PARTICLE EMBOLIZATION FOR HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome of all patients undergoing particle e mbolization for hepatocellular carcinoma at a single institution hom J anuary 1, 1993, through December 31, 1995. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The charts and radiographs of all patients undergoing particle embolizatio n during the study period were, reviewed, The following information wa s collected: patient demographics, Child class and Okuda stage, number of embolization treatment sessions,length of hospital stay, complicat ions related to the embolization procedure, including postembolization syndrome, current patient status, and date of death. RESULTS: Forty-s ix patients underwent 86 embolization sessions during the study period . Postembolization syndrome developed after 70 of the 86 sessions (81% ); in four eases (4.6%) this required treatment that extended the pati ent's hospital stay. Three other complications occurred (3.5%), includ ing a splenic infarct and two episodes of transient hepatic failure, a ll treated supportively, There was one death within 30 days, but it wa s not directly attributable to embolotherapy. Follow-up was available for all of the patients who underwent treatment. Thirty-four patients were classified as Child class A, and 12 were classified as Child clas s B, Thirty patients were classified as Okuda stage I, 14 were classif ied. as Okuda stage II, and two were classified as Okuda stage III, Ov erall actuarial survival was 50% at 1 year and 33% at 2 years. There w as a statistically significant difference in survival between Okuda st age I and stage II patients, but not between Child class A and class B patients. CONCLUSION: Particle embolization for hepatocellular carcin oma is well tolerated and demonstrates actuarial survival of 50% at I year and 33% at 2 years.