Chemoembolization of hepatic neoplasms: safety, complications, and when to worry

Chemoembolization of the liver for unresectable malignancy, although controversial, is being used with increasing frequency. Chemoembolization can be difficult, and there is great potential for causing complications. There are also findings after chemoembolization, particularly on computed tomographic scans, that may appear to indicate complications but are common and of no concern. Chemoembolization requires an understanding of the congenital and acquired variations of arterial anatomy that may be seen supplying the liver. Assessment of the patency of the portal vein is also required. An abnormal portal vein demands significant changes in technique to allow safe chemoembolization. Partial or complete occlusion of the portal vein is associated with significantly decreased survival but does not prevent a worthwhile response to chemoembolization and is not an absolute contraindication. The presence of chemoembolization material in the gallbladder is not uncommon; with the technique used by the authors, the chemoembolization material infrequently causes cholecystitis or gallbladder infarction. Extrahepatic chemoembolization material is commonly seen in other organs but usually does not cause problems, presumably because the dose deposited outside the liver is small compared with the dose delivered to the liver. Other complications include pseudocirrhosis, liver infarction and abscess formation, carcinoid crisis, hepatorenal syndrome, and liver rupture.