Transarterial radioembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: a review

Abstract

Rodolfo Sacco,1 Caterina Conte,2 Emanuele Tumino,1 Giuseppe Parisi,1 Sara Marceglia,3 Salvatore Metrangolo,1 Roberto Eggenhoffner,4 Giampaolo Bresci,1 Giuseppe Cabibbo,5 Luca Giacomelli4 1Department of Gastroenterology, Cisanello Hospital, Pisa, 2Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Policlinico A. Gemelli, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, 3Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, 4Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics, School of Medicine, Genova University, Genoa, 5Section of Gastroenterology, DIBIMIS, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy Abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer and is the second cause of death due to malignancy in the world. The treatment of HCC is complex and includes potentially curative and palliative approaches. However, both curative and palliative treatments for HCC are often associated with a not-completely favorable safety/efficacy ratio. Therefore, other treatment options appear necessary in clinical practice. Transarterial radioembolization has shown a promising efficacy in terms of disease control and is associated with a good safety profile. This review discusses the use of transarterial radioembolization in HCC, with a focus on the clinical aspects of this therapeutic strategy. Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, transarterial radioembolization

Keywords

• hepatocellular carcinoma
• transarterial radioembolization