Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma: prevalence and causative factors of extrahepatic collateral arteries in 479 patients.
OBJECTIVE
We wanted to investigate the prevalence and causative factors of extrahepatic arterial blood supply to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at its initial presentation and during chemoembolization.


METHODS
Between February 1998 and April 2000, consecutive 479 patients with newly diagnosed HCC were prospectively enrolled into this study. A total of 1629 sessions of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) were performed in these patients (range: 1-15 sessions; mean: 3.4 sessions) until April 2004. For each TACE procedure, we determined the potential extrahepatic collateral arteries (ExCAs) depending on the location of the tumor, and we performed selective angiography of all suspected collaterals that could supply the tumor. The prevalence of ExCAs and the causative factors were analyzed.


RESULTS
At initial presentation, 82 (17%) of these 479 patients showed 108 ExCAs supplying tumors. Univariate analysis showed that tumor size (p < 0.01), patient age (p = 0.02), a surface location (p < 0.01), and a bare area location (p < 0.01) were significantly associated with the presence of ExCAs. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that only tumor size was predictive of ExCA formation (p < 0.01, odds ratio = 1.737, confidence interval: 1.533 to 1.969). During repeated TACE sessions, 97 additional ExCAs were detected in 70 (14%) patients. The cumulative probability of ExCAs in patients with a large tumor (> or =5 cm) was significantly higher than that for those patients with a small tumor (< 5 cm) (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of ExCAs supplying HCC is rather common, and the tumor size is a significant causative factor for the development of these collateral arteries.
Chung
Jin Wook
JW
Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Chongno-Gu, Seoul, Korea. chungjw@radcom.snu.ac.kr
Kim
Hyo-Cheol
HC
Yoon
Jung-Hwan
JH
Lee
Hyo-Suk
HS
Jae
Hwan Jun
HJ
Lee
Whal
W
Park
Jae Hyung
JH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D003097:Collateral Circulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology