Transarterial Ethanol Ablation Combined with Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus

Biao Yang; Xin You; Min Lan Yuan; Tian Qiang Qin; Lin Jia Duan; Jiao He; Ze Jun Fei; Xuan Zhou; Rui Yu Zan; Zheng Yin Liao

doi:10.5812/hepatmon.37584

Transarterial Ethanol Ablation Combined with Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus

Hepat Mon. 2016 Jul 23;16(8):e37584. doi: 10.5812/hepatmon.37584. eCollection 2016 Aug.

Authors

Biao Yang¹, Xin You¹, Min Lan Yuan², Tian Qiang Qin³, Lin Jia Duan⁴, Jiao He⁴, Ze Jun Fei⁴, Xuan Zhou⁴, Rui Yu Zan¹, Zheng Yin Liao¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Abdominal Oncology, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
² Psychiatry Centre, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
³ Chinese Evidence-Based Medicine Centre, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
⁴ Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Abstract

Background: The prognosis for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) is extremely poor.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of transarterial ethanol ablation (TEA) for the treatment of HCC with PVTT.

Methods: Patients were treated with TEA for PVTT under cone-beam computed tomography and traditional transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with epirubicin for intrahepatic lesions.

Results: Seventeen men were successfully treated with TACE plus TEA. The mean overall survival was 18.3 ± 9.0 months (95% CI: 13.7 - 3.0 months). The quality of life (QoL) score increased from 56.9 ± 15.7 before the procedure to 88.5 ± 11.7 at 4 weeks after the procedure. Lipiodol accumulation grades of 3, 2, 1, and 0 were obtained in 3 (17.6%), 8 (47.1%), 6 (35.3%), and 0 (0%) patients, respectively.

Conclusions: TEA is a safe and effective method for treating patients with PVTT, offering advantages for QoL, response rate after TEA, and OS.

Keywords: Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; Ethanol; Hepatocellular Carcinoma; Portal Vein Tumor Thrombosis; Transarterial Ethanol Ablation.