Clinical application of transcatheter arterial thermo-chemotherapy and thermo-lipiodol embolization in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of thermo-chemotherapy and thermo-lipiodol embolization intreatment of primary hepatocellular carcinoma(PHC).Methods One hundred and sixteen cases of PHC were divided into three groups.Group A(38 cases)was treated with normal temperature chemotherapy and normal temperature lipiodol,Group B(40 cases)with thermo-chemotherapy and normal temperature lipiodol and group C(38 cases)with thermo-chemotherapy and thermo-lipiodol.Group B and group C were called the thermotherapy group.Results In the thermotherapy groups,the rates of tumor size reduction were significantly greater than those in the normal group.There were no significant different in the hepatic function tests among the three groups.The 6-,12-,18-,and 24-month survival rates of the normal group and thermotherapy groups were 97%,58%,39% and 18%,versus 99%,79%,57% and 36%,respectively.No significant differences were found in the rates of reduction of tumor size and survival rates between group B and group C.Conclusion Thermo-chemotherapy and thermo-embolization possess significant effect on PHC but without conspicuous damage to liver function.