Biochemical and Hematologic Changes after Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation of Liver Tumors: Experience in 83 Procedures

Comparison of dexmedetomidine vs. remifentanil combined with sevoflurane during radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Remifentanil is widely used for ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We determined whether dexmedetomidine could be an alternative to remifentanil for RFA of HCC under general anesthesia with sevoflurane.

METHODS

We prospectively randomized patients scheduled to undergo RFA for HCC to a dexmedetomidine (DEX) group or remifentanil (REMI) group (47 patients each). In the DEX group, a bolus infusion (0.4 μg kg^- 1) was started 15 min before anesthesia induction and continued at 0.2 μg kg^- 1 h^- 1 until 10 min before the end of surgery. In the REMI group, 3 μg kg^- 1 h^- 1 of remifentanil was administered from 15 min before anesthesia induction to the end of the surgery. The primary endpoint was postoperative pain intensity. Secondary endpoints included analgesic requirement, postoperative liver function, patient comfort, and hemodynamic changes. Group allocation was concealed from patients and data analysts but not from anesthesiologists.

RESULTS

Postoperative pain intensity, analgesic consumption, comfort, liver function, and time to emergence and extubation did not differ between the two groups. Heart rate, but not mean arterial pressure, was significantly lower in the DEX group than in the REMI group, at 1 min after intubation and from 30 min after the start of the surgery until anesthesia recovery. Sevoflurane concentration and dosage were significantly lower in the DEX group than in the REMI group.

CONCLUSION

During RFA for HCC, low-dose dexmedetomidine reduced the heart rate and need for inhalational anesthetics, without exacerbating postoperative discomfort or liver dysfunction. Although it did not exhibit outstanding advantages over remifentanil in terms of pain management, dexmedetomidine could be a safe alternative adjuvant for RFA under sevoflurane anesthesia.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-OPC-15006613 . Registered on 16 June 2015.

Feasibility of Percutaneous Intrahepatic Split by Microwave Ablation (PISA) After Portal Vein Embolization for Hypertrophy of Future Liver Remnant: The Radiological Stage-1 ALPPS

PURPOSE

To assess the feasibility of radiological stage-1 ALPPS, associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy, by combining portal vein embolization (PVE) with percutaneous intrahepatic split by ablation (PISA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three patients (mean age 65.0 ± 7.3 years) underwent PVE and PISA. PISA was performed 21 days after PVE by microwave ablation to create a continuous intrahepatic cutting plane. Abdominal CT examinations were performed before and after PVE and PISA. The future liver remnant (FLR) volume was calculated by semiautomatic segmentation, and increase was reported as a percentage of the pre-procedural volume. The FLR/body weight (FLR/BW) ratio was calculated; a ratio greater than 0.8% was considered sufficient for guaranteeing adequate liver function after surgery. The liver function before and after PISA was also evaluated by 99mTc-mebrofenin hepatobiliary scintigraphy. Patients' laboratory tests, performance status, ability to walk were assessed before and after PVE and PISA procedures.

RESULTS

No procedure-related complications were recorded. The FLR volume increase in each patient was 42.0, 33.1 and 30.4% within 21 days of PVE and 109.3, 68.1 and 71.7% within 10 days after PISA. The FLR/BW ratios were 0.76, 0.66, 0.63% and 1.13, 0.83, 0.83% after PVE and PISA procedures, respectively. Two patients underwent successful right hepatectomy; in one patient, despite 1.13% FLR/BW, surgery was not performed because of the absolute rejection of blood transfusion due to the patient's religious convictions.

CONCLUSION

Radiological stage-1 ALPPS is a feasible, minimally invasive option to be further investigated to become an effective alternative to surgical stage-1 ALPPS.

Percutaneous Image-Guided Cryoablation of Hepatic Tumors: Single-Center Experience With Intermediate to Long-Term Outcomes

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this article is to report our intermediate to long-term outcomes with image-guided percutaneous hepatic tumor cryoablation and to evaluate its technical success, technique efficacy, local tumor progression, and adverse event rate.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between 1998 and 2014, 299 hepatic tumors (243 metastases and 56 primary tumors; mean diameter, 2.5 cm; median diameter, 2.2 cm; range, 0.3-7.8 cm) in 186 patients (95 women; mean age, 60.9 years; range, 29-88 years) underwent cryoablation during 236 procedures using CT (n = 126), MRI (n = 100), or PET/CT (n = 10) guidance. Technical success, technique efficacy at 3 months, local tumor progression (mean follow-up, 2.5 years; range, 2 months to 14.6 years), and adverse event rates were calculated.

RESULTS

The technical success rate was 94.6% (279/295). The technique efficacy rate was 89.5% (231/258) and was greater for tumors smaller than 4 cm (93.4%; 213/228) than for larger tumors (60.0%; 18/30) (p < 0.0001). Local tumor progression occurred in 23.3% (60/258) of tumors and was significantly more common after the treatment of tumors 4 cm or larger (63.3%; 19/30) compared with smaller tumors (18.0%; 41/228) (p < 0.0001). Adverse events followed 33.8% (80/236) of procedures and were grade 3-5 in 10.6% (25/236) of cases. Grade 3 or greater adverse events more commonly followed the treatment of larger tumors (19.5%; 8/41) compared with smaller tumors (8.7%; 17/195) (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

Image-guided percutaneous cryoablation of hepatic tumors is efficacious; however, tumors smaller than 4 cm are more likely to be treated successfully and without an adverse event.

Liver Function Tests Following Irreversible Electroporation of Liver Tumors: Experience in 174 Procedures

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a relatively new ablation modality that uses electric currents to cause cell death. It is commonly used to treat primary and secondary liver tumors in patients with normal liver function and preexisting cirrhosis. Retrospective analysis of 205 procedures sought to evaluate changes in liver function after IRE. Liver function tests (LFTs) results before and after IRE were evaluated from 174 procedures in 124 patients. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase (ALKP), and total bilirubin levels were analyzed. The study was Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliant and institutional review board approved. Informed consent was waived. Changes in LFT results after IRE were compared with baseline and were followed up over time to see if they resolved. Changes were compared with volume of ablation. The greatest perturbations were in transaminase levels. The levels increased sharply within 24 hours after IRE in 129 (74.1%) procedures to extreme levels (more than 20 times the upper limit of normal in one-third of cases). Resolution occurred in 95% and was demonstrated to have occurred by a mean of approximately 10 weeks, many documented as early as 7 days after procedure. ALKP levels elevated in 10% procedures, was slower to increase, and was less likely to resolve. Total bilirubin level demonstrated 2 different patterns of elevation--early and late--and similar to ALKP, it was more likely to remain elevated. There was no increased risk in patients with cirrhosis or cholangiocarcinoma. There was no correlation of levels with volume of ablation. IRE results in significant abnormalities in LFT results, but in most of the cases, these are self-limiting, do not preclude treatment, and are similar to the changes seen after radiofrequency and cryoablation in the liver.

Alteration of laboratory findings after radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma: relationship to severity of the underlying liver disease and the ablation volume

BACKGROUND/AIMS

To investigate sequential changes in laboratory markers after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the relationship of these changes to the severity of the underlying liver disease.

METHODS

This retrospective analysis included 65 patients (44 males, 21 females) who underwent RFA of HCC. Hematologic and biochemical markers were assessed at the pre-RFA period and 1 day, 2-3 days, and 1-2 weeks after RFA. We classified the subjects into two groups: Child-Pugh A (n=41) and Child-Pugh B (n=24). The ablative margin volume (AMV) of each patient was measured. We analyzed the changes in laboratory profiles from the baseline, and investigated whether these laboratory changes were correlated with the AMV and the Child-Pugh classification.

RESULTS

Most of the laboratory values peaked at 2-3 days after RFA. AMV was significantly correlated with changes in WBC count, hemoglobin level, and serum total bilirubin level (Pearson's correlation coefficient, 0.324-0.453; P<0.05). The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level varied significantly over time (P=0.023).

CONCLUSIONS

Most of the measured laboratory markers changed from baseline, peaking at 2-3 days. The ALT level was the only parameter for which there was a significant difference after RFA between Child-Pugh A and B patients: it increased significantly more in the Child-Pugh A patients.

Thermal fixation of swine liver tissue after magnetic resonance-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation

The aim of this study was to investigate experimental conditions for efficient and controlled in vivo liver tissue ablation by magnetic resonance (MR)-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in a swine model, with the ultimate goal of improving clinical treatment outcome. Histological changes were examined both acutely (four animals) and 1 wk after treatment (five animals). Effects of acoustic power and multiple sonication cycles were investigated. There was good correlation between target size and observed ablation size by thermal dose calculation, post-procedural MR imaging and histopathology, when temperature at the focal point was kept below 90°C. Structural histopathology investigations revealed tissue thermal fixation in ablated regions. In the presence of cavitation, mechanical tissue destruction occurred, resulting in an ablation larger than the target. Complete extra-corporeal MR-guided HIFU ablation in the liver is feasible using high acoustic power. Nearby large vessels were preserved, which makes MR-guided HIFU promising for the ablation of liver tumors adjacent to large veins.

Percutaneous cryoablation of hepatic tumors adjacent to the gallbladder: assessment of safety and effectiveness

PURPOSE

To assess safety and effectiveness of percutaneous image-guided cryoablation of hepatic tumors adjacent to the gallbladder.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-one cryoablation procedures were performed to treat 19 hepatic tumors (mean size, 2.7 cm; range, 1.0-5.0 cm) adjacent to the gallbladder in 17 patients (11 male; mean age, 59.2 y; range, 40-82 y) under computed tomography (n = 15) or magnetic resonance imaging (n = 6) guidance in a retrospective study. All tumors (mean size, 2.67 cm; range, 1.0-5.0 cm) were within 1 cm (mean, 0.4 cm) of the gallbladder; seven (33%) were contiguous with the gallbladder. Primary outcomes included complication rate and severity and postprocedure gallbladder imaging findings. Secondary outcomes included technical success and technique effectiveness at 6 months.

RESULTS

Complications occurred in six of 21 procedures (29%); one (5%) was severe. Ice balls extended into the gallbladder lumen in 20 of 21 procedures (95%); no gallbladder-related complications occurred. The most common gallbladder imaging finding was mild, asymptomatic focal wall thickening after nine of 21 procedures (42%), which resolved on follow-up. Technical success was achieved in 19 of 21 sessions (90%). Six-month follow-up was available for 16 tumors; of these, all but two (87%) had no imaging evidence of local tumor progression.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous cryoablation of hepatic tumors adjacent to the gallbladder can be performed safely and successfully. Although postprocedural gallbladder changes are common, they are self-limited and clinically inconsequential, even when the ice ball extends into the gallbladder lumen.

Percutaneous treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis: a comparison of the safety of cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation

PURPOSE

To compare the safety of image-guided percutaneous cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective HIPAA-compliant study received institutional review board approval. Forty-two adult patients with cirrhosis underwent image-guided percutaneous ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma from 2003 to 2011. Twenty-five patients underwent 33 cryoablation procedures to treat 39 tumors, and 22 underwent 30 radiofrequency ablation procedures to treat 39 tumors. Five patients underwent both cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation procedures. Complication rates and severity per procedure were compared between the ablation groups. Potential confounding patient, procedure, and tumor-related variables were also compared. Statistical analyses included Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon rank sum, and Fisher's exact tests. Two-sided P-values <0.05 were considered significant.

RESULTS

The overall complication rates, 13 (39.4%) of 33 cryoablation procedures versus eight (26.7%) of 30 radiofrequency ablation procedures and severe/fatal complication rates, two (6.1%) of 33 cryoablation procedures versus one (3.3%) of 30 radiofrequency ablation procedures, were not significantly different between the ablation groups (both P=0.26). Severe complications included pneumothoraces requiring chest tube insertion during two cryoablation procedures. One death occurred within 90 days of a radiofrequency ablation procedure; all other complications were managed successfully.

CONCLUSION

No significant difference was seen in the overall safety of image-guided percutaneous cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis.

Thymoquinone inhibits cell proliferation through regulation of G1/S phase cell cycle transition in N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced experimental rat hepatocellular carcinoma

Dysregulated cell proliferation and tumorigenesis is frequently encountered in several cancers including hepatocellular carcinogenesis (HCC). Thus, agents that inhibit cell proliferation and restrain hepatic tumorigenesis through cell cycle regulation have a beneficial effect in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinogenesis. The present study was aimed to investigate the efficacy of thymoquinone (TQ), an active compound derived from the medicinal plant Nigella sativa, on N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) [0.01% in drinking water for 16 weeks]-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in experimental rats. After experimental period, the hepatic nodules, liver injury markers and tumor markers levels were substantially increased in NDEA induced liver tumors in rats. However, TQ (20mg/kg body weight) treatment greatly reduced liver injury markers and decreased tumor markers and prevented hepatic nodule formation and reduced tumor multiplicity in NDEA induced hepatic cancer bearing rats and this was evident from argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNORs) staining. Moreover, the uncontrolled cell proliferation was assessed by specific cell proliferative markers [proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki67] by immunofluorescence, immunoblot and analysis of mRNA expression. Simultaneously, we assessed the activity of TQ on G1/S phase cell cycle regulation with specific cell cycle proteins (p21(WAF1/CIP1), CDK4, Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E) by immunoprecipitation in experimental rats. Treatment with TQ significantly reduced the detrimental alterations by abrogating cell proliferation, which strongly induced G1/S arrest in cell cycle transition. In conclusion, our results suggest that TQ has a potent anti proliferative activity by regulating the G1/S phase cell cycle transition and exhibit a beneficial role in the treatment of HCC.