Effective segmental chemoembolization of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombus in the portal vein.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate therapeutic results of transcatheter segmental hepatic artery chemo-oily-embolization (segmental TAE) against advanced hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) accompanied by portal tumor thrombus (PTT).


METHODS
Segmental TAE was performed in nine patients with hepatic cirrhosis and advanced HCCs accompanied by PTT. Four subsegmental portal branches were obstructed by PTT in three patients, and two were obstructed in the remaining six patients. TAE was performed into the targeted segmental hepatic artery followed by embolization with gelatin sponge particles.


RESULTS
In one patient undergoing subsequent resection, a marked anticancer effect on the PTT was demonstrated histologically. In the eight other patients who did not undergo subsequent resection, the cumulative survival rates were 67% at 6 months, 44% at 1 year, and 22% at 2 years. No serious complications were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
This therapeutic approach is thought to be a useful treatment for HCC with PTT, because it reinforces anticancer effects and can be performed more safely than conventional transcatheter arterial embolization.
Katsumori
T
T
Department of Radiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
Fujita
M
M
Takahashi
T
T
Satoh
O
O
Ichijima
S
S
Nakamura
T
T
Morishita
H
H
Ohno
K
K
Nakano
Y
Y
Maeda
T
T
D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005780:Gelatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006499:Hepatic Artery; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D007459:Iodized Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology*; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000473:pathology; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D019043:Vascular Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D015251:Epirubicin; D016685:Mitomycin; D007459:Iodized Oil; D005780:Gelatin