Biomedical subjects

Claudio Maurizio Pacella

Publications and source records attributed to Claudio Maurizio Pacella.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Analysis of factors predicting survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with percutaneous laser ablation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The factors which predict the long-term outcome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who are treated with percutaneous laser ablation (PLA) are not well established. METHODS: We prospectively analyzed treatment and survival parameters of 148 cirrhotic patients with nonsurgical hepatocellular carcinoma who had undergone PLA at a single institution during an 11-year period. RESULTS: Single tumors were seen in 129 of 148 (87%) patients, and 2-3 nodules were seen in 19 (13%) patients, for a total of 169 tumors. The median overall time survival was 39 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 30-47 months). The 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year cumulative survival rates were 89, 75, 52, 43, and 27%, respectively. From multiple regression analysis, the independent predictors of survival were found to be tumor grading (P=0.002; risk ratio [RR] 0.37, 95% CI 0.20-0.70), bilirubin levels < or =2.5mg/dl (P=0.014; RR 1.58, 95% CI 1.09-2.28), and the achievement of complete tumor ablation (P=0.020; RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.31-0.90). An initial complete tumor ablation was the only factor associated with longer survival in patients with Child-Turcotte-Pugh class A cirrhosis (P=0.012; hazard ratio [HR] 0.48, 95% CI 0.23-1.03). CONCLUSIONS: A complete tumor ablation results in improved survival in all patients with nonsurgical hepatocellular carcinoma. Ideal candidates for PLA are those with a well-differentiated histology, and normal bilirubin levels.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Percutaneous laser ablation in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with small tumors: analysis of factors affecting the achievement of tumor necrosis.

PURPOSE: To identify the factors that affect the achievement of tumor necrosis with percutaneous laser ablation (PLA) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and tumor size no larger than 4.0 cm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ultrasound-guided biopsy results were retrospectively studied in 99 lesions (range, 0.5-4.0 cm; mean, 2.7 cm) from 82 patients (44 men, 38 women; age range, 50-80 years; median, 68 y) who had undergone PLA. RESULTS: Complete tumor ablation was obtained in 90 lesions (90.9%). Of the nine cases in which complete tumor necrosis was not achieved, six had tumors located in sites that did not allow the optimal placement of fibers, and five of these had a tumor diameter greater than 3 cm. Early discontinuation of PLA as a result of decompensation of liver cirrhosis was the reason for not achieving a complete tumor ablation in three other cases. There was a clear relationship between the energy delivered and the volume of necrosis achieved (r = 0.56; P < .001) regardless of the initial size of HCC tumors. The number of illuminations required, and consequently the amount of energy delivered, was also affected by tumor location. In fact, lesions adjacent to large vessels (> or = 3 mm) required a greater number of illuminations than the other lesions to achieve complete ablation (2.9 +/- 1.4 vs 2.3 +/- 0.9; P = .043). The eight cases with undifferentiated histology required more illuminations than the cases with other histologic types (3.4 +/- 0.9 vs 2.2 +/- 0.9; P < .001). However, these cases were located in sites that did not allow the optimal placement of fibers, therefore requiring multiple treatments. CONCLUSION: PLA is a highly effective treatment in HCC with a tumor size of 4.0 cm or smaller. In this setting, two variables, tumor size and tumor location, affect the achievement of complete tumor ablation and the number of treatments required to obtain tumor necrosis.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Thyroid tissue: US-guided percutaneous laser thermal ablation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate in vivo the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous laser thermal ablation (LTA) in the debulking of thyroid lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five adult patients at poor surgical risk with cold nodules (n = 8), autonomously hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules (n = 16), or anaplastic carcinoma (n = 1) underwent LTA. One to four 21-gauge spinal needles were inserted with ultrasonographic (US) guidance into the thyroid lesions. A 300-microm-diameter quartz optical fiber was advanced through the sheath of the needle. Nd:YAG laser was used with output power of 3-5 W. Side effects, complications, and clinical and hormonal changes were evaluated at the end of LTA and during follow-up. Linear regression analysis was used to investigate the correlation between energy delivered and reduction in nodule volume. Volume of induced necrosis and reduction in nodule volume were assessed with US or computed tomography. RESULTS: LTA was performed without difficulties in 76 LTA sessions. After treatment with 5 W, two patients experienced mild dysphonia, which resolved after 48 hours and 2 months. Improvement of local compression symptoms was experienced by 12 of 14 (86%) patients. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was detectable in five of 16 (31%) patients with hyperfunctioning nodules at 6 months after LTA. Volume of induced necrosis ranged from 0.8 to 3.9 mL per session. Anaplastic carcinoma treated with four fibers yielded 32.0 mL of necrosis. Echo structure and baseline volume did not influence response. Energy load and reduction in nodule volume were significantly correlated (r(2) =.75, P <.001). Mean nodule volume reduction at 6 months in hyperfunctioning nodules was 3.3 mL +/- 2.8 (62% +/- 21.4 [SD]) and in cold nodules was 7.7 mL +/- 7.5 (63% +/- 13.8). CONCLUSION: LTA may be a therapeutic tool for highly selected problems in the treatment of thyroid lesions.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Percutaneous ethanol injection treatment in benign thyroid lesions: role and efficacy.

GOAL: To establish the role of percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) treatment in benign thyroid lesions by evaluating: (1) the long-term efficacy and side effects of the treatment, (2) the factors predictive of efficacy of PEI, and (3) the cost effectiveness of the procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-eight recurrent cystic nodules, 95 autonomously functioning nodules (AFTN), and 17 hyperfunctioning nodules causing thyrotoxicosis (toxic nodules) were treated by PEI from 1990 to 1996 in our center. Ultrasound (US) and color flow doppler (CFD) examinations were carried out before and after each treatment. In patients with AFTN, serum thyrotropin (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) levels were tested before and after PEI. All patients were independently reexamined by two external reviewers after a minimum follow-up of 5 years (median, 6.9 years). RESULTS: The median number of treatments was 2.0 (range, 1.0-4.0) for cystic nodules, 4 (range, 2.0-6.0) for AFTN, and 5 (range, 3.0-7.0) for toxic nodules. At the 5-year evaluation cystic nodules showed a volume reduction greater than 75% versus baseline in 86.2% of cases and an improvement of local symptoms in 91.4% of cases. AFTN presented serum TSH within normal limits in 60.0% of patients. Toxic nodules showed a detectable serum TSH and normal FT3 and FT4 values in 35.3% of cases. Two cases of transient dysphonia were observed. In cystic lesions no significant correlation was found between the baseline and the final volume (r2 = 0.17) and no significant predictor of treatment efficacy was found. However, unilocularity was associated with a lower number of treatments than multilocularity (median, 2.0 vs. 3.0). Independent predictors of clinical efficacy in both AFTN and toxic nodules were a baseline volume less than 5.0 mL and a fluid component greater than 30% (odds ratio [OR] = 6.1 and 3.3, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Most recurrent cystic lesions of the thyroid can be cured by PEI, which should become the first line of treatment. The majority of AFTN and toxic nodules with volume less than 5.0 mL presented a marked volume decrease and normal serum TSH levels when treated by PEI, which seems a valid alternative to clinical follow-up alone in patients refusing 131I. PEI is not indicated in large or toxic nodules, for which 131I is the treatment of choice.

Administration, Cutaneous↗