[Histopathologic study on resected hepatocellular carcinoma after transcatheter hepatic arterial chemo-embolization]

21 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were surgically resected about 14 or 21 days after transcatheter hepatic arterial chemo-embolization (TACE) mostly for histopathologic assessment of effectiveness. Results showed that complete necrosis of all the tumor bulk was seen in one case (case no. 8) in this series. Partial necrosis of the tumor mass was demonstrated in 19 cases. In 6 cases, the necrotic area was over 50%. In 8 cases, it was between 25-49% and in 5 cases it was below 25%. This strongly indicates a certain effectiveness of TACE on HCC. However, the presence of viable residual tumor in 20 cases, including one with complete viability of the tumor (case no. 1), also suggested the necessity of surgical resection. The case of complete necrosis was related to the frequency of the catheter arriving at the tumor, to the types of embolizing drug, and to the morphopathologic features of the tumor.