Progress of Vascular IVR for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Technical innovation and development of devices and imaging machine have brought recent advances of IVR. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) and percutaneous procedures such as percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT), percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) play a major role in IVR for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In performing TAE for HCCs, the localization of the tumor and feeding arteries can be detected precisely by selective hepatic arteriography. TAE was performed by injecting a emulsion of Lipiodol containing epirubicin and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) followed by gelatin sponge particles with the coaxial method using microcatheters. The 1-, 2-, and 3- year survival values obtained for Segmental Lipiodol-TAE group (100%, 96%, and 70%, respectively) were higher than those found for Lipiodol-TAE group. Segmental Lipiodol-TAE improved the prognosis of the patients with liver cirrhosis associated with HCCs