Transcatheter Hepatic Arterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Masatoshi Okazaki

Department of Radiology, Fukuoka University

Transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization (THCE) for HCC has the dual aim of producing tumor ischemia by embolization of the arterial supply to the tumor and increasing the time that chemotherapeutic agents act on the target area. Although there is a wealth of clinical experience with THCE for HCC in Japan, the indications for THCE for advanced HCC such as HCC with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) are still unclear. We performed THCE in patients with advanced HCC according to our selection criteria under pre-, intra-, and post-THCE intensive care, which have reduced the mortality associated with THCE in these patients. In this paper, we describe our experience, selection criteria and approach to THCE for patients with advanced HCC.

Key words
hepatocellular carcinoma, transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization, portal vein tumor thrombus

Reprint requests
Masatoshi Okazaki Department of Radiology, Fukuoka University
7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jyonan-ku, Fukuoka, 814-80 JAPAN

Accepted
June 14, 1995

To read the PDF file you will need Abobe Reader installed on your computer.