Minimally Invasive

Only a tiny needle puncture in the skin is needed

Faster Recovery

Recovery is typically just a couple of days

Fewer Risks

Rate of complications is much lower than surgery

Non-Surgical Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatments

Discover why patients are choosing these FDA-approved alternatives to surgical resection for treating liver cancer.

If you’ve been diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and surgical resection is not an option, you may be a candidate for FDA-approved non-surgical alternatives currently available to treat liver cancer.

What is Interventional Radiology?

Treating HCC with Interventional Radiology

The procedures that Advantage IR doctors use to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are part of a medical specialty called Interventional Radiology (IR). This refers to the use of radiological image guidance to precisely target and treat a range of medical conditions and diseases. 

Interventional radiologists are doctors who are specially trained to do minimally invasive vascular procedures, such as angioplasty and embolization, to treat a variety of conditions. Because many IR procedures start with passing a needle through the skin to the target, it's often called "pinhole surgery."

When treating HCC, each patient is evaluated and the treatment approach is individualized for the patient's circumstances. The next section discusses three treatment options for HCC. 

Procedures That Directly Target Liver Cancer

Microwave Ablation: Uses imaging guidance and a special needle to generate electromagnetic microwaves that can heat and destroy the tumor.

Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE): Uses imaging guidance and a catheter to inject particles coated with chemotherapeutic drugs into an artery directly supplying the tumor. These particles both block the blood supply and attack the tumor in several ways.

Yttrium-90 Radioembolization: Uses imaging guidance and a catheter to inject particles coated with the radioactive isotope Yttrium-90 into an artery directly supplying the tumor. These particles emit local radiation that can cause tumor cells to die.

Faster Recovery. Greater Comfort.

Recovery from IR treatment is much faster than invasive surgery because there is no incision to heal or stitches to be removed. The risk of bleeding and complications is lower than with invasive surgery.

You can usually begin normal activities again several days after the procedure. Your doctor will provide specific guidelines for your recovery.  

Side effects can vary based on the procedure. Ablation and Radioembolization have a low occurrence of side effects. TACE may cause side effects because chemotherapeutic drugs can damage healthy cells as it kills cancer cells. 

Why Choose Advantage IR?

Advantage IR is at the forefront of the latest Interventional Radiology procedures that provide an effective alternative to surgery with minimal recovery time. From our doctors to our clinical staff, you will receive the quality care you deserve in a safe and comfortable environment.

Advantage IR uses state of the art equipment to provide the best in patient outcomes and care. All of our interventional radiologists are board-certified and have extensive experience and success using these minimally invasive techniques to treat patients with a variety of disorders.