Abdominal Rash after Transarterial Chemoembolization via the Right Inferior Phrenic Artery

Prophylactic topically applied ice to prevent cutaneous complications of nontarget chemoembolization and radioembolization

Cutaneous complications can result from nontarget deposition during transcatheter arterial chemoembolization or radioembolization. Liver tumors may receive blood supply from parasitized extrahepatic arteries (EHAs) that also perfuse skin or from hepatic arteries located near the origin of the falciform artery (FA), which perfuses the anterior abdominal wall. To vasoconstrict cutaneous vasculature and prevent nontarget deposition, ice packs were topically applied to at-risk skin in nine chemoembolization treatments performed via 14 parasitized EHAs, seven chemoembolization treatments near the FA origin, and five radioembolization treatments in cases in which the FA could not be prophylactically coil-embolized. No postprocedural cutaneous complications were encountered.

Safety profile of sequential transcatheter chemoembolization with DC Bead™: results of 237 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients

INTRODUCTION

Complications of chemoembolization performed with DC Bead(™) loaded with doxorubicin (DEBDOX) of diameters 100-300 μm and 300-500 μm are presented in this paper. These diameters are currently the smallest available in drug-eluting technology.

METHODS

Included are 237 patients who were treated with sequential DEBDOX with doxorubicin loaded at 37.5 mg/ml of DC Bead. The National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 3.0) were used to categorize complications.

RESULTS

Thirty-day mortality was 1.26% (3/237). Incidence of grade 5 complications was 1.26% (3/237). Overall, grade 4 complications resulted in 5.48% (13/237) (irreversible liver failure, cholecystitis). Grade 2 liver function deterioration developed in 10 patients (4.2%). Cholecystitis/grade 2 and 4 incidents were observed in 3.6-5.06% across sessions (overall 13 patients; 5.48%). Postembolization Syndrome (PES) grade 1 or 2 was observed in up to 86.5%; however, grade 2 was observed in 25-42.19% across treatments. Pleural effusion was seen in eight patients (overall 3.37%; grade 1 in 1.8-3.7% across treatments; grade 3 in 0.42%). Grade 1 procedure-related laboratory pancreatitis was seen in 0.45%, and grade 2 gastrointestinal bleeding was seen in 0.84%. Procedure-associated skin erythema/grade 1 was seen in 0.84%. There was no correlation of liver failure or transient liver function deterioration with the diameter of the beads (p = 0.25-0.37 and p = 0.14-0.89, respectively). Stratifying with the diameter of the beads correlation values was: for cholecystitis (p = 0.11-0.96 across treatments), PES (p = 0.35-0.83), temporary/grade 1 elevation of liver enzymes (p = 0.002-0.0001), and bilirubin (p = 0.04-0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

DEBDOX chemoembolization is safe and small calibres do not result in increased complication rates compared with results of series using larger diameters of beads.

The left inferior phrenic artery arising from left hepatic artery or left gastric artery: radiological and anatomical correlation in clinical cases and cadaver dissection

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study is to assess angiographic and CT appearance of left inferior phrenic artery (LIPA) arising from left hepatic or left gastric artery and to recognize its specific anatomical location with the help of cadaver dissection.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 761 abdominal angiographies and found 13 patients (1.7%) with LIPA arising from left hepatic or left gastric artery. We classified those origins and assessed radiological features. We also presented a cadaver dissection to identify anatomical location of LIPA arising from left hepatic artery.

RESULTS

The origin of the LIPA was classified as follows: (a) left hepatic artery: four, (b) accessory left gastric artery: one, (c) accessory left hepatic artery: three, and (d) left gastric artery: five patients. The proximal portion was located in gastrohepatic ligament and its distal portion was located in front of esophageal hiatus. In a cadaver dissection, the proximal portion ascends along ligamentum venosum and distal portion courses along superior aspect of left hemi diaphragm in front of esophagus.

CONCLUSION

The LIPA rarely arises from left hepatic or left gastric artery. The proximal portion was located in gastrohepatic ligament and the distal portion runs in front of the esophageal hiatus.