El hepatocarcinoma en la Comunidad Foral de Navarra: estudio de características y evolución en la práctica clínica habitual

Fundamento. El hepatocarcinoma asienta generalmente sobre una cirrosis hepática. El cribado pretende mejorar la supervivencia. Los objetivos de nuestro trabajo son conocer las características del hepatocarcinoma, su evolución y la influencia del cribado en su supervivencia, en la práctica clínica en Navarra. Material y Métodos. Estudio prospectivo y retrospectivo de 111 pacientes diagnosticados de hepatocarcinoma en hospitales públicos navarros, entre enero de 2009 y enero de 2015. Se analizaron características epidemiológicas, clínicas, analíticas, radiológicas, estadio tumoral, tratamiento y evolución, y el efecto del cribado. Resultados. El 84,7% de los pacientes eran varones. La edad media fue 67 años. El 85,6% tenían cirrosis. La etiología más frecuente fue la enólica (40,7%). El 62,2% se diagnosticó en estadios tempranos, el 15,3% en intermedio y el 22,5% en avanzado o terminal. El 4,5% se trató mediante trasplante, el 21,6% con resección, el 23,4% mediante ablación, el 10,8% con quimioembolización, el 5,4% con radiembolización, el 2,7% con embolización, el 13,5% con sorafenib y el 18% de modo sintomático. Solamente 32 pacientes (28,8%) realizaban cribado. No se han encontrado diferencias significativas en la supervivencia según la realización de cribado (mediana de 32 y 34 meses; p = 0,971). Conclusiones. En Navarra, el hepatocarcinoma se desarrolla generalmente sobre una cirrosis, cuya etiología más frecuente es el consumo de alcohol. El hepatocarcinoma se ha diagnosticado con más frecuencia en estadios iniciales, fuera de cribado. El cribado no ha mejorado la supervivencia.Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma generally arises in a cirrhotic liver. The aim of screening is to improve survival. The aims of our study are to determine the characteristics and evolution of hepatocellular carcinoma and the effect of screening on survival, in clinical practice in Navarre. Methods. Prospective and retrospective study of 111 patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma in public hospitals in Navarre between January 2009 and January 2015. Epidemiological, clinical, analytical, radiological characteristics, tumour staging, treatment and evolution were analyzed. Survival was compared between patients subjected to screening and those not. Results. Mean age was 67 years. The patients (84.7%) were mainly male and 85.6% had cirrhosis. The most frequent aetiology was alcohol consumption (40.7%). 62.2% were diagnosed in early stages, 15.3% in intermediate and 22.5 % in advanced or terminal stages. 4.5% received transplants, 21.6% received surgical resection, 23.4% were treated with ablation techniques, 10.8 % with chemoembolization, 5.4% with radiembolization, 2.7% with embolization, 13.5 % with sorafenib and 18% symptomatically. Only 32 patients (28.8%) were subjected to screening. No statistical differences were found in survival depending on surveillance (32 month versus 34; p = 0.971). Conclusions. In Navarre, hepatocellular carcinoma generally appears against a background of cirrhosis, and alcohol is the most frequent aetiology. Hepatocellular carcinoma is diagnosed most frequently in early stages and out of screening practices. Screening was not associated to better survival

Positron emission tomography (PET) for cholangiocarcinoma

The combination of positron emission tomography (PET) with computed tomography (PET-CT) provides simultaneous metabolic and anatomic information on tumors in the same imaging session. Sensitivity of PET/PET-CT is higher for intrahepatic (>90%) than for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) (about 60%). The detection rate of distant metastasis is 100%. PET, and particularly PET-CT, improves the results and impacts on the oncological management in CCA compared with other imaging modalities. Therefore, PET-CT is recommended in the preoperative staging of intrahepatic (strength of recommendation: moderate) and extrahepatic (strength of recommendation: low) CCA

Control of severe portal bleeding by carrier-bound fibrin sealant

Bleeding during liver surgery and liver transplantation (LT) can be caused by coagulation disorders, portal vein hypertension, and adhesions from previous surgical procedures. We describe here how we controlled life-threatening bleeding from a portal vein anastomosis during a third cadaveric LT, by using a carrier-bound sealant (TachoSil). This technique proved effective to control severe anastomotic portal bleeding in this situation. It represents a helpful option in the field of LT, when vascular bleeding cannot be stopped by other methods

El hepatocarcinoma en la Comunidad Foral de Navarra: estudio de características y evolución en la práctica clínica habitual

Fundamento. El hepatocarcinoma asienta generalmente sobre una cirrosis hepática. El cribado pretende mejorar la supervivencia. Los objetivos de nuestro trabajo son conocer las características del hepatocarcinoma, su evolución y la influencia del cribado en su supervivencia, en la práctica clínica en Navarra. Material y Métodos. Estudio prospectivo y retrospectivo de 111 pacientes diagnosticados de hepatocarcinoma en hospitales públicos navarros, entre enero de 2009 y enero de 2015. Se analizaron características epidemiológicas, clínicas, analíticas, radiológicas, estadio tumoral, tratamiento y evolución, y el efecto del cribado. Resultados. El 84,7% de los pacientes eran varones. La edad media fue 67 años. El 85,6% tenían cirrosis. La etiología más frecuente fue la enólica (40,7%). El 62,2% se diagnosticó en estadios tempranos, el 15,3% en intermedio y el 22,5% en avanzado o terminal. El 4,5% se trató mediante trasplante, el 21,6% con resección, el 23,4% mediante ablación, el 10,8% con quimioembolización, el 5,4% con radiembolización, el 2,7% con embolización, el 13,5% con sorafenib y el 18% de modo sintomático. Solamente 32 pacientes (28,8%) realizaban cribado. No se han encontrado diferencias significativas en la supervivencia según la realización de cribado (mediana de 32 y 34 meses; p = 0,971). Conclusiones. En Navarra, el hepatocarcinoma se desarrolla generalmente sobre una cirrosis, cuya etiología más frecuente es el consumo de alcohol. El hepatocarcinoma se ha diagnosticado con más frecuencia en estadios iniciales, fuera de cribado. El cribado no ha mejorado la supervivencia.Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma generally arises in a cirrhotic liver. The aim of screening is to improve survival. The aims of our study are to determine the characteristics and evolution of hepatocellular carcinoma and the effect of screening on survival, in clinical practice in Navarre. Methods. Prospective and retrospective study of 111 patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma in public hospitals in Navarre between January 2009 and January 2015. Epidemiological, clinical, analytical, radiological characteristics, tumour staging, treatment and evolution were analyzed. Survival was compared between patients subjected to screening and those not. Results. Mean age was 67 years. The patients (84.7%) were mainly male and 85.6% had cirrhosis. The most frequent aetiology was alcohol consumption (40.7%). 62.2% were diagnosed in early stages, 15.3% in intermediate and 22.5 % in advanced or terminal stages. 4.5% received transplants, 21.6% received surgical resection, 23.4% were treated with ablation techniques, 10.8 % with chemoembolization, 5.4% with radiembolization, 2.7% with embolization, 13.5 % with sorafenib and 18% symptomatically. Only 32 patients (28.8%) were subjected to screening. No statistical differences were found in survival depending on surveillance (32 month versus 34; p = 0.971). Conclusions. In Navarre, hepatocellular carcinoma generally appears against a background of cirrhosis, and alcohol is the most frequent aetiology. Hepatocellular carcinoma is diagnosed most frequently in early stages and out of screening practices. Screening was not associated to better survival

"State of the art" in liver resection and living donor liver transplantation: a worldwide survey of 100 liver centers

BACKGROUND: New strategies have been developed to expand indications for liver surgery. The objective was to evaluate the current practice worldwide regarding critical liver mass and manipulation of the liver volume. METHODS: A survey was sent to 133 liver centers worldwide, which focused on (a) critical liver volume, (b) preoperative manipulation of the liver mass, and (c) use of liver biopsy and metabolic tests. RESULTS: The overall response rate to the survey was 75%. Half of the centers performed more than 100 resections per year; 86% had an associated liver transplant program. The minimal remnant liver volume for resection was 25% (15-40%) in cases of normal liver parenchyma and 50% (25-90%) in the presence of underlying cirrhosis. The minimal remnant liver volume for living donors was 40% (30-50%), whereas the accepted graft body weight ratio was 0.8 (0.6-1.2). Portal vein occlusion to manipulate the liver volume before resection was performed in 89% of the centers. CONCLUSIONS: Limits of liver volume and the current practice of liver manipulation before resection were comparable among different centers and continents. The minimal remnant liver volume in normal liver was 25%, and more than 80% of the centers performed portal vein occlusion