Giant hepatic hemangioma treatment with transcatheter arterial embolisation and transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation; Comparative results.

BACKGROUND Treatment of hepatic hemangiomas is a controversial topic, and traditionally treatment is by surgical excision. Transcatheter arterial embolisation (TAE) and transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation (TACE) have been reported as minimally invasive treatment methods. To our knowledge, there are no studies comparing use of TACE and TAE for hepatic hemangioma treatment. The aim of the study is to compare symptom resolution, size reducing effects and complications of TACE and TAE for the treatment of giant hepatic hemangiomas. METHODS 104 patients underwent TACE using bleomycin and 108 patients underwent TAE. The patients were followed-up for 2 year and follow-up images at 6 months, 12 months and 24 months were acquired. Lesion volumes in both follow-up images were calculated. The patients were examined for any possible procedure related complications as well as the status of their initial symptoms. RESULTS The shrinkage period was determined to have ended after 12. month in the both group. The results of the Two-Way Mixed ANOVA showed that there was significant main effect of procedure type (p = <0.001) on hemangioma volumes. Similarly, there was a significant interaction between procedure and time (p = <0.001). CONCLUSION Both methods are effective in symptomatic relief in properly selected patients. However, TACE causes greater volume reduction with less pain and therefore is the better endovascular treatment option.