Hospital da Luz Vila Real performed the first endovascular treatment directed to a primary tumor of the liver (hepatocellular carcinoma). This is one of the main modalities of treatment for liver tumors that are available in this hospital as a result of the collaboration between the specialties of Interventional Radiology, coordinated by Belarmino Gonçalves (in the photo) and Internal Medicine/Hepatology (José Presa Ramos). Endovascular treatment directed at an intermediate stage tumor aims to reduce its size and prevent local progression. After selecting the arteries responsible for tumor irrigation, using a catheter, an appropriate amount of microspheres are released into the tumor tissue (technique called embolization) preloaded with a chemotherapy drug, doxorubicin. This treatment or combination of techniques is called chemoembolization .
