ABSTRACT
Objective To discuss and to compare the curative effects of interventional embolization with different embolic agents in treating giant hepatic cavernous hemangiomas. Methods From 2008 to 2010, a total of 30 cases with clinically proved hepatic cavernous hemangioma were treated with interventional embolization. According to the embolic agents used , the patients were divided into pingyangmycin-lipiodol emulsion mixed with sodium alginate microspheres group(PLE+KMG, group A, n=15) and pingyangmycin-lipiodol emulsion group (PLE, group B, n=15). CT scanning was performed one, 3, 6, 12 months after the treatment to evaluate the curative effect. Results The technical success rate was 100%in both groups. The mean PLE dose used in group A and B was (10.9 ± 5.2) ml and (11.4 ± 4.9) ml respectively, the difference between the two groups was not significant (P > 0.05). CT reexamination performed one, 3, 6 months after the treatment showed that a reduction in tumor volume over 50%in group A was seen in 9, 11 and 14 cases respectively, while in group B it was 0, 3 and 5 cases respectively (P <0.05). One week after the procedure, the degree of pain in patients of group A was more severe than that in patients of group B, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Slight abnormal hepatic function was seen in some patients of both groups, which presented mainly as an elevation of aminotransferase, which returned to normal after symptomatic medication. Follow-up with questionnaire indicted that patients of group A were more satisfied with the treatment than the patients of group B. Conclusion Transhepatic infusion of pingyangmycin-lipiodol emulsion is a safe and effective treatment for giant cavernous hemangioma of the liver. Combination use of pingyangmycin-lipiodol emulsion and sodium alginate microspheres can obviously reduce the tumor size mainly in the first and the third month after the treatment, besides it produces instant clinical effect although the pain is more severe than in patients treated with pure pingyangmycin-lipiodol emulsion.