Image-guided percutaneous ablation of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma

Abstract

Purpose: Disease control and survival following percutaneous ablation of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) was studied retrospectively.

Methods: Six patients underwent 16 image-guided ablation procedures to treat 35 liver tumors from 2015 to 2022 (17 microwave ablation, 9 irreversible electroporation, 8 cryoablation, and 1 radiofrequency ablation). Technical success, local progression, intrahepatic progression, distant progression, overall survival, and adverse events were assessed.

Results: Four of six (67%) patients were treatment naïve prior to ablation. The mean length of imaging follow-up from first ablation procedure was 43.0 ± 31.2 months. Thirty-three of 35 (94.3%) ablated tumors did not progress locally. Three of 6 patients (50%) had new intrahepatic progression and underwent repeat ablation or systemic treatment. No extrahepatic progression was observed. One patient died from EHE 2.7 years after initial diagnosis. No severe adverse events occurred.

Conclusion: Percutaneous ablation is feasible, often in a staged fashion, and may provide favorable intermediate to long-term disease control for patients with hepatic EHE.

Keywords: Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma; Liver; Tumor ablation.