TACE & Tumour Ablation
Interventional oncology treats liver tumours through the blood vessels or through a fine needle, rather than by open surgery. In chemoembolization (TACE) chemotherapy is delivered straight into the tumour's own artery and the vessel is then blocked, concentrating the drug where it is needed and sparing the rest of the body. In ablation, a needle destroys the tumour with heat under CT or ultrasound guidance.
Dr. Mohamed El Ghobashy · Consultant Interventional Radiologist
What it treats
- •Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) not suitable for resection or transplant
- •Liver metastases from bowel and other primary cancers, in selected cases
- •Tumours being controlled while a patient waits for transplant (bridging)
- •Tumours too close to vital structures for comfortable surgery
Who is a candidate?
- Patients with liver tumours confirmed on triphasic CT or MRI
- Patients with preserved liver function, assessed against Child-Pugh and performance status
- Patients discussed and agreed at a multidisciplinary tumour board
- Patients whose disease is confined to the liver, or predominantly so
How the procedure works
- 1
Staging and review
Triphasic imaging, tumour markers and liver function tests define the target and confirm the liver can tolerate treatment. The plan is agreed with the oncology and hepatology teams.
- 2
Access
For TACE, a catheter is passed from the wrist or groin into the hepatic artery under local anaesthetic and sedation. For ablation, a needle electrode is placed directly through the skin under CT or ultrasound.
- 3
Treatment
TACE: the feeding branch is selected super-selectively and drug-eluting beads or a chemotherapy emulsion are delivered, followed by embolic material. Ablation: heat is applied for several minutes to destroy the tumour and a safety margin around it.
- 4
Confirmation
Imaging on the table confirms the target has been covered before the catheter or needle is removed.
Recovery
A post-embolization syndrome of low-grade fever, nausea and right-sided discomfort for two to five days is expected rather than a complication, and is managed with medication during a short hospital stay. Follow-up imaging at four to twelve weeks assesses response, and treatment is often given in planned sessions rather than as a single event.
Discuss this procedure
Private consultations and procedures are at Andalusia Hospitals, Maadi. Kasr Al-Ainy is Dr. El Ghobashy's academic post at Cairo University and does not take private cases.
Frequently asked questions
Is TACE a cure for liver cancer?
For most patients TACE is a disease-control treatment rather than a cure: it shrinks tumours, slows progression and can keep a patient eligible for transplant. Ablation of a small, well-placed tumour can be curative. What applies to you depends on the size, number and position of the tumours and your liver function.
Will I lose my hair or have the usual chemotherapy side effects?
Because the drug is delivered into the tumour's artery and the vessel is then blocked, very little reaches the general circulation. The systemic side effects people associate with intravenous chemotherapy are uncommon after TACE.
How many sessions will I need?
Commonly two to four, spaced six to twelve weeks apart and guided by imaging response. Treatment is planned in cycles and reassessed each time rather than fixed in advance.
Other procedures
This page is general information, not medical advice for an individual. Whether a procedure suits you depends on your imaging, your history and an in-person assessment.