Objective: Blood supply changes of the portal venous system to the tumor mass before and after transcatheterarterial chemoembolization(TACE) in a series of 22 patients with huge hepatocellular carcinoma were monitored to study the necessity of intervention via portal vein.
Methods: Twenty-two selected patients with huge hepatocellular carcinoma were enrolled in the study. Elscint double helical CT was used to scan liver during the maximum concentration of contrast medium in portal venous system. CT Angiography and MIP(Maximum Intensity Projection) were used to image formation of the portal venous system.
Results: The technique of scan and image formation were excellent to evaluate the attribution of portal venous blood supply to HCC. The portal venous blood supply was mainly the tumor periphery distribution (P < 0.01). After treatment of TACE, the portal venous blood supply to tumor periphery increased significantly (P < 0.05), and some did appear signs of enriched blood supply around the tumor. Negative correlation between the degree of reduction in tumor and portal venous blood supply to the tumor periphery before TACE was evident.
Conclusion: The attribution of portal venous blood supply to HCC was in the tumor periphery, and regression of tumor after TACE was affected by portal venous blood supply to the tumor, thus it is reasonable to suggest interventional therapy via portal vein.