RESUMO
The aim of this study was to report the antitumor effect of combination therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation. We studied 3 cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma > 3 cm and < 8 cm who underwent transarterial embolization and percutaneous ethanol injection as combination coadjuvant therapy while on the waiting list for liver transplantation. Transarterial embolization failed to produce total necrosis of the tumor. In all 3 patients this was subsequently achieved with percutaneous ethanol injection. All the patients currently remain on the waiting list and show no signs of local tumor recurrence 9, 10 and 13 months after the procedures. In conclusion, combination adjuvant therapy with transarterial embolization and percutaneous ethanol injection can increase tumor necrosis and can be useful prior to liver transplantation. Further studies with a greater number of patients are required to confirm the value of this combination therapy.
