Abstract
Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been widely introduced for inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) since the 1980s. The procedure and maneuvers such as diagnostic imaging, microcatheters and microguidewires have been also become more sophisticated, allowing selective TACE to be performed even for small HCCs with good results and safety. TACE has been performed using Lipiodol emulsion mixed with anticancer agents and gelatin sponge particles via the feeding arteries as selectively as possible. However the current treatment algorithm and/or guidelines have stated surgical treatment and local ablation treatment as curative treatments for early HCC due to their good local control. Many drugs have been developed and distributed for hepatitis or hepatic viruses, despite which many HCC patients still suffer recurrence. So TACE still plays a very important role in the treatment course of each HCC patient. We need to keep the development and innovation of conventional TACE much more. We will review the current conventional TACE and describe its future prospects.
