[Retrospective study of short survival cases in hepatocellular carcinoma after transcatheter arterial embolization...

Twenty-two patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were treated with transcatheter arterial embolization therapy. In the six who died within about a month, serum albumin and Ch-E were lower, and total bilirubin and ICG R15 were higher than in the other cases. In four of them, more than 50% of the liver was occupied by tumor, and tumor thrombosis were found in the portal trunk or bilateral first portal branch. Five patients died of hepatic failure followed by upper gastrointestinal bleeding. One died of cachexia. The causes of short survival were 1) severe liver cirrhosis, 2) portal obstruction, 3) large tumor, 4) widespread TAE, 5) retrograde flow of gelfoam.