Median survival time of patients after transcatheter chemo-embolization for hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective: To determine the effect on survival after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Design: Longitudinal Cohort study. Place and duration of study: Radiology Department, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Stadium Road, Karachi, from December 1997 to September 2005. Patients and methods: Patients undergoing TACE procedure for HCC were prospectively followed. Fortythree patients were enrolled from December 1997 to March 2003 in the study and subjected to chemoembolization therapy. Eight out of 43 patients were excluded from the study, who lost to follow-up. All the patients were followed till their death. Median and mean survival were calculated. Results: The median survival of these 35 patients was 410 days (13.6 months), with 95% confidence interval (236 days lower bound and 536 days upper bound). Mean survival time was 603 days (20.1 months) with 95% confidence interval (394 days lower bound and 812 days upper bound). There was significant difference in mean survival time (in days) by Child's Pugh class (χ² = 12.384; df=2, p-value=0.002). Conclusion: The study showed that TACE is an effective palliative treatment. TACE increases the median survival time.