Premium
Brain metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma: The impact of radiotherapy on control of intracranial hemorrhage
Author(s) -
Yamakawa Yushi,
Moriguchi Michihisa,
Aramaki Takeshi,
Mitsuya Koichi,
Asakura Koiku,
Sawada Akihiro,
Endo Masahiro,
Nakasu Yoko
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
hepatology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.123
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1872-034X
pISSN - 1386-6346
DOI - 10.1111/hepr.12457
Subject(s) - hepatocellular carcinoma , medicine , brain metastasis , radiation therapy , metastasis , oncology , carcinoma , radiology , cancer
Aim Brain metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC ) is rare and causes devastating outcomes with intracranial hemorrhage. We retrospectively analyzed the impact of radiotherapy in preventing hemorrhagic events among patients with brain metastasis from HCC . Methods Patients who underwent treatment for brain metastasis from HCC at our cancer center between J anuary 2003 and D ecember 2012 were identified from a prospectively compiled hospital database. Clinical characteristics were analyzed in patients with and without radiotherapy. Results Fifteen HCC patients with brain metastasis from HCC were classified into two groups: 11 patients underwent radiotherapy (group R ) and four patients received best supportive care without radiotherapy (group N ). Six patients (54.5%) in group R and four patients (100%) in group N showed intracranial hemorrhage at presentation of brain metastasis. No patients in group R experienced intracranial hemorrhage during follow up, although two patients in group N did. Median overall survival was 22.4 weeks (range, 5.42–69.1) in group R and 2.24 weeks (range, 1.0–15.4) in group N . Conclusion For patients with brain metastasis from HCC , radiotherapy appears useful for controlling brain lesions, preventing intracranial hemorrhage and improving survival. Radiotherapy may contribute to control of intracranial tumor and prevention of intracranial hemorrhage for selected patients with brain metastasis from HCC .