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©2013 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 14, 2013; 19(22): 3512-3516
Published online Jun 14, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i22.3512
Published online Jun 14, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i22.3512
Transarterial embolization of metastatic mediastinal hepatocellular carcinoma
Chia-Chang Chen, Hong-Zen Yeh, Chi-Sen Chang, Chung-Wang Ko, Han-Chung Lien, Chun-Ying Wu, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 40705, Taiwan
Siu-Wan Hung, Department of Radiology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 40705, Taiwan
Author contributions: Chen CC designed the research and drafted the article; Yeh HZ performed endosonographic biopsy to prove the diagnosis of metastatic mediastinal hepatocellular carcinoma and revised the manuscript; Chang CS was the attending physician for this patient, discussed the treatment plan with the patient, and revised the manuscript; Hung SW performed the transarterial embolization for the metastatic mediastinal hepatocellular carcinoma and wrote the technical aspect of the procedure; Ko CW, Lien HC and Wu CY gave intellectual advice and revised the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Siu-Wan Hung, MD, Department of Radiology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 1650 Taiwan Boulevard Sect. 4, Taichung 40705, Taiwan. dr.cjchen@gmail.com
Telephone: +886-4-23592525 Fax: +886-4-23741331
Received: January 12, 2013
Revised: April 14, 2013
Accepted: April 18, 2013
Published online: June 14, 2013
Revised: April 14, 2013
Accepted: April 18, 2013
Published online: June 14, 2013
Core Tip
Core tip: This report presents a patient with metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma localized to his mediastinum. The metastatic tumor grew rapidly, with α-fetoprotein (AFP) elevation rates correlating with the size of the tumor and tumor growth. We used several sessions of transarterial embolization to control this metastatic tumor. After every successful intervention, the tumor had been stabilized and AFP levels were decreased significantly, resulting in a survival time of the patient that is much longer when compared to the mean survival times of others with similar diagnoses. Transarterial embolization could be an alternative treatment choice for patients with mediastinal metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.