Partial splenic embolization for hypersplenism concomitant with or after arterial embolization of hepatocellular carcinoma in 30 patients

Purpose To study the value of partial splenic embolization (PSE) for the treatment of hypersplenism in patients undergoing embolization of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Transcatheter hepatic arterial embolization (THAE) combined with PSE was performed in 30 patients with HCC complicating liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and hypersplenism. Gelfoam sponge was used as the embolic material for PSE and limited to 100–150 pieces. Results More than 50% of splenic parenchyma was infarcted in 27 patients. Leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were corrected by PSE in 25 of 27 patients with hypersplenism. In 26 patients with esophageal varices, including 5 patients with bleeding, no rebleeding occurred during a 6–17 month follow-up. Hypersplenism was not corrected in 2 of 3 patients whose infarcted splenic parenchyma was less than 50%. No splenic abscesses or other severe complications were observed. Of the 30 patients treated, 19 are still alive after 1 year. Conclusions THAE combined with PSE is a safe and effective measure for patients with HCC.