What is the primary method of treating hepatocellular carcinoma using MAA?

Transarterial embolization (TAE), often combined with regional chemotherapy, is the primary method used in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using macroaggregated albumin (MAA) for liver-directed therapy. This approach involves the selective targeting of the hepatic artery that supplies the tumor, allowing for localized treatment while minimizing systemic exposure to chemotherapy agents.

MAA is commonly utilized as a radiotracer in the context of liver cancer treatment since it can help visualize the blood supply of liver tumors during procedures like selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) or radioembolization. The MAA particles, when injected into the hepatic artery, lodge in the small vessels supplying the tumor, delivering high doses of therapeutic agents directly to the cancerous tissue. This is essential in managing HCC, particularly when lesions are not amenable to surgical resection or when patients have underlying liver dysfunction.

While other treatments like chemotherapy alone, radiofrequency ablation, and surgical resection are valid options for managing HCC, they do not directly employ MAA in the same targeted manner as TAE combined with regional chemotherapy. TAE with chemotherapy allows for enhanced treatment efficacy and improved outcomes for patients, making it the cornerstone strategy in interventional radiology for treating