[Chemoembolization in primary hepatocellular carcinoma]

The only generally recognised form of treatment for primary liver cell carcinomas is partial liver resection; occasionally this may be curative. This form of treatment is only applicable in 5% to 30% of patients. All drug-based forms of treatment have proved of little value. The new interventional radiological method of chemo-embolisation has shown results in improving survival rates which are comparable with resection. By using a new coaxial catheter system, embolisation can be performed as a selective intrahepatic procedure; it has few side effects and the quality of life subsequently does not deteriorate.