ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the clinical value of percutaneous transcatheter selective right portal vein embolization(PVE)in treatment of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods Twelve patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma were treated with right percutaneous transcatbeter PVE under fluoroscopic guidance.Left hepatic lobe volume was measured by CT before and after PVE.Portal vein pressures and changes of liver function were also detected before and after the embolization.Results Right portal vein was embolized successfully in all 12 patients with compensatory hypertrophy of left hepatic lobe.Right hepatic lobe was successfully resected in 3 patients.There were no evidence of hepatic dysfunction and portal hypertension after PVE and also without complication.Conclusions Percutaneous transcathter portal vein branch embolization can induce atrophy of the embolized lobes with compensatory hypertrophy of the remnant liver,providing another operation chance for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.