Efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with microwave ablation for hepatic hemangiomas (> 5 cm)

Figure 1 This figure compares the transcatheter arterial chemoembolization group and the transcatheter arterial chemoembolization + microwave ablation group at 12 months and > 3 years. The top charts display the complete response and objective response rate, illustrating significantly higher values for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) + microwave ablation (MWA) at 12 months (P < 0.001) and a trend toward better outcomes at > 3 years (P = 0.059). The lower charts show the tumor diameter at 12 months: TACE + MWA achieved significantly greater tumor reduction (P < 0.05), whereas at > 3 years, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.29). These findings highlight the enhanced early tumor control and suggest a sustained long-term clinical benefit using the TACE + MWA combination. CR: Complete response; MWA: Microwave ablation; ORR: Objective response rate; TACE: Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.

Figure 2 A 48-year-old female patient with giant hemangiomas. A postoperative follow-up conducted 40 months later showed a significant reduction in tumor diameter. According to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, the tumor was classified as partial response. The patient currently exhibits no signs of recurrence. This case highlights the potential of combined transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and microwave ablation in achieving significant, long-term tumor control and maintaining recurrence-free status in patients with giant hepatic hemangiomas. A and B: Pre-treatment contrast-enhanced computed tomography images taken during the arterial and portal phases, illustrating the longest tumor dimensions of 14 cm × 10 cm; C and D: Intraoperative angiography performed during TACE. This was followed by selective catheterization of the feeding artery and the administration of embolic agents for TACE treatment; E: A post-TACE non-contrast computed tomography scan demonstrating the accumulation of embolic agents at the periphery of the tumor; F: The microwave ablation treatment applied to the hepatic hemangioma; G and H: Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance images reveal the ablation zone of the treated tumor.