[Transradial approach for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in patients with unresectable and recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma--a comparison with a conventional transfemoral approach].

We evaluated a clinical usefulness and safety of transradial approach for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TAE) in patients with unresectable and recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared with that of conventional transfemoral approach. The two groups (radial group; n=385, 1999.7-2007.3, femoral group; n=150, 1997.4-1999.6) of cases were retrospectively compared with regard to the successful rate of angiography, TAE, interventional time, Lipiodol retention pattern and complications. Hepatic angiography and TAE were completed in 379 (98.4%) of 385 cases in the radial group. There was no inter-group difference of interventional time. Minor complications (dull pain or numbness of puncture site) occurred in 29 (7.6%) patients in the radial group. Transradial approach has some advantages as follows: (1) No time will be required to stop breeding after removal of sheath. (2) The patient may freely walk after the examination. TAE by our new transradial approach for HCC was found to have a therapeutic efficacy with lower complications comparable to that of conventional transfemoral approach.