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Digestive Disease Interventions 2023; 07(03): 169-179
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1760728
Review Article

Presence of an Arterial Feeding Vessel on Cross-Sectional Imaging Predicts Treatment Response and Survival after Transarterial Chemoembolization for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Retrospective Multivariable Analysis of 138 Patients

Justin J. Guan 
1   Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
,
Sandeep T. Laroia
2   Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
,
Aaron F. McBride
1   Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
,
Shiliang Sun
2   Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
,
Lihong Huang
3   Department of Biostatistics, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
,
Jingzhen Yang
4   Center for Injury Research and Policy, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
,
Michael Dunlay
5   Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
,
Prashant Nagpal
6   Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
› Author Affiliations
Funding This study was not supported by any funding.
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Abstract

Finding a feeding vessel with diameter greater than 0.9 mm during transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular cancer (HCC) has been shown to predict tumor necrosis on subsequent pathology. However, whether this translates into a useful clinical predictor for post-chemoembolization response and survival is unknown. This study aimed to determine whether the presence of an arterial feeder on pre-TACE cross-sectional imaging is associated with treatment response and survival after TACE for unresectable HCC. Retrospective medical record search for all chemo-embolizations performed for HCC from 2015 to 2016 yielded 138 patients who underwent 275 TACE sessions spanning 2011 to 2017. Patients consisted of 98 males (71%) with mean age of 62 (range, 37–86). Each patient underwent an average of two TACE sessions (range, 1–11). Endpoints included target tumor response and overall response defined by the mRECIST criteria, as well as patient survival. Preprocedural MRI/CT was reviewed for the presence of arterial feeder. Multivariable logistic regressions and Cox proportional hazard regressions were used to assess the effects of arterial feeder presence on treatment response and survival, respectively, adjusting for other covariates. Overall response was seen in 69% of patients. Arterial feeder was present on preprocedural cross-sectional imaging for 28% of TACE sessions. Median survival was 26.5 months (interquartile range, 13.2–38.1). The presence of arterial feeder led to better target tumor response (OR = 11.9, p < 0.0001), overall response (OR = 9.3, p < 0.0001), and improved survival (HR = 0.55, p = 0.02). The presence of an arterial feeder on pre-TACE cross-sectional imaging is associated with target tumor response, overall response, and survival after TACE.

Keywords

hepatocellular cancer - TACE - chemoembolization

Ethical Approval

For this type of study, no formal consent is required. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where data were collected and analyzed.


Informed Consent

This study has obtained IRB approval from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and the need for informed consent was waived.


Consent for Publication

For this type of study, consent for publication is not required.




Publication History

Received: 20 July 2022

Accepted: 08 December 2022

Article published online:
10 March 2023

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