Transarterial Chemoembolization and Microwave Ablation for Early Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Nigerian

Abstract

The West African subregion has a high number of cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and this is partly because of a lack of expertise and health infrastructure for the delivery of effective locoregional therapies for patients who present with early disease. This report documents the successful treatment of a case of early HCC in a Nigerian patient using a combination of transarterial chemoembolization and microwave ablation techniques. We showed that, despite difficulties, such techniques are possible. It is our hope that this publication will help stimulate discussion, policy changes, and other alterations necessary to establish beneficial high-end techniques for the alleviation of the health burden of HCC patients in Nigeria.

Keywords

• early hepatocellular carcinoma
• nigeria
• transarterial chemoembolization
• microwave ablation
• interventional radiology