Percutaneous ethanol injection in the treatment of liver neoplasms.

The effectiveness of percutaneous ethanol injection therapy was investigated in 30 patients who had hepatocellular carcinoma (18 had a single lesion and 12 had multiple lesions). In patients who had a single lesion, ethanol injection was especially effective. Histopathologic examination, performed in nine cases in this group, showed that the tumor was completely necrotic in six cases, 90% necrotic in two cases, and 70% necrotic in the remaining case. In eight other cases with a single tumor, follow-up angiography showed complete disappearance of the tumor stain. In the other case, CT showed the nonenhanced low-density area. In the 12 patients with multiple lesions, ethanol injection was performed as part of an integrated treatment plan. Eleven were still alive at the end of the study (the mean follow-up period was 5.8 months). We conclude that ethanol injection may be a valuable treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma.