Hepatic Dearterialization for Nonresectable Liver Tumors in Five Dogs and Two Cats

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Surgical Oncology
• Interventional Radiology

Background:

• Surgical resection of massive or nodular liver tumors can be dangerous in veterinary patients.
• Transarterial embolization and chemoembolization are challenging for diffuse or multinodular tumors, often requiring multiple anesthetic events.
• Hepatic dearterialization in humans has demonstrated safety and potential for temporary tumor regression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transarterial hepatic dearterialization as a palliative treatment for canine and feline liver tumors.
• To assess tumor response, complications, and survival times following the procedure.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of seven patients (five dogs, two cats) with nodular, diffuse, or non-resectable massive liver tumors.
• Transarterial coil embolization of the hepatic artery from the gastroduodenal artery origin to the proximal hepatic artery was performed.
• Data collected included signalment, clinical signs, biochemical changes, imaging, complications, and treatment response.

Main Results:

• All patients survived to discharge, with five discharged within 24 hours post-treatment.
• Mild, short-term vomiting and anorexia occurred in two patients.
• Hepatocellular enzyme activities decreased at 6 weeks post-treatment (ALT in 5/6, AST in 4/5).
• Tumor regression was observed in 3/4 patients via CT imaging.
• Survival ranged from 50 to 505 days.

Conclusions:

• Transarterial hepatic dearterialization is a safe and minimally invasive palliative option for veterinary patients with multinodular and diffuse liver tumors.
• The procedure demonstrated potential for tumor regression and was associated with good short-term outcomes.
• Further investigation is warranted to establish its role in managing challenging hepatic malignancies.