Percutaneous Ethanol lnjection Therapy for Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma : Short-Term FoIlow-up Results in 30 Patients

The objective of this study is to analyze short-term results of percutaneous ethanol injection therapy for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Thirty patients(36 lesions) with hapatocellular carcinoma were diagnosed by either biopsy(13 lesions) or clinical features, tumor marker study, and diagnostic imagings(23 lesions). All patients underwent percutaneous ethanol injection therapy. Lesions were less than 3cm in size, and none of the patients had more than three lesions. Injections of absolute ethanol using 22 gauge needle were performed l∼3 times per week. Sonography (n=7) or two-phase dynamic CT(n=23) was performed for the follow-up of the tumors l∼12 months after the procedure. On Follow-up dynamic CT scans, 15(51.7%) of 29 lesions in 23 patients showed no contrast enhancement in the tumor whereas 14(48.3%) lesions showed partial contrast enhancement. Among 14 lesions with partial contrast enhancement, nine lesions showed decrease in size while five lesions showed increased size. On follow-up sonograms, two of seven lesions showed complete resolution of the tumor, three lesions showed decrease in size, and two lesions showed increase in size. Overall, 17(47.2%)of 36 lesions showed complete remission, 12 lesions (33.3%) showed partial improvement, and seven lesions (19.5%)showed aggravation of tumors. Percutaneous ethanol injection therapy is considered effective and safe method for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma