A primer on transarterial, chemical, and thermal ablative therapies for hepatic tumors

• Published in: The American journal of surgery Vol. 194; no. 1; pp. 79 - 88
• Main Authors: Garrean, Sean, M.D, Hering, Justin, M.D, Helton, W. Scott, M.D, Espat, N. Joseph, M.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.07.2007; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Acetic Acid - administration & dosage; Algorithms; Antineoplastic Agents - administration & dosage; Biological and medical sciences; Catheter Ablation; Chemical ablation; Chemotherapy; Cryosurgery; Cytotoxicity; Embolization; Embolization, Therapeutic; Ethanol; Ethanol - administration & dosage; FDA approval; General aspects; Hepatic tumor; Humans; Injections, Intra-Arterial; Injections, Intralesional; Ischemia; Laser Therapy; Liver cancer; Liver cirrhosis; Liver Neoplasms - therapy; Medical sciences; Medical treatment; Microwaves - therapeutic use; Mortality; Patients; Polyvinyl alcohol; Radiofrequency ablation; Surgery; Surgical outcomes; Thermal ablation; Transarterial ablation; Tumors; Ultrasonic Therapy; Veins & arteries; Radiofrequency ablation; Thermal ablation; Embolization; Hepatic tumor; Transarterial ablation; Chemical ablation; Thermoablation; Therapy; Liver; Primer; Instrumentation therapy; Radiofrequency; Medicine; Surgery; Tumor
• ISSN: 0002-9610; 1879-1883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2006.11.025

Abstract Background Surgical resection is the only potentially curative approach for patients with primary and metastatic liver tumors. Unfortunately, most patients with hepatic malignancy are precluded from resection due to multifocal disease, anatomic limitations, inadequate functional liver reserve, extrahepatic metastases, or medical comorbidities. Consequently, several methods of tumor ablation have been developed as alternate treatment strategies for patients with unresectable hepatic tumors or as adjuncts in total cancer therapy. The purpose of this review is to inclusively define the various ablation modalities available (transarterial, chemical, and thermal ablative), and to describe the procedures, general applications, and reported outcomes. Data Sources A MEDLINE and CINAHL search of the English-language literature was performed on transarterial, chemical, and thermal ablative therapies. Conclusions Presently, radiofrequency thermal ablation is the most widely applicable liver-directed modality for hepatic tumor ablation, enabling treatment of primary and metastatic tumors. However, other transarterial and thermoablative techniques are available with accumulating data for their use. Lacking at present are studies that define the role and potential benefit of the various liver-directed modalities in the treatment algorithm for hepatic tumors.