BACKGROUND: Metastatic pathological fractures of the spine are a major problem for cancer patients; however, there is no consensus on treatment strategy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate various treatment options by analyzing their patterns for metastatic pathological fractures of the spine. METHODS: In this study, 54 patients (male:female = 36:18) who were diagnosed with metastatic pathological fractures of spine were recruited. Demographic data, origin of cancer, type of treatment, and results were obtained from electronic medical records. Treatment options were divided into radiotherapy (RT), vertebroplasty (VP) or kyphoplasty (KP), operation (OP), and other treatments. Treatment results were defined as aggravation, no response, fair response, good response, and unknown. The survival time after detection of pathologic fractures was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 62.3 years. Hepatocellular carcinoma was the most common cancer of primary origin (n = 9), followed by multiple myeloma (n = 8). RT was the most common primary choice of treatment (n = 29, 53.7%), followed by OP (n = 13, 24.1%), and VP or KP (n = 10, 18.5%). Only 13 of 29 RT cases and 7 of 13 OP cases demonstrated a fair or good response. The mean survival time following detection of pathological spinal fractures was 11.1 months for 29 patients, who died during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: RT was the most common primary choice of treatment for metastatic pathological fractures of the spine. However, the response rate was suboptimal. Although OP should be considered for the relief of mechanical back pain or neurologic symptoms, care should be taken in determining the surgical indication. VP or KP could be considered for short-term control of localized pain, although the number of cases was too small to confirm the conclusion. It is difficult to determine the superiority of the treatment modalities, hence, a common guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of metastatic pathological fractures of the spine is required.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/mortality/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/mortality/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma/mortality/pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures/etiology/mortality/*radiotherapy/*surgery ; Spinal Neoplasms/*complications/secondary ; Spine ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To explore the technique and effect of liver hanging maneuver in anterior approach for isolated complete liver caudate lobectomy. METHODS: We recruited 17 patients with liver caudate lobe tumor (13 primary hepatocellular carcinoma, 3 cholangiocarcinoma and 1 liver metastasis from colorectal cancer). Isolated complete caudate lobectomy with liver hanging maneuver was performed in 17 patients. RESULTS: All 17 patients were successfully received the above-mentioned operation. The operative time was 166-427 (211.5 ± 20.1) min and the intraoperative blood loss was 372-1 208 (472.7 ± 83.6) mL. There was no operative death. The survival rates of follow up for 1, 3 and 5 years were 76.5%, 52.9% and 23.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION Liver hanging maneuver for isolated complete resection of the caudate lobe is an ideal approach for liver neoplasms resection.
Blood Loss, Surgical ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; surgery ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; surgery ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; surgery ; Survival Rate

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is one of the most effective therapies for unresectable hepatocelluar carcinoma or metastatic hypervascular tumors. Abscess occurring in the other organs beside the liver after TACE is a complication that often occurs, sometimes potentially fatal. We report a case of spinal epidural abscess occurred after liver abscess complicated by TACE in a patient with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors to the liver. A 67-year-old female underwent TACE first for the metastatic lesions to liver, with a history of pancreatoduodenectomy for the primary pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. Four days after TACE, sudden high fever occurred, and liver abscess was found on abdominal CT. Two days later, back pain and radiating pain to the right leg occurred, and lumbar spine MRI showed spinal epidural abscess. After intravenous antibiotics for 8 weeks and partial laminectomy, the patient recovered and was discharged without complications.
Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/secondary/*therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic/*adverse effects ; Epidural Abscess/*etiology/microbiology/surgery ; Escherichia coli/isolation & purification ; Escherichia coli Infections/drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Liver Abscess/*etiology ; Liver Neoplasms/secondary/*therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae/microbiology/radiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuroendocrine Tumors/pathology/surgery ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Hepatoid adenocarcinoma (HAC) is a rare type of extrahepatic carcinoma whose morphology is similar to that of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Metachronous HCC and HAC in the same patient is extremely rare. The case of a 68-year-old man with chronic hepatitis B infection who had both HCC and HAC of the stomach is reported herein. Nine years previously this patient had been diagnosed with HCC and received a right lobectomy. HCC that recurred at the caudate lobe at 6 months after the operation was successfully treated with transarterial chemoembolization. The patient was followed up regularly thereafter without evidence of tumor recurrence for 9 years. In July 2010 his serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level elevated from 6.5 ng/mL to 625.4 ng/mL, and he developed a probable single metastatic lymph node around the hepatic artery without intrahepatic lesions. Subsequent evaluation with upper endoscopy revealed a 4-cm ulcerative lesion on the antrum of the stomach. Subtotal gastrectomy was performed with lymph-node dissection. Histologic examination revealed a special type of extrahepatic AFP-producing adenocarcinoma-HAC with lymph-node metastasis-which indicates that HAC can be a cause of elevated AFP even in patients with HCC. HAC should be considered if a patient with stable HCC exhibits unusual elevation of AFP.
Adenocarcinoma/*diagnosis/drug therapy/secondary ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use ; Camptothecin/analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*diagnosis/drug therapy/pathology ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Fluorouracil/therapeutic use ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Leucovorin/therapeutic use ; Liver Neoplasms/*diagnosis/drug therapy/pathology ; Lymph Nodes/surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Recurrence ; Silicates/therapeutic use ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/drug therapy/secondary ; Titanium/therapeutic use ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; alpha-Fetoproteins/*analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prognostic factors of hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODSThe purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyze the surgical outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in 832 patients who underwent hepatic resection between February 2002 and June 2010 in the Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Post-resection prognostic factors were assessed using a univariate Kaplan-Meier analysis and a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTSThe overall 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 92.0%, 70.2% and 53.6%, respectively. The disease free survival rates (DFS) were 90.2%, 61.5% and 40.5%, respectively. The univariate analysis showed that a better prognosis for overall survival (OS) was associated with asymptomatic presentation, small tumor, single lesion, high-grade histological differentiation, no vascular tumor embolus, negative serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), negative serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Child-Pugh class A, no ascites, no/mild cirrhosis, new surgical techniques, no blood transfusion, no regional lymph node metastasis, no major vascular invasion, and no extra-hepatic invasion. The multivariate analysis showed that asymptomatic presentation, small tumor, single lesion, no tumor embolus, negative serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), no regional lymph node metastasis, no major vascular invasion, no extra-hepatic invasion, no/mild cirrhosis, and surgical techniques are independent factors for a longer overall survival.

CONCLUSIONSThe prognosis of HCC after resection is influenced by a number of factors. Therefore, regularly screening and early diagnosis, applying surgical techniques to minimize the liver injury, and preventing the aggravation of cirrhosis are important measures to improve the overall survival of HCC patients. For those patients with high risk factors of recurrence, routine follow-up is one of the best methods to be recommended.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Bone Neoplasms ; secondary ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; pathology ; surgery ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; surgery ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Burden ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recurrence after hepatic resection is one of the most important factors impacting the prognosis and survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We identified prognostic factors affecting overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with HCC after hepatic resection. METHODS: This study was of a retrospective cohort design, and 126 patients who underwent hepatic resection for HCC at Gachon University Gil Medical Center between January 2005 and December 2010 were enrolled. Various clinical, laboratory, and pathological data were evaluated to determine the prognostic factors affecting OS and DFS. RESULTS: Two- and 4-year OS and 2- and 4-year DFS were 78.1% and 65% and 51.1% and 26.6%, respectively. In a multivariate analysis, preoperative alpha-fetoprotein (> 400 ng/mL), tumor size (> or = 5 cm), multiple tumors (two or more nodules), presence of portal vein invasion, modified Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stage III/IV, and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B/C were independent prognostic factors affecting a shorter OS. In the multivariate analysis, presence of microvascular invasion, modified UICC stage III/IV, and BCLC stage B/C were independent prognostic factors for a shorter DFS. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of vascular invasion was an independent poor prognostic factor for OS and DFS in patients with HCC after hepatic resection. Thus, close postoperative surveillance for early detection of recurrence and additional treatments are urgently needed in patients with vascular invasion after hepatic resection.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/blood/mortality/secondary/*surgery ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; *Hepatectomy/adverse effects/mortality ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Liver Neoplasms/blood/mortality/pathology/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Burden ; alpha-Fetoproteins/analysis

Although the adrenal gland is a common site of metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), adrenal metastases are rarely seen in clinical practice because of its lower metastatic potential compared to the other malignancies. Adrenal metastases usually were detected at the time of diagnosis of primary HCC or simultaneously with intrahepatic recurrence after curative management of HCC. It is very rare that only metastatic HCC is detected without evidence of intrahepatic recurrence. Hereby, we report two cases of adrenal metastasis from HCC without intrahepatic recurrence after hepatic resection.
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms/*diagnosis/radionuclide imaging/secondary ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*pathology/surgery ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*pathology/surgery ; Male ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Gastric hepatoid adenocarcinoma is a special type of gastric carcinoma, which produces AFP. We report a case of an metastatic gastric hepatoid adenocarcinoma mistaken for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A 72 year-old woman was transferred to our hospital for treatment of the hepatic mass. She underwent subtotal gastrectomy for gastric cancer 2 years ago. A year ago, she was diagnosed with hepatic mass and treated with transhepatic chemoembolization under the suspicion of primary HCC in other hospital. The hepatic mass looked like primary HCC on CT, and serum AFP was elevated to 18,735 IU/mL. We did the transhepatic mass biopsy and compared it to the histology of the previous gastric cancer. The results of immunohistochemical staining between them was coincident, and so it was diagnosed as a hepatic metastasis of gastric hepatoid adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*diagnosis/therapy ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism ; Humans ; Keratin-20/metabolism ; Keratin-7/metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis/*secondary/therapy ; Male ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; alpha-Fetoproteins/analysis

Gastric hepatoid adenocarcinoma is a special type of gastric carcinoma, which produces AFP. We report a case of an metastatic gastric hepatoid adenocarcinoma mistaken for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A 72 year-old woman was transferred to our hospital for treatment of the hepatic mass. She underwent subtotal gastrectomy for gastric cancer 2 years ago. A year ago, she was diagnosed with hepatic mass and treated with transhepatic chemoembolization under the suspicion of primary HCC in other hospital. The hepatic mass looked like primary HCC on CT, and serum AFP was elevated to 18,735 IU/mL. We did the transhepatic mass biopsy and compared it to the histology of the previous gastric cancer. The results of immunohistochemical staining between them was coincident, and so it was diagnosed as a hepatic metastasis of gastric hepatoid adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*diagnosis/therapy ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism ; Humans ; Keratin-20/metabolism ; Keratin-7/metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis/*secondary/therapy ; Male ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; alpha-Fetoproteins/analysis

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*pathology/surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; Colonic Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/*secondary ; Colonoscopy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*pathology/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Whole Body Imaging