PURPOSE: To evaluate the serial hemodynamic changes that occur after t
ranscatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of hepatocellular carcinomas
(HCCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with HCCs treated with
TAE were evaluated with color and duplex Doppler sonography before, im
mediately after, and 2 days after TAE. The changes in hepatic artery a
nd portal vein velocity and flow were evaluated. RESULTS: The portal v
enous velocity and flow did not change significantly after TAE. The pe
ak systolic velocity in the proximal hepatic artery decreased signific
antly (P < .01) immediately after TAE then returned to baseline values
2 days after TAE; the resistance index of the proximal hepatic artery
increased significantly (P < .01) immediately after embolization, the
n returned to baseline values 2 days after TAE. Arterial signal in the
distal hepatic artery, generally absent immediately after TAE, could
be recorded 2 days after. CONCLUSION: There is a rapidly reversible de
crease in hepatic arterial flow induced by embolization, without any c
hange in portal venous flow.