Chemoembolisation combined with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of primary angiosarcoma of the liver

Abstract

Angiosarcoma of the liver is a rare disease; however, it ranks as the third most common primary liver malignancy. Diagnosis is difficult and prognosis is very poor. After the onset of clinical symptoms, the disease often progresses rapidly, decreasing the chances of curative treatment. We report the case of an 83-year-old male patient who presented with postprandial fullness. Upper abdominal ultrasound showed a hypervascular mass in segment 6 of the liver. The results of anatomopathological examination and immunohistochemistry were compatible with the diagnosis of primary angiosarcoma of the liver. Patient refused surgery (haepatectomy), and treatment was then initiated with transarterial chemoembolisation, followed by percutaneous radiofrequency ablation. The patient is currently cured based on clinical and radiological evidence. This case report is the first in the literature to describe the combined use of transarterial chemoembolisation with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of primary angiosarcoma of the liver.

Response and Overall Survival for Yttrium-90 Radioembolization of Hepatic Sarcoma: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

“…TARE of sarcomas has been reported in a few case reports and a small series of gastrointestinal stromal tumors, which suggest that this may also be useful in treating primary and metastatic hepatic STS (11,15,16). The feasibility of treatment of nonresectable primary hepatic STS with transarterial therapies has been demonstrated in several case reports and case series, with survivals in responders ranging from 8-12 months (16)(17)(18).…”

Liver Resection for Primary Hepatic Angiosarcoma: Bicentric Analysis of a Challenging Entity

“…The value of ablation therapy as a primary treatment for PHA is limited by the fact that most patients present with lesions larger than 5 cm. However, it could be an alternative option for smaller lesions [ 31 ].…”