Role of selective intra-arterial embolization in benign liver tumors

Abstract

ObjectiveTo present cases of symptomatic benign liver tumors diagnosed and treated with intra-arterial embolization before surgery. Material and methodsWe present the cases of 7 patients diagnosed with symptomatic benign liver tumors that required treatment: 1 focal nodular hyperplasia, 2 giant cavernous hemangiomas, 1 hepatic adenomatosis, and 3 hepatic adenomas.Once the feeding arteries were identified, tumors were embolized with polyvinyl alcohol particles (500μm–700μm) and then the feeding artery was plugged with coils if there was an arterial pedicle to ensure the total vascular exclusion of the tumor. The surgical intervention took place 4–7 days after embolization. ResultsAll 7 patients were women (age range, 23–74 years); presurgical intra-arterial embolization was done in 6. In 1 patient with adenomatosis, embolization was done to control intraparenchymal hepatic hemorrhage. In the 6 patients who underwent surgery, the tumor was completely excised and no intraoperative bleeding events or postoperative complications occurred. ConclusionsProvided there is a consensus among the multidisciplinary team, embolization is a useful option in the perioperative management of giant and/or symptomatic benign liver tumors.