Background: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) can be the treatment of choice in patients
with single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who aren’t candidates for liver transplantation
(LT), local ablation or hepatic resection (HR). Our aim is to determine the efficacy
and monitor clinical outcomes in patients with single HCC ≤ 5 cm treated with conventional
TACE (cTACE). Method(s): From January 2015 till October 2018, 100 consecutive patients with single HCC ≤ 5
cm underwent cTACE as a first line of treatment. Mean age was 59 years, 56 (56%) were
males. Follow up with triphasic CT and AFP was done after 1 month then every 3 months
for 3 years. We determined the predictive factors for complete response (CR) and overall
survival (OS). Result(s): Seventy-two patients (72%) showed complete response and 28 patients (28%) showed
partial response. Superselective TACE and tumor size (< 4 cm) were significant predictor
factors for CR (p value < 0.05). The 1- and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates were
90.2% and 70.6% respectively. Complete response (CR) and child class (a) were significant
predictive factors for overall survival (OS). Conclusion(s): TACE is an effective treatment in patients with single HCC ≤ 5 cm who aren’t candidate
for curative therapy. Super selectivity of TACE and tumor size (< 4 cm) are the predictive
factors for complete response (CR). Child class (a) and CR are the predictive factors
for overall survival (OS).
