Hepatocellular carcinoma – our experience with surveillance, effect and complications of transarterial chemoembolization

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver carcinoma. This type of tumour typically occurs along with chronic liver diseases and thus the population in risk is clearly defined. Due to the more common incidence of HCC the patients with liver conditions should be monitored by specialised outpatient clinics. The recommended HCC surveillance system concerns regular check-ups every six months with an abdomen ultrasound examination. Our experience shows that more than half of patients with liver conditions are not monitored by specialised outpatient clinics and only a third of patients undergo the recommended HCC surveillance system. The vast majority of HCC is diagnosed in the advanced stages allowing only palliative or symptomatic therapy. Transarterial chemoembolization is a very efficient and relatively safe method of palliative therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma, which significantly prolongs the survival rate. The risk of complications depends on the functional condition of liver parenchyma and the size of liver focus. Our set of patients has achieved the mean survival period of 22 months from diagnosis.