Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Oncologic Imaging, Abdomen, Liver, Oncology, CT, MR, Ultrasound, Complications, Diagnostic procedure, Biological effects, Drugs / Reactions, Neoplasia, Not applicable
Authors:
M. LETURIA ETXEBERRIA, F. J. Barba Tamargo, A. Serdio, M. Gredilla, J. Burgos Ruiz, J. Badiola Molinuevo, A. Luis Fernández, A. Aguado, A. agote; Donostia - San Sebastián/ES
DOI:
10.26044/ecr2020/C-06111
Background
Nowadays cancer treatment is based on a multidisciplinary approach, being chemotherapy of upmost importance. Due to the availability of multiple therapeutic options, the overall survival of oncologic patients has improved. Nevertheless, these advances are not exempt from side effects since the combination of multiple drugs, the longer duration of treatments and the appearance of new agents have contributed to a higher incidence of chemo-induced hepatotoxicity.
Although these side-effects are diverse and affect nearly every organ system, this review focuses on the radiologic manifestations of chemotherapy on the liver, since it is a prime target organ of interest in oncology for multiple reasons: the high prevalence of primary and secondary liver malignancies; the frequency of hepatic metastasectomy and locoregional liver treatments that may reduce functional hepatic reserve; and finally, because it is a major organ responsible for drug clearance.
As radiologists, it is essential to know the manifestations of the different entities constituting chemo-induced liver damage, in order to diagnose it soon enough and not to misdiagnose it as tumoral progression.