Later effects of ultrasound-guided percutaneous quantified absolute ethanol injection for treatment of hepatic carcinoma

Objective To evaluate the later effects of ultrasound-guided percutaneous quantified absolute ethanol injection (PQEI) for the treatment of 746 cases with hepatic carcinoma and the significance of follow-up after PQEI. Methods The pathologically proved hepatic carcinoma in 746 cases were treated with PQEI every 2-3 days and 4-10 times per treatment course. Absolute ethanol was also injected into portal vein with tumor thrombi and hepatic arteries. The survival rates of 1-8 years, the recurrence rates in situ as well as in ectopia and recurrence times were calculated.Results The survival rates of 1, 3, 5, 8 years in 746 cases with hepatic carcinoma were 93.7%,73.8%, 53.1% and 47.6%,respectively. The survival rates of 1, 3, 5, 8 years in the cases with hepatic carcinoma≤3cm in diameter were markedly higher than those of the carcinoma3cm in diameter (P0.01). The 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 year recurrence rates in situ in 746 cases were 2.5%, 5.7%, 6.4%, 8.1 % and 8.9%,respectively. The 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 year recurrence rates in ectopia of 746 cases were 11.4%, 32.6%, 47.2%, 65.8% and 81.9%, respectively. The total recurrence person-times were 896. The recurrence rates in situ and in ectopia of the tumors ≤3 cm in diameter were apparently lower than those of the tumors 3cm in diameter (P0.01). Results of ultrasound contrast examination 1 month to 2 years after PQEI in 87 cases showed that only in 8 tumors 3 cm in diameter had slight enhancement in few sites or no enhancement was found 1 month after one repearted PQEI had course. Seventy-nine in 87 cases showed no enhancement. AFP became negative after PQEI in 82.9%(422/509) cases. Conclusions PQEI has significant later effects on improving the survival rate of hepatic carcinoma patients to prolong patients’ life. Standard follow-up after PQEI is of importance in improving holistic treatment efficacy on hepatic carcinoma.