• RAS and ablation margins are predictors of local tumour progression-free survival. • Ablation margin >10 mm, always desirable, is crucial for mutant RAS metastases. • Interventional radiologists should be aware of RAS status to optimize LTPFS.

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Background: transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is an established treatment for neuroendocrine tumor (NET) liver metastases. The aim was to evaluate the long-term treatment efficacy of TACE for NET liver metastases, and correlate imaging response with survival. Methods: this IRB-approved, single-center, retrospective study evaluated all TACE procedures performed for NET liver metastases from 2003–2017 for imaging tumor response (RECIST and mRECIST), time to liver progression (TTLP), time to untreatable progression with TACE (TTUP), and overall survival (OS). Patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics were analyzed as prognostic factors. Survival curves according to the Kaplan–Meier method were compared by Log-rank test. Tumor responses according to RECIST and mRECIST were correlated with OS. Results: 555 TACE procedures were performed in 202 NET patients (38% grade 1, 60% grade 2) with primary tumors originating from pancreas, small bowel, and lung (39, 26, and 22% respectively). Median follow-up was 8.2 years (90–139 months). Median TTLP and TTUP were 19.3 months (95%CI 16.3–22.3) and 26.2 months (95%CI 22.3–33.1), respectively. Median OS was 5.3 years (95%CI 4.2–6.7), and was higher among mRECIST responders (80.5 months; 95%CI 64.6–89.8) than in non-responders (39.6 months; 95%CI = 32.8–60.2; p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, age, tumor grade and liver involvement predicted worse OS, whereas administration of somatostatin analogs correlated with improved OS. Conclusion: TACE for NET liver metastases provides objective response and sustained local disease control rates. RECIST and mRECIST responses correlate with OS.

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Human intratumoral immunotherapy (HIT-IT) is under rapid development, with promising preliminary results and high expectations for current phase III trials. While outcomes remain paramount for patients and the referring oncologists, the technical aspects of drug injection are critical to the interventional radiologist to ensure optimal and reproducible outcomes. The technical considerations for HIT-IT affect the safety, efficacy, and further development of this treatment option. Image-guided access to the tumor allows the therapeutic index of a treatment to be enhanced by increasing the intratumoral drug concentration while minimizing its systemic exposure and associated on-target off-tumor adverse events. Direct access to the tumor also enables the acquisition of cancer tissue for sequential sampling to better understand the pharmacodynamics of the injected immunotherapy and its efficacy through correlation of immune responses, pathologic responses, and imaging tumor response. The aim of this article is to share the technical insights of HIT-IT, with particular consideration for patient selection, lesion assessment, image guidance, and technical injection options. In addition, the organization of a standard patient workflow is discussed, so as to optimize HIT-IT outcome and the patient experience.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of palliative treatment of patients with pathologic pelvic by using fluoroscopy and cone-beam CT needle guidance software to perform percutaneous fixation by internal cemented screw (FICS). Materials and Methods: This single-center study involved retrospective analysis of 100 consecutive patients with cancer with pathologic pelvic fractures managed with percutaneous FICS. Image guidance was performed with fluoroscopy and cone-beam CT needle guidance software. Pain palliative outcomes and opioid use after FICS were compared by means of paired-sample t test. Results: A total of 107 percutaneous FICS procedures were performed from 2010 to 2017 to palliate 141 pathologic fractures in 100 patients (mean age, 65.0 years 6 17.6 [standard deviation; female age, 66.3 years 6 18.0; mean, 63.7 years 6 17.2]). Of 107 procedures, 104 (97.2%) were technically successful, with mean postprocedure hospitalization of 2 days 6 3. Complications occurred in 14 patients: focal pain at procedure site for longer than 48 hours (n = 5), hematoma (n = 3), progressive fracture despite fixation (n = 2), infection (n = 1), tumor track seeding (n = 1), and screw displacement (n = 2). In the 88 patients who completed early follow-up, mean numeric rating scale pain score was significantly improved at 6 weeks from 6.1 6 2.5 to 2.1 6 3.0 (P , .001). Opioid use was reduced at 6 weeks (preprocedure vs postprocedure, 91.3 g 6 121 vs 64.6 g 6 124, respectively; P = .04). Conclusion: Fluoroscopy and cone-beam CT-guided percutaneous fixation of pathologic pelvis fractures by internal cemented screw is a safe and effective approach that can reduce pain and opioid use.

IMPORTANCE Venous thromboembolism is the second overall leading cause of death for patients with cancer, and there is an approximately 2-fold increase in fatal pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with cancer. Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are designed to prevent PE, but defining the appropriate use of IVC filters in patients with cancer remains a substantial unmet clinical need. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association of IVC filters with the development of PE in patients with cancer and deep venous thrombosis (DVT). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A population-based cohort study was conducted using administrative data on 88 585 patients from the state inpatient databases for California (2005-2011) and Florida (2005-2014). Based on diagnostic and procedure codes, patients with cancer and acute lower extremity DVT were identified. All subsequent hospital visits for these patients were evaluated for the placement of an IVC filter, the development of new PE, the development of new DVT, and in-hospital mortality. Data analysis was performed from September 1 to December 1, 2019. EXPOSURES Placement of an IVC filter. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The association of IVC filter placement with rates of new PE and DVT was estimated using a propensity score matching algorithm and competing risk analysis. RESULTS The study cohort comprised 88 585 patients (45 074 male; median age, 71.0 years [range, 1.0-104.0 years]) with malignant neoplasms who presented to a health care institution with a diagnosis of acute lower extremity DVT. Of these patients, 33 740 (38.1%) underwent IVC filter placement; patients with risk factors such as upper gastrointestinal bleeding (odds ratio, 1.32; 95%