Transcatheter arterial embolization therapy in hepatomas

Transcatheter arterial embolization therapy using gelatin sponge soaked in Mitomycin C was performed in 41 patients with hepatoma, and 15 of them were evaluated by computed tomography (CT) before and after the therapy. In the most cases, before embolization the tumors were identified only as an area of slightly decreased density, and after embolization they showed marked decrease in density without any change in density of the surrounding liver tissue which was supplied by the embolized artery. Furthermore, after embolization, the tumors were not enhanced by contrast media, but better defined on the post-contrast CT, which gradually decreased in size with time. From the above-mentioned results, it is apparently considered that an ischemic necrosis due to the arterial embolization is selectively occurred in the tumor tissue, because hepatoma is usually fed by only hepatic artery in contrast to the surrounding liver tissue having the dual blood supply of both hepatic artery and potal vein. CT proved to be a useful tool in evaluating the effect of embolization. (author)