HEPATIC ARTERIAL CHEMOEMBOLIZATION AS AN INITIAL TREATMENT FOR HEPATOBLASTOMA

Hepatic arterial chemoembolization using Lipiodol Ultra-fluid (Laboratoire Guerbet), doxorubicin HCl, and Gelfoam (Upjohn)(L-TAE) produced good results in an infant with a hepatoblastoma initially considered to be difficult to resect. Lipiodol selectively accumulated in the tumor, and a marked reduction in tumor size with decrease of alpha-fetoprotein was observed. One month after L-TAE, left hepatectomy was performed uneventfully with a good postoperative course. L-TAE appears to be a useful treatment for hepatoblastoma.