[Chemoembolization therapy in small hepatocellular carcinoma]

As chemoembolotherapy (TAE) for relatively small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) including small HCC of less than 2 cm in diameter, which is restricted to a sub-subsegment, subsegment or segment of the liver, segmental Lp-TAE using Lipiodol (Lp) mixed with an anticancer agent, which includes subsegmental and sub-sub-segmental therapy, not restricted to the tumor-bearing segment, is expected to move to the forefront of HCC treatments and also causes fewer complications and less strain to the patient. Of the 15 cases that underwent surgery following segmental Lp-TAE, complete necrosis was found histopathologically in more than 80% of the main tumor, satellite nodules in the embolized region and areas of capsular invasion. Its therapeutic efficacy for 51 cases with tumors smaller than 3 cm was comparable to that of surgery.