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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate survival outcomes and safety after chemoembolization using irinotecan-loaded small-size beads (DEB-IRI) in patients with colorectal liver metastases unresponsive to standard chemotherapy., Materials and Methods: Between December 2013 and August 2019, fifty-five patients (32 males, median age 64.5 years) with pretreated colorectal liver metastases unresponsive to standard chemotherapy underwent 197 chemoembolization procedures (mean 3.6 ± 2.3 SD per patient). Thirty patients (30/55; 55%) had extrahepatic disease metastatic to the lungs, lymph nodes or peritoneum. Local tumor control was evaluated at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Median overall survival, survival rates at 1 and 2 year and adverse events were evaluated., Results: Local tumor control was achieved in 32/55 (58%), 12/55 (22%), 4/55 (7%) and 2/55 (4%) patients at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, respectively. Median overall survival was 9.9 months (95% CI: 6.2-14.2 months) with 1- and 2-year survival rates of 45% and 15%, respectively. A total of 30 (15%) G1-G3 treatment-related adverse events occurred across all embolization procedures. No severe treatment-related adverse events occurred., Conclusion: Chemoembolization using irinotecan-loaded small-size beads is a safe and effective procedure as a salvage treatment in patients with colorectal liver metastases, showing good results in terms of liver-specific progression free survival and overall survival., (© 2021. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature and the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE).)

Introduction: Renal ablation is a recognized treatment modality for small renal masses. Cone-beam CT (CBCT) has been recently used in interventional oncology as a promising new guidance device, but this technology still needs to be validated for renal ablations. We aimed to assess the technical success of CBCT applications in renal ablative treatments., Materials and Methods: Between March 2016 and June 2018, 14 patients (mean age 69, range 54-83, 7F, 7M) underwent 21 renal ablations for histologically proven renal cell carcinoma (RCC). All treatments were performed with ultrasound (US) and CBCT guidance under general anesthesia in a dedicated angiography room setting. CBCT was mainly used to assess needle placement and to exclude complications at the end of the procedure. In two small lesions (< 1 cm), pre-acquired CBCT was co-registered with real-time US to obtain a US-CBCT fusion image guidance for tumor ablation., Results: Whether used alone or in combination with other imaging modalities, CBCT was proven to be technically successful in all 21 procedures to guide or assist tumor ablation. A primary technical efficacy of thermal ablation was achieved in 19/21 ablations (90.1%) at 1 month. Mean procedure duration was 100.2 min (range 160-64). Mean length of hospital stay was 2 days (range 1-10 days). All patients are still under active surveillance for a mean follow-up of 14.5 months (range 4-26 months)., Conclusions: CBCT for renal ablation guidance is a viable tool. Larger series are needed to compare it to MDCT.

Purpose: This pilot study was performed to investigate safety and local tumor control following transarterial embolization with small-size particles loaded with irinotecan (DEB-IRI) in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM)., Materials and Methods: Patients with pretreated CRLM with mono- or bilobar lesions involving less than 60% of the liver parenchyma and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 or 1 underwent superselective DEB-IRI embolization with 40 µm diameter embolic microspheres., Results: Eighteen patients (11 males, 7 females, median age 61 years) underwent 80 embolization procedures (mean 4.4, range 2-12 per patient). No serious adverse events were reported within 30 days. A total of 39 treatment-related AEs occurred across all embolization procedures. No G4 or G5 treatment-related AEs occurred. Local tumor control, defined as complete response, partial response, or stable disease, was achieved in 16/18 (88.9%), 7/17 (41.2%), and 3/17 (17.6%) patients at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Median liver progression-free survival was 5.9 months (range 27-409 days), and median overall survival was 13.5 months., Conclusion: In this small series, DEB-IRI embolization with small beads was demonstrated a safe procedure in the treatment of patients with CRLM. The promising results in terms of liver-specific progression-free survival and overall survival reported deserve further confirmation in larger prospective trials., Level of Evidence: Level 4, case series.

We present a case of 57-year-old patient with three liver metastases from a primary neuroendocrine duodenal tumor, who underwent bland embolization with excellent response to therapy, followed by surgical resection. The purpose of our case report is to describe the histological characteristics of tumoral response to therapy after bland embolization focusing on intralesional necrosis and microsphere distribution.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to retrospectively assess the safety and efficacy of radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) for retroperitoneal relapse following surgery for renal cell carcinoma (RCC)., Patients and Methods: After open radical nephrectomy or nephron-sparing surgery, eight patients with no evidence of distant metastases were treated for retroperitoneal relapse of RCC with RFA. A total of 16 lesions were ablated. Technical success, tumor response, follow-up duration, and complications were retrospectively analyzed., Results: Disease progression after surgery occurred within a mean time of 57 months (range 9-120). Recurrent tumor size varied from 5 to 34 mm. Five patients previously underwent surgical resection of retroperitoneal recurrent lesions. Six patients were treated with percutaneous approach, while two with recurrent nodes located on the anterior pancreatic surface underwent laparotomic RFA approach. All lesions were completely ablated and patients were followed up with CT at 30 days, after 3 and every 6 months. There was no residual enhancement after a mean follow-up of 12 months (range 7-17). Both patients treated with laparotomic approach had a grade 2 complication according to the Clavien-Dindo classification., Conclusions: In our small series, RFA after relapse of surgically removed RCC was safe and effective. Percutaneous and laparotomic thermal ablation should be assessed as first line loco-regional treatment on a larger patient group.

Purpose: This retrospective study evaluated the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of combining transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) with radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) in a single session for the treatment of technically unresectable liver-only malignancies., Methods: From May 2006 to January 2011, a total of 30 patients affected by liver metastases with single or multiple unresectable liver-only lesions underwent a combined treatment with TAE followed by RFA in the same session, for a total of 36 treated lesions. Patients were extrapolated from a cohort of patients discussed within the weekly institutional tumor board. TAE was performed by using 100 μm microspheres; RFA was performed immediately after TAE by positioning the electrode needle via ultrasound and/or computed tomographic guidance. Local tumor responses and procedure-related complications were evaluated., Results: Completion of both procedures was obtained in all patients for all 36 lesions. Liver lesions had a maximum axial diameter ranging 16-59 mm. Postintervention unenhanced ablated areas ranged 28-104 mm in maximum axial diameter. Safety margins ranged 1-30.5 mm. Complete response, defined as complete devascularization at computed tomography, was obtained in all treated lesions for a maximum period of 12 months. Tumor relapse was observed in one patient at 12 months. Sixteen patients developed new liver lesions or progressive systemic disease during follow-up. Nine patients were still disease-free. Seven patients died as a result of systemic progressive disease. One major treatment-related complication was observed., Conclusions: In patients with technically unresectable liver-only malignancies, single-session combined TAE-RFA is an effective and safe treatment.

We describe the use of ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for ablation of two pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (NETs; insulinomas) in two inoperable young female patients. Both suffered from episodes of severe nightly hypoglycemia that was not efficiently controlled by medical treatment. After HIFU ablation, local disease control and symptom relief were achieved without postinterventional complications. The patients remained free of symptoms during 9-month follow-up. The lesions appeared to be decreased in volume, and there was decreased enhancing pattern in the multidetector computed tomography control (MDCT). HIFU is likely to be a valid alternative for symptoms control in patients with pancreatic NETs. However, currently the procedure should be reserved for inoperable patients for whom symptoms cannot be controlled by medical therapy.

The purpose of this study is to report on the feasibility, local response, and 1-year clinical outcome of bland transarterial embolization (TAE) with 40- and 100-mum Embozene microspheres in patients affected by unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Up to January 2009, 53 patients underwent superselective TAE for a total of 74 lesions. Diagnosis of HCC was based on multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), alpha-fetoprotein, and biopsy. MDCT was performed 24 after treatment and repeated at 1 month, 3 months, and then every 6 months. Local efficacy was defined according to RECIST criteria. Technical success was always achieved. Local results at 1-month, 3- to 6-month, and 6- to 12-month follow-up were 62%, 37%, and 16%, respectively, for stable disease and 35%, 56%, and 51%, respectively, for partial response. Complete response (no evidence of lesion) has been observed only at late follow-up (three lesions; 7%). To date, 20 of 53 patients have had at least 1 year of follow-up, with an overall survival rate of 96%. Hepatic progressive disease (i.e., new nodules) was observed in 14 of 20 patients due to underlying liver disease. Minor complications were observed in four patients. A major complication occurred in one patient, who died unexpectedly 24 h after TAE due to pulmonary embolism of necrotic pathologic tissue and passage of particles through a disrupted hepatic vein. Local results as well as 1-year clinical outcome after TAE with Embozene microspheres are veryly encouraging, however, further studies, a larger patient population, and a longer follow-up are mandatory to assess the real clinical impact.

Background: Ureterointestinal anastomotic strictures (UAS) complicate 10-15% of surgeries for urinary diversion and are the main cause of deterioration in renal function. Treatments are surgical revision, management with autostatic stent, balloon dilatation, endoscopic incision, and percutaneous transrenal diathermy (Acucise). A new option is cryoplastic dilatation (Polar-Cath)., Purpose: To assess the feasibility, complications, and preliminary results of UAS treatment using the Acucise and Polar-Cath systems., Methods: Nineteen UAS, diagnosed by ultrasonography or computed tomography and sequential renal scintigraphy, occurred in 15 cancer patients after radical cystectomy and urinary diversion. Fifteen were managed with balloon diathermy and 4 by balloon cryoplasty in a three-stage procedure--percutaneous nephrostomy, diathermal or cryoplastic dilatation, and transnephrostomic control with nephrostomy removal--each separated by 15 days. All patients gave written informed consent., Results: Dilatations were successful in all cases. The procedure is simple and rapid (about 45 min) under fluoroscopic control and sedation. Procedural complications occurred in 1 (5%) patient with UAS after Wallace II uretero-ileocutaneostomy: a common iliac artery lesion was induced by diathermal dilatation, evident subsequently, and required surgical repair. Patency with balloon diathermy was good, with two restenoses developing over 12 months (range 1-22) of follow-up. With balloon cryoplastic dilatation, one restenosis developed in the short term; follow-up is too brief to assess the long-term efficacy., Conclusion: Our short-term results with diathermal and cryoplastic dilatation to resolve UAS are good. If supported by longer follow-up, the techniques may be considered as first-choice approaches to UAS. Surgery should be reserved for cases in which this minimally invasive technique fails.