Abstract: Objective To explore the correlation between the site of vascular embolization and bile duct injury after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) therapy in liver cancer patients.Methods 108 cases of liver cancer patients underwent TACE were divided into three groups according to the location of embolization:tumor supply vascular group (group A,n=35),left hepatic artery group (group B,n=22),right hepatic artery group (Group C,n=25),and hepatic proper artery group (Group D,n=26).The incidence of bile duct injury was compared among the four groups,and the location of bile duct injury was analyzed.The risk factors of bile duct injury were analyzed by logistic linear regression model.Results The incidence of bile duct injury in group A,B,C and D was 14.29% (5/35),9.09% (2/22),8.00% (2/25) and 11.54% (3/26),respectively,without difference among the four groups (P>0.05).Among the 108 patients,a total of 12 had bile duct injuries,and the number of bile duct injuries was 21.The number of injuries in groups A,B,C and D was 8 (38.09%),3 (14.29%),4 (19.05%),and 6 (28.57%),respectively.In group A,4 injury sites were close to the tumor and 1 wasn't.In group B,all injury sites were located at segment I.In group C,all injury sites were located at segment V.In group D,all injury sites were located at hilum.Logistic multivariate analysis suggested that low blood supply and TACE site proximity to bile duct were risk factors for bile duct injury after TACE (P<0.05).Conclusion Interventional embolization at tumor supply vessels,left hepatic artery,right hepatic artery and proper hepatic artery of liver cancer patients weren't associated with the risk of bile duct injury.However,the risk of bile duct injury increased if the embolization site was close to the bile duct.

Key words: Vascular embolization site, Interventional embolization therapy, Bile duct injury, Liver cancer