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Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: A single-center experience

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Abstract

Purpose

The comparative efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was investigated.

Methods

Two hundred and sixty consecutive patients were retrospectively analyzed: 156 had received between one and six chemoembolization sessions at 3-month intervals, 33 had had PEI, and the remaining 71 patients refused any treatment. The follow-up ranged from 3 to 36 months. Survival rates were statistically analyzed by life-table analysis.

Results

Patients’ survival was affected by the number of nodules and by the Child’s and Okuda’s classes; no relationship was found between survival rates and the histologic grade or vascular supply of the tumor. In the case of a single lesion of Okuda’s class I, TACE was more effective than PEI. In multifocal HCC, TACE was better than no treatment in Okuda’s class I and Child’s class A.

Conclusion

We suggest TACE as the treatment of choice in Child A or Okuda I patients with multifocal HCCs; it seems of little help in Child B-C or Okuda II–III patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Hospital “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza”, IRCCS, San Giovanni Rotondo, I-71013, Foggia, Italy

    Francesco Florio, Michele Nardella, Silverio Balzano & Mario Cammisa

  2. Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza” IRCCS, San Giovanni Rotondo, I-71013, Foggia, Italy

    Eugenio Caturelli & Domenico Siena

Authors
  1. Francesco Florio
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  2. Michele Nardella
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  3. Silverio Balzano
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  4. Eugenio Caturelli
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  5. Domenico Siena
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  6. Mario Cammisa
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Florio, F., Nardella, M., Balzano, S. et al. Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: A single-center experience. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 20, 23–28 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002709900104

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