Role of partial splenic arterial embolization for hypersplenism in patients with liver cirrhosis and thrombocytopenia.

Background: Hypersplenism is traditionally treated by surgical splenectomy. Transcatheter ablation of splenic parenchyma is an alternative treatment modality.

Methods: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of partial splenic arterial embolization in 10 patients with chronic liver disease and hypersplenism with thrombocytopenia (platelet count <80,000/microL).