Michael J. Wallace

569 Background: Chemotherapy-induced splenomegaly is a relatively known treatment complication, where the clinical sequale of hypersplenism is persistent thrombocytopenia due to splenic sequestration. For cancer patients (pts) undergoing chemotherapy, thrombocytopenia may result in a dose delay or dose reduction, thus reducing dose intensity. The impact of refinement in technique with limited volume embolization (50-70%) of the spleen upon morbidity and mortality has not been well studied. Methods: A retrospective review of gastrointestinal cancer pts undergoing PSE for thrombocytopenia to facilitate the initiation or resumption of systemic chemotherapy between Jan. 2008 and March 2011 was completed. Pre- and post-PSE platelet (plt) counts within 30 days were evaluated for benefit of treatment. Objectives included the re-initiation of systemic therapy and post-PSE plt count >150 (< 30 days). Periprocedural laboratory values and adverse events were recorded. Results: PSE was performed in 79 pts. Median prior chemotherapy regimens = 2 (range 1-3). The median follow-up was 12M (range: 7-31). The mean plt count prior to PSE was 80 K/ UL (3-196). Post-PSE platelet count of > 150 was achieved in 52 (66%) pts with a mean peak plt count of 219 K/UL. Six (8%) pts underwent repeat PSE due to recurrent thrombocytopenia after initiation of systemic therapy. Re-initiation of chemotherapy was achieved in 59 (79%) pts. The median duration of chemotherapy following PSE was 8M (95% CI: 4.2-14.2); median overall survival was 33M (95% CI: 10-47). Post-procedure fever developed in 7 (9%) pts and pleural effusion, atelectasis, or consolidation was reported in 8 (10%) pts. Seventeen (21%) pts developed reversible grade 1 hyperbilirubinemia. Median length of hospital stay was 3 days (interquartile range 1-5 days). 60-day mortality rate was 9% (7 of 79). Conclusions: Partial splenic embolization (PSE) is a safe and effective method of managing thrombocytopenia secondary to chemotherapy-induced hypersplenism to facilitate re-initiation of systemic therapy in cancer patients. PSE may be considered as a potential option in patients with good performance status to facilitate further systemic chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Because of their proximity to the pulmonary artery or vein, hilar lymph nodes are routinely biopsied with endobronchial or endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)‐guided fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Computed tomography (CT)‐guided percutaneous needle biopsy (PNB) allows the operator to acquire a larger core needle biopsy (CNB) when initial samples are inconclusive, when the suspected disease is not optimally diagnosed with FNAB, or when biomarkers are required. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the sensitivity and accuracy of CT‐guided PNB in patients with hilar adenopathy. METHODS: The authors identified 80 patients who underwent 81 CT‐guided PNBs of pulmonary hilar lesions from October 2002 through December 2006 and retrospectively reviewed their medical and imaging records. The PNB sensitivity and accuracy were calculated in each case, and each case was reviewed for complications, including pneumothorax and subsequent thoracostomy tube insertion. RESULTS: PNB included FNAB and CNB in 81 (100%) and 14 (17%) procedures, respectively. Data on 69 PNB specimens (67 FNAB specimens and 13 CNB specimens) were available for statistical analysis. Overall, PNB had a sensitivity of 91.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 81.0%‐97.1%) and an accuracy rate of 92.8% (95% CI, 83.9%‐97.1%). Pneumothoraxes occurred in 39 patients (48%), 26 (32%) of whom required thoracostomy tube insertion. CONCLUSIONS: CT‐guided PNB of pulmonary hilar lesions has high sensitivity and accuracy and represents a viable alternative for endobronchial ultrasound‐ or EUS‐guided FNAB when larger biopsy samples are required for diagnosis or biomarker analysis. However, the procedure can result in high rates of pneumothorax. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.

BACKGROUND: Isolated limb infusion (ILI) of cytotoxic agents is a regional therapy for cutaneous malignancies in a single extremity. Conventional ILI technique requires retrograde catheterization of the contralateral femoral vein. A novel modified ILI technique uses an ipsilateral popliteal venous approach. The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of ILI using the 2 different approaches. METHODS: Data from patients who underwent lower‐extremity ILI at the authors' institution between October 2005 and June 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. The authors compared the 2 ILI approaches with regard to overall procedure time, fluoroscopy time, and the number of callbacks to the operating room (OR) for flow‐related issues. The Student t test and Fisher exact test were used. Adverse events, including deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the treated limb, were recorded. RESULTS: Between October 2005 and June 2008, 67 lower‐extremity ILI procedures (15 using a contralateral venous access approach and 52 using an ipsilateral venous access approach) were performed in 62 patients (28 men and 34 women aged 31‐82 years). The mean fluoroscopy times for the contralateral and ipsilateral groups were 17.9 and 8.3 minutes, respectively (P = .0019). No significant difference in the overall procedure time and number of callbacks to the OR for flow‐related issues between the 2 groups was identified. CONCLUSIONS: The ipsilateral popliteal venous approach is a simplified and safe ILI technique with significantly lower overall fluoroscopy procedure times required for catheter placement and no difference in catheter‐related adverse events, when compared with the conventional contralateral approach. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.

BACKGROUND.: Partial splenic embolization (PSE) has been used to improve hematologic parameters related to hypersplenism. The purpose of this study was to review our institutional experience with PSE for cancer patients with thrombocytopenia because of splenic sequestration precluding the administration of systemic therapy (ST).METHODS.: A retrospective review of cancer patients undergoing PSE was undertaken. Twenty‐eight patients underwent PSE to correct thrombocytopenia to facilitate the initiation or resumption of ST. Primary and secondary endpoints of the current study included a platelet count increase > 150 K/UL and the initiation of ST, respectively. Periprocedural laboratory values and adverse events were recorded.RESULTS.: Thirty PSEs were performed in 28 patients. Two patients underwent repeat PSE because of recurrent thrombocytopenia after the successful initiation of ST. For procedures with adequate follow‐up, primary and secondary endpoints were achieved in 96.3% (26 of 27 patients) and 95.7% (22 of 23 patients) of patients, respectively. The mean platelet count was 81 K/UL immediately before PSE and peaked at 293 K/UL after PSE. For 23 patients with frequent laboratory follow‐up, the mean time to a platelet count > 150 K/UL was 10 days. The mean hospital stay was 4.5 days. Postprocedure abdominal pain occurred in all patients. Fever was documented in 16 patients and pulmonary consolidation/atelectasis or effusion was documented in 10 patients; 9 patients received empiric antibiotic coverage. The median overall survival was 9.40 months (95% confidence interval, 8.2–10.7 months) among the 28 patients after PSE.CONCLUSIONS.: PSE is a safe and effective means of managing thrombocytopenia secondary to hypersplenism to facilitate the administration of ST in patients with cancer. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.