Subsegmental transcatheter arterial embolization for small hepatocellular carcinomas: local therapeutic effect and 5-year survival rate

• DOI: 10.1007/bf00686674
• Publication Date: 2004-11-28T17:20:00Z
• Authors: Osamu Matsui; Masumi Kadoya; Jun Yoshikawa; Toshifumi Gabata; Tsutomu Takashima; Hiroshi Demachi
• Keywords: Digital subtraction angiography; Arterial Embolization; Therapeutic effect

The local therapeutic effects and 5-year survival rates obtained following subsegmental transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) therapy for small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 124 nodular-type HCC lesions measuring less than 4 cm in diameter in 100 patients with liver cirrhosis were subjected to the analysis. All lesions became opaque on digital subtraction angiography. Complete necrosis was seen in 64% of 11 resected lesions. Among the remaining 113 lesions, the 1- and 5-year local recurrence rates following one performance of TAE were 18% and 33%, respectively. The 1- and 5-year survival rates were 100% and 53%, respectively. No significant side effect was observed after TAE therapy. Subsegmental TAE therapy significantly improved the long-term survival rates of patients with small HCCs associated with liver cirrhosis as compared with those treated by conventional TAE therapy.