Nine-year experience of doxorubicin-eluting beads chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Chemoembolization with doxorubucin-eluting beads (DEB) has been used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) since 2007. This study compared the efifcacy and sur-vival between transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with DEB and conventional approach (cTACE) in HCC treatment. METHODS: This retrospective case-control study compared the overall survival and tumor response of HCC patients to cTACE (n=190) and DEB (n=143) by the reassessment of com-puted tomography and serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Mul-tivariate analysis was used to determine the factors affecting tumor response. RESULTS: The median post-treatment to pre-treatment AFP level was 0.8 for a DEB session (n=258) and 1.0 for a cTACE session (n=452), showing a signiifcantly greater decrease in AFP after DEB (P<0.05). More patients in the DEB group achieved objective response (complete and partial) compared with those in the cTACE group (P<0.05). Objective tumor re-sponse after DEB vs cTACE was 34.8% vs 15.4% in 0-3 months (P=0.001), 37.1% vs 20.0% in 3-6 months (P<0.05), and 50.0%vs 30.0% in 6-12 months (P=0.093). DEB predicted a 3.604 times odds of achieving at least one objective tumor response in a patient when compared to cTACE (P<0.0001). The median survival from ifrst transcatheter therapy of patients having&nbsp;undergone at least once DEB was 12.53 months, while those having received cTACE only was 10.53 months (P=0.086). A tendency of improved survival appeared to maintain until >80 months after the ifrst TACE session in the DEB group. CONCLUSION: DEB is a safe alternative to cTACE in HCC pa-tients with better therapeutic efifcacy.

Robotic versus laparoscopic liver resection for huge (≥10 cm) liver tumors: an international multicenter propensity-score matched cohort study of 799 cases

Background:The use of laparoscopic(LLR)and robotic liver resections(RLR)has been safely performed in many institutions for liver tumours.A large scale international multicenter study would provide stronger evidence and insight into application of these techniques for huge liver tumours≥10 cm.Methods:This was a retrospective review of 971 patients who underwent LLR and RLR for huge(≥10 cm)tumors at 42 international centers between 2002-2020.Results:One hundred RLR and 699 LLR which met study criteria were included.The comparison between the 2 approaches for patients with huge tumors were performed using 1:3 propensity-score matching(PSM)(73 vs.219).Before PSM,LLR was associated with significantly increased frequency of previous abdominal surgery,malignant pathology,liver cirrhosis and increased median blood.After PSM,RLR and LLR was associated with no significant difference in key perioperative outcomes including media operation time(242 vs.290 min,P=0.286),transfusion rate rate(19.2%vs.16.9%,P=0.652),median blood loss(200 vs.300 mL,P=0.694),open conversion rate(8.2%vs.11.0%,P=0.519),morbidity(28.8%vs.21.9%,P=0.221),major morbidity(4.1%vs.9.6%,P=0.152),mortality and postoperative length of stay(6 vs.6 days,P=0.435).Conclusions:RLR and LLR can be performed safely for selected patients with huge liver tumours with excellent outcomes.There was no significant difference in perioperative outcomes after RLR or LLR.

The Hong Kong consensus recommendations on the diagnosis and management of pancreatic cystic lesions

Background:The finding of pancreatic cystic lesions(PCL)on incidental imaging is becoming increasingly common.International studies report a prevalence of 2.2-44.7%depending on the population,imaging modality and indication for imaging,and the prevalence increases with age.Patients with PCL are at risk of developing pancreatic cancer,a disease with a poor prognosis.This publication summarizes recommendations for the diagnosis and management of PCL and post-operative pancreatic exocrine insufficiency(PEI)from a group of local specialists.Methods:Clinical evidence was consolidated from narrative reviews and consensus statements formulated during two online meetings in March 2022.The expert panel included gastroenterologists,hepatobiliary surgeons,oncologists,radiologists,and endocrinologists.Results:Patients with PCL require careful investigation and follow-up due to the risk of malignant transformation of these lesions.They should undergo clinical investigation and pancreas-specific imaging to classify lesions and understand the risk profile of the patient.Where indicated,patients should undergo pancreatectomy to excise PCL.Following pancreatectomy,patients are at risk of PEI,leading to gastrointestinal dysfunction and malnutrition.Therefore,such patients should be monitored for symptoms of PEI,and promptly treated with pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy(PERT).Patients with poor response to PERT may require increases in dose,addition of a proton pump inhibitor,and/or further investigation,including tests for pancreatic function.Patients are also at risk of new-onset diabetes mellitus after pancreatectomy;they should be screened and treated with insulin if indicated.Conclusions:These statements are an accurate summary of our approach to the diagnosis and management of patients with PCL and will be of assistance to clinicians treating these patients in a similar clinical landscape.

The Hong Kong consensus statements on unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma:narrative review and update for 2021

Background and Objective:Hong Kong,like many parts of Asia,faces a high burden of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)caused by high endemic rates of hepatitis B virus infection.Hong Kong clinicians have developed a high level of expertise in HCC treatment across surgical,transarterial,ablative,radiotherapeutic and systemic modalities.This publication summarizes the latest evidence-based recommendations on how these modalities should be used.Methods:In two meetings held in 2020,a multidisciplinary panel of surgeons,oncologists and interventional radiologists performed a narrative review of evidence on the management of HCC,with an emphasis on treatment of HCC not amenable to surgical resection.Close attention was paid to new evidence published since the previous version of these statements in 2018.Key Content and Findings:The expert panel has formulated 60 consensus statements to guide the staging and treatment of unresectable HCC.Since the previous version of these statements,considerable additions have been made to the recommendations on use of targeted therapies and immunotherapies because of the large volume of new evidence.Conclusions:Our consensus statements offer guidance on how to select HCC patients for surgical or non-surgical treatment and for choosing among non-surgical modalities for patients who are not candidates for resection.In particular,there is a need for more evidence to aid physicians in the selection of second-line systemic therapies,as currently most data are limited to patients with disease progression on first-line sorafenib.

沿肝中静脉解剖性半肝切除治疗区域型肝胆管结石34例

回顾性分析2015年7月至2017年7月因区域性肝胆管结石病行沿肝中静脉解剖性半肝切除的34例患者资料,统计其临床表现、结石类型、手术方式、术后并发症及治疗效果。患者平均年龄54.8岁,其中左半肝切除29例(85.3%),右半肝切除5例(14.7%),手术时间(321.0±78.0)min,术中出血量(551.0±662.0)ml,出现并发症8例(23.5%)。术后结石残留1例(2.9%),所有患者未发生死亡及肝功能衰竭。研究显示在重视围手术期处理和精准手术技术的前提下,沿肝中静脉解剖性半肝切除术可有效降低区域性肝胆管结石病术后并发症发生率和结石复发率。

全程显露肝中静脉的精准半肝切除治疗区域性肝胆管结石临床疗效与经验

目的探讨严格以肝中静脉为引导的精准性半肝切除治疗区域性肝胆管结石的临床疗效与经验。方法回顾性分析香港大学深圳医院肝胆胰外科2015年7月至2019年7月采用半肝切除术治疗区域性肝胆管结石47例患者资料,其中男性15例,女性32例,年龄(42±15)岁。全程显露并保留肝中静脉纳入精准手术组(n=26),未能全程显露肝中静脉或者损伤肝中静脉纳入对照组(n=21)。对比两组患者的手术时间、术中出血量等手术资料以及术后并发症等情况。结果所有患者均顺利完成手术,术后无肝衰竭患者,术后90 d无死亡患者。精准手术组的手术时间(5.2±1.8)h、术中出血量(620.5±450.8)ml,与对照组手术时间(4.9±2.3)h、术中出血量(760.5±540.2)ml比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。共有19例(40.4%)患者(精准手术组7例,对照组12例)出现各类并发症36次,术后并发症发生率对照组多于精准手术组[47.6%(10/21)比19.2%(5/26)],差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。47例患者均获得随访,随访时间6~30个月。术后远期并发症对照组5例患者分别出现残留结石、胆道感染、肝脓肿及胆肠吻合吻合口狭窄伴结石复发,精准手术组仅2例分别发现残留结石及胆肠吻合吻合口狭窄伴结石复发,远期并发症发生率对照组多于精准手术组[23.8%(5/21)比7.7%(2/26)],差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论严格以肝中静脉为引导的精准性半肝切除治疗区域性肝胆管结石,能够较为彻底去除结石和病灶,降低复发率及术后并发症。

Minimally invasive liver resection for huge(≥10cm)tumors:an international multicenter matched cohort study with regression discontinuity analyses

Background:The application and feasibility of minimally invasive liver resection(MILR)for huge liver tumours(≥10 cm)has not been well documented.Methods:Retrospective analysis of data on 6,617 patients who had MILR for liver tumours were gathered from 21 international centers between 2009-2019.Huge tumors and large tumors were defined as tumors with a size≥10.0 cm and 3.0-9.9 cm based on histology,respectively.1:1 coarsened exact-matching(CEM)and 1:2 Mahalanobis distance-matching(MDM)was performed according to clinically-selected variables.Regression discontinuity analyses were performed as an additional line of sensitivity analysis to estimate local treatment effects at the 10-cm tumor size cutoff.Results:Of 2,890 patients with tumours≥3 cm,there were 205 huge tumors.After 1:1 CEM,174 huge tumors were matched to 174 large tumors;and after 1:2 MDM,190 huge tumours were matched to 380 large tumours.There was significantly and consistently increased intraoperative blood loss,frequency in the application of Pringle maneuver,major morbidity and postoperative stay in the huge tumour group compared to the large tumour group after both 1:1 CEM and 1:2 MDM.These findings were reinforced in RD analyses.Intraoperative blood transfusion rate and open conversion rate were significantly higher in the huge tumor group after only 1:2 MDM but not 1:1 CEM.Conclusions:MILR for huge tumours can be safely performed in expert centers It is an operation with substantial complexity and high technical requirement,with worse perioperative outcomes compared to MILR for large tumors,therefore judicious patient selection is pivotal.

Quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen in predicting recurrence of hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation

Aim:Recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver transplantation (LT) for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) can be associated with reappearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). The current study determined the significance of HBsAg qualitatively and quantitatively using a highly sensitive assay in recurrent HCC after transplantation. Methods:Consecutive patients with HBV-related HCC with LT were included. Oral nucleos(t)ide analogues without hepatitis B immune globulin were used as hepatitis B virus (HBV) prophylaxis. Quantitative HBsAg levels were performed at time of transplant, at 1 month, 3 and 6 months post transplant using a highly sensitive (hs)-HBsAg assay. Results:One hundred and fourteen patients were included, with a median follow-up of 80 months, with 24 cases of HCC recurrence, and a cumulative rate of 20.7% at 5 years. There was significant correlation between time of tumor recurrence and time of HBsAg reappearance (r = 0.551,P = 0.027). Early HCC recurrence was associated with higher median level of hs-HBsAg at the time of transplant (72.85vs. 69.70 IU/mL,P = 0.018). Using a hs-HBsAg cut-off level of 0.0005 IU/mL, patients with levels above this threshold at 3 and 6 months were associated with higher rate of early HCC recurrence (28.6%vs. 3.0% and 26.9%vs. 2.9% respectively, bothP =0.0006). There was no significant difference in HCC recurrence between positive and negative HBsAg using the conventional qualitative HBsAg assay. Conclusion:Serum hs-HBsAg levels of≥ 0.0005 IU/mL at 3 to 6 months after LT is associated with higher rates of early HCC recurrence, and may be useful as an early tumor marker.