Abstract
During the past 5 years from 1980 to 1985, abdominal angiography was performed in 221 cases of suspected hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and 139 cases (63%) were diagnosed as HCC. Seventy-three cases out of 139 HCC's were treated with transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) using gelatin sponge and antineoplastic agents (mainly Adriamycin 40-60mg).
In 12 patients, tumor was resected following TAE. Recurrent tumors were treated with TAE after hepatectomy in two patients. For 59 unresectable HCC patients treated only with TAE, cumulative survival rate was 45% for one year, and 21% for two years.
Early deaths within one month after TAE were 6 cases (3 cases of hepatic failure, each one case of acute renal failure, gastroenteric bleeding, and brain stem hemorrhage, respectively) and there were 10 cases of poor prognosis group which died within 1-3 months.
In 12 cases of hepatectomy following TAE, 4 cases died within 6 months closely related to operation following TAE. Extending the indication of hepatectomy with TAE as an adjunctive therapy is difficult in HCC patients with liver cirrhosis.
