Purpose: To evaluate the safety, technical success rate, and effectiveness of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) fed by the cystic artery.
Materials and methods: Treatment of 27 tumors in 25 patients fed by the cystic artery was attempted with TACE. Twenty-two patients had previously undergone one to eight TACE sessions (mean, four sessions), and the duration after initiation of treatment of HCC was 4-69 months (mean, 24). In three patients, parasitization of the cystic artery was revealed at initial angiography. TACE was performed only when the microcatheter could be inserted into the tumor feeding branch and the stain of the gallbladder wall disappeared. The therapeutic effects and complications were retrospectively analyzed.
Results: Seventeen tumors were completely fed by the cystic artery and 10 were fed by both the hepatic artery and cystic artery. Attenuation or occlusion of the hepatic artery was observed in 56%. The tumor feeding branch arising from the cystic artery could be successfully embolized in 18 tumors (67%) of 16 patients without severe complications. Adequate iodized oil accumulation was achieved in 14 tumors (52%) of 12 patients. Percutaneous therapy (n = 7), radiation (n = 4), and TACE after cholecystectomy (n = 1) were added for tumors with incomplete or unsuccessful TACE. Local progression was observed in three (21%) of 14 tumors treated by TACE alone during a mean follow-up period of 18 months.
Conclusion: TACE via the cystic artery was safe and technically possible in 67% of patients. If adequate iodized oil accumulation is obtained, which was only achieved in 52% of patients, sufficient therapeutic effect may be expected.