Resection of metachronous adrenal metastasis after liver resection and transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma

Case report: 65-year-old man with metachronous left sided adrenal metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Due to therapeutic advances and improvements in follow-up care, the diagnosis and treatment of extrahepatic metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] have gained clinical significance. However, adrenal gland metastases of HCC remain a rare clinical encounter. Several systemic and local treatment options are discussed in current literature. Adrenalectomy in cases of isolated adrenal metastases with well-controlled intrahepatic lesions has been shown to benefit patients in case series.

PRESENTATION OF THE CASE

This 65-year-old patient presented with suspected metachronous left sided adrenal metastasis seven years after bisegmentectomy for HCC and after undergoing trans-arterial chemoembolization [TACE] for multifocal intrahepatic recurrences while being listed for liver transplantation "beyond Milan criteria". Adrenalectomy was suggested for histopathological confirmation of the suspected metastasis and re-consideration for liver transplant. The resection was performed laparoscopically and metastasis of HCC was confirmed in histopathological analysis. Postoperatively, the patient recovered quickly. However, the patient decided against re-listing for liver transplantation.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Current literature suggests, that minimally-invasive adrenalectomy should be considered in patients with no more than two extrahepatic lesions, a Child-Pugh-Score of less than A5, low alpha-fetoprotein [AFP] levels <100 ng/ml and size <3 cm. The oncological goal should be to achieve a tumor free extrahepatic situation with a potential oncological benefit.

CONCLUSION

Our patient presented as an ideal candidate for resection of the adrenal gland metastasis and could have been re-assessed postoperatively for liver transplantation. Still, more research is needed to improve patient-selection for metastasectomy in HCC.

Upper Limits of Downstaging for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Liver Transplantation

Simple Summary

Currently, most transplant centres worldwide accept patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent successful downstaging. Concurrently, the effectiveness of radiological and systemic therapies used for the downstaging of hepatocellular carcinoma are increasing. It is now more frequently observed that candidates for liver transplantation have an excellent response to downstaging, even if the baseline stage was well beyond the transplantable tumour. Downstaged patients have a higher risk of dropout from the waiting list and post-transplant recurrence if not transplanted in a short time. Since an increasing number of downstaged patients affects the waitlist dynamics, the definition of upper limits of downstaging is becoming a crucial issue. In this narrative review, we summarise current evidence on the downstaging of hepatocellular carcinoma for liver transplantation, including downstaging of patients with macrovascular invasion or extrahepatic metastasis at presentation and employment of the new systemic treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Abstract

In Europe and the United States, approximately 1100 and 1800 liver transplantations, respectively, are performed every year for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), compared with an annual incidence of 65,000 and 39,000 new cases, respectively. Because of organ shortages, proper patient selection is crucial, especially for those exceeding the Milan criteria. Downstaging is the reduction of the HCC burden to meet the eligibility criteria for liver transplantation. Many techniques can be used in downstaging, including ablation, chemoembolisation, radioembolisation and systemic treatments, with a reported success rate of 60–70%. In recent years, an increasing number of patient responders to downstaging procedures has been included in the waitlist, generally with a comparable five-year post-transplant survival but with a higher probability of dropout than HCC patients within the Milan criteria. While the Milan criteria are generally accepted as the endpoint of downstaging, the upper limits of tumour burden for downstaging HCC for liver transplantation are controversial. Very challenging situations involve HCC patients with large nodules, macrovascular invasion or even extrahepatic metastasis at baseline who respond to increasingly more effective downstaging procedures and who aspire to be placed on the waitlist for transplantation. This narrative review analyses the most important evidence available on cohorts subjected to “extended” downstaging, including HCC patients over the up-to-seven criteria and over the University of California San Francisco downstaging criteria. We also address surrogate markers of biological aggressiveness, such as alpha-fetoprotein and the response stability to locoregional treatments, which are very useful in selecting responders to downstaging procedures for waitlisting inclusion.

Outcomes of reduction hepatectomy combined with postoperative multidisciplinary therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The prognosis of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that is not indicated for curative hepatectomy remains poor, despite advances in the treatment of HCC, including the development of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The outcomes of reduction hepatectomy and multidisciplinary postoperative treatment for advanced HCC that is not indicated for curative hepatectomy, including those of recently treated cases, should be investigated.

AIM

To examine the outcomes of combination treatment with reduction hepatectomy and multidisciplinary postoperative treatment for advanced HCC that is not indicated for curative hepatectomy.

METHODS

Thirty cases of advanced HCC that were not indicated for curative hepatectomy, in which reduction hepatectomy was performed between 2000 and 2018 at the Department of Gastroenterological Surgery I, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, were divided into postoperative complete remission (POCR) (+) and POCR (-) groups, depending on whether POCR of all evaluable lesions was achieved through postoperative treatment. The cases in the POCR (-) group were subdivided into POCR (-) TKI (+) and POCR (-) TKI (-) groups, depending on whether TKIs were administered postoperatively.

RESULTS

The 5-year overall survival rate and mean survival time (MST) after reduction hepatectomy were 15.7% and 28.40 mo, respectively, for all cases; 37.5% and 56.55 mo, respectively, in the POCR (+) group; and 6.3% and 14.84 mo, respectively, in the POCR (-) group (P = 0.0041). Tumor size, major vascular invasion, and the number of tumors in the remnant liver after the reduction hepatectomy were also found to be related to survival outcomes. The number of tumors in the remnant liver was the only factor that differed significantly between the POCR (+) and POCR (-) groups, and POCR was achieved significantly more frequently when ≤ 3 tumors remained in the remnant liver (P = 0.0025). The MST was 33.52 mo in the POCR (-) TKI (+) group, which was superior to the MST of 10.74 mo seen in the POCR (-) TKI (-) group (P = 0.0473).

CONCLUSION

Reduction hepatectomy combined with multidisciplinary postoperative treatment for unresectable advanced HCC that was not indicated for curative hepatectomy was effective when POCR was achieved via multidisciplinary postoperative therapy. To achieve POCR, reduction hepatectomy should aim to ensure that ≤ 3 tumors remain in the remnant liver. Even in cases in which POCR is not achieved, combined treatment with reduction hepatectomy and multidisciplinary therapy can improve survival outcomes when TKIs are administered.

Aggressive surgical approach in patients with adrenal-only metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma enables higher survival rates than standard systemic therapy

BACKGROUND

Although guidelines recommend systemic therapy even in patients with limited extrahepatic metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a few recent studies suggested a potential benefit for resection of extrahepatic metastases. However, the benefit of adrenal resection (AR) for adrenal-only metastases (AOM) from HCC was not proved yet. This is the first study to compare long-term outcomes of AR to those of sorafenib in patients with AOM from HCC.

METHODS

The patients with adrenal metastases (AM) from HCC were identified from the electronic records of the institution between January 2002 and December 2018. Those who presented AM and other sites of extrahepatic disease were excluded. Furthermore, the patients with AOM who received other therapies than AR or sorafenib were excluded.

RESULTS

A total of 34 patients with AM from HCC were treated. Out of these, 22 patients had AOM, 6 receiving other treatment than AR or sorafenib. Eventually, 8 patients with AOM underwent AR (AR group), while 8 patients were treated with sorafenib (SOR group). The baseline characteristics of the two groups were not significantly different in terms of age, sex, number and size of the primary tumor, timing of AM diagnosis, Child-Pugh and ECOG status. After a median follow-up of 15.5 months, in the AR group, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates (85.7%, 42.9%, and 0%, respectively) were significantly higher than those achieved in the SOR group (62.5%, 0% and 0% at 1-, 3- and 5-year, respectively) (P = 0.009). The median progression-free survival after AR (14 months) was significantly longer than that after sorafenib therapy (6 months, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with AOM from HCC, AR was associated with significantly higher overall and progression-free survival rates than systemic therapy with sorafenib. These results could represent a starting-point for future phase II/III clinical trials.

Survival After Adrenalectomy for Metastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A 25-year Institutional Experience

Background

Extrahepatic manifestation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rare and primarily affects lung, lymph nodes and bone. Metastases to the adrenal glands are relatively infrequent. This 25-year institutional experience aimed for an analysis of factors influencing survival in patients undergoing surgery for HCC adrenal metastasis.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of the institutional database of the Clinic for General-, Visceral- and Transplantation Surgery of the University Medical Center Mainz, Germany, was performed. Patients who underwent surgery for HCC adrenal metastases from January 1995 to June 2020 were included. Pre-, peri- and postoperative factors with potential influence on survival were assessed.

Results

In 16 patients (14 males, two females), one bilateral and 15 unilateral adrenalectomies were performed (13 metachronous, three synchronous). Thirteen operations were carried out via laparotomy, and three adrenalectomies were minimally invasive (two laparoscopic, one retroperitoneoscopic). Median overall survival (after HCC diagnosis) was 35 months, range: 5–198. Median post-resection survival (after adrenalectomy) was 15 months, range: 0–75. Overall survival was longer in patients with the primary HCC treatment being liver transplantation (median 66 months) or liver resection (median 51 months), compared to only palliative intended treatment of the primary with chemotherapy (median 35 months) or local ablation (median 23 months).

Conclusions

Surgery is a feasible treatment option for patients with adrenal metastases originating from HCC. In patients who underwent adrenalectomy for HCC adrenal metastasis, overall survival was superior, if primary HCC treatment was potentially curative (liver transplantation or resection).

Simultaneous renal clear cell carcinoma and primary clear cell carcinoma of the liver: A case report

RATIONALE

Double primary clear cell carcinomas of the liver (PCCCL) and kidney are extremely rare; moreover, there have been no reported cases of adrenal metastasis from primary clear cell tumors of the liver.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 47-year-old male patient was admitted to our clinic with space-occupying lesions in the left kidney and liver during a regular medical examination.

DIAGNOSES

The tumors in the kidney and liver were diagnosed as primary clear cell carcinoma by histopathological examination.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient subsequently underwent nephron-sparing surgery of the left kidney and radical partial excision of the right liver lobe by laparoscopic surgery. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) was performed for the patient 2 weeks after tumor resection. One month after the operation, the patient started adjuvant therapy with sorafenib (400 mg twice per day orally). However, follow-up CT imaging revealed a solid mass measuring 1.9 × 2.0 × 2.0 cm in the right adrenal gland at 2 months postoperatively, and then the patient underwent radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the right adrenal tumor.

OUTCOMES

The patient remained cancer free for 2 years following the diagnosis despite early right adrenal metastasis.

LESSONS

Hepatocyte immunostaining is sufficient for the diagnosis of PCCCL.

Adrenalectomy for Bilateral Metachronous Adrenal Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Liver Transplant: A Case Report

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fifth most common cancer in the world and the third leading cause of cancer-related death. It is currently one of the leading indications for liver transplant, with selected 5-year survival rates after liver transplant of about 70%. Despite excellent results of liver transplant for hepatocellular carcinoma, a number of patients develop metastases after transplant, and multifocal metastatic disease is the most frequent cause of death. In a large autopsy series of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, adrenal glands were the third most common site of extrahepatic metastasis after lungs and bones. However, isolated metastatic disease in the adrenal glands is rare, and isolated metachronous bilateral metastasis is an even rarer occurrence. Only few reports have been published of metachronous bilateral metastasis of hepatocellular carinoma after liver transplant treated with bilateral adrenalectomy. We describe a case of a 56-year-old man who underwent liver transplant for hepatocellular carcinoma in a cirrhotic liver. Two years after liver tranplant, regular follow-up revealed metastatic disease in the left adrenal gland. Preoperative imaging showed no other metastasis, and he underwent an uneventful left adrenalectomy. A year after surgery, he presented with right flank pain and tenderness. Imaging showed hemorrhage and tumor involvement of the right adrenal gland, and he underwent right adrenalectomy. Two years after surgery, he is alive and well with no signs of disease recurrence. Apparently, in the absence of intrahepatic or other metastases, bilateral metachronous recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver tranplant can be a good surgical indication with acceptable long-term survival.

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of adrenal metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma: a single-center experience

Background

The prognosis of adrenal metastases (AM) from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with surgical contraindication was poor. This study evaluated the feasibility, safety and treatment efficacy of percutaneous ultrasound (US)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the local treatment of AM originated from HCC.

Methods

A retrospective study was carried out on 22 patients (21 male and 1 female, mean age, 53.0 ± 13.0 years) who had single AM (mean diameter, 4.0 ± 1.8 cm, range, 1.7–8.0 cm) originated from HCC and received US-guided percutaneous RFA at our institution. The diagnosis was established on typical radiologic findings. The primary technical success was defined as the tumour being completely ablated in the first RFA session. The secondary technical success was defined as tumour residual left from the first ablation was completely ablated by a second ablation session. Local tumour progression (LTP) and overall survival (OS) were estimated by using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Results

A total of 25 ablation sessions were performed. The primary technical success and the secondary technical success were 77.3% (17 of 22) and 86.4% (19 of 22), respectively, with the major complication rate at 4.5% (1 of 22). The median follow-up period after RFA was 10 months (3–55 months). During the follow-up period, five patients were detected LTP. The LTP at 3, 6, and 12 months were 15.8, 26.3, and 26.3%, respectively. Nine patients died of distant extra-adrenal metastases and another five of liver failure due to HCC. The OS at 6, 12, 24 months after RFA for AM were at 79.7, 52.6, and 32.9%, respectively.

Conclusion

Percutaneous US-guided RFA in the treatment of AM originated from HCC is feasible, safe and effective.

Adrenal metastasis in sequentially developed combined hepatocellular carcinoma-cholangiocarcinoma: A case report

The incidence of combined hepatocellular carcinoma-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC) in a single patient accounts for only 0.4 to 14% of all primary liver cancer. However, the prognosis of its intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) component is poor. We experienced a unique case of a sequentially developed cHCC-CC with adrenal metastasis as the primary presentation and a hidden primary hepatocellular carcinoma. A 65-year-old female with a history of jaundice and abdominal discomfort was diagnosed with S4 ICC measuring 5 cm in diameter, and characterized histologically as papillary adenocarcinoma with intraductal growth, but without any evidence of malignant hepatocyte. S4 segmentectomy with hepaticojejunostomy revealed no additional masses. A follow-up CT scan 3 months after surgery showed a right adrenal mass with markedly increased serum AFP (4950 ng/mL), which was treated with right adrenalectomy. Histopathology revealed a metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma testing positive for AFP, glypican-3, and hepatocytes, but negative for CD-10, inhibin-α, EMA, S-100, and cytokeratin-7. Serum AFP level immediately plummeted to 4.1 ng/mL upon adrenal mass removal. A recurrent S7 liver mass was suspected 1 year later with serum AFP value of 7.6 ng/mL, and characteristic CT imaging of HCC. TACE was performed with good response. Adrenal metastasis may manifest as the primary focus of hepatocellular carcinoma in sequentially developed cHCC-CC patients with hidden primary HCC. cHCC-CC should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma with elevated AFP.

Adrenal Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients following Liver Resection or Liver Transplantation: Experience from a Tertiary Referral Center

Introduction

Adrenal metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare entity and can be treated by resection, local ablative therapy, or systemic therapy. Unfortunately, data about treatment outcome, especially in liver transplant recipients, are rare.

Patients and Methods

From 2005 to 2015, 990 liver resections and 303 liver transplantations because of HCC were performed at our clinic. We retrospectively analyzed treatment outcome of the patients with metachronous adrenal metastasis of HCC, who received either resection, local ablation, or surveillance only.

Results

10 patients were identified (0.8%). 7 patients received liver transplantation for primary HCC therapy, 3 liver resection, and 1 a local ablative therapy. 8 patients underwent adrenalectomy (one via retroperitoneoscopy), one was treated with local ablation, and one had surveillance only. Seven out of eight patients had no surgical complications and one experienced a pancreatic fistula, treated conservatively. 37.5% of the resected patients had recurrence 1 year after adrenalectomy and 75% after 2 years. The mean survival time after primary diagnosis of HCC was 96.6±22.4 months. After adrenalectomy, the mean survival time was 112.4±25.2 months. The mean time until tumor recurrence was 13.2±3.8 in the total cohort and 15.8±3.8 months in patients after adrenalectomy. The estimated overall survival after adrenalectomy was 77.2±17.4 months.

Conclusion

Metachronous adrenal metastasis occured in less than 1% of HCC patients. Adrenalectomy is a safe procedure and leads to acceptable survival rates even after liver transplantion. Therefore, it should be performed whenever the primary tumor is well controlled and the patient is in adequate physical condition.

Management of very late peritoneal metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma 10 years after liver transplantation: Lessons from two cases

Recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) 10 years after liver transplantation (LT) is very rare. Here, we present two cases of peritoneal metastasis of HCC that occurred 10 and 12 years after LT. A 77-year-old male who had undergone deceased-donor LT 10 years earlier showed slow progressive elevation of tumor marker levels over 6 months. Close observation with frequent imaging studies and monthly tumor marker analyses revealed a solitary peritoneal seeding mass. Imaging studies revealed that the mass was highly likely to be metastatic HCC. After excision of the mass, all tumor markers returned to the normal range. Over past 10 months, the patient has received everolimus monotherapy and half-dose sorafenib, and has shown no evidence of HCC recurrence. In the second case, marginally elevated tumor marker levels were detected in a 65-year-old male who had undergone living-donor LT 12 years earlier. After observation for 3 months, follow-up studies revealed a peritoneal seeding mass. Thorough imaging studies revealed that the mass was highly likely to be metastatic HCC. Two mass lesions were excised, and the patient was administered low-dose calcineruin inhibitor, sirolimus, and full-dose sorafenib. Subsequently, the tumor marker levels increased again and growth of new peritoneal seeding nodules was observed; therefore, sorafenib was stopped after 2 years of administration. During 6 years since HCC recurrence diagnosis, the patient has experienced slowly growing tumors, but has been doing well. For very late peritoneal metastasis of HCC, the therapeutic modalities include surgical resection if possible, everolimus monotherapy, and long-term use of sorafenib.

Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Right Adrenal Gland 11 Years After Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: a Case Report and Literature Review

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary malignancy of the liver, and extrahepatic metastases are typically found during disease progression. The incidence of adrenal metastasis (AM) from HCC in autopsy series ranges from 4.6 to 12.5%, and it is the second most common site of metastasis after the lungs. To date, there have been few reports of patients who underwent adrenalectomy for isolated AM from HCC after liver transplantation (LT). A woman aged 55 years was referred to our clinic for the evaluation of a right adrenal mass that was detected by abdominal ultrasonography at another center. She had undergone liver transplantation secondary to HCC and acute liver failure due to cryptogenic liver cirrhosis 138 months previously. She had been followed up for 5 years following LT after which she declined to continue with further follow-up. After radiologic and biochemical evaluation, she underwent adrenalectomy and the histopathologic examination revealed a 10 × 8 × 7-cm adrenal mass, which was considered to be an isolated AM from HCC. To our knowledge, this is the first case of isolated AM from HCC in the literature that was diagnosed 138 months after liver transplantation. Isolated AM from HCC after LT is rare and might be detected a long time after LT. Curative surgical resection of isolated metachronous AM from HCC in the absence of disseminated disease might provide for an acceptable disease-free period after adrenalectomy.

Adrenalectomy for solitary metastasis of Hepatocellular carcinoma post liver transplantation: Case report and literature review

Liver transplantation (LT) is the treatment of choice for localized hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with cirrhosis. Extra hepatic metastasis is the most common cause of death in these patients. There is very little evidence regarding the natural history and treatment options for patients developing HCC recurrence after LT. Surgical resection offers a unique opportunity for solitary metastasis. We report a 61 year old male with solitary right adrenal metastasis 15 months post LT which was managed with open adrenalectomy. The patient is alive and disease free 24 months after the surgery. The case, histo-pathological findings and literature review is discussed.

Percutaneous treatment of extrahepatic recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma

PURPOSE

The goal of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the results of imaging-guided percutaneous ablation in patients with controlled intrahepatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with limited extrahepatic disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eleven patients with limited extrahepatic disease and/or potential short-term clinical manifestations with controlled primary intrahepatic HCC were included into the study. There were nine men and two women, with a mean age of 67.4 years±10.2 (SD) (range: 54-85 years). All patients had extrahepatic disease treated by either radiofrequency ablation or electroporation. Extrahepatic disease consisted of lymph node metastases (5 patients), tumor seeding along a needle tract (3 patients), adrenal gland metastasis, bone metastasis and pulmonary metastasis (one patient each).

RESULTS

Response to treatment was complete in 7/11 patients (64%). The mean survival time after treatment was 18.8±12.7 (SD) months (median, 16 months; range: 4-42 months). No severe complications associated with percutaneous treatment were observed.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that imaging-guided percutaneous ablation techniques should be considered as a useful option for the treatment of extrahepatic disease in patients with HCC. Further studies are needed, however to fully determine the potential role of these techniques in this elective application.