As a treatment option for cancer, thermal ablation has satisfactory effects on many types of solid tumors (such as liver and renal cancers). However, its clinical applications for the treatment of thyroid nodules and metastatic cervical lymph nodes are still under debate both in China and abroad. In 2015, the “Zhejiang Expert consensus on thermal ablation for thyroid benign nodules, microcarcinoma, and metastatic cervical lymph nodes (2015 edition),” was released by the Thyroid Cancer Committee of Zhejiang Anti-Cancer Association, China. To further standardize the application of thermal ablation for thyroid tumors, the Thyroid Tumor Ablation Experts Group of Chinese Medical Doctor Association has organized many seminars and finally produced a consensus to formulate the “Expert consensus workshop report: Guidelines for thermal ablation of thyroid tumors (2019 edition).”

Along with increasing incidence of operable small pulmonary nodules, it becomes difficult to localize nodules via palpation. Accurate localization of small pulmonary nodules has remained a big challenge in lung surgery. Therefore, several techniques for preoperative localizing small pulmonary nodules have evolved, but the advantages and disadvantages of each method remain unclear. We reviewed computed tomography-guided percutaneous and bronchoscopic preoperative assisted localization for small pulmonary nodules. Original, peer-reviewed, and full-length articles in English and Chinese were searched with PubMed and Wanfang data. Case reports and case series with <20 patients were excluded. All localization techniques showed good reliability, but some carry a high rate of major or minor complications and drawbacks. No ideal localization technique is available; thus, the choice of preoperative assisted localization technique still depends on surgeons' preference and local availability of both specialists and instruments.

The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a major public health threat to the whole world. Although the control of COVID-19 has been in the forefront of interventional practice, most interventional radiologists (IRs) are not equipped adequately to cope with such a crisis. In this review, we share our experience from Chinese IRs' perspective, report on the acute measures instituted within interventional radiology (IR) units, and give recommendations to the prevention and control of COVID-19.

Aim: This study aimed to compare clinical and oncological outcomes of robot-assisted and laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: We searched PubMed/Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Yahoo, and Google Scholar databases for relevant articles published up to 2017. Studies based on comparability between robot-assisted and laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer were designated. Clinical outcomes included operative time, conversion to open surgery, estimated blood loss (EBL), bowel function recovery time, length of hospital stay (LOS), anastomosis leak, and postoperative complications. Oncological outcomes comprised the number of lymph nodes extracted, the positive circumferential margin (PCRM), and the distal resection margin (DRM) Results: Twenty studies were designated totaling 5496 patients, comprising a robot-assisted surgery patient group (n = 2168, 39.4%) and a laparoscopic surgery patient group (n = 3328, 60.6%). The robot-assisted surgery group was associated with longer operative time (odds ratio [OR] 0.48, 95% confidence interval [CI]; 0.14, 0.82), lower conversion to open surgery rate (OR 0.55, 95% CI; 0.44, 0.69), shorter LOS (OR − 0.15, 95% CI; −0.30, 0.00), faster bowel function recovery (OR − 0.38, 95% CI; −0.74, −0.02), and lower postoperative complications (OR 0.79, 95% CI; 0.65, 0.97). EBL, anastomosis leak rate, and oncological outcomes including the number of lymph nodes extracted, the DRM, and the PCRM showed no significant differences between groups. Conclusion: Robot-assisted surgery for rectal cancer showed longer operative time, lower conversion, faster bowel function recovery rates, and shorter hospital stay, and similar oncological outcomes compared to laparoscopic surgery.

Background and Aims: CYP17 inhibitors can block androgen production both intratumorally and systemically, thus attenuating the progression of prostate cancer (PCa). Many randomized controlled trials (RCTs) showed promising results that men with metastatic castration-resistant PCa (mCRPC) might benefit from treatment with CYP17 inhibitors such as abiraterone acetate and orteronel. The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of CYP17 inhibitors for the prognosis in patients with mCRPC. Materials and Methods: Studies were identified in PubMed/MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science. The RCTs with mCRPC patients focusing on the efficacy of CYP17 inhibitors were involved. Then, we analyzed the patients' prognosis such as overall survival (OS) and radiographic progression-free survival (RPFS). Results: A meta-analysis of the pooled data from seven randomized Phase III clinical trials was performed to compare 5516 mCRPC patients with CYP17 inhibitors versus that with placebo. Compared to placebo, the CYP17 inhibitors significantly increased the OS (pooled hazard ratios [HR]: 0.816, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.750–0.887), RPFS (pooled HR: 0.647, 95% CI: 0.557–0.752), and time to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression (pooled HR: 0.599, 95% CI: 0.517–0.693). Additional endpoints such as PSA response rate, objective response assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, and time to initiation of chemotherapy were included in this study and were found having significant improvement with CYP17 inhibitors compared to placebo. Conclusion: This research showed that CYP17 inhibitors had a significant improvement on prognosis of patients with mCRPC within a relative safety profile both in pre- and post-chemotherapy trials. These expected results provide evidence for the use of CYP17 inhibitors to treat mCRPCs.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the application and the feasibility of microwave ablation in laparoscopic partial splenectomy. Materials and Methods: From January 2018 to June 2019, four patients with benign spleen lesions in our hospital underwent laparoscopic partial splenectomy assisted by microwave ablation. The reviewed parameters included the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, ablation time, frequency of ablation, postoperative drainage time, postoperative hospitalization time, and postoperative complications. Results: All four patients underwent laparoscopic partial splenectomy assisted by microwave ablation successfully, and there were no cases of conversion to laparotomy. The operation time was 100–200 min (mean, 152.5 min) and ablation time was 16–35 min (mean, 22.8 min). The frequency of ablation was 4–7 times (mean, 5.3 times), and the intraoperative blood loss was 5–300 ml (mean, 138.8 ml). The postoperative drainage time was 3–5 d (mean, 3.3 d), and postoperative hospital stay was 3–9 d (mean, 7.8 d). There were no complications such as peripheral tissue injury, massive bleeding, infestation of spleen fossa, and pancreatic leakage. Conclusion: Microwave ablation is worthy of clinical application in laparoscopic partial spleen resection as it is safe and effective with low rates of bleeding and fast recovery.

Background: Approximately 20% of patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are treated nonsurgically. To compare the clinical outcomes between nonsurgical patients receiving radiofrequency ablation (RFA) alone and those receiving no treatment (NT), we assessed RFA effectiveness in terms of survival using the surveillance, epidemiology, and end-results (SEER) database. Methods: Using the SEER registry process, we identified 5268 patients who were ineligible for the surgical treatment between 2004 and 2015. Overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were compared between the groups using propensity score matching (PSM), inverse probability of treatment weight (IPTW), and overlap weight analysis. In addition, an exploratory analysis was conducted to determine RFA treatment effectiveness based on clinically relevant patient subsets. Results: Of the 5268 patients, 189 (3.6%) received RFA. The OS and CSS in these patients were significantly better than those in the NT group (P < 0.0001). RFA was associated with a 16-month median OS improvement. Both OS and CSS improved in the nonsurgical patients (hazard ratio [HR], 0.695, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.585–0.826, P < 0.0001; HR, 0.636; 95% CI, 0.505–0.800, P < 0.0001). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS in the unmatched RFA and NT groups were 84.2%, 49.0%, and 29.4% vs. 62.8%, 31.1%, and 17.1%, respectively (P < 0.001). PSM, IPTW, and overlap weight analysis showed comparable results. The odds of receiving RFA decreased with larger tumor size (>1, ≤2 cm, odds ratio [OR], 0.623, 95% CI, 0.402–0.966; >2, ≤3 cm, OR, 0.300, 95% CI, 0.186–0.483) compared to tumor size s1 cm (P < 0.05). Conclusion: RFA improves unresected stage IA NSCLC patient survival. Our results are limited by the retrospective nature of the study; however, we believe that our findings are noteworthy for recommending local ablative therapy.

Context: It is necessary to explore a minimally invasive, effective, and efficient treatment for those lung cancer patients who are poor candidates for surgery. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the application of microwave ablation (MWA) in the treatment of lung cancer. Settings and Design: A total of 43 patients with 44 pulmonary lesions were examined following identical procedures before being randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group consists of 17 patients with a total of 18 pulmonary lesions, while the control group consists of 26 patients with a total of 26 pulmonary lesions. Materials and Methods: The experimental group was treated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided MWA while the control group was treated using computer tomography (CT)-guided MWA. A transverse relaxation time-turbo spin echo (T2-TSE) sequence was used for signal collection in the experimental group to determine puncture location and microwave needle position while T2-TSE, T1-turbo field echo, and diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) sequences were used for timely efficacy evaluation. Whereas in the control group, CT axial scanning was performed to serve similar purposes. Statistical Analysis Used: A nonparametric Wilcoxon test, median (M [25%, 75%]). Results: All of the 44 lesions were successfully located on the first attempt. The mean time for scanning and locating lung lesions under MRI and CT guidance were 64.53 and 42.96 min, the mean times of positioning were 12 and 18 min, and the mean durations of MWA were 12.48 and 15.06 min, respectively. Conclusions: As a minimally invasive method for treating lung tumors, MRI-guided MWA requires fewer localization scans, a shorter MWA duration, no radiation, real-time observation of the curative effect, and it prevents overtreatment.

Background: There are no standardized treatments for giant cell tumors of the bone (GCTB) in rare locations such as the spine and pelvis or for those that are inoperable and recurrent, let alone for multicentric GCTB. This study reports a novel case of multicentric GCTB treated with a promising antiangiogenic drug, apatinib, a small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The efficacy of apatinib in the treatment of GCTB has not been reported previously. Patients and Methods: A 27-year-old female presented with two giant cell tumors of the spine and sacrum–ilium diagnosed on December 15, 2016. Surgery and selective arterial embolization (SAE) were not reasonable options for this patient, and denosumab was unavailable; therefore, the antiangiogenic drug apatinib and the osteoclast inhibitor zoledronic acid were administered. Apatinib was initially administered at a dose of 850 mg daily, which was decreased to 425 mg daily after 7 months, and then increased again to 635 mg after 11 months. The patient was prescribed a maintenance dose of 500 mg daily after 16 months. The patient reported side effects of Grades I–III nausea, vomiting, and Grades II–III hand–foot syndrome. The patient underwent SAE at 26 months, and at that time, she was switched to denosumab instead of zoledronic acid. Results: The patient showed noticeable symptomatic improvement and visibly reduced tumor size after the first month of treatment. Computed tomography in the 4^th month identified a partial response based on the RECIST criteria. The patient has achieved an objective reduction in tumor size at 32 months. Conclusions: Comprehensive treatment including apatinib represents a potential new treatment strategy for inoperable GCTB, with tolerable side effects. However, further clinical trials are now necessary to confirm an effective dose and determine the efficacy and safety of apatinib in the treatment of GCTB.

Purpose: We aimed to compare the outcomes of microwave ablation (MWA) alone with those of transarterial chemoembolization combined with MWA (TACE-MWA) for Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) Stage B hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to identify the prognostic factors associated with the two treatments. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in 150 BCLC Stage B HCC patients from April 2006 to November 2017. Of these, 88 patients were treated with MWA alone while 62 with TACE-MWA. Propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted to adjust for imbalances in clinical parameters. Procedure-related complications, local tumor progression (LTP), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. Results: Before PSM, the maximal tumor diameters were 6.0 ± 1.0 cm and 6.7 ± 1.3 cm in the TACE-MWA and MWA groups, respectively, with a significant difference (P = 0.002); a significant difference was also detected in α-fetoprotein level (P = 0.013). After PSM, no difference was found in the two parameters (P = 0.067, 0.470). Before and after PSM, no difference was detected in the procedure-related complications (P = 0.803 vs. 1.000, P = 1.000 vs. 1.000), RFS (P = 0.786 vs. 0.689), and OS (P = 0.684 vs. 0.929). Tumor size and α-fetoprotein level were independent influencing factors for OS before and after PSM (P = 0.009, 0.023), while tumor size (D > 7) was an independent risk factor for poor OS (P = 0.011). Tumor number was an independent risk factor for RFS before and after PSM (P = 0.007 vs. P = 0.008). A significant difference was detected in LTP between the two groups with single tumor before and after PSM (P = 0.059 vs. P = 0.006). Conclusions: The MWA alone group had RFS and OS comparable to that of the TACE-MWA group. TACE-MWA was effective in controlling LTP in patients with a single tumor.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the predictive power of the combination of Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) and albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade in prognosis outcomes of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after thermal ablation. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was reviewed and approved by our institutional review board, and written informed consent was obtained from each patient. According to the Milan criteria, a total of 405 treatment-naïve patients with clinicopathologically confirmed HCC were enrolled who subsequently underwent thermal ablation from 2011 to 2016. The outcomes of overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were statistically analyzed. Results: The median follow-up time of this study was 45.1 months (range, 1.3–83.2 months). After thermal ablation in patients with SII-ALBI Grades 1, 2, and 3, the cumulative 5-year OS rates were 81.7%, 63.2%, and 26.9%; the 5-year CSS rates were 82.4%, 67.5%, and 26.9%; and the 5-year RFS rates were 49.3%, 44.6%, and 25.3%, respectively (all P < 0.001). On multivariate Cox regression analyses, SII-ALBI was independently associated with the three outcomes after adjustment for various confounders (all P < 0.05). In addition, SII-ALBI played a predictive role in OS, CSS, and RFS for patients with negative alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (P < 0.05). Compared with SII and ALBI, the AUCs for the prediction of OS and CSS using SII-ALBI were superior to single indicator (bothP < 0.05). Conclusion: Elevated preablation SII-ALBI is associated with shorter OS, CSS, and RFS in patients with early-stage HCC. Our indicator showed the potential to be a supplement tool for patients with negative AFP during follow-up.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical efficacy of Mohs surgery in combination with topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) for facial basal cell carcinoma. Patients and Methods: Eighty-six patients with facial basal cell carcinoma treated in our department from April 2011 to December 2013 were included. Mohs surgery was used to remove the lesions followed by direct suturing, skin flap grafting, or medium thickness free-skin grafting to repair the incisions. Topical PDT was performed three times, at an interval of 2 weeks, immediately after the sutures were removed. The patients were followed up for 2 years after the operation to evaluate tumor recurrence. Results: Recurrence was not observed within 1 year after Mohs surgery combining PDT; however, one case of recurrence was found at the 2-year follow-up. Conclusion: The efficacy of Mohs surgery combining topical PDT is a definite treatment for facial basal cell carcinomas, as it reduced the tumor recurrence rate and maintained the relative integrity of the local tissues and appearance. This method could be a new effective treatment method for the facial basal cell carcinoma.

Context: We analyzed the clinical features and ultrasound image features of follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) and follicular thyroid adenoma (FTA). Aims: This study aimed to identify ultrasonographic differences and correlations between FTC and FTA. Meanwhile, ultrasonographic manifestations of thyroid follicular tumor were also retrospectively analyzed. Settings and Design: Using pathological results as the gold standard, the clinical and ultrasonic image characteristics of FTA and FTC were statistically analyzed, and the differences were analyzed. Materials and Methods: A total of 304 patients who were diagnosed with FTC or FTA by pathology after thyroidectomy from March 2009 to March 2018 were enrolled in this study. Their ultrasonic images were analyzed; image features were extracted and correlation analyses for these features were conducted. Differences in ultrasonic images between FTC and FTA were also compared. Statistical Analysis Used: Independent sample t-test; Wilcoxon rank sum test; A Chi-square test: Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: When performing ultrasound diagnosis, attention should be paid to identify FTC and FTA in terms of age, nodular goiter conditions, nodular boundary conditions, internal echo, calcification, blood flow signals, thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI-RADS) grading and cystic solidity conditions. Moreover, a multivariate logistic regression showed that the boundaries were unclear, and cystic degeneration, TI-RADS, hypoecho, nodular goiter, macrocalcification and microcalcification were associated with FTC. Among them, macrocalcification is a protective factor for thyroid follicular tumors, and other indicators are risk factors. Conclusion: Ultrasound can provide valuable information for the identification of follicular neoplasms, but further research in this area is still necessary.

Context: Macroscopic vascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains challenging to treat. Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE)–apatinib therapy with TACE treatment alone in HCC patients with macrovascular invasion, using propensity score matching (PSM). Settings and Design: Matched paired comparison between the TACE–apatinib and TACE alone group using 1:2 PSM was utilized. Subjects and Methods: Between 2013 and 2019, 378 patients receiving TACE–apatinib or TACE alone were included based on specific selection criteria. Statistical Analysis Used: Multivariate Cox regression models were used to determine the independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). Results: Of the patients included, 40 (12.5%) received TACE–apatinib treatment and 280 (87.5%) received TACE alone. Tumor sizes of patients in the TACE–apatinib group were more frequently classified as small (<5 cm) compared to those in the TACE alone group (P = 0.021; mean: 8.6 cm vs. 10.2 cm). After 1:2 PSM, 40 pairs of HCC patients with well-matched covariates were selected from the two treatment groups. Patients in the TACE–apatinib group had higher OS rates than patients in the TACE alone group (P = 0.018). The median OS times were 18.2 and 8.5 months in the TACE–apatinib and TACE alone groups, respectively. The OS hazard ratio for the choice of TACE–apatinib treatment compared to TACE treatment alone was 0.50 (95% confidence interval: 0.28–0.90; P = 0.021). Conclusions: TACE combined with apatinib may result in superior OS compared to TACE therapy alone for HCC patients with macrovascular invasion.

Background: Previous studies have shown that vinorelbine/capecitabine (NX) and docetaxel/capecitabine (TX) chemotherapy has a certain effect in advanced breast cancer. However, there are few clinical studies directly comparing TX and NX regimen chemotherapy, especially in patients with advanced breast cancer previously treated with anthracycline and taxane. The purpose of this Phase II study was to compare survival and side effects between patients with anthracycline- and taxane-resistant advanced breast cancer treated with NX and those treated with TX chemotherapy. Patients and Methods: From February 2012 to March 2014, a total number of 97 patients were randomly assigned to NX (n = 55) or TX (n = 42). Baseline characteristics were relatively well-balanced in the two treatment arms. The clinical trial registration number (clincaltrials.gov) is NCT01635465. Results: After a median follow-up of 46.0 months, there was no significant difference between the NX and TX arms in objective response rate (17.9% vs. 21.1%; P = 0.686) and progression-free survival (6 months vs. 7 months; P = 0.560). The overall survival period of the TX arm was longer than that of the NX arm (32 months vs. 27 months) but without statistical significance. Both regimens were well-tolerated. The main toxicities were neutropenia, leukopenia, and anemia. In the TX arm, hand-foot syndrome occurred more frequently than in the NX arm (P < 0.01), but frequencies of other minor adverse effects were similar between the two arms. Conclusion: NX and TX regimens are both alternative treatments for patients with anthracycline- and taxane-resistant advanced breast cancer, but the safety profile was more favorable and manageable with the NX regimen. Trial Registrations: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01635465. Registered 09 July 2012.

Aims: The role of prophylactic central neck dissection (CND) in the management of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is controversial. This study reports outcomes of an observational approach in PTC patients without clinical evidence of lymph node metastasis. Materials and Methods: Patients with PTC who had surgery (without prophylactic CND) between January 2000 and December 2008 were included in this study. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Cox regression was used in multivariable models. Results: Out of 625 patients, 486 (77.8%) were female, 144 (23%) were aged 55 years or more, 73 (11.7%) had macroscopic extrathyroidal extension, and 79 (12.7%) had pT3 or pT4 disease. Samples were collected from 12 (1.9%) patients with lymph node metastasis in the perithyroidal tissue and 2 (0.3%) patients with lymph node metastasis in the lateral neck lymph tissue for frozen section examination. After a median follow-up of 104 months, the 10-year DSS and RFS rates were 99.7% and 90.2%, respectively. The 10-year lymph node recurrence rate in the central compartment was 2.7%. pT3/4 stage was an independent predictive factor for RFS (P < 0.001, hazard ratio 1.966, 95% confidence interval 1.446–2.673). Conclusion: The outcomes of patients with clinically negative lymph nodes in the central compartment were favorable without prophylactic CND.

Aims: We aimed to investigate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for treating VX2 vertebral metastases with posterior margin destruction in a rabbit model. Materials and Methods: Sixty rabbit models of VX2 vertebral metastases with posterior margin destruction were constructed through computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous puncture and randomly divided into four groups of 15 rabbits each: Groups A, RFA+PVP; B, PVP; C, RFA; and D, control. Five rabbits in each group were sacrificed within 24 h of the procedure. Pathological examination and immunohistochemical staining revealed the presence of a biomembrane barrier at the tumor edge; furthermore, bone cement leakage into the spinal canal was observed. The survival time of the remaining rabbits per group was observed, and the differences were analyzed. Results: CT scans of Group A and C rabbits revealed a low-density band around the tumor ablation region. Bone cement leakage rate significantly differed between Groups A and B (20% vs. 100%; P < 0.05). The average postoperative survival times of Group A, B, C, and D rabbits were 16.72 ± 0.93, 7.26 ± 0.75, 7.80 ± 1.30, and 3.84 ± 1.24 days, respectively, showing a significant difference between Group A and the remaining groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The biomembrane barrier formed at the tumor edge after RFA can prevent bone cement leakage into the spinal canal, reducing spinal cord injury and prolonging the survival time.

Context: Microwave ablation (MWA) has been proven as a promising method to treat solid tumors. Aims: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound (US)-guided MWA for treating adrenal metastasis and to explore the factors affecting survival. Settings and Design: This was a retrospective study performed on patients treated at our department. Subjects and Methods: A total of 43 patients with adrenal metastasis (22 hepatocellular carcinoma, eight renal cell carcinoma, five non-small cell lung cancer, four colorectal cancer, three liposarcoma, and one malignant fibrous histiocytoma) were enrolled. All patients were treated at our department at least once. The treatment protocol for each patient, the technique used, and the survival details were recorded. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 26.0 software. Results: Technical success was achieved in all cases. MWA was a safe technique for treating all types of metastasis. No major complications were observed. The pathology of adrenal lesions was the significant risk factor contributing to overall survival (OS) (P = 0.040). The 1-year and 3-year OS rates for all patients were 0.828 and 0.389, respectively. Conclusions: Percutaneous US-guided MWA is safe and effective in terms of local control and survival of adrenal metastasis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to study the clinical outcomes of different types of magnetic resonance (MR)-guided ablation for the treatment of liver tumors by performing a systematic review and pooled analysis. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed for clinical trials published from January 1997 to October 2019 in PubMed, the Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Pooled analyses were performed to obtain the complete ablation (CA), complication, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) rates. Results: Thirty studies were eligible, including four studies on MR-guided microwave ablation (MWA); 14 studies on MR-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA); one study on both MR-guided MWA and RFA; eight studies on MR-guided, laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT); two studies on MR-guided percutaneous cryoablation (PC); and one study on MR-guided percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI). The CA rates in patients who underwent RFA, MWA, LITT, PC, and PEI were 95.60%, 98.86%, 77.78%, 47.92%, and 85.71%, respectively. The most frequent complications were pain (27.66%, 13/47) and postablation syndrome (27.66%, 13/47) in the PC group; pleural effusion (8.11%, 119/1,468) and subcapsular hematoma (2.25%, 33/1,468) in the LITT group; pleural effusion (2.67%, 2/75) in the MWA group; and subcapsular hematoma (4.18%, 20/478) and post-ablation syndrome (2.93%, 14/478) in the RFA group. There were few studies reporting PFS and OS. Conclusions: MR-guided ablation is a practicable alternative treatment for liver tumors, especially MR-guided RFA and MWA, which have high rates of CA and low occurrences of complications.

Objective: The objective is to evaluate the application of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) in the diagnosis of the left-lobe hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhotic patients with contraindication to percutaneous biopsy. Materials and Methods: Thirty-eight consecutive patients with liver cirrhosis and suspected left-lobe HCC and with contraindication for percutaneous biopsy undergoing EUS-FNB between January 2011 and December 2014 were included in this study. The final diagnosis was obtained through histopathology of surgical samples or clinical and imaging results with follow-up. Using the final diagnosis as the gold standard, the diagnostic performance of EUS-FNB for HCC detection was evaluated. Results: Among 38 patients, EUS-FNB was successfully performed in 34 cases, in which adequate biopsy specimens were obtained for histopathological examination in 30. For the 30 patients with biopsy results, 25 cases were confirmed to have HCC, while five cases had benign lesions according to the final diagnosis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy rates of EUS-FNB in the diagnosis of HCC were 88.0% (22/25), 100.0% (5/5), 100.0% (22/22), 62.5% (5/8), and 90.0% (27/30), respectively. Self-limiting bleeding occurred in three patients. Conclusions: EUS-FNB is a sensitive and safe diagnostic modality for cirrhotic patients with suspected HCC located in the left lobe, especially those for whom percutaneous biopsy is contraindicated.

Background: Even with the use of contrast-enhanced thin-layer chest computed tomography (CT) and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), the likelihood of cT2N0M0 squamous cell esophageal cancer correlating with the final pathologic outcome is exceedingly low. We therefore sought to investigate the associations between different risk factors and pathologic upstaging in stage T2N0M0 esophageal cancer patients who underwent esophagectomy. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinicopathological characteristics of 224 stage T2N0M0 squamous cell esophageal cancer patients who underwent complete resection over a 2-year period (October 2016–September 2018). The tumor volume (TV) was automatically measured from thin-layer chest CT scans using imaging software. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the risk factors associated with upstaging. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted, and its ability to identify pathological upstaging was assessed. Results: A total of 224 patients with clinical stage T2N0M0 squamous cell esophageal carcinoma (SCEC) underwent esophagectomy; of these patients, 96 (42.86%) had a more advanced stage during the final pathologic review than during the initial diagnosis. The risk factors for pathologic upstaging included a large TV, high total cholesterol (TC), high triglycerides (TGs), high platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and high number of lymph nodes examined. The ROC analysis demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.845 (95% confidence interval 0.794–0.895). Conclusions: In SECC diagnosed as stage T2N0M0 by CT and EUS, the incidence of postoperative pathologic upstaging increases with a large TV, high TC, high TGs, high PLR, and high number of lymph nodes examined.

Context: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), an established and minimally invasive therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma, has become an important treatment strategy. However, tumor aggressiveness remains a common problem. The epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is thought to play an important role in this process. Design and Aims: Due to limited sample volumes harvested from patients, we established a heat-treated cell line and a mouse model to investigate the mechanisms of incomplete ablation in EMT. Materials and Methods: We heat-treated H22 and HepG2 cells using a water bath to determine a suitable temperature for incomplete RFA. Male BALB/c mice were orthotopically transplanted with H22 cells and then subjected to incomplete ablation. Changes in the EMT biomarkers were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and immunofluorescence. Statistical Analysis: The experimental results are expressed as means ± standard deviations. Results: Incomplete RFA promoted EMT, downregulated E-cadherin, upregulated vimentin and Snail, and enhanced the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, interleukin (IL)-6 secretion increased after heat treatment in the H22 cells. AG490, an IL-6 inhibitor, inhibited the occurrence of EMT. Conclusions: Insufficient ablation performed at low temperature successfully induces EMT and promotes tumor aggressiveness, which is mediated by the IL-6/STAT3/Snail pathway in both cell and mouse models.

Objective: We sought to analyze the efficacy and safety of preserving the Oddis sphincter during metallic biliary stent implantation in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice. Materials and Methods: In a retrospective analysis, 133 patients with malignant obstructive jaundice who were admitted to our hospital from January 2010 to January 2017 and who underwent metallic biliary stent implantation were divided into two groups – the Oddis sphincter retention group (n = 55) and the Oddis sphincter nonretention group (n = 78) – according to whether the Oddis sphincter was left untouched during stent placement. The patient clinical data as well as information on complications, time of stent patency, improvement in liver function, and decline of serum bilirubin were reviewed and evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 19.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA, USA) and Prism version 7 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA, USA). Results: The median follow-up time was 9.6 months (range: 1–20 months) and there was no significant difference in general clinical information between the two groups. However, the incidence rates of acute biliary infection, recurrent biliary infection, acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, and asymptomatic pancreatic enzyme levels were higher in the Oddis sphincter retention group and the differences were all statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conversely, there were no significant differences in bilirubin decline, liver function improvement, and stent patency between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Leaving the Oddis sphincter untouched during biliary stent placement can reduce the incidence of postoperative complications, while there was no effect on stent patency or jaundice relief. Therefore, it is recommended to preserve the Oddis sphincter when the stenosis is more than 3 cm above the duodenal papilla.

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous irreversible electroporation (IRE) in porcine kidneys. Materials and Methods: Under CT guidance, two monopole probes were used to precisely puncture through the renal parenchyma into the renal hilum in nine anesthetized adult Bama miniature pigs. After which, IRE ablation was performed. Biochemical and pathological examinations were carried out 2 h, 2, 7, and 14 days after the procedure. Results: All procedures were performed successfully without any serious complications such as bleeding, infection, or death. All pigs survived until the end of the study. Pathological examinations showed that cells in the ablation area were dead within 2 days after the procedure, whereas the vascular endothelium showed only slight damage. After 2 days, endothelialization ensued and regrowth of smooth muscle cells was observed after 14 days. Hemogram tests indicated a transient increase but gradually returned to baseline levels 14 days after the procedure. Conclusion: IRE was essentially safe, however further studies on tumor ablation using several different animal models are needed.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between infrared thermal imaging-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-pathology of microwave ablation (MWA) of lesions in rabbit lung tumors. Materials and Methods: MR-guided MWA was performed in nine VX2 tumor-bearing rabbits. Infrared thermal imaging, postoperative MRI, and pathological presentation were obtained and analyzed. The differences between the infrared thermal imaging-MRI-pathology of MWA were compared. Results: The center of the ablated lesion exhibited a high signal on T1-Vibe, and an isointense envelope was observed; the center of the ablated lesion exhibited a low signal on fat-suppressed turbo spin-echo T2-weighted imaging (TSE-T2WI-FS) and bands of high signal surrounding it compared with before MWA. No statistically significant difference existed between the maximum diameter of the central low-signal area of the ablation zone on TSE-T2WI-FS after MWA, the high-signal area of the ablation zone on T1-Vibe after MWA, and the maximum diameter of the pathological coagulation necrosis area, as well as between the maximum diameter of the isointense signal area peripheral to the ablation zone on T1-Vibe after MWA, the high-signal area peripheral to the ablation zone on TSE-T2WI-FS, the maximum diameter at the 41°C isothermal zone on infrared thermal imaging, and the maximum diameter of the pathological thermal injury zone. Conclusions: MWA of malignant lung tumors had specific MRI characteristics that were comparable with postoperative pathology. Infrared thermal imaging combined with MRI can be used to evaluate the extent of thermal damage to lung VX2 tumors.

Objective: The hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are the important prognostic markers in some tumor types. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of pretreatment using HALP, NLR, and PLR for patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), who were undergoing chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, 335 patients with SCLC were included between 2016 and 2018. The cutoff values for HALP, NLR, and PLR were defined using X-tile software. Survival was analyzed by the Kaplan–Meier method, with differences analyzed through the log-rank test. The multivariate Cox proportional hazard model was used to evaluate the prognostic significance of HALP, NLR, and PLR for SCLC. Results: The median follow-up period was 27.1 months (range: 0.5–46.2 months). Based on the Kaplan–Meier curve analysis, it was noticed that the low pretreatment HALP (≤18.6), high pretreatment NLR (>2.4), and high PLR (>191.6) were significantly associated with worse overall survival (OS) (P = 0.009, 0.001, and 0.033, respectively). Cox multivariate analysis demonstrated that low pretreatment HALP and high pretreatment NLR were the independent prognostic factors for worse OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.468, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.004–2.146, P = 0.047; HR = 0.722, 95% CI: 0.542–0.960, P = 0.025, respectively). Conclusion: HALP and NLR were the independent prognostic factors of OS for SCLC patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Objective: The objective was to investigate the law of three-dimensional thermal field radiation of ceramic slot microwave (CSMW) ablation antenna. Materials and Methods: First, microwave ablation experiments were performed with phantom and temperature data were collected. Second, the specific absorption rate distribution function of microwave (MW) ablation antenna was fit. Third, the MW ablation thermal field morphology was simulated based on the rapid simulation method. In addition, to determine the thermal field simulation accuracy, comparative analysis on the ablation morphology of forty clinical patients with liver cancer receiving percutaneous treatment was conducted. Results: Regarding the ablation morphology, the CSMW ablation antenna had greater long and transverse diameters and ablation volume than the polytetrafluoroethylene slot microwave (PSMW) ablation antenna (P < 0.05). Compared with the actual ablation morphology in clinical practice, the error rate in long and transverse diameters of the simulated morphology of thermal field was up to 5% and the minimum was 1.2%, whereas the maximum volume error rate was up to 9.8%. Conclusion: The CSMW ablation antenna had a greater long diameter, transverse diameter, and volume regarding the ablation morphology than the PSMW ablation antenna, and the thermal field morphology obtained based on the rapid simulation algorithm had a high accuracy.

Background: Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an immune mediated fibro inflammatory condition characterized by abundant IgG4-positive (IgG4+) plasma cell infiltrated lesions and elevated serum IgG4 concentrations. Tubulointerstitial nephritis and glomerular lesions are the most common renal IgG4-RDs. However, solitary mass lesion is rarely observed in renal IgG4-RD. Materials and Methods: We reported a 55-year-old male patient with a space-occupying lesion in the right kidney detected during a routine ultrasound medical examination. Computed tomography indicated a 20 mm × 15 mm × 18 mm mass located at the lower pole of the right kidney. Both T1-weighted imaging and T2-weighted imaging magnetic resonance imaging scans showed a hypointense mass. Diffusion-weighted imaging (b value = 800) showed slightly hyperintensity. Results: The lesion was diagnosed as renal cell carcinoma clinically based on the laboratory and radiological findings and treated with laparoscopic resection. However, the postoperative histological examination results indicated the lesion IgG4-RD of the kidney. Conclusion: We should consider pseudotumor-like IgG4-RD as a differential diagnosis for solitary renal lesion although the incidence is low.

Context: Percutaneous image-guided thermal ablation has emerged as a valuable therapeutic approach for hepatic malignancies. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has shown potential for great soft-tissue resolution and multiplanar capabilities in arbitrary imaging planes, which are also critical for treatment planning, targeting, and evaluation. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility, technical success, safety, and follow-up of hepatic malignancies treated with MRI-guided microwave ablation (MWA). Materials and Methods: MRI-guided MWA was performed in a closed-bore 1.5 T MR system. T1-weighted imaging was used as a monitoring tool during surgery. T2-weighted imaging was performed to obtain an adequate tumor margin, to calculate the tumor size. Multi-b-value diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was performed postprocedurally. Enhanced MRI was performed at 4 weeks, to assess the technical success, and every 3–6 months as a follow-up. Results: Twenty-six patients (38 lesions) were enrolled in the study. A primary efficacy rate of 100% was achieved, and no major complications were observed. Two patient cohorts were identified based on lesion size. Six lesions with incomplete circles on reconstructed DWI appeared immediately postprocedure, and persistent hyperintense signals developed into new lesions over the subsequent 6–12 months. Conclusion: MRI-guided ablation is feasible and effective for planning and evaluating MWA in hepatic malignancies. The available clinical data strongly support the advantages of the assessment of tumors through 3D imaging versus routine axial images.

Background: As one of the most common malignant tumors of the digestive tract, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an advanced metastatic cancer with an extremely high mortality rate and the highest prevalence rate in China. Spindle- and kinetochore-associated protein 1 (SKA1), an essential member involved in chromosome separation during mitosis, has been indicated as a potential biomarker in the pathogenesis and development of various types of malignant tumors; however, the exact functions of SKA1 in ESCC are still unclear. Patients and Methods: SKA1 expression was explored in stage IIA ESCC and corresponding healthy esophageal mucosa tissues through immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription–quantitative polymerase chain reaction and was further validated using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database of the online tool UALCAN. Then, the clinicopathological correlations of SKA1 were analyzed based on the follow-up data. Furthermore, using the online tool LinkedOmics, the correlation test, gene ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis of SKA1 were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing data of ESCC patients from TCGA dataset. Results: The expression level of SKA1 was markedly upregulated in ESCC tissues. Upregulation of SKA1 significantly correlated with higher pathological T stage (P = 0.003) and poorer overall survival (P = 0.013). GO and pathway enrichment analyses of SKA1 in ESCC revealed that SKA1 was involved in a number of classical cell cycle-related pathways that contribute to special biological processes in tumorigenesis and development of ESCC. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that SKA1 may act as a prognostic biomarker for stage IIA ESCC. Combined with the bioinformatic analysis, SKA1 could potentially serve as a therapeutic target for ESCC. Conclusion: The results coming from the present study demonstrated that SKA1 may act as a prognostic biomarker for stage IIA ESCC. Combined with the bioinformatic analysis, SKA1 could serve as a potential therapeutic target for ESCC.

Context: Owing to the increasing age of the population, the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the elderly is increasing annually. Aims: This study aims to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with low-dose apatinib for unresectable HCC treatment in elderly patients (≥65 years). Settings and Design: The clinical data from 61 elderly patients with unresectable HCC who were retrospectively analyzed. Subjects and Methods: Of these 61 patients, 27 received TACE combined with low-dose (250 mg/qd) apatinib (experimental group), and 34 patients received the standard TACE treatment (control group). The short-term efficacy was evaluated according to the mRECIST1.1 standards, and the mid- and long-term efficacy and safety in the two groups of patients were evaluated. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (version 20.0; SPSS). Results: Both the objective response rate and disease control rate of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of control group (P < 0.05). The 6-month and 12-month survival rates of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of control group too (P < 0.05). The median survival in the experimental group was longer than in the control group (26.0 months vs. 20.0 months). The adverse reactions related to the intake of apatinib were higher in the experimental than the control group, but were generally alleviated after symptomatic treatment. Conclusions: TACE combined with low-dose apatinib provides an alternative treatment option for elderly patients with unresectable HCC. Our clinical study has proven its safety and efficacy.

Background: Targetable drug delivery is an important method for the treatment of liver tumors. For the quantitative analysis of drug diffusion, the establishment of a method for information collection and characterization of extracellular space is developed by imaging analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences. In this paper, we smoothed out interferential part in scanned digital MRI images. Materials and Methods: Making full use of priors of low rank, nonlocal self-similarity, and regularized sparsity-promoting entropy, a block-matching regularized entropy minimization algorithm is proposed. Sparsity-promoting entropy function produces much sparser representation of grouped nonlocal similar blocks of image by solving a nonconvex minimization problem. Moreover, an alternating direction method of multipliers algorithm is proposed to iteratively solve the problem above. Results and Conclusions: Experiments on simulated and real images reveal that the proposed method obtains better image restorations compared with some state-of-the-art methods, where most information is recovered and few artifacts are produced.

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a type of soft-tissue sarcoma with poor prognosis. Current treatments include multidisciplinary treatment options such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Apatinib is an oral, small-molecule, anti-tumor, angiogenesis-targeted drug, which acts mainly on the intracellular binding site of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2. In this study, we administered apatinib in combination with chemotherapy to achieve good disease control. This is a 31-year-old male who presented with upper abdominal pain, nausea, and anorexia for over a month. Imaging revealed multiple solid masses and ascites in the liver and abdominal cavity. He was diagnosed as having cholangiocarcinoma with metastasis to the liver, both lungs, bone, and multiple lymph nodes in the neck, abdominal and pelvic cavity, retroperitoneum, and palpitate angle, based on a percutaneous biopsy of the liver and an abdominal mass, and other examinations. Computed tomography revealed disease progression after two cycles of gemcitabine combined with nedaplatin chemotherapy. Next-generation sequencing detection based on the Illumina high-throughput sequencing platform suggested EWSR1 exon7- Wilms tumor 1 exon8 fusion. The pathology was verified and diagnosed as DSRCT. The chemotherapy regimen was changed to cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, vincristine, and oral apatinib for two cycles. The lesions were mostly reduced, and partial response was evaluated. This case is the first report of the efficacy of apatinib combined with systemic chemotherapy in the treatment of DSRCT, which can become an alternative treatment for this disease.

In this study, we reported seven patients who underwent diagnostic evaluation through core-needle biopsy (CNB) of the spleen. After biopsy, gelatin sponge particles mixed with hemocoagulase were gradually injected using a coaxial introducer needle. One patient received microwave ablation following the CNB. All patients were followed up by computed tomography to rule out bleeding or accidental injuries both immediately after the biopsy and within 24 h. Adequate specimens for pathologic examination were obtained from all patients, and the biopsy technical success rate was 100%. No serious complications were observed in our case series. There was no evidence of postbiopsy bleeding. Therefore, injection of gelatin sponge particles mixed with hemocoagulase or microwave ablation may be effective options to prevent hemorrhage after splenic core-needle biopsies.

This study was designed to propose a classification of inferior vena cava tumor thrombus (IVCTT) and retrospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of the combination therapy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and sequential percutaneous ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with IVCTT. All HCC patients with IVCTT who underwent the combination therapies of TACE and sequential percutaneous ablation therapy between January 2015 and December 2017 in Beijing Youan Hospital were included in the study. The demographic, clinical, and pathological data were recorded. The response rate and overall survival (OS) rate were statistically analyzed. A classification system of IVCTT types was proposed based on the anatomical structure and ablation technique, which contained five types of IVCTT. Different types of IVCTT require different ablation strategies. For the response rate of IVCTT, complete response was achieved in all six patients. The 1- and 2-year OS rates were 88.3% and 55.6%, respectively. The new classification system and corresponding ablation strategies proposed in this study provided guidance for the use of ablation therapy for IVCTT. The combination therapy of TACE and ablation is effective and safe for treating HCC with IVCTT.

Camrelizumab is a programmed death receptor-1 inhibitor originally developed in China for the treatment of refractory lymphoma. It has also been effective in non-small-cell lung cancer patients. However, the rechallenge of camrelizumab was not reported previously. We report the rechallenge of camrelizumab therapy in two patients previously treated with microwave ablation (MWA) and camrelizumab. Although objective responses were achieved, camrelizumab therapy was discontinued because of the development of immune-related pneumonia (IRP). Treatment with camrelizumab was reinitiated after the patients recovered from IRP. The reoccurrence of more severe IRP necessitated additional corticosteroid therapy. The rechallenge of camrelizumab in patients treated with MWA plus camrelizumab regimen and who developed IRP should be cautious.