Bone Metastasis from Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Characteristics of Soft Tissue Formation.
- Author:
Sangwon KIM
1
;
Mison CHUN
;
Heejung WANG
;
Sungwon CHO
;
Young Taek OH
;
Seung Hee KANG
;
Juno YANG
Author Information
1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea. chunm@ajou.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Bone metastasis;
hepatocellular carcinoma;
soft tissue formation;
radiation therapy
- MeSH:
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular*;
Diagnosis;
Humans;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Neoplasm Metastasis*;
Retrospective Studies;
Survival Rate;
Tumor Burden
- From:Cancer Research and Treatment
2007;39(3):104-108
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To assess the characteristics of bone metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma and the radiation field arrangement based on imaging studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-three patients (84 lesions) with bone metastasis from a primary hepatocellular carcinoma completed palliative radiation therapy. All patients underwent one of following imaging studies prior to the initiation of radiation therapy: a bone scan, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. The median radiation dose was 30 Gy (7~40 Gy). We evaluated retrospectively the presence of soft tissue formation and the adjustment of the radiation field based on the imaging studies. RESULTS: Soft tissue formation at the site of bony disease was identified from either a CT/MRI scan (41 lesions) or from a symptomatic palpable mass (5 lesions). The adjustment of the radiation field size based on a bone scan was necessary for 31 of 41 soft tissue forming lesions (75.6%), after a review of the CT/MRI scan. The median survival from the initial indication of a hepatoma diagnosis was 8 months (2 to 71 months), with a 2-year survival rate of 38.6%. The median survival from the detection of a bone metastasis was 5 months (1 to 38 months) and the 1-year overall survival rate was 8.7%. CONCLUSION: It was again identified that bone metastasis from a primary hepatocellular carcinoma is accompanied by soft tissue formation. From this finding, an adjustment of the radiation field size based on imaging studies is required. It is advisable to obtain a CT or MRI scan of suspected bone metastasis for better tumor volume coverage prior to the initiation of radiation therapy.
