Therapeutic embolization of the hepatic artery.

We have performed therapeutic embolization of the hepatic artery and its branches in 15 patients, 14 with metastatic neoplasm and one with postoperative hepatobiliary hemorrhage. In the latter patient, bleeding ceased on embolization of the right hepatic artery and did not recur. The median survival time of the 14 patients who had hepatic embolization was six months. The mean survival time in our three patients with metastatic gastric leiomyosarcoma was 24 months, whereas our five patients with metastases from carcinoma of the colon had a mean survival time of only five months. On the basis of this experience we conclude that hepatic artery embolization is advisable in patients with hormonal effects of metastatic disease and in patients with massive hepatomegaly related to metastases from gastric leiomyosarcomas, and may be indicated in patients with hepatic artery hemorrhage.