Transarterial embolization with N-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate for the treatment of arterioportal shunts in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIMS

The aim of this study is to evaluate efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with N-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with arterioportal shunts (APS).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

From January 2008 to June 2014, 36 cases of HCC with APS were treated by TACE with NBCA. NBCA-lipiodol mixture was superselective delivered before routine TACE in HCC patients with APS. Recanalization of shunt, objective response, clinical adverse events, and survival rates was retrospectively studied.

RESULTS

All interventional procedures were successful without any procedure relevant complications. The immediate APS improvement rate was 83.3% (30/36), and the APS improvement rate at first-time follow-up was 66.6% (20/30). Radiologically confirmed complete response (CR), partial response, stable disease, and progressive disease at 1 month after first chemoembolization were observed in 1 (2.7%), 19 (52.8%), 6 (16.7%), and 10 (27.8%) patients, respectively. Survival rates were 91.7% at 6 months, 47.2% at 1 year, and 13.9% at 2 years. The median survival time was 11 months. No severe adverse effects were noted.

CONCLUSIONS

The preliminary experience indicates TACE with NBCA can be safely performed and may improve prognosis of HCC with arterioportal shunt.