What Is Transarterial Chemoembolization And How Effective Is It?

Brief Answer:
X-ray guided catheter to deliver both chemotherapy medication

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE ) is a procedure that uses an X-ray guided catheter to deliver both chemotherapy medication and embolization materials into the blood vessels in the liver that lead to the tumor.

With this technique, the chemotherapy targets the tumor while sparing the patient many side effects of traditional chemotherapy that is given to the whole body.

The embolization cuts off the blood supply to the tumor. The special embolization beads delivered to the tumor are impregnated with the chemotherapy agent and the chemotherapy is slowly released from the beads, destroying the tumor over a period of time.

Patients receive TACE therapy when their cancer began in the liver (primary liver cancer), or spread to the liver from another area (secondary liver cancer or metastasis), and the tumor is classed at the intermediate stage.

The goal of chemoembolization is to extend survival, relieve pain, and alleviate symptoms.

Some patients with intermediate stage of primary liver cancer can be "down-staged" such that they can become candidates for a liver transplant.

For some patients, TACE is used while they are waiting on the transplant list for an organ to become available. In this circumstance, the therapy is called a 'bridge to transplant.

This procedure is performed in the interventional radiology procedures rooms using light sedation. The catheter is inserted through the femoral artery in the groin. The catheter is then threaded from the groin directly up into the liver to the blood vessels feeding the tumor.

Patients stay overnight in our observation room and return home to usual light activity the next morning. TACE can be performed multiple times to achieve the desired response in the tumor.

Regards

DR DE

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