Selective hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy and transcatheter arterial embolization [TAE] therapy for primary and metastatic malignant liver tumors

ABSTRACT

Large hepatocellular carcinaoma and hepatic metastases have remained a therapeutic challenge for quite a long time. Various methods have been tried such as percutaneous ethanol injection and selective hepatic arterial chemoinfusion. As most primary and secondary neoplasms of the liver receive their blood supply almost exclusively from the hepatic artery, transcatheter embolization of the hepatic artery is also being done in an attempt to control tumour growth. Selective hepatic arterial chemoinfusion followed by transcatheter arterial embolization is being done at Liaquat National Hospital for the management of primary and secondary malignant hepatic tumours. This report comprises three patients with a relatively long term follow up. No serious complication related to embolization occurred in these patients. The results in these and other patients are encouraging in suggesting that the combination of selective hepatic arterial chemoinfusion and transcatheter arterial embolization is an easy and effective method in the management of malignant hepatic masses