open access
Other non-surgical treatments for liver cancer
open access
Abstract
Interventional radiology plays a major role in the modern management of liver cancers, in primary hepatic malignancies or metastases and in palliative or curative situations. Radiological treatments are divided in two categories based on their approach: endovascular treatment and direct transcapsular access.
Endovascular treatments include mainly three applications: transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), transarterial radioembolization (TARE) and portal vein embolization (PVE). TACE and TARE share an endovascular arterial approach, consisting of a selective catheterization of the hepatic artery or its branches. Subsequently, either a chemotherapy (TACE) or radioembolic (TARE) agent is injected in the target vessel to act on the tumor. PVE raises the volume of the future liver remnant in extended hepatectomy by embolizing a portal vein territory which results in hepatic regeneration.
Direct transcapsular access treatments involve mainly three techniques: radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA), microwave thermal ablation (MWA) and percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI). RFA and MWA procedures are almost identical, their clinical applications are similar. A probe is deployed directly into the tumor to generate heat and coagulation necrosis. PEI has known implications based on the chemical toxicity of intra-tumoral injection with highly concentrated alcohol by a thin needle.
Abstract
Interventional radiology plays a major role in the modern management of liver cancers, in primary hepatic malignancies or metastases and in palliative or curative situations. Radiological treatments are divided in two categories based on their approach: endovascular treatment and direct transcapsular access.
Endovascular treatments include mainly three applications: transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), transarterial radioembolization (TARE) and portal vein embolization (PVE). TACE and TARE share an endovascular arterial approach, consisting of a selective catheterization of the hepatic artery or its branches. Subsequently, either a chemotherapy (TACE) or radioembolic (TARE) agent is injected in the target vessel to act on the tumor. PVE raises the volume of the future liver remnant in extended hepatectomy by embolizing a portal vein territory which results in hepatic regeneration.
Direct transcapsular access treatments involve mainly three techniques: radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA), microwave thermal ablation (MWA) and percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI). RFA and MWA procedures are almost identical, their clinical applications are similar. A probe is deployed directly into the tumor to generate heat and coagulation necrosis. PEI has known implications based on the chemical toxicity of intra-tumoral injection with highly concentrated alcohol by a thin needle.
Keywords
Transarterial chemoembolization; Transarterial radioembolization; Portal vein embolization; Radiofrequency thermal ablation; Microwave thermal ablation; Percutaneous ethanol injection


Title
Other non-surgical treatments for liver cancer
Journal
Reports of Practical Oncology and Radiotherapy
Issue
Pages
181-192
Published online
2017-03-01
DOI
10.1016/j.rpor.2017.02.007
Bibliographic record
Rep Pract Oncol Radiother 2017;22(2):181-192.
Keywords
Transarterial chemoembolization
Transarterial radioembolization
Portal vein embolization
Radiofrequency thermal ablation
Microwave thermal ablation
Percutaneous ethanol injection
Authors
Paul Revel-Mouroz
Philippe Otal
Marion Jaffro
Antoine Petermann
Olivier Meyrignac
Pierre Rabinel
Fatima-Zohra Mokrane