Safety and Efficacy of Irradiation Stent Placement for Malignant Portal Vein Thrombus Combined with Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Single-Center Experience.

To assess feasibility, safety, and preliminary efficacy of an irradiation portal vein stent for portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Between October 2012 and September 2015, 25 of 40 patients (mean age of 55.5 y) with PVTT caused by HCC were recruited for treatment with an irradiation portal vein stent (self-expandable stent loaded with iodine-125 seeds) at a single hospital. Liver function was classified as Child-Pugh class A in 15 patients (60%) and class B in 10 patients (40%). The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score was 0 in 3 patients (12%), 1 in 13 patients (52%), and 2 in 9 patients (36%). Transarterial chemoembolization was performed after stent placement. Outcomes were measured in terms of technical success, complications, stent patency, and overall survival. The technical success rate was 92.0% (23/25). No complications grade 3 or higher according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events were observed. Median stent patency period was 8.0 months (range, 0.6-30.0 months). Between 7 and 955 days after stent placement, 65 cycles of transarterial chemoembolization were performed with a mean of 2.8 cycles per patient. Median survival was 12.5 months (range, 0.6-35.7 months). Placement of an irradiation portal vein stent appears feasible and safe and may prolong the patency of the portal vein. It is a promising technique for combining recanalization of an occluded portal vein and brachytherapy.

Lu J ，Guo JH ，Zhu HD ，Zhu GY ，Chen L ，Teng GJ ... -  《-》

Endovascular placement of iodine-125 seed strand and stent combined with chemoembolization for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombus in main portal vein.

To study the safety and feasibility of endovascular placement of an iodine-125 ((125)I) seed strand and stent combined with chemoembolization to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with tumor thrombus in the main portal vein (MPV). From February 2008 to October 2009, 32 patients with HCC complicated by tumor thrombus in MPV were enrolled into this study (28 men and 4 women, mean age 53.2 years ± 8.8). After (125)I seed strand and self-expandable stent had been placed in the obstructed MPV, chemoembolization was performed. All patients were followed up every 30 days. Patency of stent and response of HCC were evaluated by abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan. The technical success rate was 100% for placement of the (125)I seed strand and stent in the obstructed MPV. No serious procedure-related complications occurred. During a mean follow-up of 217.5 days ± 151.6, the objective response rate of HCC to chemoembolization was 37.5%. The 90-day, 180-day, and 360-day cumulative survival rates were 96.4%, 67.4%, and 39.3%, and the cumulative stent patency rates were 96.7%, 83.4%, and 83.4%. Endovascular placement of (125)I seed strand and stent combined with chemoembolization was safe and feasible to treat HCC with tumor thrombus in the MPV.

Luo J ，Yan Z ，Liu Q ，Qu X ，Wang J ... -  《-》

Combined endovascular brachytherapy, sorafenib, and transarterial chemobolization therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal vein tumor thrombus.

Zhang ZH ，Liu QX ，Zhang W ，Ma JQ ，Wang JH ，Luo JJ ，Liu LX ，Yan ZP ... -  《-》

Endovascular brachytherapy combined with stent placement and TACE for treatment of HCC with main portal vein tumor thrombus.

Luo JJ ，Zhang ZH ，Liu QX ，Zhang W ，Wang JH ，Yan ZP ... -  《-》

[Endovascular placement of iodine-125 seed strand and self-expandable stent combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombus in the main portal vein].

Luo JJ ，Yan ZP ，Wang JH ，Liu QX ，Qu XD ，Zhang W ... -  《-》