Outcomes of Surgical Resection after Radioembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

To longitudinally study clinical and radiologic outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent yttrium-90 transarterial radioembolization (TARE) as a bridge to surgical resection.

TARE was performed in 31 patients with HCC before resection. Of patients, 25 underwent major hepatic resection (16 received right hepatectomy and 9 received trisegmentectomy), and 6 underwent partial hepatectomy. Clinical outcomes after TARE and after resection were recorded. Future liver remnant (FLR) was calculated before and after TARE, and actual liver remnant volume was calculated after resection. Radiologic response after TARE and pathologic necrosis were assessed. Overall and recurrence-free survivals after resection were estimated.

Median time between TARE and resection was 2.9 months (interquartile range [IQR]: 2-5 months). Median FLR hypertrophy after TARE (and before resection) was 23.3% (IQR:10%-48%) for patients who had radiation lobectomy and 9% (IQR: 6%-25%) for patients who had radiation segmentectomy (P = .037). Median augmented hypertrophy of the liver remnant 3 months after resection was 72% (IQR:45%-88%) in patients who had radiation lobectomy and 94% (IQR: 72%-146%) in patients who had radiation segmentectomy. Complete, 50%-99%, and < 50% pathologic tumor necrosis was identified in 14 (45%), 10 (32%), and 7 (23%) tumors. Disease control was achieved in all 31 patients. Survival rates at 1 and 3 years were 96% and 86%, respectively. Median recurrence-free survival was 34.2 months (95% confidence interval,18.7-34.2).

TARE can serve as a safe bridge to resection providing FLR hypertrophy and disease control.