Anantapur, Sep18: A 64–year-old man diagnosed with Hepatocellular Carcinoma, a common form of liver cancer, was treated with an advanced Transarterial Chemoembolisationprocedure at KIMS Saveera Hospital here, after doctors found that he was not suitable for surgery.
The details of the procedure were shared by Consultant Interventional Radiologist Dr. Pritviraj SK and Consultant Medical Oncologist Dr. P. Venkata Simha, who were involved in the patient’s treatment.
The patient, Erriswamy, from Uravakonda mandal of Anantapur district, had initially sought medical attention for abdominal pain. Investigations at another hospital revealed a mass in the liver. He was subsequently admitted to KIMS Saveera Hospital on September 9 for further evaluation and treatment.
A PET-CT and FNAC were performed at the hospital, following which he was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma. The case was also evaluated by the onco-surgery team, which concluded that the patient was not a suitable candidate for surgical intervention.
The patient was therefore referred to the Interventional Radiology department for further management. After evaluating his overall health condition and the characteristics of the tumour, the doctors recommended TACE.
The procedure was performed on September 10 under the supervision of Dr. Pritviraj SK In TACE, a thin catheter is introduced through an artery in the thigh and guided through the blood vessels to the artery supplying the liver tumour. Chemotherapy medication is then delivered directly to the tumour, along with an embolising agent to reduce its blood supply.
According to the doctors, the procedure enables the treatment to be delivered locally to the tumour and can be considered in selected patients for whom surgical treatment may not be feasible.
The patient remained clinically stable following the procedure and was discharged after observation. He has been advised to undergo regular follow-up and further chemotherapy, as required, based on his response to treatment and clinical assessment.
Dr. Pritviraj SK and Dr. Venkata Simha said that treatment for liver cancer is individualised based on factors such as the size and extent of the tumour, liver function and the patient’s overall health. While procedures such as TACE can offer a treatment option for selected patients who are not suitable for surgery, they may not be appropriate for every liver cancer patient.
They advised people with persistent abdominal symptoms or suspected liver lesions to undergo appropriate evaluation and consult specialists without delay.