Palliative Treatment of Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Obstructive Jaundice Using Biliary Drainage with Subsequent Transarterial Chemoembolization

Journal of Palliative Medicine

To cite this article:
Jongkyoung Choi, Ji Kon Ryu, Sang Hyub Lee, Jin-Hyeok Hwang, Dong-Won Ahn, Yong-Tae Kim, Yong Bum Yoon, Chang Jin Yoon, Sung-Gwon Kang, and Jin Wook Chung. Journal of Palliative Medicine. September 2013, 16(9): 1026-1033. doi:10.1089/jpm.2013.0067.

Published in Volume: 16 Issue 9: September 16, 2013
Online Ahead of Print: July 26, 2013

Author information

Jongkyoung Choi, MD,^1,2 Ji Kon Ryu, MD, PhD,¹ Sang Hyub Lee, MD, PhD,¹ Jin-Hyeok Hwang, MD, PhD,³ Dong-Won Ahn, MD, PhD,^1,4 Yong-Tae Kim, MD, PhD,¹ Yong Bum Yoon, MD, PhD,^1,2 Chang Jin Yoon, MD, PhD,⁵ Sung-Gwon Kang, MD, PhD,⁵ and Jin Wook Chung, MD, PhD⁶

¹Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

²Department of Internal Medicine, National Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

³Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

⁴Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

⁵Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

⁶Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Address correspondence to:

Sang Hyub Lee, MD, PhD

Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute

Seoul National University College of Medicine

Seoul National University Hospital

101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Republic of Korea

E-mail: gidoctor@snuh.org

Accepted March 26, 2013

ABSTRACT

Background: Nonsurgical biliary drainage is considered as a priority for obstructive jaundice associated with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Successful drainage allows the patient to receive antitumor therapy, such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). However, only limited data are available on clinical outcomes in patients who treated biliary drainage with subsequent TACE.

Objective: This study evaluated the clinical outcome of biliary drainage with subsequent TACE in unresectable HCC patients with obstructive jaundice.

Design: This was a retrospective study.

Setting/subjects: A total of 60 patients received endoscopic biliary drainage (ERBD) or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) in two tertiary care referral centers.

Measurements: Successful drainage and survival were measured.

Results: Successful drainage was achieved in 39 (65%) patients. The median survival of 39 patients in whom successful drainage was achieved, regardless of which procedure was performed, was much longer than that of 21 patients without successful drainage (147 days versus 38 days, respectively, P<.001). 

In particular, the median survival was longer in 17 patients who underwent TACE after achieving successful drainage than in 22 patients who were treated conservatively after achieving successful drainage (410 days versus 77 days, respectively, P<.001). 

Multivariable analysis in 39 patients in the successful drainage group showed that TACE (hazard ratio 0.15; 95% confidence interval 0.05–0.45, P=.001) was an independent predictive factor of a favorable outcome.

Conclusions: Effective palliation by successful biliary drainage with subsequent TACE might prolong the survival in patients with obstructive jaundice caused by unresectable HCC.