Treatment of Primary Liver Tumors and Liver Metastases, Part 2: Non-Nuclear Medicine Techniques

Interventional Oncology: 2024 Update

Interventional Oncology (IO) stands at the forefront of transformative cancer care, leveraging advanced imaging technologies and innovative interventions. This narrative review explores recent developments within IO, highlighting its potential impact facilitated by artificial intelligence (AI), personalized medicine and imaging innovations. The integration of AI in IO holds promise for accelerating tumour detection and characterization, guiding treatment strategies and refining predictive models. Imaging modalities, including functional MRI, PET and cone beam CT are reshaping imaging and precision. Navigation, fusion imaging, augmented reality and robotics have the potential to revolutionize procedural guidance and offer unparalleled accuracy. New developments are observed in embolization and ablative therapies. The pivotal role of genomics in treatment planning, targeted therapies and biomarkers for treatment response prediction underscore the personalization of IO. Quality of life assessment, minimizing side effects and long-term survivorship care emphasize patient-centred outcomes after IO treatment. The evolving landscape of IO training programs, simulation technologies and workforce competence ensures the field's adaptability. Despite barriers to adoption, synergy between interventional radiologists' proficiency and technological advancements hold promise in cancer care.

Percutanous Electrochemotherapy (ECT) in Primary and Secondary Liver Malignancies: A Systematic Review

The aim of the study was to analyse papers describing the use of Electrochemotherapy (ECT) in local treatment of primary and secondary liver tumours located at different sites and with different histologies. Other Local Ablative Therapies (LAT) are also discussed. Analyses of these papers demonstrate that ECT use is safe and effective in lesions of large size, independently of the histology of the treated lesions. ECT performed better than other thermal ablation techniques in lesions > 6 cm in size and can be safely used to treat lesions distant, close, or adjacent to vital structures. ECT spares vessel and bile ducts, is repeatable, and can be performed between chemotherapeutic cycles. ECT can fill the gap in local ablative therapies due to being lesions too large or localized in highly challenging anatomical sites.

Accuracy of a CBCT-based virtual injection software for vessel detection during hepatic arterial embolization

PURPOSE

To assess the accuracy, sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV) and interobserver agreement of a virtual injection (VI) software that simulates selective arterial injection from nonselective cone-beam CT (CBCT) arteriography.

METHODS

From March 2019 to May 2020, 20 consecutive patients in whom a nonselective injected CBCT and a selective CT angiography (CTA) were completed in the same procedure, were retrospectively included. The position of the microcatheter tip used for selective CTA injection was identified. The VI was simulated from the exact same point on the nonselective CBCT and the two volumes were merged. VI was compared to the real injection on the selective CTA. Three interventional radiologists evaluated the accuracy using a 6-point scale (Perfect; Good; Fair; Incorrect Origin; False Negative; Non existing). Sensitivity, PPV, and Fleiss' kappa were calculated. Numerical variables were presented as means ± standard deviations.

RESULTS

Twenty procedures and 195 vessel segments were analyzed. Most vessels were 4th order (57/195; 29%) and 5th order (96/195; 49%). VI was classified as perfect to good in 96.8% ± 1.4 of 1st-3rd order arteries and in 83.4% ± 0.4 of 4th-5th order arteries. Interobserver agreement was substantial (Fleiss' kappa = 0.79; 95% confidence interval = 0.73-0.84, P < 0.01). False negatives were reported with a mean of 9.4% ± 0.3. Average sensitivity was 90.6% ± 0.3 and average PPV was 92.7% ± 0.02. Fourteen false positives were noted.

CONCLUSION

CBCT-based VI software accurately simulated distal injections in the liver with high sensitivity and a substantial interobserver agreement.

Practice and prospects for PET/CT guided interventions

During the past 10 years, performing real-time molecular imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) in combination with computed tomography (CT) during interventional procedures has undergone rapid development. Keeping in mind the interest of the nuclear medicine readers, an update is provided of the current workflows using real-time PET/CT in percutaneous biopsies and tumor ablations. The clinical utility of PET/CT guided biopsies in cancer patients with lung, liver, lymphoma, and bone tumors are reviewed. Several technological developments, including the introduction of new PET tracers and robotic arms as well as opportunities provided through acquiring radioactive biopsy specimens are briefly reviewed.

Modern therapeutic approaches for the treatment of malignant liver tumours

Malignant liver tumours include a wide range of primary and secondary tumours. Although surgery remains the mainstay of curative treatment, modern therapies integrate a variety of neoadjuvant and adjuvant strategies and have achieved dramatic improvements in survival. Extensive tumour loads, which have traditionally been considered unresectable, are now amenable to curative treatment through systemic conversion chemotherapies followed by a variety of interventions such as augmentation of the healthy liver through portal vein occlusion, staged surgeries or ablation modalities. Liver transplantation is established in selected patients with hepatocellular carcinoma but is now emerging as a promising option in many other types of tumour such as perihilar cholangiocarcinomas, neuroendocrine or colorectal liver metastases. In this Review, we summarize the available therapies for the treatment of malignant liver tumours, with an emphasis on surgical and ablative approaches and how they align with other therapies such as modern anticancer drugs or radiotherapy. In addition, we describe three complex case studies of patients with malignant liver tumours. Finally, we discuss the outlook for future treatment, including personalized approaches based on molecular tumour subtyping, response to targeted drugs, novel biomarkers and precision surgery adapted to the specific tumour.

Percutaneous image-guided therapies of primary liver tumors: Techniques and outcomes

Embolization and percutaneous ablations became well-established therapeutic options for hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). All are performed under minimally invasive conditions using imaging guidance. Selection of a technique over another follows guidelines but also patient's status and availability of the techniques. The aim of this review is to present these techniques performed in routine to treat HCC and to report the outcomes.