PARTIAL SPLENIC EMBOLIZATION FOR HYPERSPLENISM CONCOMITANT WITH OR AFTER ARTERIAL EMBOLIZATION OF HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA IN 30 PATIENTS

Purpose: To study the value of partial splenic embolization (PSE) for the treatment of hypersplenism in patients undergoing embolization of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Transcatheter hepatic arteria l embolization (THAE) combined with PSE was performed in 30 patients w ith HCC complicating liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and hypersp lenism. Gelfoam sponge was used as the embolic material for PSE and li mited to 100-150 pieces. Results: More than 50% of splenic parenchyma was infarcted in 27 patients. Leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were cor rected by PSE in 25 of 27 patients with hypersplenism. In 26 patients with esophageal varices, including 5 patients with bleeding, no reblee ding occurred during a 6-17 month follow-up. Hypersplenism was not cor rected in 2 of 3 patients whose infarcted splenic parenchyma was less than 50%. No splenic abscesses or other severe complications were obse rved, Of the 30 patients treated, 19 are still alive after 1 year. Con clusions: THAE combined with PSE is a safe and effective measure for p atients with HCC.