Transarterial Sclerotherapy for Liver Hemangioma
For patients unable to have surgery for a liver hemangioma, or who wish to avoid surgery, transarterial sclerotherapy has emerged as a viable, minimally invasive treatment option with comparable results to hepatic (liver) surgery.
Our approach, using lipiodol mixed with bleomycin, has been shown to achieve a 4-6 cm reduction in the size of the hemangioma. Two systematic reviews and meta-analyses of this procedure have concluded that this approach is effective at reducing the size of hemangiomas in 90% of patients, with a 4-6 cm reduction of the largest tumor diameter and a volume reduction of 45-80%.1,2
The transarterial sclerotherapy procedure
Using imaging guidance, an interventional radiologist threads a catheter through the blood stream to the site of the hemangioma. A special sclerosant medication (bleomycin) is then injected, which blocks blood flow into the hemangioma and causes it to shrink. The surrounding healthy tissue of the liver is able to draw blood from other nearby vessels.
Unlike surgery, there is no general anesthesia required for the procedure, no incisions and no scarring. You are able to return home the same day and resume your normal activities.
Talk to us about transarterial sclerotherapy
Not all hemangiomas are alike, and this procedure is typically only recommended for those with hemangiomas of 10 cm or less. In addition, the best results are achieved in patients with more hypervascular hemangiomas, which means they have more blood vessels within them. For those undergoing this procedure, hemangiomas have been reduced in size by up to 80%. Over 90% of patients reported at least partial relief of their symptoms. If your doctor is not familiar with the latest clinical results on transarterial sclerotherapy for liver hemangiomas, we are happy to share information with them.
For more information, or to schedule a consultation with one of our physicians, please call (952) 960-9399.
- Torkian P, Li J, Kaufman JA, Jahangiri Y. Effectiveness of transarterial embolization in treatment of symptomatic hepatic
hemangiomas: systematic review and meta-analysis. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-020-02611-5. - Furumaya A, van Rosmalen BV, Takkenberg RB, van Delden OM, Dejong CHC, Verheij J, van Gulik TM. Transarterial (chemo-)
embolization and lipiodolization for hepatic haemangioma. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2019;42(6):800–11. https://doi.org/10.
1007/s00270-019-02169-x