Necrosis Rate of Preoperative Transcatheter Arterial Chemoemboliztion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Study in 77 Patients who Underwent Surgery / 한국간담췌외과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the one of effective methods which treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients who have unresectable tumors or poor liver function. The aim of this study is to evaluate the histologic necrosis rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with TACE. METHODS: From 1997 to 2001, 77 patients diagnosed as a HCC with percutaneous needle biposy underwent hepatic resection, who had been treated with properative TACE. Complete necrosis rate of tumor was studied by histologic examination of resected specimens. RESULTS: A complete necrosis rate was demonstrated in 31.2% (24/77). A mean size of completely necrotized tumors was 2.8 cm, incompletely necrotized tumor size was 4.8 cm. Lymph node metastasis of 77 hepatocellular carcinoma cases was shown in 5.2% (4/77). Of 24 cases with a complete necrotized tumor, lymph node metastasis was found in one case. CONCLUSION: This study indicates the effectiveness of TACE on the destruction of HCC. However, the presence of viable residual tumors strongly argues for the necessity of surgical resection whenever it is possible.