Curative-Intent Therapies in Localized Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary Medicine
• Interventional Radiology
• Oncology

Background:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high mortality rate, necessitating curative treatments.
• Image-guided therapies are crucial for managing HCC, serving as primary or neoadjuvant treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of image-guided therapies in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.
• To highlight advancements and current recommendations for HCC management.

Main Methods:

• Review of percutaneous thermal ablation for HCC < 3 cm.
• Analysis of embolization for downstaging T3 HCC for liver transplantation.
• Evaluation of emerging techniques like SBRT and combination therapies.

Main Results:

• Percutaneous thermal ablation offers oncologic outcomes comparable to surgical resection for small HCC.
• Embolization is effective for downstaging T3 HCC, enabling liver transplantation.
• Combination therapies show promise but require further investigation.

Conclusions:

• Image-guided therapies, including ablation and embolization, are vital for curative-intent HCC treatment.
• These techniques are recommended as first-line or bridging therapies.
• Multidisciplinary decisions are essential for optimizing HCC treatment strategies.