Complications of hepatic chemoembolization.

Area of Science:

• Interventional Radiology
• Hepatobiliary Oncology

Background:

• Transarterial hepatic chemoembolization (TACE) is a cornerstone therapy for unresectable liver malignancies.
• The procedure involves delivering chemotherapy directly to liver tumors via hepatic arteries.
• While effective, TACE is associated with potential complications that require careful management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of the complications associated with transarterial hepatic chemoembolization.
• To detail both vascular and nonvascular adverse events following TACE.
• To enhance understanding of the safety profile of TACE in liver tumor treatment.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on TACE complications.
• Categorization of complications into vascular and nonvascular types.
• Synthesis of reported major and minor adverse events.

Main Results:

• Transarterial hepatic chemoembolization can lead to a range of complications.
• Vascular complications include issues like non-target embolization and hepatic artery thrombosis.
• Nonvascular complications encompass risks such as infection, post-embolization syndrome, and biliary injury.

Conclusions:

• Transarterial hepatic chemoembolization, though a valuable treatment, carries inherent risks.
• Awareness and prompt recognition of both vascular and nonvascular complications are crucial for patient safety.
• Further research may focus on minimizing TACE-related morbidity.