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Irreversible Electroporation of Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Liver Transplantation: Report of Two Cases

  • Case Report
  • Interventional Oncology
  • Published:
CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The treatment strategies of post-transplant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence have not been completely clarified. Thermal ablative techniques have been increasingly performed for the treatment of post-transplant HCC recurrences. However, thermal ablation can create abnormal communication with the biliary tract and the ablation site by causing biliary injury. This abnormal communication may cause bacterial contamination and abscess formation. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a nonthermal ablative technique which may reduce the risk of abscess development at the ablation site due to its low risk of thermal injury to the biliary system. IRE may also preserve the perilesional blood vessels. This report describes two cases of post-transplant intrahepatic HCC recurrence which were successfully treated with IRE.

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Abbreviations

ALT:

Alanine aminotransferase

AST:

Aspartate aminotransferase

BEA:

Bilioenteric anastomosis

CT:

Computed tomography

GGT:

Gamma-glutamyl transferase

HCC:

Hepatocellular carcinom

IRE:

Irreversible electroporation

LT:

Liver transplantation

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

MWA:

Microwave ablation

TACE:

Transarterial chemoembolization

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Acknowledgement

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Funding

This study was not supported by any funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departmant of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Sıhhiye, 06100, Ankara, Turkey

    Okan Akhan, Emre Ünal, Türkmen Çiftçi & Devrim Akıncı

  2. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey

    Yasin Sarıkaya

  3. Departmant of Radiology, Bayindir Hospital, Sogutozu, Ankara, Turkey

    Ali Köksal

Authors
  1. Okan Akhan
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  2. Yasin Sarıkaya
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  3. Ali Köksal
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  4. Emre Ünal
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  5. Türkmen Çiftçi
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  6. Devrim Akıncı
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Correspondence to Okan Akhan.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional committee (Hacettepe University) and with the 1964 Declaration of HELSINKI and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from both two patients.

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Akhan, O., Sarıkaya, Y., Köksal, A. et al. Irreversible Electroporation of Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Liver Transplantation: Report of Two Cases. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 44, 807–811 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-021-02784-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-021-02784-7

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