[Nonsurgical therapy methods in hepatocellular carcinoma]

The incidence of the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing in western countries mainly due to chronic hepatitis C. Therapy is dependent on the size and localization of the tumors as well as age and condition of the patient. If resection or transplantation are not possible, smaller tumors can be treated with local therapy either by percutaneous ethanol instillation, radiofrequency ablation or laser thermocoagulation. Larger tumors can be treated by transarterial chemoembolization which can also be combined with the methods named above. The results of systemic chemotherapy and medical treatment are disappointing. With early diagnosis and individualized therapeutic strategies prolongation of life or healing may be reached in many patients.