Biliary Tumor Thrombi Research Articles

Typing of biliary tumor thrombus influences the prognoses of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective:To establish a new classification of biliary tumor thrombus (BTT).Methods:Overall survival of patients with BTT was first used to determine whether it correlated with current hepatocellular carcinoma staging systems. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine factors affecting the overall survival (OS) to form the basis of our new classification for BTT.Results:All 6 international staging systems showed overlapping survival curves. Univariate followed by multivariate analyses showed that total bilirubin and intrahepatic/extrahepatic BTT were significant risk factors of OS. Based on these data, a new BTT classification was defined as: Type I: intrahepatic BTT; and Type II: extrahepatic BTT involving a common bile duct or common hepatic duct. Type I was further subdivided into type Ia: BTT involving a second-order intrahepatic duct or above, and type Ib: BTT involving a first-order intrahepatic duct. Type II was further subdivided into type IIa and type IIb using a cut-off total bilirubin (TB) > 300 μmol/L. The numbers (percentages) of patients with types I and II BTT were 69 (34.2%) and 133 (65.8%), respectively. The median OS of type I patients was significantly higher than that of type II patients (37.5 months vs. 23.2 months; P = 0.002). Using subgroup analyses, OS outcomes were significantly different between the subgroups of type IIb and type IIa, although there was no significant difference between the type Ia and type Ib subgroups (P = 0.07).Conclusions:A new BTT classification was established to predict prognoses of HCC patients with BTT who underwent liver resection.

Selective Chemoembolization of Caudate Lobe Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Anatomy and Procedural Techniques

Transarterial chemoembolization is the most common treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). However, when an HCC is located in the caudate lobe, many interventional radiologists are reluctant to perform chemoembolization and percutaneous ablation owing to the tumor's complex vascular supply and deep location. With the advent of C-arm CT, rendering the three-dimensional display of the hepatic artery and detecting the tumor-feeding vessels are possible and can help guide interventional radiologists to the tumor. The common origins of the caudate artery include the right hepatic artery, left hepatic artery, right anterior hepatic artery, and right posterior hepatic artery. The origins of the tumor-feeding arteries of a caudate lobe HCC can vary depending on the tumor's subsegmental location. Caudate lobe HCCs are commonly fed by multiple caudate arteries that are connected. In addition, extrahepatic collateral arteries frequently supply recurrent tumors in the caudate lobe. The caudate artery can supply portal vein thrombi or biliary tumor thrombi in patients with HCC. Several techniques such as preshaping the microcatheter or using the shepherd's hook technique are needed to catheterize the caudate artery in complex cases. Although uncommon, bile duct stricture is a serious complication following selective chemoembolization through the caudate artery. Identification and catheterization of the caudate artery have become possible in most patients by using C-arm CT and a fine microcatheter system, respectively. The authors review the anatomy of the caudate artery with C-arm CT and describe basic technical considerations in selective chemoembolization for caudate lobe HCCs. Unusual circumstances that require catheterization and techniques used for catheterizing the caudate artery are also described. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ©RSNA, 2019.

Surgical outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma with biliary tumor thrombus: a systematic review.

BackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with biliary tumor thrombus (BTT) is rare and its impact on postoperative prognosis remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the published evidence concerning the outcome of surgical resection of HCC with BTT.MethodsEligible studies were identified by searching PubMed and reviewed systematically. Comparisons of the clinicopathologic features and surgical outcomes for HCC patients with or without BTT were analyzed using meta-analytical techniques.ResultsTwenty retrospective studies containing 598 patients that met the selection criteria were included for review. The perioperative mortality was 2.1 % (range, 0–10 %), and the median 5-year overall survival (OS) was 24 % (range, 0–48 %) with a recurrence rate of 63.9 % (range, 42–91 %). Pooled analysis of 13 comparative studies showed that HCC patients with BTT had a higher incidence of vascular invasion (odds ratio [OR]: 4.70, 95 % CI: 2.90–7.60; P <0.001), a higher frequency of poor differentiation (OR: 2.07, 95 % CI: 1.23–3.49; P = 0.006), and a shorter 5-year OS rate (OR: 0.31, 95 % CI: 0.21–0.64; P <0.001) than those without BTT.ConclusionsAlthough HCC with BTT has more aggressive biological characteristics and is an indicator of poor prognosis, surgical resection can still provide long-term survival for some patients.

Abstract No. 418 - Sloughing of biliary tumor thrombus of hepatocellular carcinoma after chemoembolization

Abstract No. 418 - Sloughing of biliary tumor thrombus of hepatocellular carcinoma after chemoembolization

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Presenting with Obstructive Jaundice during Pregnancy.

Introduction. Both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presenting during pregnancy and HCC presenting with obstructive jaundice due to a tumor cast in the biliary tract are very rare. The management of these patients remains challenging. Presentation of Case. A 23-year-old lady presented with obstructive jaundice at 38 weeks of gestation. Investigations showed HCC with a biliary tumor thrombus. She received percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) and caesarean section. Right hepatectomy, extrahepatic bile duct resection, and left hepaticojejunostomy were carried out when the jaundice improved. The postoperative course was uneventful. She was discharged home on postoperative day 10. Histopathology showed HCC with a tumor thrombus in the bile duct. The surgical margins were clear. One year after surgery, the mother was disease-free and the baby was well. Conclusion. With proper management, curative treatment is possible in a pregnant patient who presented with obstructive jaundice due to a biliary tumor thrombus from HCC.

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma with biliary tumor thrombus: an unreported association

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FHCC) is a rare malignant tumor of hepatocyte origin occurring earlier in life than typical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We describe a distinctive case of FHCC with biliary tumor thrombus (BTT) in a 25-year-old Caucasian patient, pointing out the imaging features supported by histopathology.

Biliary tumor thrombus of hepatocellular carcinoma containing lipiodol mimicking a calcified bile duct stone

Biliary tumor thrombus of hepatocellular carcinoma containing lipiodol mimicking a calcified bile duct stone

Biliary tumor thrombus of hepatocellular carcinoma containing lipiodol mimicking a calcified bile duct stone

Biliary tumor thrombus of hepatocellular carcinoma containing lipiodol mimicking a calcified bile duct stone

Application of persistent methylene blue dyeing method for anatomic hepatectomy of hepatocellular carcinoma with bile duct tumor thrombi

To evaluate the role of anatomic hepatectomy of hepatocellular carcinoma with bile duct tumor thrombi by application of persistent methylene blue dyeing method. From January 2009 to February 2011, 11 hepatocellular carcinoma patients with bile duct tumor thrombi underwent anatomic hepatectomy with removal of the biliary tumor thrombus. There were 10 male and 1 female patients. The average age was 49 years (ranging from 31 to 67 years). The initial symptom of 9 out of the 11 patients was jaundice. After anatomy and ligation of Glissonean pedicle of pre-resection segment, methylene blue was injected into its far-end portal vein in order to dye the segment. Persistent methylene blue dyeing method was successful in all patients. Primary foci were found in all patients. Hepatectomy were performed, including 4 patients of segmentectomy, 3 patients of subsegmentectomy, 2 patients of hemihepatectomy, and 2 patients of hepatic sectionectomy. The mean operation time and blood loss was 137 minutes and 246 ml respectively. Severe complications such as liver function failure and sub-diaphragm abscess was avoided in all patients. No perioperative death. Post-operation radiotherapy was performed on 2 patients . Over a mean follow-up time of 14.6 months, liver cancer recurrence occurred in 2 patients, abdomen seeding metastasis in 1 patient, bile duct tumor thrombi recurrence in 1 case, and 2 patients died. Anatomic hepatectomy of hepatocellular carcinoma with bile duct tumor thrombi by application of persistent methylene blue dyeing method can make resection more precise and improve curative effect.

Intrahepatic bile duct recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma without a detectable liver tumor

INTRODUCTIONInvasion of the portal and hepatic veins by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is common, but macroscopic bile duct invasion is rare. Once a tumor thrombus completely obstructs the main bile duct, it causes obstructive jaundice. This type of HCC, known as icteric-type HCC (IHCC), has a poor prognosis. PRESENTATION OF CASEA 72-year-old woman had been treated for chronic hepatitis C since 1997. In 2002, percutaneous ethanol injection therapy was performed for HCC in segment 8. HCC recurrence occurred in 2004, and she underwent transarterial embolization (TAE) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA). In 2006, an S8 segmentectomy was performed for re-recurrence of HCC. Three years after surgery, computed tomography (CT) revealed a tumor occupying the right anterior intrahepatic bile duct and extending into its right main branch. With a preoperative diagnosis of HCC recurrence in the bile duct, we performed a right hepatectomy and thrombectomy. Histological examination showed moderately to poorly differentiated HCC. No tumor tissue other than the intrahepatic bile duct tumor was detected in the resected liver specimen. DISCUSSIONHCC with biliary tumor thrombus is associated with a poor prognosis. In general, IHCC is difficult to diagnose and treat in the early stages. A characteristic radiological finding for this type of IHCC is the hypervascularity of the tumor thrombus. CONCLUSIONTo the best of our knowledge, this is a rare case of IHCC recurrence as a tumor thrombus without recurrence in the resected liver specimen.

Surgical outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma patients with biliary tumor thrombi

BackgroundTo investigate the surgical outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with biliary tumor thrombi (BTT).MethodsSurgical outcome of 27 HCC patients with BTT (group I) were compared with randomly selected HCC patients without BTT (group II; n = 270).ResultsOne patient in group I died of hepatic failure within 30 days after resection. The 1-, 3- and 5-year cumulative survival rates of group I were 70.3%, 25.9%, and 7.4%, respectively; these were significantly lower than those of group II (90.6%, 54.0%, and 37.7%) (P <0.001). The rates of early recurrence (≤ 1 year) after resection were significantly higher in group I than group II (70.3% vs. 34.8%) (P < 0.001).ConclusionHCC patients with BTT had a worse prognosis after resection than those without BTT. Resection should be considered for these tumors given the lack of effective alternative therapies.

Prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma with biliary tumor thrombi after liver surgery

The incidence of biliary tumor thrombi (BTT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is very low and operative outcomes are poor. There is little information on the postoperative prognostic factors for patients with HCC with BTT. We analyzed retrospectively the clinicopathologic features of 22 patients with HCC with BTT to identify the prognostic factors associated with operative outcome. Of the 551 patients who underwent hepatic resection for HCC between 1988 and 2007, 22 (4.0%) had HCC with BTT. Their clinicopathologic features were compared with those with HCC but no BTT. The survival rates were also calculated for various clinicopathologic factors. Of the 22 patients, 13 (59%) also had portal or hepatic vein tumor thrombosis. Multiple HCC tumors were identified in 91% of patients and 20 patients were classified as stage IVA. The 1- and 3-year overall survival rates were 89% and 73% for patients with HCC free of BTT, respectively, and 62% and 30%, respectively, for those of HCC with BTT (P < .0001). Portal or hepatic vein tumor thrombosis was the only significant determinant of poor prognosis in 22 patients with HCC with BTT. The 1- and 3-year cumulative survival rates were 89% and 52%, respectively, for patients with only BTT but worse in those of HCC with both BTT and portal or hepatic vein tumor thrombosis (43% and 17%, respectively). The clinicopathologic features of HCC patients with BTT indicated advanced-stage disease and poor operative outcomes. Portal or hepatic vein tumor thrombosis was the only significant determinant of poor prognosis of HCC patients with BTT.

Imaging manifestation of hepatocellular carcinoma With bile duct tumor thrombi

Objective To analyze the imaging features of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)with bile duct tumor thrombi.Methods Thirteen patients with bile duct tumor thrombi proved pathologically underwent imaging examination.MR and CT were performed in 3 cases,and 2 cases had CT only and 8 cases had MRI only.Uhrasonography(US)was performed in all 13 patients.The accuracy of bile duct tumor thrombi detection was compared between US.CT and MRI with Fisher tost.Results Liver tumors and bile duet tumor thrombi were demonstrated in all patients on CT or MRL Presence of intraluminal soft tissue mass was found in four of five cases on CT.and mild enhancement of the intraluminal mass in the arterial phase was noted.dilated bile duct distal to tumor thrombi was detected in all five patients.Eleven Tumor thrombi showed slight low signal intensity on T1 WI,slight high signal intensity on T2 WI,and mild to moderate contrast enhancement on the contrast-enhanced MR images.The MRCP findings of tumor thrombi were as follows:interruption,stricture of the bile ducts or irregular filling defect in the bile ducts with dilated intrahepatic ducts.bile duct was abruptly interrupted or showed arat-tailstricture(n=5);the common bile duct was filled with tumor thrombi.intrahepatic bile duct dilatation and missing common bile duct was noted on MRCP(n=2).Bile duct tumor thrombi were toltecfly diagnosed in 7 cases on US,and 12 cases on CT or MRI.Six cases were misdiagnosed or miss-diagnosed on US,and 4 cases were misdiagnosed on CT or MRI.There was no significant difference between US and CT/MRI in diagnosis of bile duct tumor thrombi(P=0.270).Conclusion CT or MR imaging is useful for the diagnosis of HCC with biliary tumor thrombi and for evaluating the extension of thrombi. Key words: Carcinoma,hepatocellular; Bile duct; Tomography,X-ray computed; Magnetic resonance imaging

Transcatheter Hepatic Arterial Embolization Followed by Microwave Ablation for Hemobilia from Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Bile duct invasion is rare in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We show the usefulness of selective transcatheter hepatic arterial embolization (TAE) followed by microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) in a case of HCC with portal and biliary tumor thrombi that ruptured into the biliary system. A 70-year-old man with HCC was admitted because of melena and postprandial abdominal pain. Four years earlier, he had undergone posterior segmentectomy of the liver for HCC. Portal venous thrombus was detected on computed tomography (CT) 3 months earlier. On admission laboratory tests revealed the following values: serum alkaline phosphatase, 760 IU/L; total serum bilirubin, 11.9 mg/dL; direct bilirubin, 9.8 mg/dL; serum hemoglobin, 7.7 g/dL; alpha-fetoprotein 103.9 ng/mL; and PIVKA-2, 52,655 mAU/mL. Serum examinations were positive for anti-hepatitis C virus antibody but negative for hepatitis B surface antigens. Ultrasonography revealed a hypoechoic mass in the right branch of the bile duct at the hepatic hilum. Doppler ultrasonography showed blood flow in the mass. CT showed diffuse tumor involvement throughout the liver parenchyma and the presence of a high-density substance in the right intrahepatic bile duct. The diagnosis was hemobilia secondary to HCC in the right hepatic lobe. The symptoms recurred, and emergency TAE was performed 5 days after the onset of hemobilia. The symptoms subsided, and liver function improved. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography revealed obstruction of the right intrahepatic bile duct. Surgery was performed 15 days after TAE, and MCT of the right hepatic hilum was performed. After MCT, CT revealed necrosis of the right hepatic hilum. Seven months after TAE, the patient died of liver failure with no recurrence of hemobilia.

MR imaging of hepatocellular carcinomas with biliary tumor thrombi

We retrospectively evaluate the MR imaging findings of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) with biliary tumor thrombi. MR imaging was performed on six patients presenting with obstructive jaundice and/or biliary hemorrhage. T1-weighted images, T2-weighted images, MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), and dynamic MR images were obtained. Duodenal endoscopy was performed on all cases and hepatic resection on two cases. HCCs were 1.8-10 cm in diameter (mean 5.8 cm). Biliary tumor thrombi were detected in all patients on MR imaging. Tumor thrombi showed hypointensity on T1-weighted images, hyperintensity on T2-weighted images, and contrast enhancement on the early phase of dynamic MR images. MRCP showed intrahepatic bile duct dilatation in all cases. Biliary hemorrhage was clearly depicted by MR images in five cases and showed hyperintensity on T1-weighted images and hyperintensity or hypointensity on T2-weighted images. Biliary hemorrhage was confirmed by endoscopy in two cases. Portal vein thrombi were also associated in five of six patients. Pathologically, tumor thrombi of HCCs were demonstrated in two patients who underwent hepatic resection. In conclusion, MR imaging is useful for the diagnosis of biliary tumor thrombi from HCC and for evaluating the extension of thrombi and biliary hemorrhage.

Treatment of colorectal liver metastasis with biliary and portal vein tumor thrombi by hepatopancreatoduodenectomy

We present a case of a large colorectal liver metastasis with portal vein and biliary tumor thrombi and duodenal and jejunal direct invasion that required hepatopancreatoduodenectomy. A 38-year-old woman presented to her local hospital with right back pain and jaundice. She had undergone transverse colectomy and limited liver resection for transverse colon cancer with a synchronous liver metastasis in September 1991, and low anterior resection for rectal carcinoma in January 1996. She was diagnosed as having colorectal liver metastasis and was referred to our hospital for possible surgery. Radiologic and endoscopic examinations revealed a large liver tumor occupying the right lobe, biliary dilation in the left lateral section, and a portal vein tumor thrombus. Invasion of the inferior vena cava and the right renal vein were also suspected. Intraoperative findings revealed a large liver tumor that occupied the right lobe and invaded the duodenum and jejunum. The tumor was resected successfully by right trisectionectomy, caudate lobectomy, pancreatoduodenectomy, partial resection of the jejunum, and combined portal vein resection and reconstruction. The inferior vena cava, right kidney, and renal vein could be detached from the tumor. The patient has enjoyed an active life without recurrence for 2 years since the operation.

Surgical intervention for obstructive jaundice due to biliary tumor thrombus in hepatocellular carcinoma.

This retrospective study in eight surgically treated patients with obstructive jaundice due to biliary tumor thrombus in a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was performed to evaluate the role of surgical intervention. All biliary tumor thrombi were confirmed preoperatively or intraoperatively. Only two manifested intraluminal biliary obstructions due to a primary tumor that had not been found preoperatively. The operative procedures included hepatectomy with removal of the biliary tumor thrombus (n=3), hepatectomy combined with extrahepatic bile duct resection (n=1), thrombectomy through a choledochotomy (n=3), and piggyback orthotopic liver transplantation (n=1). The 1- and 3-year survival rates were 62.5% and 37.5%, respectively. Two patients survived more than 5 years. Surgical intervention was effective in patients with obstructive jaundice due to a biliary tumor thrombus in an HCC. Thus surgery for a recurrence can prolong survival, and liver transplantation is a treatment worthy of further investigation.

Hepatocellular carcinoma with biliary tumor thrombi: Aggressive operative approach after appropriate preoperative management

Background. The aim of this study was to clarify clinicopathologic characteristics of, and to evaluate an aggressive treatment strategy for, hepatocellular carcinoma with biliary tumor thrombi. Methods. From 1980 to 1999, a total of 132 patients underwent hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Of these, 17 patients had macroscopic biliary tumor thrombi and were retrospectively analyzed. Results. The operative procedures included right hepatic trisegmentectomy (n = 1), right or left hepatic lobectomy (n = 11), and segmentectomy or subsegmentectomy (n = 5). In 13 patients, tumor thrombi extended beyond the hepatic confluence and was treated by thrombectomy through a choledochotomy in 8 patients and extrahepatic bile duct resection and reconstruction in 5 patients. The 3- and 5-year survival rates were 47% and 28%, respectively, with a median survival time of 2.3 years. These survival rates were similar to those achieved in 115 patients without biliary tumor thrombi. In a multivariate analysis, expansive growth type and solitary tumors were independent prognostic variables for favorable outcome after operation, whereas biliary tumor thrombi was not a significant prognostic factor. Conclusions. Surgery after appropriate preoperative management of hepatocellular carcinoma with biliary tumor thrombi yields results similar to those of patients without biliary involvement. Hepatectomy with thrombectomy through a choledochotomy appears to be as effective as a resection procedure. (Surgery 2001;129:692-8.)

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HISTOPATHOLOGICAL FINDDINGS OF HEPATIC METASTATIC FOCI OF THE COLORECTAL CANCER AND PROGNOSIS AFTER HEPATECTOMY-A CLINICAL STUDY-

A histopathological study of resected livers was conducted in order to clarify the mechanism of recurrence in the residual liver following resection of hepatic metastases of colorectal cancer. The main parameters of the investigation included various type of invasive proliferation such as infiltration into the simusoidal space at the periphery or the presenting portion of the metastatic foci, portal system tumor thrombus, biliary tumor thrombus, and (peri) neural invasion. The relationship between the positive findings rate by pathology, including period, number, and extent of hepatic metastases, and the prognosis after resection of the hepatic metastases was investigated. Positive findings rates were 82% for sinusoidal infiltration, about 29% for portal thrombus, about 9% for biliary thrombus, and about 5% for (peri) neural invasion. There was no significant difference inthe positive rate by period of hepatic metastases, new micrometastases from the foci of hepatic metastases were considered highly likely, and the prognosis of cases with positive micrometastases was poor compared to cases with negative micrometastases. Such micrometastases are therefore considered an important factor in the recurrence arising in the residual live after resection of hepatic metastases. It is thought that we should select a procedure of resection for metastatic foci of the residual liver and a type of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in consideration of these histopathological findings.