title: Effectiveness of preoperative transarterial chemoembolization in presumed inoperable hepatoblastoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness and therapeutic role of preoperative transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) of hepatoblastoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four patients (one boy, three girls) with unresectable hepatoblastoma were treated twice with preoperative TACE in an effort to improve the surgical and clinical outcome. The patients ranged in age from 8 to 27 months (mean, 15 months). The first TACE was performed superselectively in tumor feeding arteries. The second TACE was performed 3 weeks later. Surgical hepatic resection was performed 1 month after the second TACE. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) was used to evaluate changes in size, volume, internal texture, and margin of the masses. The toxicity of the chemotherapeutic drugs was evaluated by blood chemistry analysis (AST/ALT, alpha-FP) performed before and after TACE, and after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TACE allowed subsequent surgical resection in all four patients, who remained disease free 16-52 months after operation. There were no major problems related to TACE. There was no chemotherapeutic agent toxicity from TACE. The average largest diameters and volumes of the tumors decreased by 31% (8.3 to 5.6 cm) and 69% (317 to 93 cm2), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TACE provided subsequent successful surgical resection and good long-term results in all four patients. The hepatoblastomas were initially considered inoperable because of extensive hepatic involvement and indistinct margins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Chonju City, Republic of Korea. ymhan@moak.chonbuk.ac.
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003287:Contrast Media; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005781:Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable; D018197:Hepatoblastoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011300:Preoperative Care; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003287:Contrast Media; D004317:Doxorubicin; D002945:Cisplatin