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e15648 Background: Sorafenib has been acknowledged as a standard treatment for advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combination therapy of sorafenib and on-demand transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for advanced stage HCC. Methods: Inclusion criteria were advanced stage HCC (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C), a systemic chemotherapy native status, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0–1, and a Child-Pugh grade-A. Sorafenib therapy (800 mg daily) was started 4–28 days after TACE. On-demand TACE was allowed. The primary endpoint was the completion rate of protocol treatment, which was defined as sorafenib administration at least for 2 months from initial TACE. Secondary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) based on modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and the incidence of adverse events. Results: From July 2013 to September 2015, a total of 32 patients were registered from 9 institutions, but one patient was excluded because his tumor turned out to be combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. The protocol treatment was completed in 28 of 31 enrolled patients (90.3%, 28/31). The median treatment duration was 7.0 months (range 0.5–30) with the median number of TACE was 1 (range 1–4) and the median sorafenib dosage of 400 mg daily (range 154-800). The ORR and DCR were 77% and 90%, respectively. Median OS and PFS were 17.3 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 11.9–22.6] and 5.4 months (95% CI, 4.6–6.2), respectively. The most common grade-3 or -4 adverse events were increased aspartate aminotransferase (55%, 17/31), increased alanine aminotransferase (45% 14/31), and hypertension (23%, 7/31). Conclusions: Combination therapy of sorafenib and on-demand TACE was well tolerated and safe. Furthermore, this combination treatment may provide a survival benefit to patients with advanced stage HCC. Clinical trial information: UMIN000014213.

OBJECTIVE To retrospectively evaluate relative enhancement (RE) in the hepatobiliary phase of gadoxetic acid disodium-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging as a preoperative estimation of future remnant liver (FRL) function in a patients who underwent portal vein embolization (PVE). MATERIALS AND METHODS In 53 patients, the correlation between the indocyanine green clearance (ICG-K) and RE imaging was analyzed before hepatectomy (first analysis). Twenty-three of the 53 patients underwent PVE followed by a repeat RE imaging and ICG test before an extended hepatectomy and their results were further analyzed (second analysis). Whole liver function and FRL function were calculated on the MR imaging as follows: RE x total liver volume (RE Index) and FRL-RE x FRL volume (Rem RE Index), respectively. Regarding clinical outcome, posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) was evaluated in patients undergoing PVE. RESULTS Indocyanine green clearance correlated with the RE Index (r = 0.365, p = 0.007), and ICG-K of FRL (ICG-Krem) strongly correlated with the Rem RE Index (r = 0.738, p < 0.001) in the first analysis. Both the ICG-Krem and the Rem RE Index were significantly correlated after PVE (r = 0.508, p = 0.013) at the second analysis. The rate of improvement of the Rem RE Index from before PVE to after PVE was significantly higher than that of ICG-Krem (p = 0.014). Patients with PHLF had a significantly lower Rem RE Index than patients without PHLF (p = 0.023). CONCLUSION Relative enhancement imaging can be used to estimate FRL function after PVE.

Pneumothorax is a common complication following transthoracic interventional procedures. Most often, this occurs unilaterally on the side of the intervention. Bilateral pneumothorax following unilateral puncture is rare, but may mandate emergent chest tube insertion. We describe two cases in which bilateral pneumothorax occurred after unilateral thoracic puncture. One patient had a history of esophageal resection, while the other had no history of thoracic surgery.

Purpose To compare the efficacy, complications, and inflammatory levels in partial splenic embolization (PSE) with coils or gelatin sponge (GS) particles with or without intraarterial antibiotic agents. Materials and Methods Forty-four patients with hypersplenism treated by PSE were assessed. GS particles were used in 31 patients, and coils were used in 13 patients. In 17 of the 31 patients who received GS, GS suspended in antibiotic solution was injected via the splenic artery. In the other 14 patients, antibiotic agents were not used. In all 13 coil group patients, an antibiotic solution was intraarterially injected before embolization. Platelet counts were compared between the GS and coil groups. Complications and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were compared among the three groups. Results There were no significant differences in platelet counts and platelet increased ratios at 6 months (10.0 × 10 4 /µL and 193% in the GS group vs 9.0 × 10 4 /µL and 221% in the coil group), and no significant differences in frequencies of complications. However, one splenic abscess occurred in a patient treated with GS without antibiotics, resulting in death. The mean serum CRP level in the GS with antibiotic group at 2 weeks was significantly lower than in the other two groups. Conclusions The efficacy of PSE is similar with the use of coils versus GS particles. Prophylactic intraarterial antibiotic treatment could be useful in preventing inflammatory reactions after PSE.

Purpose To evaluate the usefulness of a tool that we developed to simulate performance of insertion and retrieval of optional inferior vena cava filters to be additionally used in training of beginners with an animal model. Subjects and methods Thirty young doctors who had little or no experience in insertion and/or retrieval of filters were subjects of this study to evaluate the training tool. Eleven trainees practiced both insertion and retrieval of filters first with the animal model then with the blood vessel model while 19 trainees first practiced with the blood vessel model then with the animal model. Results All trainees successfully inserted the filter. Two of the 11 trainees who used the animal model before the blood vessel model failed in retrieval, and 2 of the 19 trainees who used the blood vessel model before the animal model failed. In the former group, mean time for filter implantation and withdrawal in the animal model was 75 ± 62 s and 341 ± 238 s, respectively, and in the latter group were 54 ± 16 s and 311 ± 236 s, respectively. Conclusion Training with the combination of a blood vessel model and animal model is helpful for beginners to learn to insert and withdraw optional filters.

Purpose This multicenter, prospective study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous transesophageal gastrotubing (PTEG) as an esophagostomy procedure for bowel decompression in patients with malignant bowel obstruction. Materials and Methods The study subjects were patients with malignant bowel obstruction treated with a nasogastric tube (NGT). After receiving PTEG, efficacy evaluations were conducted, with NGT designated as the control state. The procedure was considered effective only when discomfort in the nasopharynx was improved for at least 2 weeks. Safety was evaluated by using National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria, version 2.0. PTEG was performed by using a PTEG kit. Results From February 2003 to December 2005, 33 patients were enrolled. The technical success rate was 100%, and the procedure was considered effective in 30 of 33 cases. The three cases in which the procedure was ineffective could not be evaluated as a result of deterioration of general status or early death. The one recorded complication was a tracheoesophageal fistula that caused grade 2 aspiration pneumonia. Conclusions PTEG is an effective technique to relieve discomfort in the nasopharynx caused by NGT in patients with terminal malignant tumors. PTEG should be considered an efficacious method for bowel decompression in patients who are ineligible for surgical procedures, percutaneous gastrostomy, or percutaneous enterostomy.

A 37-year-old male presented with hepatic metastases from uveal melanoma after the enucleation of an affected eye. Hepatic metastases were thought to be the critical factors determining prognosis, so transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) was performed for local control of the hepatic metastases. The first TACE with cisplatin (CDDP) and gelatin sponge (GS) did not have much success because fine feeding arteries to the main hepatic tumor on the caudate lobe branched out from the hepatic artery, and GS particles were not distributed in the tumor vessels. We used degradable starch microspheres (DSM) as finer obstructing material for the next treatment, and hepatic metastases were treated effectively with repeated CDDP/DSM-TACE.

Purpose Treatment of patients who have metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) by using a combination of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) and systemic chemotherapy has resulted in promising clinical outcomes. Additionally, image-guided HAIC is reported to be less invasive and distribute drugs more accurately than surgical HAIC. The purpose of this study was to assess the combination of image-guided delivery of fluorouracil through HAIC and systemic irinotecan in a multicenter phase I/II study. Materials and Methods Twenty-five patients with unresectable liver metastases from CRC were fitted with hepatic arterial catheter and port systems by using image-guided methods. Intraarterial fluorouracil (1,000 mg/m 2 ) was administered on days 1, 8, and 15 of each treatment cycle. The dose of systemic irinotecan on days 1 and 15 was escalated from 75 mg/m 2 . Results No dose-limiting toxicity was encountered during phase I, and the recommended dose of irinotecan was set at 150 mg/m 2 . Grade 3 or higher adverse events included hyperglycemia (15%), elevated γ-glutamyl transpeptidase levels (15%), and neutropenia (9%). The response rate and median survival time were 72% and 49.8 months (95% CI, 27.5–78.1 mo), respectively. Conclusions The combination of image-guided delivery of fluorouracil through HAIC and systemic irinotecan yielded favorable safety, response rate, and survival results. This combination should be evaluated in a large study.

A 65-year-old woman with liver metastases from colon cancer and tumor thrombus extending from the right hepatic vein (HV) to the right atrium (RA) presented with marked lower-extremity edema and massive ascites. Computed tomography showed tumor thrombus completely occluding the inferior vena cava (IVC) and HV ostia. Recanalization of the IVC and HVs was performed. Metallic stents were placed in tandem from the superior vena cava to the IVC through the RA, and additional metallic stents were placed in the left HV. The patient's symptoms were relieved, and there was no recurrence of these symptoms for 19.5 months until death.

We report a case of adenofibroma of the endometrium in a 69-year-old woman. This patient was receiving tamoxifen therapy after surgery for breast cancer. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an intracavitary mass containing multiple cystic components. We suggest adenofibroma as a possible diagnosis in cases of uterine masses with multiple cystic components and no clinical evidence of malignancy.

There are few data on the efficacy of combination chemotherapy with a fluoropyrimidine plus cisplatin for patients with advanced or recurrent gastric cancer (AGC) complicated by peritoneal metastasis, especially massive ascites.We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of a fluoropyrimidine (S-1 or capecitabine) plus cisplatin as first-line chemotherapy in 120 patients with AGC and peritoneal metastasis.Ascites was detected in 50 patients, with 11 patients having massive ascites. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of all patients was 6.1 and 15.9 months, respectively. The PFS and OS were shorter in patients with massive ascites (n = 11; 3.7 and 9.5 months) compared with patients with small or moderate ascites (n = 39; 5.8 and 13.5 months) or patients without ascites (n = 70; 6.9 and 18.1 months). The objective response in terms of ascites was similar whether ascites was massive (4 of 11 patients; 36.4%) or small or moderate (16 of 39 patients; 41%). The frequencies of grade 3 or higher toxicity or treatment discontinuation due to toxicity are relatively similar across ascites groups.Fluoropyrimidine plus cisplatin appears to be tolerated in selected patients with peritoneal metastasis.

The aim of this study is to prospectively evaluate the efficacy of combination chemotherapy with every second week cetuximab and irinotecan in patients with pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer harboring wild-type KRAS. Patients with wild-type KRAS metastatic colorectal cancer that had progressed after chemotherapy with irinotecan, oxaliplatin, and fluoropyrimidine were included. Cetuximab was administered at 500 mg/m(2) biweekly with irinotecan. The primary endpoint was response rate. The pharmacokinetics of cetuximab was also evaluated in 5 patients. From May 2009 to February 2010, a total of 31 patients were enrolled from five institutions. One patient was not eligible. Among the 30 patients who were treated with biweekly cetuximab plus irinotecan, partial response was observed in 9 patients. The objective response rate was 30.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.7%-49.4%) and the disease control rate (complete response, partial response, or stable disease) was 76.7% (95% CI, 57.7%-90.0%). The median progression-free survival was 5.3 months and median overall survival was 10.8 months. Grade 3 skin toxicity was observed in 3 patients (10.0%) and one treatment related death due to pneumonia was observed. Combination chemotherapy with biweekly cetuximab and irinotecan was effective for pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer with wild-type KRAS.

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate retrospectively the clinical procedural performance of CT-guided needle biopsy for retroperitoneal lesions. Materials and methods CT-guided needle biopsy was performed in 74 consecutive patients (M:F = 44:30; mean age, 59.7 years) with retroperitoneal lesions between April 1998 and June 2009. The target lesion ranged from 1.5 to 12.5 cm in size. The biopsy access path ranged from 3.5 to 11.5 cm in depth. A biopsy specimen was obtained using an 18-gauge core needle under a CT or CT-fluoroscopy guidance and with the patient under local anesthesia. The histopathological diagnoses from the biopsies were obtained. The diagnostic confirmation of the subtype of lymphoma was evaluated. Results Satisfactory biopsy samples were obtained in 73 (99%) of 74 patients and a pathological diagnosis was made in 70 (95%) of 74 patients. Sixty three lesions were malignant (45 lymphomas, nine primary tumors, nine lymph node metastases) and seven were benign. The subtype of lymphoma was specified in 43 (96%) of 45 patients who were diagnosed with lymphoma. Analysis of the value of CT-guided biopsy in this series indicated 63 true positives, zero false positive, six true negatives and five false negatives. This test had a sensitivity of 93%, a specificity of 100% and an accuracy of 93%. No major complications were seen and minor complications were noted in seven patients (five with local hematomas, two with transient pain at the puncture site). Conclusion CT-guided needle biopsy for retroperitoneal lesions is highly practical and useful, and particularly for determining the subtypes in patients with lymphoma.

This paper is an overview of the new response evaluation criteria in solid tumours: revised RECIST guideline (version 1. 1), with a focus on updated contents.

The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the efficacy of combination irinotecan and cetuximab chemotherapy in patients with pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer harboring wild-type KRAS. Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer that had progressed after chemotherapy with irinotecan, oxaliplatin, and fluoropyrimidine were included. KRAS status was evaluated using the Cycleave PCR method; only patients without KRAS mutations were included. Cetuximab was administered initially at 400 mg/m2 followed by weekly 250 mg/m2 infusions. Irinotecan was administered biweekly. From October 2008 to April 2009, a total of 30 patients were enrolled. The objective response rate was 30.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.7–49.4%) and the disease control rate (complete response, partial response, or stable disease) was 80.0% (95% CI, 61.4–92.3%). Among the 15 patients with stable disease, 11 patients experienced >10% tumor shrinkage. Median progression-free survival was 5.8 months (95% CI, 4.1–7.6). Median overall survival was not reached at a median follow-up of 10.1 months. Grade 2 skin toxicity was observed in 23 patients, while no grade 3 skin toxicity was observed. Combined irinotecan and cetuximab is effective for pretreated metastatic wild-type KRAS colorectal cancer.

No reports about factors that predict prognosis after second-line chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer have been published.We retrospectively analyzed 124 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who received irinotecan-based second-line chemotherapy after first-line folinic acid/5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) with or without bevacizumab.A multivariate Cox model revealed 5 prognostic factors for worse survival: ECOG performance status 2, pathologically poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, peritoneal metastasis, progression-free survival of first-line FOLFOX6 months, and lactate dehydrogenase ≥ 400 IU/L. When patients were categorized into 3 risk groups-patients without any prognostic factors (low-risk, n = 55), patients with one prognostic factor (intermediate-risk, n = 32), and patients with 2 or more prognostic factors (high-risk, n = 37)-overall survival from initiation of second-line chemotherapy was 23.5, 14.6, and 5.5 months, respectively. The proportion of patients who were eligible to receive further chemotherapy after disease progression was significantly lower in the high-risk group (41%) than in the intermediate- (67%) and low-risk (95%) groups.Several prognostic factors for survival after second-line therapy and probability of receiving third-line chemotherapy were identified. This risk classification system might be useful for determining which patients should receive cetuximab in the second-line setting rather than the third-line setting.

Objective: Equivalent cross-relaxation rate (ECR) imaging is an MRI technique used to evaluate quantitatively a change in the protein-water interaction. We aimed to evaluate retrospectively the usefulness of ECR imaging for the histologic classification of malignant lymphoma (ML). Materials and Methods: Institutional Review Board approval was obtained and all patients provided informed consent. The study subjects included 15 patients with untreated ML who were histologically diagnosed with follicular lymphoma (FL; n = 8) or diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL; n = 7). All patients underwent ECR imaging and the offset frequency was set at 7 ppm. Results: The median ECR values were 71% (range; 60.7 to 75.5) in FL and 54% (50.8 to 59.4) in DLBCL (p = 0.001). The median cellular density was 1.5 0.17 × 10 6 / mm 2 in FL and 1.0 ± 0.70 × 10 6 / mm 2 in DLBCL (p = 0.001). The correlation coefficient between the ECR values and cellular density in ML was 0.88 (p = 0.001). In FL and DLBCL, assuming ECR value cut-off points of 60%, both sensitivity and specificity were 100%. Conclusion: A strong correlation between ECR and cellular density in ML is demonstrated and the ECR may be a useful technique to differentiate between FL and DLBCL. he contrast obtained in breast cancer tissue for saturation transfer ratio imaging at frequency offsets of 7 and 19 ppm from the water resonance frequency, has been shown to correlate with the malignant potential of the cells and the extent of fibrosis, respectively (1). In an in vitro nuclear magnetic resonance study, Callicott et al. (2) found that the cross-relaxation rate is a more sensitive parameter than the saturation transfer ratio for characterizing human breast tissue. The cross-relaxation rate is defined as the magnetization transfer rate constant. We further refined this technique and demonstrated that the cross-relaxation rate could be calculated using a simple equation. We named this technique ‘equivalent cross-relaxation rate imaging’ (ECRI). Equivalent cross-relaxation rate (ECR) imaging is an MRI technique used to quantitatively evaluate a change in the protein-water interaction. The contrast on ECRI is highly dependent on offset frequency. ECRI is a cell-weighted imaging technique that operates at offset frequencies below 10 ppm in previous studies (1, 3-5). Moreover, we demonstrated that ECRI is a useful method for cellular density imaging of axillary lymph nodes (7). Treatment strategies and prognosis of malignant lymphoma (ML) are affected by histologic type. Both follicular lymphoma (FL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) are common, with DLBCL requiring emergent treatment. Pathological diagnosis by biopsy is indispensable for treating ML, and although diagnostic imaging

We retrospectively analysed 153 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who received FOLFOX with or without bevacizumab as first-line chemotherapy. Several background characteristics and chemotherapy features (grade of neutropaenia, use of bevacizumab or irinotecan, re-introduction of FOLFOX, and tumour progression) as time-varying covariates were analysed as potential prognostic factors. Of the 153 patients, mild neutropaenia (grade 1–2) occurred in 60 patients (39%) and severe neutropaenia (grade 3–4) occurred in 46 patients (30%). The other 47 patients (31%) did not experience neutropaenia. According to a multivariate Cox model with time-varying covariates, hazard ratios (HRs) of death were 0.55 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.31–0.98; P = 0.044) for patients with mild neutropaenia and 0.35 (95% CI, 0.18–0.66; P = 0.002) for those with severe neutropaenia. Both mild and severe neutropaenia during chemotherapy are associated with improved survival in patients with MCRC. Prospective trials are required to assess whether dosing adjustments based on neutropaenia may improve chemotherapy efficacy.

Background: The current standard chemotherapy for advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer in Japan is FOLFOX or FOLFIRI therapy. Although both therapies include continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), outpatient home chemotherapy is possible by placing a central venous access port (CV-port) and using a portable disposable pump. The port system has been placed more frequently since the approval of FOLFOX. Consequently, more complications involving ports and pumps have been encountered. Methods: At our hospital, 232 patients with colorectal cancer underwent outpatient home chemotherapy by placing a CV-port and using a portable disposable pump for continuous infusion of 5-FU between 1998 and 2005. Incidence and contents of complications involving ports and pumps were investigated retrospectively. Results: A total of 54 incidents of complications involving ports and pumps were identified in 3142 treatments (1.72%) from among 34 of the 232 patients (14.7%). In 2005, when FOLFOX was introduced, 31 incidents occurred in 1903 treatments (1.63%) for 19 of 149 patients (12.8%). Incidents involved port placement (n ¼ 6), catheter and port system-related complications (n ¼ 15), puncture needle-related complications (n ¼ 3), skin complications related to tape fi xation ( n ¼ 20) and pump-related complications (n ¼ 10). In 10 patients (4.3%), system-related complications made therapy difficult to continue and system exchange was required. Conclusions: Technical troubles involving ports and pumps occurred at a certain rate, and skin incision was required for system exchange in some cases. When performing outpatient chemotherapy using ports and pumps, thorough prior guidance and double-checking must be implemented, and proper countermeasures must be established.

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy employs a hepatic artery catheter as a conduit to achieve a high concentration of antineoplastic agents to liver tumors. Historically, this catheter placement has been performed via laparotomy. However, it may now be performed using less-invasive percutaneous image guided procedures. There are many anatomical hepatic arterial variations and complicated blood flow patterns. Various techniques are required to ensure high concentration of antineoplastic agents in liver tumors. These techniques are composed of arterial redistribution by embolization, percutaneous catheter placement applying "tip-fixation method," and evaluation and management of flow patterns that reflect drug distribution. The role of interventional radiologists in hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy is to create and manage the access to achieve these objectives.

We described a case of chest wall dissemination after percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy. A 65-year-old man had a lung nodule which was suspected to be lung carcinoma. He underwent percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy using an 18G semiautomated biopsy needle and pathologic diagnosis showed organizing pneumonia. Two months after the biopsy, chest wall dissemination occurred. Implantation of carcinoma along the biopsy route was suspected, but the mass was actually due to pulmonary nocardiosis.

4018 Background: An unmet medical need persists for patients (pts) with sorafenib-refractory advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of...

Hepatic arterial occlusion (HAO) is frequently encountered in patients receiving hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) via an implanted port–catheter system. Usually, HAO precludes continuation of HAIC, and treatment for liver metastases is changed to systemic chemotherapy. However, two cases were encountered in which, even though HAO was diagnosed by arteriography via the port, the hepatic artery was actually patent. These cases illustrate that arteriography via the port is insufficient to confirm HAO.

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) for liver metastases from digestive cancer has passed through a long history. In spite of its significant high tumor reduction rate, this therapeutic modality has been rejected as the first-line therapy for liver metastases from colorectal cancer because of the negative results of RCTs compared to systemic chemotherapy. However, recently some excellent results have been reported by the combination with systemic chemotherapy,and a positive result of RCT using a satisfactory study design has been reported. Thus, the combination with systemic chemotherapy and RCT in comparison with modern standard systemic chemotherapy as the first-line therapy remains an important problem to be solved. On the other hand, the highly-developed technology for HAIC using techniques of interventional radiology has been standardized in Japan. Thus, we now have become the closest in the world to performing good-quality clinical trials of HAIC supported by high-quality technology. We should therefore consider our very important role in resolving such problems and deciding the future of HAIC.

The clinical efficacy and safety of tegafur/uracil (UFT) plus oral Leucovorin (LV) regimen for advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer were studied retrospectively. From September 2003 to March 2005, 82 patients were treated with UFT (300 mg/m(2)/day)/LV (75 mg/day) at our institute. The objective overall response rate was 14. 8% (95% confidence interval, 5.3 to 24.3%) in 54 evaluable patients. The response rate was 33.3% for previously untreated patients and 5.5% for previously treated patients, respectively. Grade 3 or more severe adverse reactions such as diarrhea or liver function abnormalities were only 7.3%. In 28 previously untreated patients,the median survival was 25.8 months with 1-and 2-year survival rates of 88.0% and 60.5%, respectively. This retrospective study demonstrated the reproducible activity and safety of UFT/LV for advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer in clinical practice.

Pseudoaneurysm is a relatively rare but serious complication of pancreatitis which is often fatal. We report successful stent-graft placement in the superior mesenteric artery in a 45-year-old man with a pancreatic pseudocyst that grew during therapy for chronic pancreatitis and developed into a pseudoaneurysm. After a stent graft was inserted in the superior mesenteric artery, the pseudoaneurysm disappeared and no further complications developed. Stent-graft placement was considered to be a useful therapy for pseudoaneurysms in the superior mesenteric arterial region.

Our objective was to evaluate the usefulness of embolizing collateral vessels using mechanically detachable coils (MDCs) in children aged 3 years or younger with congenital heart disease. The subjects were 8 children with congenital heart disease featuring collateral vessels (age 18 days-3 years): 3 with a single ventricle, 2 with the tetralogy of Fallot, 2 with pulmonary atresia, and 1 with a ventricular septal defect. The embolized vessels were the major aortopulmonary collateral artery (MAPCA) in 5 patients, the persistent left superior vena cava in 2, and the coronary arteriovenous fistula in 1. A 4 or a 5 F catheter was used as the guiding device, and embolization was performed using MDCs and other conventional coils introduced through the microcatheter. One patient had growth of new MAPCAs after embolization, and these MAPCAs were also embolized with MDCs. Thus, a total of 9 embolization procedures were performed in 8 patients. Complete occlusion of the collateral vessels was achieved in 8 of 9 procedures (89%). Seven of 8 patients (88%) had uneventful courses after embolization, and MDC procedures appeared to play important roles in avoiding coil migration and achievement of safe coil embolization. One patient who underwent MAPCA embolization showed no improvement in heart function and died 2 months and 19 days later. Embolization of collateral vessels using MDCs in young children with congenital heart disease can be an effective procedure and a valuable adjunct to surgical management.

In median arcuate ligament syndrome, the root of the celiac artery is compressed and narrowed by the median arcuate ligament of the diaphragm during expiration, causing abdominal angina. Aneurysm may be formed in arteries of the pancreas and duodenum due to a chronic increase in blood flow from the superior mesenteric artery into the celiac arterial region. We report a patient saved by embolization with coils of ruptured aneurysm that developed with markedly dilated anterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery due to median arcuate ligament syndrome.

Background: A metastasis from colorectal cancer (CRC) can be resected with curative intent. CT scan is useful to detect small metastases, though it is unclear whether scheduled CT scan improves the survival of patients with curatively resected CRC or not. Methods: We investigated retrospectively 331 CRC patients had undergone curative resection for primary lesion from Jan 2006 to Dec 2007. It was examined that the correlation between survival and receiving scheduled CT scan. Results: The median age of patients was 62 years. There were 154 colon and 177 rectal cancer patients. LN metastases were detected in 125 patients and were not in 206 patients. pStage 0/I/II/IIIa/IIIb were 3/96/107/93/32, respectively. 216 patients underwent scheduled CT scan (scheduled CT group) and 115 patients did not (without CT group). Tumor recurrence were detected in 40 patients in scheduled CT group (18.5%) and 11 in without CT group (10.6%). In scheduled CT group, 85% of recurrence was detected with a single site of metastasis. On the other hand, in without CT group, only 45% recurrence was detected with a single site. As a result, curative resection of metastasis was done in 58% of scheduled CT group and 45% of without CT group, respectively. In patients who suffered from recurrence, scheduled CT demonstrated a tendency to improve overall survival (P = 0.141). In all patients scheduled CT scan didn't improve the survival, while in pStage II/III patients only, overall survival was slightly better in scheduled CT group (p = 0.526). Conclusion: Scheduled CT scan may improve the survival of curatively resected CRC patients.

e15501 Background: In spite of systemic response evaluation criteria, RECIST is widely used for evaluating the tumor response (TR) in local therapy. As a result, there are double standard criteria (RECIST ver 1.1 and modified EASL) in the evaluation for TR of HCC treated by TACE. Tumor size is evaluated by measurement of the entire lesion including necrotic part in RECIST ver 1.1 (EJC 2009;45:228), whereas the only contrast-enhanced part on radiological images is measured when the modified EASL are used (JNCI 2008;100:698). Both criteria adopt the unidimensional measurement. Methods: This is a study of the radiological findings of patients who underwent TACE for multiple HCCs in the JIVORSG 0401 study. The subjects were 65 lesions in 21 patients treated by pan- hepatic TACE using cisplatin and gelatin particles without mixing iodized-oil. Five radiologists measured independently each lesion twice, therefore 130 measurements were performed per radiologist according to the 2 criteria (RECIST ver 1.1 and modified EASL). To compare the inter- and intra- criteria reproducibility of TR for each lesion, CR rate, response rate, proportion of agreement, and the kappa statistics for response categories were calculated. Results: Results are shown in the table. CR rate and response rate obtained using the modified EASL were higher than those obtained using RECIST ver 1.1. The inter-criteria reproducibility between RECIST ver 1.1 and modified EASL were poor. The intra-criteria reproducibility of RECIST ver 1.1 indicated substantial agreement, while that of modified EASL indicated almost perfect agreement. Conclusions: For a precise interpretation of the tumor response in clinical trials of TACE for HCCs, appropriate attention must be paid to the criteria employed for the evaluation. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.

9641 Background: A phase II clinical study on stent therapy for unresectable malignant colorectal stenosis was conducted to ascertain clinical efficacy, safety and procedural feasibility. Methods: ...