Hepatic Artery Chemoembolization
This is a technique where the interventional radiologist places a small
catheter through a tiny nick in the groin directly into the artery
supplying the cancer. Through the catheter, concentrated chemicals
suspended in oil are delivered regionally to "flood" the cancer.
Once this is performed, small particles of dried alcohol are injected to "starve" the cancer of blood flow and help prevent the chemotherapeutic agents from washing out. This procedure is being used
for primary liver cancers as well as cancers which spread to the liver
(metastasis).
The procedure's major strengths include its
minimally invasive approach, which results in no significant scarring
after the placement of a band-aid over the skin nick. With this technique, patients experience lesser side effects than with systemic chemotherapy. It is relatively painless procedure with some associated nausea. |
