Trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat liver cancer. It involves the injection of chemotherapy drugs directly into the artery that supplies blood to the tumor, followed by the injection of a substance that blocks the artery, thereby trapping the chemotherapy in the tumor.
TACE is typically used to treat liver tumors that are too large to be removed by surgery or have spread to other parts of the liver. It can also be used to shrink tumors before surgery or as a palliative treatment to relieve symptoms.
The goal of TACE is to kill cancer cells while minimizing the exposure of healthy liver tissue to chemotherapy drugs. The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia and requires a hospital stay of one to two days.
Some potential side effects of TACE may include nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, and fatigue. More serious complications, such as liver damage, bleeding, or infection, are rare but possible.
TACE is not suitable for all liver cancer patients and may not be recommended for those with severe liver dysfunction or other medical conditions that increase the risk of complications. Patients should discuss the risks and benefits of TACE with their healthcare provider to determine if it is an appropriate treatment option for their individual case.