Liver metastases develop in many cancers, but more than 90% of cases occur in colorectal cancer. This is due to the fact that venous blood from the colon flows to the liver, and along with it, cancer cells enter the organ. Whenever possible, during the surgical treatment of the disease, metastases are removed along with a liver tumor, but this cannot always be done since metastases may be unresectable or the person's health status does not allow doctors to perform such an operation. In this case, treatment in Germany involves the use of embolization or chemoembolization. You are welcome to visit the Booking Health website to find out the cost of treatment in Germany and to get medical services at one of the German hospitals at the best price. Germany offers top-class medical care, so you can be sure that chemoembolization will be a success with a low risk of complications.
Content
- The essence of the method
- Percutaneous embolization methods
- Results of percutaneous embolization
- Where to undergo your chemoembolization?
The essence of the method
Chemoembolization is a procedure that combines the following two techniques: embolization and regional chemotherapy that involves the delivery of chemotherapy agents to the arterial network that supplies the tumor. This is a minimally invasive treatment that does not require any large abdominal incisions. All manipulations are performed from the inside of the blood vessels, and a small incision in the inguinal region is sufficient for their catheterization.
During the procedure, doctors block the branches of the hepatic artery that supply the tumors. At the same time, a healthy liver parenchyma is almost not affected because it receives nutrition mainly from the portal vein.
The effect is achieved through the following two mechanisms:
- deprivation of the tumor's blood supply;
- chemotherapy agents that penetrate into metastases in much higher concentrations than systemic chemotherapy cause tumor damage.
Percutaneous embolization methods
Two methods of chemoembolization for oncological diseases are most widely used in medical practice. These include the following:
- oil chemoembolization is the injection of a lipiodol solution with chemotherapy agents dissolved in it into the blood vessels supplying the liver tumor;
- chemoembolization with drug-saturated microspheres involves the placement of tiny beads that contain chemotherapy agents.
The peculiarity of oil chemoembolization is that it causes a temporary blockage of the arterial lumen. In this case, a less pronounced effect is achieved, but the procedure can be carried out several times, improving the treatment results.
In countries with a high level of medicine, transarterial chemoembolization with drug-saturated microspheres is more common. Studies have proven that this is a more effective way for cancer treatment. The microspheres block arteries permanently and continue to release chemotherapy agents for several weeks, thereby destroying cancer cells.
Results of percutaneous embolization
As a result of the procedure, liver metastases are reduced in size by several times, sometimes by several tens of times. Tumors stop growing and may not grow for years. The complete disappearance of tumors is also possible.
It is important to control not only metastasis in the liver but also the primary tumor in the intestine to achieve good treatment results. The primary tumor is usually removed using surgical techniques. Local treatment methods for stage 4 cancer are always complemented by systemic therapy. Doctors in Germany successfully use not only systemic chemotherapy but also targeted therapy and immunotherapy, which are selected based on the results of genetic testing.
Where to undergo your chemoembolization?
You can undergo your chemoembolization for liver metastases in Germany. Treatment at German hospitals is:
- safe;
- minimally invasive;
- effective;
- innovative;
- comfortable for patients.
New chemoembolization methods are used in German medicine, which provide better results in the fight against liver metastases. With the help of the procedure, long-term control of the disease can be achieved.
You are welcome to use the Booking Health service to undergo your treatment for liver metastases at a German hospital. On our website, you can find out the cost of treatment in Germany, compare prices at different German hospitals, and choose the most affordable option. When you make your treatment appointment through Booking Health, the cost of treatment in Germany will be reduced for you due to the lack of additional taxes for foreign patients. The Booking Health specialists will help you select the best hospital specializing in the treatment of liver metastases, taking into account the level of medical services, the experience and success rates of the procedure, and the cost of treatment in Germany. The Booking Health company will arrange your trip to Germany, and you can fully focus on restoring your health.
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board-certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
Sources:
National Library of Medicine
Cancer Support Community
Cancer. Net