[Interventional methods in the treatment of malignant conditions of the liver]

The article overviews vascular and percutaneous interventional methods used in the locoregional chemotherapy of liver tumors. It is based on experience from the treatment of 248 patients on the Radiodiagnostic clinic of the Teaching hospital in Brno (Bohunice department). Chemoembolization includes precisely aimed administration of cytostatics and a total ischaemization of the malignant tissue. Another method of locoregional chemotherapy is the administration of high doses of cytostatics into the afferent artery. Positive effect can be achieved only when the cytostatic perfuses all liver segments. Preoperative embolization of the portal vein represents an effective preliminary treatment of patients before the liver ablation. Percutaneous thermal ablation and the use of percutaneous ethanol injections are limited by the costs of treatment, by the number, size and location of tumors. Percutaneous ethanol injections are indicated in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in the cirrhotic tissue. Percutaneous thermal ablation can effectively destroy foci in the liver up to the size of 5 cm without impairment of the surrounding tissue. Locoregional and percutaneous therapy of malignant liver processes represent alternative methods and individual approaches should be combined. Indication has to be carefully thought about by an interdisciplinary committee. It is necessary to realise that the aim is not to perform "technically precise operation" gut the lengths and quality of the patient's life.