Imaging-based prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after microwave ablation as bridge therapy: A glimpse into the future

Liver transplantation(LT)remains the treatment of choice for early-stage hepato-cellular carcinoma(HCC)and offers the best long-term oncological outcomes.However,the increasing waiting list for LT has led to a significant dropout rate as patients experience tumor progression beyond the Milan criteria.Currently,locoregional therapies,such as microwave ablation(MWA),have emerged as promising bridge treatments for patients awaiting LT.These therapies have shown promising results in preventing tumor progression,thus reducing the dropout rate of LT candidates.Despite the efficacy of MWA in treating HCC,tumoral recurrence after ablation remains a major challenge and significantly impacts the prognosis of HCC patients.Therefore,accurately diagnosing tumoral recurrence post-ablation is crucial.Recent studies have developed novel imaging features based on magnetic resonance imaging of HCC,which could provide essential information for predicting early tumoral recurrence after MWA.These advancements could address this unresolved challenge,improving the clinical outcomes of patients on the LT waiting list.This article explored the current landscape of MWA as a bridge therapy for HCC within the Milan criteria,high-lighting the emerging role of novel imaging-based features aimed at improving the prediction of tumor recurrence after MWA.

Effectiveness of treating menorrhagia using microwave endometrial ablation at a frequency of 2.45 GHz

BACKGROUND Microwave endometrial ablation(MEA)is a minimally invasive treatment for menorrhagia.It has been covered by the national insurance in Japan since April 2012,and its demand has been increasing as the importance of women’s health has advanced in society.AIM To examine the efficacy of MEA as a treatment option for menorrhagia.METHODS In this study,we retrospectively analyzed 76 patients who underwent MEA between January 2016 and March 2020 in our department.MEA was performed in the lithotomy position,under general anesthesia,and with transabdominal ultrasound guidance,including the entire endometrial circumference while confirming endometrial coagulation.The Microtaze AFM-712 and the Sounding Applicator CSA-40CBL-1006200C were used for MEA,and the endometrium was ablated using a Microtaze output of 70 W and coagulation energization time of 50 s per cycle.The visual analog scale(VAS)was used to evaluate menorrhagia,menstrual pain,and treatment satisfaction.Additionally,the hemoglobin(Hb)levels before and after MEA and associated complications were investigated.RESULTS The average age of the patients was 44.8±4.0 years.While 14 patients had functional menorrhagia,62 had organic menorrhagia,of whom 14 had endometrial polyps,40 had uterine fibroids,and 8 had adenomyosis.The VAS score before MEA and 3 and 6 mo after the procedure were 10,1.3±1.3,and 1.3±1.3,respectively,for menorrhagia and 10,1.3±1.8,and 1.3±1.8,respectively,for menstrual pain,both showing improvements(P<0.001).The MEA Hb level significantly improved from 9.2±4.2 g/dL before MEA to 13.4±1.2 g/dL after MEA(P=0.003).Treatment satisfaction was high,with a VAS score of 9.6±0.7.Endometritis was observed in one patient after surgery and was treated with antibiotics.CONCLUSION MEA is a safe and effective treatment for menorrhagia.

Effectiveness of microwave endometrial ablation combined with hysteroscopic transcervical resection in treating submucous uterine myomas

BACKGROUND Hypermenorrhea is characterized by excessive menstrual bleeding that causes severe anemia and interferes with everyday life.This condition can restrict women’s social activities and decrease their quality of life.Microwave endometrial ablation(MEA)using a 2.45-GHz energy source is a minimally invasive alternative to conventional hysterectomy for treating hypermenorrhea that is resistant to conservative treatment,triggered by systemic disease or medications,or caused by uterine myomas and fibrosis.The popularity of MEA has increased worldwide.Although MEA can safely and effectively treat submucous myomas,some patients may still experience recurrent hypermenorrhea postoperatively and may require additional treatment.AIM To investigate the efficacy of MEA combined with transcervical resection(TCR).METHODS Participants underwent cervical and endometrial evaluations.Magnetic resonance imaging and hysteroscopy were performed to evaluate the size and location of the myomas.TCR was performed before MEA using a hystero-resectoscope.MEA was performed using transabdominal ultrasound.The variables included operation time,number of ablation cycles,length of hospital stay,and visual analog scale cores for hypermenorrhea,dysmenorrhea,and treatment satisfaction at 3 and 6 mo postoperatively.The postoperative incidence of amenorrhea,changes in hemoglobin concentrations,and MEA-related complications were evaluated.RESULTS A total of 34 women underwent a combination of MEA and TCR during the study period.Two patients were excluded from the study as their histopathological tests identified uterine malignancies(uterine sarcoma and endometrial cancer).The 32 eligible women(6 nulliparous,26 multiparous)had a mean age of 45.2±4.3 years(range:36–52 years).Patients reported very severe hypermenorrhea(10/10 points on the visual analog scale)before the procedure.However,after the procedure,the hypermenorrhea scores decreased to 1.2±1.3 and 0.9±1.3 at 3 and 6 mo,respectively(P<0.001).The mean follow-up duration was 33.8±16.8 mo.Although 10 women(31.3%)developed amenorrhea during this period,none experienced a recurrence of hypermenorrhea.No surgical complications were observed.CONCLUSION Reducing the size of uterine myomas by combining MEA and TCR can safely and effectively treat hypermenorrhea in patients with submucous myomas.

Liver-directed therapies for liver metastases from neuroendocrine neoplasms:Can laser ablation play any role?

Aggressive cytoreduction can prolong survival in patients with unresectable liver metastases(LM)from neuroendocrine neoplasms(NEN),and minimally invasive,liver-directed therapies are gaining increasing interest.Catheter-based treatments are used in disseminated disease,whereas ablation techniques are usually indicated when the number of LM is limited.Although radiofrequency ablation(RFA)is by far the most used ablative technique,the goal of this opinion review is to explore the potential role of laser ablation(LA)in the treatment of LM from NEN.LA uses thinner needles than RFA,and this is an advantage when the tumors are in at-risk locations.Moreover,the multi-fiber technique enables the use of one to four laser fibers at once,and each fiber provides an almost spherical thermal lesion of 12-15 mm in diameter.Such a characteristic enables to tailor the size of each thermal lesion to the size of each tumor,sparing the liver parenchyma more than any other liver-directed therapy,and allowing for repeated treatments with low risk of liver failure.A recent retrospective study reporting the largest series of LM treated with LA documents both safety and effectiveness of LA,that can play a useful role in the multimodality approach to LM from NEN.

Virtual navigation-guided radiofrequency ablation for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma invisible on ultrasound after hepatic resection

Background:No reports are available on the technical efficiency and therapeutic response of virtual navigation(VN)-guided radiofrequency ablation(RFA)for patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)after hepatic resection.The aim of this study was to investigate the overall technical performance and outcome of VN-guided RFA in recurrent HCC patients.In addition,a nomogram model was developed to predict the factors influencing the overall survival(OS).Methods:This was a prospective study on 76 recurrent HCC patients who underwent VN-guided RFA between June 2015 and February 2018.The technical feasibility,success,and efficiency,OS,local tumor progression,and complications were evaluated.A multivariate Cox regression analysis was conducted to predict the significant factors,and a nomogram including independent predictive factors was subsequently plotted to predict OS.Results:The technical feasibility,success,and efficiency rates of VN-guided RFA were 86.4%,94.7%,and 97.4%,respectively.The cumulative OS rates at 1-,2-,and 3-year were 88.1%,79.7%,and 71.0%,respectively.The cumulative local tumor progression rates at 1-,2-,and 3-year were 5.5%,8.7%,and 14.0%,respectively.In addition,the minor and major complication rates were 5.3%and 3.9%,respectively.No intervention-related deaths occurred during the follow-up period.The C-index of the OS nomogram in this study was 0.737.Conclusions:VN-guided RFA is an effective therapeutic option in recurrent HCC patients and improves the long-term outcomes especially for the lesions that cannot be detected in the two-dimensional ultrasound.Besides,the nomogram may be a useful supporting tool in predicting OS to estimate the individual survival probability,optimize treatment options,and facilitate decision-making.

Radiological findings in non-surgical recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma:From locoregional treatments to immunotherapy

Since hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)represents an important cause of mortality and morbidity all over the world.Currently,it is fundamental not only to achieve a curative treatment but also to manage in the best way any possible recurrence.Even if the latest update of the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer guidelines for HCC treatment has introduced new locoregional techniques and confirmed others as well-established clinical practices,there is still no consensus about the treatment of recurrent HCC(RHCC).Locoregional treatments and medical therapy represent two of the most widely accepted approaches for disease control,especially in the advanced stage of liver disease.Different medical treatments are now approved,and others are under investigation.On this basis,radiology plays a central role in the diagnosis of RHCC and the assessment of response to locoregional treatments and medical therapy for RHCC.This review summarized the actual clinical practice by underlining the importance of the radiological approach both in the diagnosis and treatment of RHCC.

Application of ablative therapy for intrahepatic recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma following hepatectomy

The post-hepatectomy recurrence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is persistently high,affecting the prognosis of patients.An effective therapeutic option is crucial for achieving long-term survival in patients with postoperative recurrences.Local ablative therapy has been established as a treatment option for resectable and unresectable HCCs,and it is also a feasible approach for recurrent HCC(RHCC)due to less trauma,shorter operation times,fewer complications,and faster recovery.This review focused on ablation techniques,description of potential candidates,and therapeutic and prognostic implications of ablation for guiding its application in treating intrahepatic RHCC.

Current concepts in hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is one of the most frequent neoplasms worldwide and in most cases it is associated with liver cirrhosis.Liver resection is considered the most potentially curative therapy for HCC patients when liver transplantation is not an option or is not immediately accessible.This review is aimed at investigating the current concepts that drive the surgical choice in the treatment of HCC in cirrhotic patients;Eastern and Western perspectives are highlighted.An extensive literature review of the last two decades was performed,on topics covering various aspects of hepatic resection.Early post-operative and long-term outcome measures adopted were firstly analyzed in an attempt to define an optimal standardization useful for research comparison.The need to avoid the development of post-hepatectomy liver failure represents the "conditio sine qua non" of surgical choice and the role of the current tools available for the assessment of liver function reserve were investigated.Results of hepatic resection in relationship with tumor burden were compared with those of available competing strategies,namely,radiofrequency ablation for early stages,and trans-arterial chemoembolization for intermediate and advanced stages.Finally,the choice for anatomical versus non-anatomical,as well as the role of laparoscopic approach,was overviewed.The literature review suggests that partial hepatectomy for HCC should be considered in the context of multi-disciplinary evaluation of cirrhotic patients.Scientific research on HCC has moved,in recent years,from surgical therapy toward non-surgical approaches and most of the literature regarding topics debated in the present review is represented by observational studies,whereas very few well-designed randomized controlled trials are currently available;thus,no robust recommendations can be derived.

Role of gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma after locoregional treatment

Locoregional treatments,as alternatives to surgery,play a key role in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Liver magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)enables a multiparametric assessment,going beyond the traditional dynamic computed tomography approach.Moreover,the use of hepatobiliary agents can improve diagnostic accuracy and are becoming important in the diagnosis and follow-up of HCC.However,the main challenge is to quickly identify classical responses to loco-regional treatments in order to determine the most suitable management strategy for each patient.The aim of this review is to provide a summary of the most common and uncommon liver MRI findings in patients who underwent loco-regional treatments for HCC,with a special focus on ablative therapies(radiofrequency,microwaves and cryoablation),transarterial chemoembolization,trans-arterial radio-embolization and stereotactic ablative radiotherapy techniques,considering the usefulness of gadoxetate disodium(Gd-EOB-DTPA)contrast agent.

Successful endoscopic treatment of an intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct

We present a case of a 76-year-old man with right upper quadrant abdominal pain and weight loss,who was found to have an intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct(IPNB)of the pancreaticobiliary subtype,deemed curatively resectable.The patient declined surgery and opted for endoscopic therapy.He underwent two sessions of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)-guided radiofrequency ablation(RFA).Ten months later,no evidence of recurrence was identified on repeat ERCP.To our knowledge,this is the first reported case of successful use of RFA as a primary treatment modality for resectable IPNB.

Minimally invasive image-guided therapy of primary and metastatic pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a challenging malignancy with limited treatment options and poor life expectancy.The only curative option is surgical resection,but only 15%-20%of patients are resectable at presentation because more than 50%of patients has distant metastasis at diagnosis and the rest of them has locally advanced pancreatic cancer(LAPC).The standard of care first line treatment for LAPC patients is chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy.Recent developments in minimally invasive ablative techniques may add to the treatment armamentarium of LAPC.There are increasing number of studies evaluating these novel ablative techniques,including radiofrequency ablation,microwave ablation,cryoablation and irreversible electroporation.Most studies which included pancreatic tumor ablation,demonstrated improved overall survival in LAPC patients.However,the exact protocols are yet to set up to which stage of the treatment algorithm ablative techniques can be added and in what kind of treatment combinations.Patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer has dismal prognosis with 5-year survival is only 3%.The most common metastatic site is the liver as 90%of pancreatic cancer patients develop liver metastasis.Chemotherapy is the primary treatment option for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.However,when the tumor is not responding to chemotherapy or severe drug toxicity develops,locoregional liver-directed therapies can provide an opportunity to control intrahepatic disease progression and improve survival in selected patients.During the last decade new therapeutic options arose with the advancement of minimally invasive technologies to treat pancreatic cancer patients.These new therapies have been a topic of increasing interest due to the severe prognostic implications of locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer and the low comorbid risk of these procedures.This review summarizes new ablative options for patients with LAPC and percutaneous liver-directed therapies for patients with liver-dominant metastatic disease.