Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of spiral CT [CT arterial portography (CTAP) and CT hepatic arteriography(CTHA)] for hepatic carcinoma. Methods The CTAP and CTHA manifestations in 21 patients with hepatocelluar carcinoma were analyzed and compared with those in three-phase enhanced CT . Results The detection rate of three-phase enhanced CT was 72.4% , CTAP and CTHA was 96.1% and 88.2% respectively. The detection rate of combination CTAP and CTHA was 98.7% . They could reveal tumors of 0.5 cm in diameter . Both CTAP and CTHA gave false-positive findings , such as perfusion defects in 22.3% of CTAP and non-pathologic enhancement in 30.2% of CTHA .Conclusion With the use of spiral CT technique , the quantity of contrast material administrated in CTAP and CTHA can be considerably reduced . And the quality of CT images significantly improved . The detection rate of CTAP and CTHA is higher than that of three-phase enhanced CT . Simultaneous use of both procedures may decrease the false-positive rate.

Objective To evaluate the diagnosis value of the percentage of Tie 2-expressing monocytes(TEMs)in CD14+CD16+monocytes of peripheral blood from hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients with negative AFP and tumor size≤3 cm.Methods Flow Cytometry(FCM)was used to determine the percentage of TEMs in CD14+CD16+monocytes of peripheral blood from patients with HCC(n=82), liver cirrhosis(n=29), chronic hepatitis B(n=28), and healthy controls(n=31).Abbott i2000 microparticle chemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer was used to determine the plasma alpha -fetoprotein (AFP)levels.The difference among multi groups was analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis H test.Two independent groups were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U test.The chi-square test was used in the rate comparison.The correlation between TEMs and AFP was analyzed by Spearman rank correlation analysis. Morever, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves(ROC-AUC), sensitivity and specificity of TEMs or AFP in differentiating HCC, HCC with AFP negative or tumor size≤3 cm were analyzed.Results The percentage of TEMs in CD14 +CD16 +monocytes of peripheral blood from HCC or HCC with negative AFP or HCC with tumor size≤3 cm was significantly higher than that in patients with liver cirrhosis,chronic hepatitis B and healthy controls(P<0.05).ROC-AUC of TEMs and AFP in the diagnosis of HCC were 0.701(95% CI 0.626-0.768)and 0.712(95% CI 0.638-0.779) respectively.When the cut-off values of TEMs and AFP were 4.95%and 20 μg/L,the sensitivities of TEMs and AFP were 71.95%and 45.12%,and the specificities of TEMs and AFP were 70.45%and 85.23%. The sensitivity of TEMs in the diagnosis of HCC was significantly higher than that of AFP(χ2=12.16,P=0.000).The specificity of AFP was significantly higher than that of TEMs(χ2=5.57,P=0.018).There was a highest sensitivity(89.02%)in TEMs/AFP method,and there was a highest specificity(93.18%) in TEMs+AFP method in the diagnosis of HCC.There was no significant difference between the ROC-AUC for the TEMs and the AFP in the diagnosis of 26 patients with tumor size≤3 cm HCC(0.776 vs 0.645,Z=1.805,P=0.071),TEMs/AFP had the highest sensitivity(84.62%),while TEMs+AFP had the highest specificity(93.18%)in the diagnosis of tumor size≤3cm HCC.The ROC-AUC for the TEMs in the diagnosis of 45 patients with AFP negative HCC was 0.739(95%CI 0.648-0.829).The sensitivity and specificity of TEMs were 80.0% and 70.45% respectively.There was no correlation between the level of plasma AFP and the percentage of TEMs(r=-0.169, P=0.129)determined by Spearmans rank correlation coefficient.Conclusions TEMs is valuable in the diagnosis of HCC with negative AFP and tumor size≤3cm,and the two tests of TEMs and AFP can complement each other in the diagnosis of patients with HCC.

Objective By comparison with the surgical resection,to evaluate the relapse-free survival(RFS),overall survival(OS),and clinical safety of transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with microwave ablation(MWA)in the treatment of early primary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods From January 2013 to January 2018 at authors'hospital,51 HCC patients received TACE combined with MWA(TACE+MWA group)and 58 HCC patients received surgical resection(RES group).The HCC lesions were single tumor with diameter ≤7 cm or multiple tumors with stage Ⅰ a-Ⅱ a meeting the"up-to-7"criteria.The postoperative RFS,OS,and clinical safety were compared between the two groups.Results The one-,3-and 5-year RFS in the TACE+MWA group were 84.3％,37.3％and 13.7％respectively,which in the RES group were 67.2％,27.6％and 13.8％respectively.The difference in the one-year RFS between the two groups was statistically significant(P=0.039),and the differences in the 3-and 5-year RFS between the two groups were not statistically significant(P=0.281 and P=0.992,respectively).The one-,3-and 5-year survival rates in the TACE+MWA group were 98％,62.7％and 45.1％respectively,which in the RES group were 94.8％,75.9％and 44.8％respectively,and the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant(P=0.704,P=0.137 and P=0.977 respectively).No treatment-related death occurred in both groups.In the TACE+MWA group,the main complications included transient embolism syndrome,abdominal pain during ablation procedure,and mild to moderate transient elevation of transaminase after treatment.In the RES group,the main postoperative complications included fever,pleural effusion,abdominal effusion,and intraoperative bleeding;and in one patient the postoperative liver function impairment worsened to Child grade C.The average cost of hospitalization in the TACE+MWA group was(39 834.98±6 717.38)Chinese yuan,which in the RES group was(49 042.59±11 810.69)Chinese yuan,the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P=0.017).The hospitalization length in the TACE+MWA group was 23 days(19-28 days),which in the RES group was 21 days(17-25 days),and the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant(P=0.196).Conclusion For the treatment of early HCC,TACE combined with MWA has reliable curative effect,and also has the advantages of being safe and economical.Therefore,this therapy can be used as a preferred option of non-surgical treatment for single tumor with ≤7 cm diameter or multiple tumors with stage Ⅰ a-Ⅱa meeting"up-to-7"criteria.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,33:488-494)

Objective To discuss the clinical efficacy and safety of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(HAIC)combined with carrelizumab and sorafenib in treating advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods The clinical data of 36 HCC patients,who were admitted to the Affiliated Nantong Third Hospital of Nantong University of China to receive HAIC combined with carrelizumab and sorafenib from August 2019 to August 2020,were collected.According to modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors(mRECIST),the objective response rate(ORR)and disease control rate(DCR)of the combination therapy were evaluated.The Common Terminology Criteria Adverse Events Version 5.0 developed by American National Cancer Institute was used to evaluate the clinical safety.Results After receiving 4 cycles of FOLFOX-HAIC,the ORR and DCR of the patients were 38.9％and 77.8％respectively.The patients were followed up for 30 months.The median progression-free survival(mPFS)was 306 days(95％CI:242.7-369.3),and the median overall survival(mOS)was 515 days(95％CI:2 482.5-547.5).After HAIC treatment,one patient was successfully changed to surgical operation.The overall incidence of adverse events were 100％.There were 9 adverse events(25％)above grade m,including severe abdominal pain(n=2,5.6％),nausea(n=1,2.8％),vomiting(n=1,2.8％),elevated alanine aminotransferase(n=3,8.3％),elevated aspartate aminotransferase(n=1,2.8％),and death due to pulmonary failure caused by severe immune-induced pneumonia(n=1,2.8％).Conclusion For the treatment of advanced HCC,HAIC combined with carrelizumab and sorafenib has better ORR and DCR with controllable safety,which provides a new option for the treatment of advanced HCC.However,studies with large sample size need to be conducted before its long-term survival benefit of patients can be further validated.