title: Transarterial chemoembolization with drug-eluting beads versus conventional transarterial chemoembolization in locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In hepatocellular carcinoma patients with large or multinodal tumors, where curative treatment options are not feasible, transarterial therapies play a major role. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with drug-eluting beads (DEB-TACE) is a promising new approach due to higher intratumoral and lower systemic concentration of the chemotherapeutic agent compared to conventional TACE (cTACE).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a retrospective analysis, 32 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who received either DEB or a cTACE were compared regarding survival time, disease recurrence, and side effects such as pain and fever.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences could be detected between the cTACE and DEB-TACE groups with regard to mean hospital stay, appearance of postinterventional fever, or 30-day mortality. However, the application of intravenous analgesics as postinterventional pain medication was needed more often in patients treated with DEB-TACE (57.1% vs 12.5%, P=0.0281). The overall median survival after the initial procedure was 10.8 months in the cTACE group and 9.2 months in the DEB-TACE group, showing no significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No survival benefit for patients treated with either DEB-TACE or cTACE was observed. Surprisingly, a higher rate of postinterventional pain could be detected after DEB-TACE.
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral, Vascular, and Pediatric Surgery.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baur
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral, Vascular, and Pediatric Surgery.
authors.forename: Christoph-Thomas
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Germer
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral, Vascular, and Pediatric Surgery.
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kickuth
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral, Vascular, and Pediatric Surgery.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Steger
keywords: drug-eluting beads; hepatocellular carcinoma; transarterial chemoembolization