Histopathological changes in hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatic arterial embolization.

Hepatic arterial embolization (HAE) is used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but little is known about the histopathological changes occurring after HAE. Thirty-nine cases of liver neoplasms treated with HAE and 11 cases of liver neoplasms after digital selective angiography (DSA) were analyzed histopathologically. The pathological type, histological grade, degree of necrosis, capsular changes, number of HAE, vessel injury, and lymphocytic infiltration were recorded. Six cases showed 100% necrosis, 14 cases had 30 to 95% necrosis, and 19 cases 0 to 5% necrosis after HAE. Eleven cases of DSA did not reveal histological features of necrosis. The necrosis was related to the pathological type of tumor, encapsulation, and degree of vascular injury and was independent of histological grade, number of HAE, or lymphocytic infiltration of the neoplasm. HAE is an effective therapy for advanced stage of HCC. The encapsulated HCC is a preferred indicator for HAE.