Transcatheter arterial embolization therapy in unresectable hepatomas

Experience in 15 cases

Abstract

In 15 patients with unresectable primary hepato-cellular carcinoma, the authors performed trans-catheter arterial embolization therapy in which under fluoroscopic control the feeding artery of tumor is superselectively catheterized and occluded with the injection of Gelfoam particles soaked in Mitomycin C solution.
Apparent tumor regression was observed in 11 of 15 patients and 2 of 11 survivors have been alive for more than 15 months after the therapy. AFP value decreased markedly in all of 9 patients who had had its high level before the therapy.
On the follow-up angiography which was perfbrmed in 7 patients, all of them showed not only a marked reduction of the tumor size but also an obvious decrease of the tumor vascularity, and especially in 5, almost complete disappearance of the "tumor vessels" and "tumor stain " was observed, although the embolized hepatic artery was already recanalized.
Thus, the transcatheter arterial embolization can be regarded as an almost specific therapy of unresectable epatoma.