The volume of Lipiodol used in TACE: its current situation and research progress

Transarterial chemoembolization has already been accepted as an important treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinomas. Until now, there is no objective standard for the volume of Lipiodol which can be effectively and safely used in TACE. Clinically, the amount of Lipiodol used in interventional procedure is always decided by the operator's experience. This paper aims to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using routine dose or super-routine dose of Lipiodol in TACE, and to make a review about the feasibility of preoperative quantization of Lipiodol dose. (authors)