Transarterial embolisation with bleomycin and N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate -Lipiodol mixture for symptomatic polycystic liver disease: preliminary experience

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the therapeutic effect and safety of transarterial embolisation using a bleomycin-Lipiodol mixture and N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA)-Lipiodol mixture (BNL) for the treatment of polycystic liver disease (PLD).

Materials and methods: From June 2012 to July 2018, a total of consecutive 14 symptomatic patients (13 women and 1 man; mean age, 49.3±9.9 years) with PLD were referred and underwent transcatheter arterial embolisation (TAE) with BNL.

Results: Technical success was achieved in all cases. PLD-related severe symptoms were improved remarkably in 13 of the treated patients. The mean maximum abdominal circumference decreased significantly from 100.6±9.4 to 94.9±9.1 cm (p<0.01). The total liver volume decreased significantly compared with pre-TAE in 13 patients at 6-12 months after TAE. It decreased from 9,776±2,219 to 8,303±2,009 cm³ (p<0.01). There were no major complications associated with the procedure.

Conclusion: TAE with the bleomycin-Lipiodol mixture and NBCA-Lipiodol mixture may be an effective method for treating symptomatic PLD patients, with improvement of symptoms and shrinkage of cyst volume.