Non-operative arterial embolisation in primary liver tumours

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Interventional Radiology
• Oncology

Background:

• Primary hepatic tumours pose significant treatment challenges.
• Selective arterial embolisation is an emerging therapeutic option.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of selective arterial embolisation in inducing necrosis in primary hepatic tumours.
• To assess the outcomes of embolisation as a primary or adjunctive treatment for liver tumours.

Main Methods:

• Three patients with primary hepatic tumours underwent selective arterial embolisation using gelatin-foam fragments.
• Two patients had hepatocellular carcinoma, and one had a benign hepatic adenoma.
• Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma received subsequent adriamycin chemotherapy.

Main Results:

• Ultrasonography suggested tumour necrosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cases.
• Significant reductions in serum alpha-fetoprotein levels (95% and 81%) were observed.
• Complete tumour mass obliteration was achieved in the benign hepatic adenoma case.
• Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma remained well and symptom-free at 10 and 12 months post-treatment.

Conclusions:

• Selective arterial embolisation is effective in inducing tumour necrosis for primary hepatic tumours.
• Embolisation serves as a crucial first step in managing hepatocellular carcinoma, reducing tumour burden before chemotherapy.
• Embolisation can be a primary and definitive treatment for benign liver tumours.