A clinical evaluation of transcatheter arterial embolization on hepatocellular carcinoma.

TAE was performed in 49 cases of HCC for clinical assessment of the usefulness. This procedure was aimed to subside intraperitoneal hemorrhage in 8 cases among them and to provide a possible antitumor effect in the remaining 41 cases. The prognosis in the 8 cases of intraperitoneal hemorrhage was 54.9 +/- 41.1 days including one case survived as long as 116 days. The prognosis in the remaining 41 cases was 12.6 +/- 8.3 months in group A, 7.8 +/- 6.1 months in group B and 1.6 +/- 1.3 months in group C according to Child's classification, while it was 2.8 +/- 2.5 months in 1st branch occluded, 9.4 +/- 6.1 months in IInd branch occluded and 19.2 +/- 6.7 months in IIIrd branch occluded group according to the portal vein occlusion due to tumor thrombi suggesting that a more prolonged survival was attained with more favorable degree of Child's classification and less affected portal embolization. The cumulative survival time (by Kaplan-Meier's methods) was 6 months in 89% of the cases examined, 1 year in 59%, 2 years in 34% and 3 years or more in 11%, indicating significantly higher survival as compared to our TAI group. Angiographic re-opening of tumor vessel within 3 months was observed in 46.7%. TAE on HCC was useful both for the purpose of antitumor effect and of hemostasis. The degree of Child's classification and severity of portal occlusion at the initial examination may closely relate to the prognosis. Thus, angiography should be repeated within 3 months following the first TAE at least.