What is interventional therapy for the liver?
Nov 08, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Gao Jun
Introduction
Liver interventional therapy is a treatment method that delivers medications or devices to the affected areas of the liver via a catheter. A detailed explanation is as follows: liver interventional therapy utilizes imaging techniques, such as ultrasound or CT, to guide the insertion of a specialized catheter into the liver lesion through percutaneous puncture. Subsequently, chemotherapeutic drugs, embolic agents, and other substances are injected to achieve localized control of tumor growth.
Liver interventional therapy is a treatment method that involves delivering medications or instruments to the affected areas of the liver via a catheter. A detailed explanation is as follows:
Liver interventional therapy utilizes imaging techniques, such as ultrasound or CT, to guide percutaneous puncture and insert a specialized catheter into the liver's affected regions. Chemotherapeutic drugs, embolic agents, or other substances are then injected to achieve local control of tumor growth, reduce lesion size, and alleviate symptoms. For patients with intermediate or advanced liver cancer who are not candidates for surgical resection or liver transplantation, interventional therapy can serve as an effective palliative treatment option. Patients with other conditions, such as cirrhosis or liver abscesses, may also consider interventional therapy under the guidance and recommendation of a physician.
Main types of liver interventional therapy include hepatic arterial chemoembolization, percutaneous intratumoral injection, and radiofrequency ablation. Hepatic arterial chemoembolization involves injecting chemotherapeutic drugs and embolic agents through a catheter into the hepatic artery to cut off the tumor's blood supply and kill tumor cells. Percutaneous intratumoral injection involves directly puncturing the tumor and injecting chemotherapeutic drugs or sclerosing agents to destroy tumor cells or shrink the tumor. Radiofrequency ablation utilizes radiofrequency energy to ablate tumor tissue, thereby killing tumor cells.
Liver interventional therapy is a safe and effective treatment method applicable to various liver diseases. However, the therapeutic outcome and safety depend on multiple factors, including the patient's general health condition, severity of the disease, and selection of treatment methods. Therefore, prior to undergoing treatment, patients should fully understand the relevant treatment information and make informed decisions under the guidance of a physician.
