Chemo‐embolization of hepatic tumours

Abstract

Over the past decade, increasing use of chemo-embolization with chemotherapeutic agents emulsified in oil has been made in the treatment of both primary and metastatic liver tumours. These lesions are often not amenable to surgical resection and are not responsive to systemic chemotherapy. Chemo-embolization provides an additional therapeutic option which, in some instances, can provide significant benefit. This pictorial review discusses the technique of chemo-embolization, as well as aspects of patient selection, complications, and tumour response.

Hepatic intraarterial chemotherapy with gemcitabine in patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinomas and liver metastases of pancreatic cancer: a clinical study on maximum tolerable dose and treatment efficacy

“…Hepatic malignancies normally have a large number of supplying arterial blood vessels drawing blood from the hepatic artery. Intraarterial chemoperfusion and chemoembolization have been suggested for reduction and devascularization with palliative and in some cases with neoadjuvant intentions (Al-Bassam et al 1999;Sakaguchi et al 2001;Tarazov 2001;Xiao et al 2005). Superselective intraarterial injection can deliver high doses of chemotherapeutic agents in the tumor vessels causing increased regional levels with more eVectiveness and lower systemic side eVects.…”