Internal mammary artery embolization for hepatic tumors

To prospectively identify patients with collateral internal mammary artery (IMA) supply to hepatic tumors, and to embolize the IMA as part of palliative hepatic artery embolization (HAE).

Over a 4-year period, 222 patients were enrolled in an HAE protocol for inoperable liver tumors. All underwent abdominal computed tomography (CT) prior to preembolization diagnostic hepatic arteriography. When anterior subcapsular hepatic tumor was seen on the CT scan, patients underwent IMA arteriography as well. All arteries supplying tumor were embolized.

Six patients had anterior subcapsular lesions identified on CT. IMA catheterization revealed that these lesions drew blood supply directly or indirectly from one or both IMAs in all six patients. All IMAs were embolized.

When an hepatic tumor is identified in an anterior subcapsular location prior to HAE, the IMA should be examined and, if significant tumor supply is demonstrated, these branches should be embolized.