How do interventional radiologists treat patients with tumors?

Hepatic Chemoembolization

• Arterial therapies
  • Chemoembolization: anti-cancer drug is injected into blood vessel feeding the tumor, then a blocking agent is injected to trap the chemotherapy
• Theory
  • Malignant tumors > 1cm derive are fed almost exclusively by hepatic arteries
  • Normal liver gets 75% of its blood supply from the portal vein
  • Therefore, by embolizing the arteries, tumor is destroyed and hepatic parenchyma survives
  • Chemotherapeutic agent combined with embolic material will have:
    • High local dose
    • Longer dwell time
    • Diminished systemic effect
    • Take advantage of chemosensitization effect of hypoxia