J Korean Radiol Soc.  1995 Jan;32(1):63-69.

Combined Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization and Percutaneous Ethanol Injection for Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Preliminary Study

• Chung KW
• Shinn KS
• Hahn ST
• Kim CY
• Ahn BY
• Song KS

Abstract

PURPOSE
Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and subsequent percutaneous ethanol injection (PEi) was attempted in 8 patients with 9 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) for complete tumor necrosis of HCCs less than 5cm in greatest diameter.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
PEI was performed with 2-8ml of absolute (99.9%) ethanol two weeks after TACE under CT or ultrasound guidance. For each patient PEI was done twice to four times within 4-10 days of each procedure. After completion of a series of PEI, follow up examination (range:3 months-l.5 year period) was done with angiography, CT or ultrasound and correlated with serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level.
RESULTS
On follow up anglograms, the lesions completely disappeared or decreased in size without tumor vessels or staining in 5 of 6 patients. On follow up CT of 6 patients, the lipiodol-laden HCCs were surrounded by non-enhancing low density and the losion sizes were slightly decreased or not changed. These are suggestive of necrosis of tumor itself and adjacent liver parenchyma. The tumors could not be detected on follow up ultrasound examination in 2 patients. Serum AFP was decreased in 7 patients and was well corresponded to the results of imaging modalities.
CONCLUSION
The authors concluded that the combined TACE and PEI is an appropriate treatment for small HCCs having high surgical risks.

MeSH Terms

alpha-Fetoproteins
Angiography
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular*
Ethanol*
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Liver
Necrosis
Ultrasonography
Ethanol
alpha-Fetoproteins