All You Need to Know About TACE: A Comprehensive Review of Indications, Techniques, Efficacy, Limits, and Technical Advancement
Carolina Lanza, Velio Ascenti, Gaetano Amato, Giuseppe Pellegrino, Sonia Triggiani, Jacopo Tintori, Cristina Intrieri, Salvatore Alessio Angileri, Pierpaolo Biondetti, Serena Carriero, Pierluca Torcia, Anna Maria Ierardi, Gianpaolo Carrafiello
Abstract
Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a proven and widely accepted treatment option for hepatocellular carcinoma and it is recommended as first-line non-curative therapy for BCLC B/intermediate HCC (preserved liver function, multifocal, no cancer-related symptoms) in patients without vascular involvement. Different types of TACE are available nowadays, including TAE, c-TACE, DEB-TACE, and DSM-TACE, but at present there is insufficient evidence to recommend one TACE technique over another and the choice is left to the operator. This review then aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current literature on indications, types of procedures, safety, and efficacy of different TACE treatments.