Transcatheter selective hepatic arteriography combined with embolization therapy for the treatment of hepatic hemangiomas

Objective To investigate the transcatheter selective hepatic arteriographic features of hepatic hemangiomas and to discuss the efficacy of embolization therapy for hepatic hemangiomas.Methods Transcatheter selective hepatic arteriography and embolization with lipidol-ultrafluida as well as pingyangmycin were performed in 49 patients of hepatic hemangiomas.The clinical symptoms,the tumor size and the complications were observed both before and 6,12 months after the treatment.The results were analyzed.Results CT scans performed at 6 and 12 months after the treatment showed that in most patients the blood supply of the tumor disappeared,the lipiodol deposited well within the tumor and the tumor shrank with assembled lipiodol.Before intervention the mean diameter of tumor was(9.3 ± 2.2) cm,which decreased to(4.2 ± 1.5) cm and to(2.0 ± 1.3) cm at 6 and 12 months after the treatment,respectively.Clinically,the symptoms were alleviated or completely disappeared after the procedure in all patients.No severe complications such as gallbladder necrosis,bile duct stenosis or liver necrosis occurred.Conclusion Super-selective hepatic arterial catheterization and embolization therapy with pingyangmycin and lipiodol emulsion is an effective and safe treatment for hepatic cavernous hemangiomas.