Walter C. Mera-Romo, Radiology Unit, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Hospital Universitario Nacional, Bogotá, Colombia; Department of Radiology and Imaging Dr. Adan Pitol Croda, Interventional Radiology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
Jesús A. Gabutti-Thomas, Department of Radiology and Imaging Dr. Adan Pitol Croda, Interventional Radiology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
José A. Cienfuegos-Alvear, Department of Radiology and Imaging Dr. Adan Pitol Croda, Interventional Radiology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
Manuel Guerrero-Hernández, Department of Radiology and Imaging Dr. Adan Pitol Croda, Interventional Radiology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
Mahatma Guzmán-Soto, Department of Radiology and Imaging Dr. Adan Pitol Croda, Interventional Radiology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
Miguel Hernández-Hernández, Department of Radiology and Imaging Dr. Adan Pitol Croda, Interventional Radiology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
Ma. José Acosta-Falomir, Department of Radiology and Imaging Dr. Adan Pitol Croda, Interventional Radiology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
Arnoldo Hernández-Frausto, Department of Radiology and Imaging Dr. Adan Pitol Croda, Interventional Radiology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
Rebeca Pichardo, Department of Radiology and Imaging Dr. Adan Pitol Croda, Interventional Radiology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
Mónica Muñoz, Department of Radiology and Imaging Dr. Adan Pitol Croda, Interventional Radiology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
Álvaro J. Burgos-Cárdenas, Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Research Institute, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
Background: Transarterial embolization (TAE) is an alternative locoregional therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), particularly in intermediate stages. Objective: To evaluate the radiological objective response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS) over three years, and procedure costs of TAE at our institution. Method: A retrospective cohort of patients with HCC treated with TAE between January 2016 and 2021 was analyzed. ORR was determined using multiphasic CT and MRI according to modified RECIST criteria. OS was calculated at 1 and 3 years, censored at death or last follow-up. Clinical, imaging, and procedural cost data were collected. Results: Thirty patients were included: 9 with Child-Pugh (CP) class A, 19 with CP class B, and 2 without cirrhosis. Before TAE, 21 patients (70%) were Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B and 9 (30%) stage A. The ORR to TAE was 76%. OS rates at 1 and 3 years were 66.7 and 36.7%, respectively, with a median survival of 26.8 months (95% CI: 13.3–not estimable). The mean cost per TAE was USD 2,870. Conclusion: TAE achieved ORR and OS outcomes comparable to TACE but at lower cost, supporting its role as a viable treatment option for unresectable HCC in resource-limited settings.
Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma. Transarterial embolization. Objective response rate. Overall survival. Costs transarterial embolization.
