Skip to main content
Log in

Initial Experience with Balloon-Occluded Trans-catheter Arterial Chemoembolization (B-TACE) for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

  • Clinical Investigation
  • Published:
CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

This study was performed to evaluate the accumulation of lipiodol emulsion (LE) and adverse events during our initial experience of balloon-occluded trans-catheter arterial chemoembolization (B-TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared with conventional TACE (C-TACE).

Methods

B-TACE group (50 cases) was compared with C-TACE group (50 cases). The ratio of the LE concentration in the tumor to that in the surrounding embolized liver parenchyma (LE ratio) was calculated after each treatment. Adverse events were evaluated according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Effects (CTCAE) version 4.0.

Results

The LE ratio at the level of subsegmental showed a statistically significant difference between the groups (t test: P < 0.05). Only elevation of alanine aminotransferase was more frequent in the B-TACE group, showing a statistically significant difference (Mann–Whitney test: P < 0.05). While B-TACE caused severe adverse events (liver abscess and infarction) in patients with bile duct dilatation, there was no statistically significant difference in incidence between the groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that the significant risk factor for liver abscess/infarction was bile duct dilatation (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The LE ratio at the level of subsegmental showed a statistically significant difference between the groups (t test: P < 0.05). B-TACE caused severe adverse events (liver abscess and infarction) in patients with bile duct dilatation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Llovet JM, Bruix J. Systematic review of randomized trials for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: chemoembolization improves survival. Hepatology. 2003;37:429–42.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Llovet JM, Real MI, Montana X, et al. Arterial embolization or chemoembolization verses systemic treatment in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a randomized controlled trial. Lancet. 2002;359:1734–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Yamada R, Sato M, Kawabata M, et al. Hepatic artery embolization in 120 patients with unresectable hepatoma. Radiology. 1983;148:397–401.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Lin DY, Liaw YF, Lee TY, Lai CM. Hepatic arterial embolization in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma—a randomized controlled trial. Gastroenterology. 1998;94:453–6.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ikeda K, Kumada H, Saitoh S, et al. Effect of repeated transcatheter arterial embolization on the survival time in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. An analysis by the Cox proportional hazard model. Cancer. 1991;68:2150–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Llovet JM, Real MI, Montaña X, et al. Arterial embolisation or chemoembolisation versus symptomatic treatment in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2002;359:1734–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Lo CM, Ngan H, Tso WK, et al. Randomized controlled trial of transarterial lipiodol chemoembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology. 2002;35:1164–71.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Cammà C, Schepis F, Orlando A, et al. Transarterial chemoembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Radiology. 2002;224:47–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Takayasu K, Arii S, Ikai I, et al. Prospective cohort study of transarterial chemoembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma in 8510 patients. Gastroenterology. 2006;131:461–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Ikeda M, Arai Y, Park SJ, et al. Prospective study of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: an Asian cooperative study between Japan and Korea. J Vasc Intervent Radiol. 2013;24:490–500.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Irie T, Kuramochi M, Takahashi N. Dense accumulation of lipiodol emulsion in hepatocellular carcinoma nodule during selective balloon-occluded transarterial chemoembolisation: measurement of balloon-occluded arterial stump pressure. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2013;36:706–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Irie T, Kuramochi M, Takahashi N. Improved accumulation of lipiodol under balloon-occluded transarterial chemoembolisation (B-TACE)for hepatocellular carcinoma: measurement of blood pressure at the embolized artery before and after balloon inflation. Jpn J Intervent Radiol. 2011;26:49–54.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Irie T, Kuramochi M, Ishikawa A. Safety of balloon-occluded transarterial chemoembolization (B-TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma: analysis of adverse event in 82 cases (in Japanese). Jpn J Intervent Radiol. 2011;26:175–81.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Llovet JM, DiBisceglie AM, Bruix J, et al. Design and endpoints of clinical trials in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2008;100(10):698–711.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Kokudo N, Hasegawa K, Akahane M, et al. Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: the Japan Society of Hepatology 2013 update (3rd JSH-HCC Guidelines). Hepatol Res. 2015;45:128–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Eijun S, Hayashida T, Sakamoto I, et al. Vascular complications of hepatic artery after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Am J Roentgenol. 2010;195:245–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Chen C, Chen PJ, Yang PM, et al. Meta-analysis comparing TACE/TAE/TOCE with conservative or suboptimal treatment. Transarterial therapies significantly decreased mortality. TACE and TAE achieved the same survival benefit. Clinical and microbiological features of liver abscess after transarterial embolization for hepatocellular carcinoma. Am J Gastroenterol. 1997;92(12):2257–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Cohen SE, Safadi R, Verstandig A, et al. Liver-spleen infarcts following transcatheter chemoembolization: a case report and review of the literature on adverse effects. Dig Dis Sci. 1997;42(5):938–43.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Kobayashi S, Nakanuma Y, Terada T, et al. Postmortem survey of bile duct necrosis and biloma in hepatocellular carcinoma after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization therapy: relevance to microvascular damages of peribiliary capillary plexus. Am J Gastroenterol. 1993;88:1410–5.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Choi BI, Kim HC, Han JK, et al. Therapeutic effect of transcatheter oily chemoembolization therapy for encapsulated nodular hepatocellular carcinoma: CT and pathologic findings. Radiology. 1992;182:709–13.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Bhattacharya S, Novell JR, Winslet MC, et al. Iodized oil in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Br J Surg. 1994;81:1563–71.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mitsunari Maruyama.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The author and co-authors have no conflict of interest to disclose with respect to this study.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in this study to the B-TACE or C-TACE procedure.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Maruyama, M., Yoshizako, T., Nakamura, T. et al. Initial Experience with Balloon-Occluded Trans-catheter Arterial Chemoembolization (B-TACE) for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 39, 359–366 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-015-1237-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-015-1237-6

Keywords

Navigation