Recent technical advances in conventional transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma in Japan

Abstract

Conventional transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) using ethiodized oil and gelatin sponge (GS) particles is a standard treatment for unresectable BCLC-B stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Ethiodized oil can cause temporary embolic micro-interactions in tumor sinuses, portal veins, hepatic venous sinuses, and arteries as a temporary embolic material for the microvasculature. Using GS particles as an added embolic material, strong ischemic effects can be achieved not only in HCC, but also in the surrounding liver parenchyma. In recent years, various technical innovations in TACE using ethiodized oil have been made in Japan to improve the outcomes of TACE, such as a device for emulsifying ethiodized oil and water-soluble anticancer drugs, the use of intraoperative embolization guidance software to plan embolization during TACE, and the introduction of various microcatheters. This report examines some of the technical innovations that have been adopted to improve TACE outcomes.

Keywords

• carcinoma
• hepatocellular; conventional transarterial chemoembolization; ethiodized oil; radiology
• interventional; transarterial chemoembolization