When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: You haven't
Bringing you the Nonsurgical Alternatives for Liver Cancer
Liver cancers are of two types. Hepatocellular carcinoma is the primary type of cancer and it arises due to the abnormal growth of liver cells. Secondary liver cancer is a metastatic tumor arising due to spread of cancer to the liver from another part of body. Liver cancer is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. It generally carries a poor prognosis. Surgical resection – removing the cancerous portion of the liver – is considered the best hope for a cure. Unfortunately, most patients do not qualify for surgery due to extensive tumor burden, the presence of extra-hepatic spread or the extent of underlying liver disease. Liver transplantations are available for a small number of patients, but organ supply is limited, and tumor progression during the prolonged waiting period results in a high dropout rate.
Interventional radiology allows medicine and technology to combine forces and come up with revolutionary minimally invasive non-surgical anticancer treatments.
Symptoms of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
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Not feeling hungry and fullness of the stomach.
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Pain in the upper right quadrant of your belly.
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Swollen stomach and bloated feeling.
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Nausea and vomiting
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Loss in body weight.
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Yellowness in skin and eyes.
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Tiredness, weakness, and deep fatigue.
If your doctor suspects liver cancer based on symptoms and physical examination, various blood tests and imaging tests like USG, CT scan or MRI may be ordered to confirm the diagnosis.
Ever Thought Of The Minimally Invasive Alternative Treatment Technique For Cancer?
Many liver cancer patients are not eligible for surgery. They now have an option of advanced interventional radiology treatments. Ask your care providers about all the available options of treatment.
(A) Image-guided ablative therapies:
1.Radiofrequency ablation (RFA):
This treatment is used to treat smaller tumors of less than 3 cm size. Interventional radiologists or oncologists insert a small, needle-like probe directly into the tumor using live image (CT/USG) guidance to identify its precise location. Radiofrequency energy is then delivered through the probe which generates heat and destroys the liver tumor.
2.Microwave ablative therapy:
Under CT/USG guidance, specially designed microwave probe is directly inserted into the tumor and the abnormal tissue is killed by heat generated around the probe. The advent of microwave ablation has resulted in greater ablation zones, decreased patient pain and fewer detrimental treatment effects on adjacent blood vessels.
3.Cryoablation:
Cryoablation uses extreme cold to destroy cancer cells. Guided by ultrasound imaging, the interventional radiologist will place the cryoprobe (metal probe) containing liquid nitrogen directly onto liver tumors. The cryoprobe destroys the tumor by freezing it.
4.Irreversible Electroporation:
Irreversible electroporation (IRE) uses pulsed direct current to induce cell death and has been shown to be effective in tumors adjacent to major bile ducts where standard thermal ablation techniques are contraindicated.
(B) Trans-arterial hepatic therapies:
1.Trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE):
Trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) utilizing a chemotherapeutic agent mixed with oil is the recommended first-line therapy in intermediate stage disease. During this procedure, interventional radiologists employ live image guidance to advance a small tube, called a micro-catheter, through a tiny hole in the patient’s groin or wrist until it reaches the blood vessel that supplies the liver tumor. Once in place, the micro-catheter is used to deliver high doses of chemotherapy to the exact location of tumor following which the flow of blood through the artery is blocked for a short time so the chemotherapy stays in the tumor longer. Blocking the blood supply to the tumor also destroys cancer cells. In addition to being used as a primary treatment for HCC, chemoembolization may be used to slow tumor growth for people who are on the waiting list for liver transplantation.
2. Trans-arterial radioembolization (TARE)
Radioembolization with yttrium-90 loaded beads is an alternative transarterial treatment option in patients with intermediate stage HCC. During this procedure, once the microcatheter is selectively advanced into the artery supplying the liver tumor, a radioactive material is injected into the tumor. Radioembolization has been shown to have similar treatment efficacy and safety profile when compared to chemoembolization.
Advantages of interventional radiology treatments for liver cancer
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Minimally invasive, done through a pinhole
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No bleeding risk
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No major anaesthesia
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Faster recovery
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No /minimal systemic side effects of chemotherapy
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Reduced hospital stay
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No scars / stitches
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Low rate of complications
Read What Our Patients Say
Frequently Asked Questions
Most frequent questions and answers
Answer:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma is usually diagnosed in people with underlying chronic liver diseases like liver cirrhosis. Overdrinking, Hepatitis B and C infections, Fatty liver, obesity predispose to liver disease.
- Heredity and family history having cancerous gene type is also one of the risk factor of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Answer: It is more prevalent in males than in females.
Answer: Treating carcinoma is extremely important to arrest the abnormal cell growth and its metastasis to other organs leading to fatal consequences. Early care and treatment of liver diseases to avoid progression to carcinoma.
Answer: Each patient of liver cancer is evaluated and treatment approach is individualized for the patient’s circumstances. Generally a team of medical oncologist, surgical oncologist and interventional radiologist decide on the best treatment approach for a particular patient.
