[Chemoembolization of malignant liver tumors]

The main aspects of hepatic chemoembolization are first described: principles, drugs and their vectors, various techniques and contra-indications. In the literature as in our own experience, most encouraging results are reported in metastases from endocrine tumors and hepatocellular carcinoma. Favourable results in the latter disease have been particularly emphasized by Japanese authors whose data are reported, as well as results in a personal series and in three controlled studies. Chemoembolization is now able to induce partial or complete responses. Nevertheless, unambiguous selection of responding patients cannot be stated yet, especially for hepatocellular carcinoma where an underlying chronic liver disease probably plays an important role in prognosis. Consequently, chemoembolization of malignant hepatic tumors must still be considered as a technique under evaluation.