Hepatic Imaging for Metastatic Disease

The Prevalence and associated Factors for Liver Metastases, Development and Prognosis in newly diagnosed Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A large Population-Based Study from the SEER Database

Background: Primary Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC), a malignant gynecologic disease, is considered one of the leading causes of mortality in women. The development of Liver Metastases (LM) in women with primary ovarian cancer commonly results in a poorer prognosis. This retrospective population-based study aims to measure the prevalence, prognostic factors, and associated risk factors for epithelial ovarian cancer patients with liver metastases (EOCLM). Materials and Methods: The current study cohort of patients based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database identified with primary ovarian cancer between the years 2010 and 2016. A chi-square test was employed to compare Metastatic differences among demographic and clinical factors. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis models were used to predict related prognostic factors for LM development. 7-year Kaplan-Meier curves were applied to compare the survival patterns of patients with and without LM. The Multivariable Cox regression model was used to estimate potential risk factors associated with LM related deaths. Results: 33895 eligible primary EOC patients were identified. Among them 2635 (7.77%) patients were initially diagnosed with de novo LM, and 31260 (92.23%) without metastases disease to any site. Non-serous histology type; Malignant Brenner Carcinoma, NOS (OR 1.94; CI: 1.39-2.71; P<0.001), T3/T1 stage (OR 5.65; CI: 3.87-8.24; P<0.001), N1/N0 stage (OR 1.67; CI: 1.43-4.95; P<0.001), grade; G3/G1 (OR 2.16; CI: 1.29-3.59, P<0.001), and cancer antigen-125; Elevated/Normal (OR 1.79; CI: 1.19-2.69, P<0.001) were significantly associated with LM occurrence. The median survival of EOC patients with LM was 12.0 (95% CI: 11.0-14.0; P<0.001) months. Multivariable cox regression showed being unmarried (HR 1.16; CI: 1.04-1.30; P=0.001), non-serous histology types, Mucinous (HR 2.38; CI: 1.82-3.12; P<0.001), Clear cell (HR 1.83; CI: 1.32-2.55; P<0.001), Malignant Brenner Carcinoma, NOS (HR 1.44; CI:1.23-1.66; P<0.001), Carcinosarcoma NOS, (HR 1.44; CI: 1.11-1.88; P<0.001) and radiotherapy (HR 1.52; CI: 1.12-2.06; P<0.001), were positively related to death. Chemotherapy (HR 0.30; CI: 1.12-2.06; P<0.001) and surgery (HR 0.34; CI: 0.29-0.39; P<0.001) were related with reduced rate of death. Conclusion: The retrospective cohort study showed that women with primary EOC had some high-risk factors associated with LM. LM can intensely decrease the survival of EOC patients. The findings of our research provided estimates for LM occurrence prediction and potential prognostic factors of EOC with de novo LM development. These findings can be useful for follow-up strategies, guidelines for screening, and treatment of EOCLM.

Liver Metastases in Newly Diagnosed Gastric Cancer: A Population-Based Study from SEER

Purpose: Population-based data on the proportion and prognosis of liver metastases at diagnosis of gastric cancer are currently lacking. Besides, the treatment of gastric cancer with liver metastases is still controversial now.

Methods: Patients with gastric cancer and liver metastases (GCLM) at the time of diagnosis in advanced gastric cancer were identified using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) database of the National Cancer Institute. Multivariable logistic and Cox regression were performed to identify predictors of the presence of GCLM at diagnosis and factors associated with all-cause mortality.

Results: We identified 3507 patients with gastric cancer and liver metastases at the time of diagnosis, representing 16.89% of the entire cohort and 44.12% of the subset with metastatic disease to any distant site. Among entire cohort, multivariable logistic regression identified thirteen factors (age, race, sex, original, tumor location, pathology grade, Lauren classification, T staging, N staging, tumor size, number of extrahepatic metastatic sites to bone, lung, and brain, insurance situation and smoking) as predictors of the presence of liver metastases at diagnosis. Median survival among the entire cohort with GCLM was 4.0 months (interquartile range: 1.0-10.0 mo). Patients receiving comprehensive therapy had longer median overall survival, of which the median survival was 12.0 months (interquartile range: 6.0-31.0 mo). Multivariable Cox model in SEER cohort confirmed nine factors (age, tumor location, Lauren classification, T staging, number of extrahepatic metastatic sites to bone, lung, and brain, surgery, chemotherapy, RSC and marital status) as independent predictors for overall survival.

Conclusions: The findings of this study provided population-based estimates of the proportion and prognosis for LM at time of GC diagnosis. These findings provide preventive guidelines for screening and treatment of LM in GC patients.

Positron emission tomography in malignancies of the liver, pancreas and biliary tract - indications and potential pitfalls

Abstract Malignancies of the hepato-pancreatico-biliary (HPB) system are relatively common and generally characterized by a dismal prognosis. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a functional imaging technique that has emerged as an important modality in oncological decision-making. The principal radiopharmaceutical in PET imaging is the glucose analog (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose, which is able to detect altered glucose metabolism in malignant tissue. PET is typically used in conjunction with computed tomography (CT), and previous studies have supported several uses of PET/CT in HPB malignancies, including staging, differential diagnostics and monitoring of treatment response and progress of disease. A review of PET/CT in the context of HPB malignancies will be presented, including indications and potential pitfalls.

Detection of liver metastases using gadoxetic-enhanced dynamic and 10- and 20-minute delayed phase MR imaging

PURPOSE

To assess the incremental value of hepatobiliary phase images in gadoxetate disodium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to compare diagnostic accuracy and lesion conspicuity on 10- and 20-minute delayed images for preoperative detection of hepatic metastases with subgroup analysis according to size and history of chemotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-six patients with 107 metastases who underwent surgery after gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI were evaluated. Four observers independently interpreted three sets: dynamic set comprising precontrast T1-, T2-weighted, and dynamic images; 10-minute set comprising dynamic set and 10-minute delayed; 20-minute set comprising 10-minute set and 20-minute delayed. Diagnostic accuracy was compared with subgroup analysis. Liver-to-lesion signal ratio (SR) was calculated using the region of interest method and compared.

RESULTS

Mean A(z) and sensitivities were significantly higher for 10- (A(z) = 0.894, sensitivity = 95.6%) and 20-minute (0.910, 97.2%) than dynamic set (0.813, 79.9%) (P < 0.001), with no significant difference between 10- and 20-minute sets (P = 0.140). In patients with small (≤1 cm) metastases and a history of chemotherapy, sensitivities were significantly higher with 10- (88.2%) and 20-minute (91.6%) sets than dynamic set (48.6%) (P < 0.001). SR was significantly higher for 10- and 20-minute delayed than precontrast and dynamic, with significantly higher SR on 20- than 10-minute delayed.

CONCLUSION

Regardless of size or prior chemotherapy, detection of hepatic metastases was significantly improved by adding hepatobiliary phase images without significant differences between 10- and 20-minute delayed.