Onkológia 3/2012

Transarterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma

In transarterial chemoembolization cytostatic, its carrier and embolic material are periodically injected directly into artery supplying hepatocellular carcinoma to cause tumor necrosis. Transarterial chemoembolisation has become a well accepted treatment for intermediate B stage hepatocellular carcinoma according to BCLC staging system. Another indication is so-called bridging therapy of patients with HCC awaiting orthotopic liver transplantation. The main contraindications are Child-Pugh C liver cirrhosis, tumor burden involving > 50 percent of the liver, vascular invasion and extrahepatic tumor. The most common complications is postchemoembolisation syndrome, which consists of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, increased levels of inflamation markers and liver enzymes.

Keywords: transarterial chemoembolisation, hepatocellular carcinoma.