Transarterial Embolization for Malignancy-Related Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Outcomes with and Without CT...

Background/Objectives: Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in patients with malignancy is frequently refractory to endoscopic and conservative management. Transarterial embolization (TAE) is an established treatment option, but whether the presence of contrast extravasation on preprocedural computed tomography (CT) influences outcomes remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TAE for malignancy-related GI bleeding in patients with and without CT-detected contrast extravasation. Methods: From January 2012 to December 2023, 40 consecutive patients who underwent TAE for malignancy-related GI bleeding were retrospectively analyzed and categorized into CT extravasation (n = 25) and CT no-extravasation (n = 15) groups based on preprocedural CT findings. Technical success, clinical success, 30-day mortality, overall survival (OS), and procedure-related complications were compared between groups, and factors associated with OS were evaluated using Cox regression. Results: The technical and clinical success rates were 100% (40/40) and 82.5% (33/40), respectively. Clinical success did not differ between the CT extravasation and no-extravasation groups (84.0% [21/25] vs. 80.0% [12/15]; p = 0.747). Two of 40 patients (5.0%) died within 30 days, one in each group (p = 0.708). OS did not differ significantly (log-rank p = 0.707; median, 147 vs. 187 days). A shock index > 1 was independently associated with worse OS (hazard ratio, 2.308; 95% confidence interval, 1.071-4.972; p = 0.033). No major procedure-related complications occurred. Conclusions: TAE achieved high technical success and comparable short-term clinical outcomes in patients with and without CT extravasation. Hemodynamic instability, rather than CT extravasation, was independently associated with OS.