Subsegmental transcatheter arterial embolization for small hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The evaluation of long-term outcome of subsegmental transcatheter arterial embolization, which was designed to bring about sufficient anti-tumor effect, in the primary cases of small hepatocellular carcinoma.


METHODS
We analyzed and compared the anti-tumor effect and the survival rate in the primary cases of solitary small hepatocellular carcinoma (< or = 3 cm) with cirrhosis treated by subsegmental transcatheter arterial embolization, chemolipiodolization or percutaneous ethanol injection therapy during the last eight years, retrospectively.


RESULTS
The complete tumor necrosis by one session of subsegmental transcatheter arterial embolization, which means that treated tumor showed complete response and did not show local recurrence thereafter, was seen in approximately 50% of the cases. The rate of complete tumor necrosis was superior to that in the patients treated by chemolipiodolization although it was lower than that in the patients treated by percutaneous ethanol injection therapy. Both of the 5- and 7-year survival rates in the patients treated by subsegmental transcatheter arterial embolization were 41.2%. It was slightly higher than those in the other treatment groups without significant difference.


CONCLUSIONS
Subsegmental transcatheter arterial embolization might be effectively performed as an initial treatment for the primary cases of the solitary small hepatocellular carcinoma when tumor was fully supplied by hepatic arterial blood regardless of small size.
Itsubo
Mariko
M
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8, Nishishinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan.
Koike
Kazuhiko
K
Tsuno
Shinichi
S
Osada
Masahisa
M
Komuro
Osamu
O
Shimada
Noritomo
N
Okuda
Jouji
J
Fukada
Hiroyuki
H
Okuaki
Yasushi
Y
Kawabe
Tomonobu
T
Toda
Gotaro
G
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000431:Ethanol