Chemoembolization for primary liver cancer

Abstract Aims: For most patients with primary liver cancer surgical treatment is not feasible and prognosis without treatment is poor. We aimed to assess the morbidity and efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with lipiodol and mitomycin C in these patients in a prospective case-control study. Methods: From August 1996 to May 2000 22 patients with non-resectable hepatocellular carcinoma were treated with TACE. In case of radiological or tumour-marker response, treatment was repeated after 4–6 weeks, up to seven times per patient. Results: Morbidity was 23% and usually minor, no patient died within 30 days of treatment. A decrease in size of the reference tumour or constant tumo…