Hepatocellular carcinoma with atrial tumor thrombus presenting as myxoma: Resection under cardiopulmonary bypass

Fifteen-year survival of a hepatocellular carcinoma extending into the right atrium treated by surgical resection with the heart-first approach under cardiopulmonary bypass: a case report and review of the literature

Hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava extending into the right atrium is rare and associated with poor prognosis in most cases. Although liver resection with thrombectomy is the only curative treatment, there is no consensus on the therapeutic options for managing these rare cases. The patient was a 67-year-old man with hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombus in the right atrium. In February 2003, cavo-atrial thrombectomy was first performed using cardiopulmonary bypass with heparinization and cardiac arrest. After thrombectomy, right hepatectomy was performed. The total operative time was 10 h 48 min. Moreover, the total blood loss was 7267 mL. The patient recovered uneventfully except for right pleural effusion. He was cancer-free for approximately 9 years. A new lesion in the remnant liver was detected in March 2012. He underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, followed by sequential administration of sorafenib and sunitinib. Radiation therapy was also administered. Eventually, the patient expired 6 years after recurrence. Cavo-atrial thrombectomy under cardiopulmonary bypass prior to hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombus in the right atrium could be performed safely. Aggressive surgery with the heart-first approach and multidisciplinary treatments even after recurrence led to long-term survival.

Unusual sites of hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis: Case report

Hepatocellular carcinoma is an increasingly frequent cause of cancer-related death. The majority of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma are asymptomatic. In rare cases, patients may present with symptoms of extrahepatic metastases. Early identification can lead to timely treatment and prevent poor outcomes. We report three cases of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with unusual sites of metastasis, including clival, mandible, and cardiac involvement.

Clinical outcome and toxicity of radiotherapy for inferior vena cava tumor thrombus in HCC patients: A retrospective study

ABSTRACT

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) involving the inferior vena cava rarely occurs, but its prognosis is extremely poor, with no established treatment to date. This study aimed to analyze the clinical outcome and toxicity of radiotherapy (RT) targeting inferior vena cava tumor thrombus (IVCTT) in HCC patients.From November 2011 to July 2020, medical record of 19 HCC patients who were treated with RT for IVCTT was retrospectively reviewed. RT was delivered using 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, and stereotactic body radiation therapy. The median radiation dose was 50 Gy (range, 45-55.8 Gy) for intensity-modulated radiation therapy and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy. Stereotactic body radiation therapy was performed in 5 patients, for a total of 32 Gy in 4 fractions.The median follow-up duration was 8.1 months (range, 3.3-26.5 months). The median overall survival was 9.4 months (range, 3.7-26.5 months), and the 1-year overall survival rate was 37.1%. Eight of 19 patients (42.1%) had extrahepatic metastasis at the start of RT. Six of 11 patients (54.5%) who did not have extrahepatic metastasis at the start of RT showed extrahepatic metastasis after RT. The major cause of death was progression of extrahepatic metastasis (11 patients, 57.9%). The overall response rate of IVCTT for RT was 84.2%, and the local control rate at the time of the last follow-up was 89.4%. After RT, the most common first progression site was the lungs (9 patients, 47.4%). Most toxicities were grade 1 to 2 gastrointestinal (26.3%) and liver enzyme elevation (68.4%). Three patients occurred pulmonary embolism after RT later than 5 months after.RT is a feasible and safe local therapy for IVCTT, with favorable tumor control and acceptable toxicity. Extrahepatic metastasis is the major progression pattern and a leading cause of death in patients treated with RT. The combination of effective systemic therapy with RT may have to be considered.