[A patient with hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein thrombosis in 1st branch who was treated by transcatheter arterial embolization].

We report a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein thrombosis in the 1st branch who was treated by transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) and survived more than 3 years. A 58-year old male was diagnosed as having unresectable massive type HCC in the area of S8 with portal vein thrombosis from the P8 branch to the right portal branch. He was treated by TAE via the anterior branch of right hepatic artery. One week later, localized hepatic infarction in the anterior segment was recognized. Five months later, the portal vein thrombosis had disappeared and become necrotic. After 3 years and 4 months, he died of a relapse of a gastric varix, but with no portal thrombosis and a well controlled intra-hepatic recurrence that was treated by repeated TAE. This case suggests that TAE might be effective for cases of HCC with portal vein thrombosis in the 1st branch, if the liver function and portal flow are suitable.