HIFU is an effective treatment modality for unresectable HCC with a high technique effectiveness rate and favorable survival outcome.

Asymptomatic vertebral fractures occur in 20.4% of patients with SLE and 30% of these patients have normal BMD. The current method using DEXA to predict the presence of vertebral fracture has limited value and there is a need for assessment of bone quality. Vertebral morphometry in patients with SLE is recommended and early therapeutic intervention is necessary to prevent vertebral fractures in patients with SLE.

BackgroundHigh-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation is a relatively new, noninvasive way of ablation for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Emerging evidence has shown that it is effective for the treatment of HCC, even in patients with poor liver function. There is currently no data on the safety limit of HIFU ablation in patients with cirrhosis. However, this information is vital for the selection of appropriate patients for the procedure. We analyzed HCC patients who had undergone HIFU ablation and determined the lower limit of liver function and other patient factors with which HCC patients can tolerate this treatment modality.MethodsPreoperative variables of 100 patients who underwent HIFU ablation for HCC were analyzed to identify the risk factors in HIFU intolerance in terms of stress-induced complications. Factors that may contribute to postablation complications were compared.ResultsThirteen (13 %) patients developed a total of 18 complications. Morbidity was mainly due to skin and subcutaneous tissue injuries (n = 9). Five patients had first-degree skin burn, one had second-degree skin burn, and three had third-degree skin burn. Four complications were grade 3a in the Clavien classification and 14 were below this grade. Univariate analysis showed that age (p = 0.022) was the only independent factor in HIFU intolerance.ConclusionsHIFU ablation is generally well tolerated in HCC patients with cirrhosis. It is safe for Child-Pugh A and B patients and selected Child-Pugh C patients. With this new modality, HCC patients who were deemed unsalvageable by other surgical means in the past because of simultaneous Child-Pugh B or C disease now have a new hope.

PTC was a safe and effective alternative for treating acute cholecystitis in this group of patients. Thirteen of them without elective cholecystectomy performed did not have recurrent acute cholecystitis after a single session of PTC. It may be considered as a definitive treatment for this group of patients.