Hepatocellular carcinoma (2021) – online course
Description
Please note that this course is no longer CME accredited and will be taken offline on February 23, 2025.
Authors: D. Filippiadis and T. Helmberger
Reviewers: M. Calandri, A. Cullen, A. Kelekis, G. Makris and C. Nice
This course corresponds to chapter 2.2.5.2 Vascular interventional oncology in the European Curriculum and Syllabus for IR.
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common abdominal malignancy worldwide and one of the leading causes for death. The most common underlying disease is chronic inflammation in liver cirrhosis based on viral infections and alcohol abuse. The indication and decision for treating HCC must be based on the general condition of the liver and the specific presentation of the tumour. In Europe and most parts of the western world, the proposed staging system of the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer group (BCLC), or variants of this system, are used for HCC classification and treatment stratification. This system proposes five disease stages and adjusted therapies. Local ablation, resection or transplantation is proposed for the very early and early HCC stage. For the intermediate stage B, transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) is proposed; stage B, together with advanced stage C, represent 50% of HCC patients. Interventional treatment options are also available in stage C patients, in whom anti-angiogenesis therapy with sorafenib is considered basically the only therapy. End-stage disease is governed by a very limited life expectancy where best supportive care alone will be indicated in the majority of cases. Beside the treatment stratification as proposed by the EASL-BCLC recommendation, there are specific relative and absolute contraindications with respect to the various therapeutic options. In general, all minimally invasive therapies in HCC are safe and necessitate only minor peri-procedural provisions.
Learning objectives
- To learn about the hepatic anatomy, the pathophysiological background of HCC and the therapeutically relevant hepatic structures.
- To understand diagnostic concepts in HCC, mainly by means of imaging.
- To understand a current classification system for HCC with respect to treatment strategies.
- To understand inclusion and exclusion criteria for various local therapies of HCC.
- To learn about the requisites and the set-up of specific treatment procedures in HCC.
- To learn about the outcome of minimally invasive therapies and potential complications.
Further information
This course covers a basic level of IR knowledge and is designed for trainees, students or young consultants aiming to acquire essential knowledge or prepare for the EBIR exam. Thereby, it is tailored to the European Curriculum and Syllabus for IR and corresponds to chapter 2.2.5.2 Vascular interventional oncology.
The format of the course is interactive and easy to use, including texts, graphics, videos and a quiz to support your learning. The course duration is around one hour.
The enrolment period of this course is linked to the validity of the All-Access Pass.
Release date: February 2021
