Purpose: An evaluation of clinical and computed tomography parameters for the transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Material and methods: Retro- and prospective analysis of 123 TACE procedures in 37 patients (mean age: 63.3 years).
Results: Overall mean survival rate for all treated patients was 785 days with a mean value of 387 days. The 1 year survival rate was 62%. Quantitative tumor volumetry revealed a significant difference in survival rate with a mean value of 678 days for patients with a reduction of tumor volume between 0 and 50%, 976 days for a volume reduction of 51-100% and 277 days for an increase in tumor volume during therapy. Patients with a high lipiodol retention presented improved survival data (902 days) versus patients with a low lipiodol retention (513 days). Homogeneous retention of lipiodol was a positive factor on survival as compared to an inhomogenous form of retention.
Conclusion: In patients with a positive therapy response after TACE the prognosis can be improved by repeated embolization.