Résumé
Background: hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] is a primary liver cancer that frequently causes mortalities. Transarterial chemoembolization [TACE] is a new palliative treatment for advanced stages of HCC. In this study, we have assessed the results of TACE on a group of Iranian patients with advanced HCC treated at Imam Khomeini General Hospital
Materials and Methods: this was a case series, cohort study conducted on 36 patients with HCC who met the study criteria. Patients underwent two sessions of TACE at a 4-6 week interval. All patients underwent triphasic computerized scans [CT scan] before treatment and at six weeks after the second session
Results: after at least a one year follow up period, 20 [55.6%] patients died and 16 [41.7%] survived. Survival at 6 months was 58% and at 12 months, it was 33.3%. Post-TACE tumor necrosis [>50%] was significantly associated with 6 [p= 0.029] and 12 [p= 0.00] month survival. There was a significant association between 6 and 12 month survival and Okuda stage [p-V= 0.001 and 0.003], ascites [p-V = 0.058 and 0.012] and branch portal vein thrombosis [p-V= 0. 036 and 0.024]. There was no association of WHO criteria to 6 [p-V = 0.139] and 12 [p-V =0.139] month survival
Conclusion: tumor necrosis less than 50%, presence of ascites and thrombosis of the portal branches are associated with lower survival. Suitable selection and taking into consideration post-TACE tumor necrosis is suggested to enhance survival