OBJECTIVETo observe the long-term effects of combined transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and radiotherapy for patients with large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to analyze the prognostic factors.

METHODSA total of 107 patients with large unresectable HCC (the largest diameter of tumor ranged from 5 to 18 cm) were treated with TACE followed by external-beam irradiation. Acute effects and survival rates were observed. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the prognostic factors.

RESULTSAn objective response was achieved in 48.6% of the cases. The cumulative survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 59.4%, 28.4%, and 15.8%, respectively. The tumor number and irradiation dose were the independent prognostic factors. The cumulative survival rates of the patients with a solitary lesion (75.8%, 43.9%, and 26.8% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively) were significantly higher than those with multiple lesions (31.3%, and 5.0% at 1 and 3 years, respectively, P=0.0005). The survival rates of the patients received irradiation above 40 Gy (95.8%, 74.7%, and 37.4% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively) were significantly higher than those received 20~40 Gy (60.9%, 20.7%, and 10.3%, respectively) and those received radiation lower than 20 Gy (26.7%, 7.1%, and 7.1%, respectively, P=0.0001).

CONCLUSIONSCombined TACE with radiotherapy is a promising treatment for large unresectable HCC. The number of tumor is the most important clinical prognostic factor. Delivering the highest irradiation dose within the tolerance of the liver is the key to improve the long-term effect.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; mortality ; radiotherapy ; therapy ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; mortality ; radiotherapy ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate

Because of its safety and treatment effectiveness, the popularity of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has gradually increased. However, some serious complications of RFA such as hepatic infarction, bowel perforation, and tumor seeding have been reported. Recently, we experienced a case of diaphragmatic hernia after RFA for HCC. A 61-year-old man with alcoholic cirrhosis was diagnosed with a 1.0 cm sized HCC in segment (S) 5 and a 1.3 cm sized HCC in S 8 of the liver. He was treated by transarterial chemoembolization and RFA. After RFA, an abdominal CT revealed a diaphragmatic defect with herniating mesentery. Twenty-two months after the RFA, the chest CT showed the diaphragmatic defect with herniating colon and mesentery. Because he had no symptoms, and surgical repair for the diaphragmatic hernia would be a high risk operation for him, we decided to treat the patient conservatively. For its great rarity, we report this case with a review of the literature.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*diagnosis/*radiotherapy/therapy ; Catheter Ablation/*adverse effects ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Hernia, Diaphragmatic/*etiology/surgery ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/complications/*diagnosis ; Liver Neoplasms/*diagnosis/*radiotherapy/therapy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

In hepatocellular carcinoma distant metastasis after curative surgical resection without intrahepatic metastasis is very rare. A 55-year old man presented with a huge pelvic bone mass. Eight years ago he underwent posterior hepatic segmentectomy following diagnosis of hepatocelluar carcinoma. He has received regular check-ups with abdominal ultrasonography and serum alpha-fetoprotein. On admission an MRI on the pelvic area showed an 18x10 cm sized lobulated mass invading the pelvic bone and acetabulum. Microscopic examination revealed that the tumor was a well differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma. There was no evidence of intrahepatic recurrence. He was treated with transarterial chemoembolization, external radiotherapy (total 3750 cGy), and systemic chemotherapy using 5-fluorouracil.
Acetabulum ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Fluorouracil ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Pelvic Bones* ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence* ; Ultrasonography

Orbital metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma is very rare, with only 14 biopsy-proven cases from hepa tocellular carcinoma cases reported in English literature and three cases reported in Korea. Common symptoms of orbital metastasis are proptosis, visual loss, ocular pain and oculomotor dysfunction. For its precise diagnosis, we can perform fine needle aspiration biopsy, orbit CT or MRI, and ultrasonography. Radiotherapy is the mainstay in the treatment of orbital metastasis. In addition, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and surgical intervention can play a role in the treatment of orbital metastasis according to the primary cancer and symptoms. However, the prognosis of orbital metastasis is poor. We report herein a rare case of a patient with orbital metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma, which was treated with various modalities that included resection, and who had good clinical and radiological responses to radiation therapy and sorafenib (Nexavar, Bayer HealthCare).
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Exophthalmos ; Eye Neoplasms ; Humans ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Orbit* ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare neoplasm and it has been found in only 1.8% of the surgically resected HCC patients, and in only 3.4~9.4% of the autopsied HCC cases. The pathogenesis of this tumor has't yet been thoroughly clarified, and such a tumor has been variously referred to as spindle cell carcinoma, sarcomatoid carcinoma, pseudosarcoma, or carcinosarcoma. There is only a little difference between the clinical characteristics of the sarcomatoid HCC and those of ordinary HCC. The diagnosis of the sarcomatoid HCC is made by pathological and immunohistochemical techniques after surgical resection, biopsy, or autopsy. METHODS: We reviewed the 10 cases of pathologically confirmed sarcomatoid HCC that were registered at the Yonsei University Medical Center from 1992 to 2004. RESULTS: Surgical operation was performed in seven cases, and curative resection was done only in five. Three patients were treated with chemotherapy or transarterial chemoem-bolization (TACE) with or without concurrent radiotherapy after the diagnosis of sarcomatoid HCC by liver biopsy. Six patients expired within 4 months after the diagnosis. The 6 month and 12 month survival rates for sarcomatoid HCC were 40% and 20%, respectively. The 6 month survival rates for radical resection and non-radical resection were 60% and 0%, respectively. The difference in cumulative survival according to the treatment of sarcomatoid HCC was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of sarcomatoid HCC is very poor; therefore, curative resection, adjuvant chemoradiotherapy, and close follow-up are necessary for patients suffering with sarcomatoid HCC.
Academic Medical Centers ; Autopsy ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Carcinosarcoma ; Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Survival Rate

The phenomenon of multiple primary malignant tumors in one patient synchronously or metachronously is no more curiosity. So, careful follow up study and early diagnosis of those lesions, based on an awareness of the possibility of the second cancer, will substantially increase the survival of these patients. We collected nine cases of multiple primary cancers according to Moertel's classification histologically proved and treated from 1985 to l992 at Kosin Medical Center. The results were as follows; 1. The average age of the patients was 60.9 years with dominance in seventh decade 2. The male to female ratio was 7: 2 with significant dominance in male. 3. The synchronous to metachronous ratio was 6: 3, in metachronous cases the average time interval between 1st and 2nd cancers was 122 months. 4. In 6 cases of synchronous cancers, there were penile cancer and hepatoma, renal cell carcinoma and bladder cancer, prostatic cancer and bladder cancer, bladder cancer and colon cancer, and prostatic cancer and lung cancer. In 3 cases of metachronous cancers, there were bladder cancer and uterine cervical cancer, bladder cancer and stomach cancer, and renal cell carcinoma and synovial sarcoma. 5. In 3 cases of metachronous cancers, adjuvant therapy was performed in 2 cases after operation including one case of chemotherapy and another case of radiotherapy.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Classification ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Drug Therapy ; Early Diagnosis ; Exploratory Behavior ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Neoplasms, Second Primary ; Penile Neoplasms ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Radiotherapy ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the main viral causes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is associated with lymphoproliferative disorder such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). However, there are only few case reports on concomitantly induced NHL and HCC by HCV. Herein, we report a case of synchronous NHL and HCC in a patient with chronic hepatitis C which was unexpectedly diagnosed during liver transplantation surgery. This case suggests that although intrahepatic lymph node enlargements are often considered as reactive or metastatic lymphadenopathy in chronic hepatitis C patients with HCC, NHL should also be considered as a differential diagnosis.
Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/complications/*diagnosis/radiotherapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/complications/*diagnosis/*virology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis/radiotherapy ; Lymph Nodes/pathology ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/complications/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Benzenesulfonates ; therapeutic use ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Congresses as Topic ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Hepatic Artery ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Niacinamide ; analogs & derivatives ; Phenylurea Compounds ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Pyridines ; therapeutic use ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; Ultrasonography ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis

PURPOSE: Hepatocellular carcinoma is a highly malignant disorder that carries a poor prognosis. It is a fatal disease with a high incidence, especially in areas with an already high prevalence of hepatitis types B & C. The primary sites for extrahepatic metastases include the lung and adrenal glands, while bone, especially the skull, is rarely affected. This paper notes a rare case of extrahepatic metastasis to the skull. METHODS: A 62-year-old male, with a previous history of hepatitis B, developed hepatocellular carcinoma. The patient received several treatments of TACE(Transarterial chemoembolization) and PEI(Percutaneous ethanol injection) with no resolution, which prompted a hepatology follow-up. Recently, patient requested to have an enlarging mass on the forehead removed, for which an incisional biopsy was perfomed since the mass involved bone. Pathologic findings confirmed metastatic HCC. RESULTS: The only complication encountered during the incisional biopsy was profuse bleeding from the incision site. There was some difficulty in controlling the bleeding, but hemostasis was achieved using Gelfoam. There were no postoperative complications. The patient was treated with radiotherapy and follow-up CONCLUSION: Patients with cranial metastasis of HCC presents with a subcutaneous mass and a headache while simple X-rays show osteolytic lesions, computed tomography studies are needed for a definitive diagnosis. Treatement options include radiotherapy, surgery and chemotherapy. In this case the patient received radiotherapy. Skull metastases should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients who present with a subcutaneous mass and an osteolytic defect on X-ray films of the skull.
Adrenal Glands ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drug Therapy ; Ethanol ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forehead ; Gastroenterology ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Headache ; Hemorrhage ; Hemostasis ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Postoperative Complications ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Skull* ; X-Ray Film

Reports of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) without a primary liver tumor are rare. Here we present a case of isolated HCC that had metastasized to the pelvic bone without a primary focus. A 73-year-old man presented with severe back and right-leg pain. Radiological examinations, including computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), revealed a huge mass on the pelvic bone (13x10 cm). He underwent an incisional biopsy, and the results of the subsequent histological examination were consistent with metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma. The tumor cells were positive for cytokeratin (AE1/AE3), hepatocyte paraffin 1, and glypican-3, and negative for CD56, chromogranin A, and synaptophysin on immunohistochemical staining. Examination of the liver by CT, MRI, positron-emission tomography scan, and angiography produced no evidence of a primary tumor. Radiotherapy and transarterial chemoembolization were performed on the pelvic bone, followed by systemic chemotherapy. These combination treatments resulted in tumor regression with necrotic changes. However, multiple lung metastases developed 1 year after the treatment, and the patient was treated with additional systemic chemotherapy.
Aged ; Bone Neoplasms/*diagnosis/*pathology/radiotherapy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*pathology/radiography/*secondary ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Glypicans/metabolism ; Humans ; Keratin-1/metabolism ; Keratin-3/metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms/*pathology/radiography/*secondary ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Paraffin/metabolism ; Pelvic Bones/*pathology/radiography ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed