which can be used either as a bridge treatment or as a primary treatment, improves the survival after LT. The current data suggest that there is no role for pre-transplant therapy for HCC within Milano criteria transplanted within six months. On the opposite, if the waiting time is predicted to be prolonged, the risk of tumor progression and either drop-off from the list or interval dissemination with post-transplant tumor recurrence is recognized. In this setting, bridge therapy can reduce that risk but its efficacy has to be determined.
Background
Biliary fistula is one of the most common complications after hepatectomy. This study evaluated the effect of transcystic biliary drainage during hepatectomy on the occurrence of ...postoperative biliary fistula.
Methods
This multicentre RCT was carried out from 2009 to 2016 in nine centres. Patients were randomized to transcystic biliary drainage or no transcystic drainage (control). Patients underwent hepatectomy (more than 2 segments) of non‐cirrhotic livers. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of biliary fistula after surgery. Secondary endpoints were morbidity, postoperative mortality, duration of hospital stay, reoperation, readmission to hospital, and complications caused by catheters. Intention‐to‐treat and per‐protocol analyses were performed.
Results
A total of 310 patients were randomized. In intention‐to‐treat analysis, there were 158 patients in the transcystic group and 149 in the control group. Seven patients were removed from the per‐protocol analysis owing to protocol deviations. The biliary fistula rate was 5·9 per cent in intention‐to‐treat and 6·0 per cent in per‐protocol analyses. The rate was similar in the transcystic and control groups (5·7 versus 6·0 per cent; P = 1·000). There were no differences in terms of morbidity (49·4 versus 46·3 per cent; P = 0·731), mortality (2·5 versus 4·7 per cent; P = 0·367) and reoperations (4·4 versus 10·1 per cent; P = 1·000). Median duration of hospital stay was longer in the transcystic group (11 versus 10 days; P = 0·042). The biliary fistula risk was associated with the width and length of the hepatic cut surface.
Conclusion
This randomized trial did not demonstrate superiority of transcystic drainage during hepatectomy in preventing biliary fistula. The use of transcystic drainage during hepatectomy to prevent postoperative biliary fistula is not recommended. Registration number: NCT01469442 (
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).
Antecedentes
La fístula biliar es una de las complicaciones más comunes después de la hepatectomía. Este estudio evalúa el efecto del drenaje biliar transcístico durante la hepatectomía en la aparición de una fístula biliar postoperatoria.
Métodos
Este ensayo prospectivo aleatorizado y multicéntrico (Clinical Trial NCT01469442) con dos grupos de estudio (grupo transcístico versus grupo control) se llevó a cabo de 2009 a 2016 en 9 centros. Los pacientes fueron sometidos a una hepatectomía (≥ 2 segmentos) en hígados no cirróticos. El resultado principal fue la aparición de una fístula biliar después de la cirugía. Los resultados secundarios fueron la morbilidad, la mortalidad postoperatoria, la duración de la estancia hospitalaria, la reintervención, la necesidad de reingreso y las complicaciones causadas por los catéteres. Se realizaron análisis por intención de tratamiento y por protocolo.
Resultados
Un total de 310 pacientes fueron randomizados. Por intención de tratamiento, 158 pacientes fueron aleatorizados al grupo transcístico y 149 al grupo control. Siete pacientes fueron excluidos del análisis por protocolo por desviaciones del protocolo. La tasa de fístula biliar fue del 5,9% en el análisis por intención de tratamiento y del 6,0% en el análisis por protocolo. Esta tasa fue similar para el grupo transcístico y para el grupo control: 5,7% versus 6,0% (P = 1). No hubo diferencias en términos de morbilidad (49,4% versus 46,9%, P = 0,731), mortalidad (2,5% versus 4,7%, P = 0,367) y reintervenciones (4,4% versus 10,1%, P = 1). La mediana de la duración de la estancia hospitalaria fue mayor para el grupo transcístico (11 versus 10 días, P = 0,042). El riesgo de fístula biliar se correlacionó con el grosor y la longitud de la transección hepática.
Conclusión
Este ensayo aleatorizado no demuestra la superioridad del drenaje transcístico durante la hepatectomía para prevenir la fístula biliar. No se recomienda el uso de drenaje transcístico durante la hepatectomía para prevenir la fístula biliar postoperatoria.
This RCT evaluated the effect of biliary drainage with a transcystic catheter during hepatectomy on the occurrence of postoperative biliary fistula. A total of 310 patients were randomized in nine centres; the analysis included 158 patients in the transcystic group and 149 in the control group. The biliary fistula rate was similar in the transcystic and control groups. Therefore, the use of transcystic drainage during hepatectomy to prevent postoperative biliary fistula is not recommended.
Biliary drainage not of added value
Polycystic liver disease (PLD) may consist of autosomal dominant PLD or isolated PLD without renal impairment. The natural history of liver cysts is to increase in size and number, causing ...progressive disease that can lead to very large and incapacitating hepatomegaly. Only symptomatic hepatomegaly (pain, inability to eat, weight loss, dyspnea) or cystic complications such as infection or intracystic hemorrhage should be treated. The treatment of PLD thus covers a wide range of therapeutic options, ranging from non-intervention to liver transplantation, including needle aspiration evacuation with injection of sclerosant, laparoscopic fenestration and fenestration by laparotomy combined with liver resection. The choice between these different treatments depends on the symptomatology, the intrahepatic extension of the lesions and the patient's general condition. Hepatic resection is commonly chosen since the vast majority of PLD consists of multiple small cysts that are impossible or difficult to fenestrate. Since cysts are inhomogeneously distributed in the hepatic parenchyma with most areas less affected, the preservation of this less-involved territory allows liver regeneration relatively free of cysts. Hepatectomies for PLD are technically difficult because the planes and the vascular and biliary structures are compressed by the cysts. Liver transplantation, whether isolated or associated with renal transplantation, is indicated in cases of severe malnutrition and/or end-stage renal disease or if the volume of remnant parenchyma is insufficient and suggests failure of a partial hepatectomy.
Background
Aim of this retrospective study was to compare induction of left liver hypertrophy after right portal vein ligation (PVL) and right portal vein embolization (PVE) before right hepatectomy ...for liver metastases.
Materials and Methods
Between 1998 and 2005, 18 patients underwent a PVE, whereas 17 patients underwent a PVL during a first stage laparotomy.
Results
There was no complication related to PVE or PVL. After a similar interval time (7 ± 3 vs 8 ± 3 weeks), the increase of the left liver volume was similar between the two groups (35 ± 38 vs 38 ± 26%). After PVE and PVL, right hepatectomy was performed in 12 and 14 patients, respectively. Technical difficulties during the right hepatectomy were similar according to duration of procedure (6.4 ± 1 vs 6.7 ± 1 h,
p
= 0.7) and transfusion rates (33 vs 28%,
p
= 0.7). Mortality was nil in both groups, and morbidity rates were respectively 58% for the PVE group and 36% for the PVL group (
p
= 0.6).
Conclusion
Right PVL and PVE result in a comparable hypertrophy of the left liver. During the first laparotomy of a two-step liver resection, PVL can be efficiently and safely performed.
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