Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization using polyvinyl alcohol particles in patients with primary hepatic cancer / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective To assess the clinical value of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles as embolic material in patients with primary hepatic cancer (PHC). Methods Twenty patients with PHC underwent TACE. The mixed emulsion of chemotherapy agents and lipiodol was given to embolize the tumor vssTranscatheter arterial chemoembolization using polyvinyl alcohol feeding artery of tumors. The tumors size, response rate and Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) value were monitored respectively at the end of the first month, the third month, the sixth month and the first year after TACE. The changes of liver function, including serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total bilirubin (TBILI), were recorded within 1 week and 1 month after TACE. The time to progression and the overall survival were recorded. Results Compared with pre-TACE, the tumor size decreased obviously at the end of the first month, the third month, the sixth month and the first year after TACE (P<0.05), the response rate reached 80.00%, 90.00%, 95.00% and 95.00%, respectively. The AFP value decreased obviously. Serum AST, ALT and TBILI significantly increased in the first week after TACE (P<0.05), but returned to preoperative level within 1 month. The average follow-up time was (19.8±7.0) months (range 12-32 months), the time to progression was (17.0±6.8) months, and the overall survival was (19.3±7.0) months. Conclusion PVA particles are optimal embolic material for TACE of PHC. Superselective embolization is necessary in TACE to achieve effective tumor devascularization and reduce liver damage.