Abstract

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) is an effective treatment method in the management of patients with inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma. The effectiveness of TACE, however, is decreased, when arterioportal shunt is present, since embolic and chemotherapeutic agents are diverted from the tumor to the normal parenchyma through branches of the portal vein. In such case, TACE may not only be ineffective, but also cause hepatic infarction followed by hepatic failure. We report a case of hepatocellular carcinoma with arterioportal shunt, successfully treated by TACE.

• Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma;Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization;Arterioportal shunt