TTP as a primary endpoint in such studies seems to have some advantages but, as discussed above, the evaluation of response and progression shows particular difficulties in HCC after locoregional therapy. An additional necessity corroborated by our data are

new dosimetry conceptions that incorporate the intrahepatic distribution of microspheres in the calculation of the applied dose aiming at lower exposure of normal liver tissue and, equally important, higher intratumoral radioactive doses. This may result in a further enhancement of local response, which should translate into a further improvement of overall survival. “
“Background and Aims:  The American Association for the Study of Liver Disease issued guidelines that proposed that MI-503 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be diagnosed if a mass is larger than 2 cm in a cirrhotic liver and Raf inhibitor shows typical features of HCC at triphasic liver computed tomography (CT) or dynamic magnetic resonance

imaging (MRI). In non-cirrhotic livers, the criteria were not applicable. The aim of the present study was to retrospectively analyze the sensitivity of imaging by samples of definite HCC postoperatively and test their application to diagnose HCC in non-cirrhotic livers. Methods:  From January 2006 to November 2008, a total of 343 pathologically-diagnosed HCC patients via surgical resection were reviewed. Among the 343 patients, 204 patients had undergone liver CT examination, and 80 patients underwent MRI examination; serum α-fetoprotein had been checked for all 343 patients prior to operation. The diagnostic sensitivity of HCC by imaging was evaluated and compared in patients with/without cirrhosis by ultrasound and histology. Results:  The diagnostic sensitivity of HCC by single imaging was approximately 65–80% (liver CT or MRI). A higher sensitivity of HCC diagnosis was found in patients with ultrasound-diagnosed cirrhosis than non-cirrhosis, but the difference in sensitivity disappeared this website after histologically-cirrhotic validation. The results indicated that regardless of the presence or absence

of cirrhosis (histology), a typical vascular pattern could diagnose HCC with equally high sensitivity. Conclusions:  We provide evidence that the sensitivity of HCC diagnosis by imaging is not influenced by the cirrhotic background. Further study is needed to validate the specificity and accuracy. “
“The epidemiology and natural history of pediatric primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis (ASC), and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) are not well characterized. Using multiple, overlapping search strategies followed by a detailed records review, we identified all cases of pediatric PSC, ASC, AIH, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a geographically isolated region of the United States.