Percutaneous portal vein chemoembolization in the treatment of primary hepatic carcinoma with portal veintumor thrombus

Purpose:To assess the therapeutic value of perc utaneous portal vein chemoembolization (PVE) for primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC) with portal vein tumor thrombus. Methods:45 unresectable PHC with portal vein tumor thrombus cas es were randomly divided into two groups. The observation group was treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE)+PVE, while the control group wa s treated with TACE only. The changes of AFP, response rates of portal vein tumo r thrombus and survival rates of one year were analyzed respectively. Results:The levels of AFP before and after treatment were(730 ±190)μg/L and (515+±395)μg/L in the observation group,(752±183)μg/L a nd (710±213)μg/L in the control group respectively. The difference between t he two groups was significant (P0.05). The reduction/disappearance rates of portal vein tumor thrombus were 13/20(65%) and 8/25(32%)(P0.05). The 1-ye ar survival rates were 15/20(75%) and 12/25(48%)(P0.05). There was no sever e side-effect related to therapy observed in both two groups. Conclusions:PVE is an effective method in the treatment of PHC with portal vein tumor thrombus.