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Chemoembolization and Radioembolization in the Treatment of Primary Liver Cancers

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Image-Guided Cancer Therapy

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Abstract

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma is increasing worldwide. Chemoembolization and radioembolization represent two novel transarterial therapies which are primarily based on a similar basic concept of the direct delivery of toxic material to the tumor via the hepatic artery and its branches. This concept exploits the fact that normal hepatic parenchyma derives its blood supply primarily from portal vein, whereas hepatic tumors are hypervascular relying primarily on hepatic arterial blood. Chemoembolization involves the delivery of a combination of chemotherapeutic drugs directly to the vessel feeding the tumor. Another variety of this technique involves drug-eluting beads which are microspheres loaded with the chemotherapeutic drug. Radioembolization involves the delivery of micron-sized radioactive particles to the tumor. While both therapies seem similar upfront, there are distinct differences in the indications, patient selection, technique, patient monitoring, and complications. These therapies have led to an encouraging response in terms of tumor necrosis, progression-free and overall survival, quality of life, and incidence of complications; they are therefore gaining wide acceptance for treating appropriately selected patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 676 N. St. Claire, Ste. 800, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Khairuddin Memon

  2. Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Ahsun Riaz, Robert J. Lewandowski & Riad Salem

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  1. Khairuddin Memon
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  2. Ahsun Riaz
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  3. Robert J. Lewandowski
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  4. Riad Salem
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Correspondence to Khairuddin Memon .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Diagnostic Imaging Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA

    Damian E. Dupuy

  2. Department of Surgery and Radiology Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA

    Yuman Fong

  3. McMullen Consulting, LLC, Surprise, Arizona, USA

    William N. McMullen

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Memon, K., Riaz, A., Lewandowski, R.J., Salem, R. (2013). Chemoembolization and Radioembolization in the Treatment of Primary Liver Cancers. In: Dupuy, D., Fong, Y., McMullen, W. (eds) Image-Guided Cancer Therapy. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0751-6_23

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