[Chinese clinical practice guidelines for transarterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignancy originating from liver cells. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the major etiological factor contributed to the development of HCC in China. Pathologically, HCC is usually characterized of hypervascularity. The rationale of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is that the intraarterial infusion of cytotoxic agents followed by embolization of the tumor-feeding blood vessels causes a strong tumor killing effect. TACE is the most widely used primary treatment for unresectable HCC. In 2018, Chinese clinical practice guidelines for transarterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma were published by Chinese College of Interventionalists. After several clinical and scientific advances are achieved, a new version of practice guidelines is updated in 2021.