Background This study compared long-term outcomes of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation versus total thyroidectomy for bilateral multifocal (≤3) T1N0M0 papillary thyroid carcinoma. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, 125 patients with bilateral multifocal T1N0M0 papillary thyroid carcinoma treated between June 2018 and August 2020 were consecutively included. Among them, 55 underwent radiofrequency ablation and 70 underwent total thyroidectomy. All patients underwent total thyroidectomy with prophylactic central neck dissection. Outcomes included tumor progression, complications, costs, and quality of life. Results After a mean follow-up of 69.3 ± 6.9 months in the radiofrequency ablation group and 66.8 ± 7.9 months in the total thyroidectomy group, the tumor progression rates of the 2 groups were 7.3% and 2.9%, and the study was severely underpowered (16%) to detect a difference in recurrence. Compared with the total thyroidectomy group, the radiofrequency ablation group demonstrated significant advantages in hospital stay (0 day vs 7 days, P< .001), procedure time (16.5 min vs 90 min; P< .001), intraoperative blood loss (0 vs 20 mL; P< .001), procedure cost (¥15,877.1 vs ¥5,065.4; P< .001), complication rate (0% vs 25.7%; P< .001), and quality-of-life scores (13.1 vs 14.8; P< .001). No significant predictors of tumor progression were identified from the clinical or sonographic characteristics of the dominant lesions. Conclusion For selected patients with bilateral multifocal (≤3) T1N0M0 papillary thyroid carcinoma, radiofrequency ablation appears to be a promising minimally invasive option, associated with less trauma, lower cost, fewer complications, and better life quality.

Objectives This retrospective study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of conventional lipiodol-based transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with prophylactic right inferior phrenic artery (RIPA) embolization versus TACE alone for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) located in liver segments VII and VIII. Methods After propensity score matching of 161 eligible patients, 52 received TACE alone (Group A) and 52 received TACE plus prophylactic RIPA embolization (Group B). Primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes included progression-free survival (PFS), time to progression (TTP), tumor response, and adverse events (AEs). Results The combination therapy significantly improved survival outcomes. Median OS was 32.3 vs. 28.3 months, median PFS was 18.8 vs. 16.5 months, and median TTP was 19.3 vs. 17.5 months. Multivariable Cox analysis confirmed prophylactic RIPA embolization as an independent favorable prognostic factor for OS (HR 0.511, P=0.008), PFS (HR 0.528, P=0.003), and TTP (HR 0.502, P=0.002). Other independent factors included tumor number >3 and Child-Pugh class. The 1-month objective response rate showed no significant difference (67.3% vs. 55.8%, P=0.277). Regarding safety, the overall AE rate was similar between groups (44.2% vs. 42.3%). Complications specifically associated with RIPA embolization in Group B included shoulder pain (19.2%) and hiccups (13.5%), which were mild and self-limited. The incidence of major complications (SIR class C-F) was not significantly different (7.7% vs. 3.8%, P=0.678). One patient in Group B developed a grade 4 liver abscess. Conclusions For HCC in segments VII/VIII, adding prophylactic RIPA embolization to conventional lipiodol-based TACE provides significant survival benefits, establishing it as an independent prognostic factor, without substantially increasing major treatment-related morbidity. This combined approach represents a valuable therapeutic strategy for this specific patient subset.

Therapeutic management of prostate cancer remains challenging. Prostatic artery chemoembolization (PACE), an advanced minimally invasive technique derived from prostatic artery embolization (PAE), has shown promising potential in controling tumor growth and alleviating symptoms such as hematuria and lower urinary tract obstruction in prostate cancer, and has garnered widespread attention in recent research. However, preclinical progress is hindered by the limitations of existing animal models, and the development of a simple and reliable animal model to better understand the endovascular interventional treatment of prostate cancer is necessary. To develop and characterize a novel xenograft model of human prostate cancer in the rabbit auricle as a practical platform for experimental research on endovascular embolization techniques. Fresh human PC3 cell suspension (0.1 ml containing 9 × 106 cells) was injected subcutaneously into each auricle of 15 immunosuppressed New Zealand white rabbits. Tumor growth was measured periodically, and volume doubling time (VDT) was calculated. Digital subtraction angiography was performed via the central auricular artery when tumors were greater than 150 mm3. Subsequently, histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses were conducted. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to assess the significance of differences in the VDT of auricle tumors within-rabbits and between rabbits. The model achieved a high tumor take-rate of 86

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a common clinical intervention used for unresectable liver tumors, but conventional embolic microspheres generally exhibit slack vascular stacking and suboptimal drug release. Here, we report tumor vessel-adaptable, adhesive, and absorbable microspheres (3Asphere) based on hyaluronic acid developed using microfluidic and radical polymerization techniques for sustained TACE therapy of liver tumors. 3Asphere presents uniform sizes, gradual degradation over two months, and fast encapsulation and sustained release of chemotherapeutics such as epirubicin, irinotecan, and cisplatin. Interestingly, 3Asphere with high elasticity enables robust vascular embolization, effectively blocking rabbit renal blood supply for over one month. In rabbit VX2 orthotopic liver tumors, 3Asphere actively binds to endothelial cells via CD44 and inhibits tumor growth, affording significant survival benefits compared to commercial Embosphere®. TACE with epirubicin-loaded 3Asphere further enhances tumor inhibition and prevents lung metastasis. 3Asphere provides a versatile and advanced TACE therapy that might alleviate liver tumors.

Objective:This study aims to compare the effectiveness and safety of TACE combined with molecular targeted therapy (MTT) plus Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-(L)1) antibodies versus MTT plus PD-(L)1 antibodies for HCC patients. Methods:Data from HCC patients who received either MTT plus PD-(L)1 (systemic therapy group) or TACE combined with MTT plus PD-(L)1 (combination therapy group) were retrospectively analyzed. The primary outcome was the objective reaction rate (ORR) at the initial assessment post-treatment initiation. Secondary outcomes included progressive free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and grade-3 or higher adverse events. Results:A total of 222 HCC patients were included (109 in the systemic therapy group, 113 in the combination therapy group). Propensity score matching yielded 80 patients per group. The odds ratio for ORR in the combination therapy group was 1.29 (95% CI: 0.64-2.60; p=0.479). Subgroup analysis revealed significantly higher ORR for patients with AFP≤200 ng/mL in the combination therapy group (OR=3.54, p=0.016). For patients without PVTT, the ORR odds were slightly higher with combination therapy (OR=5.33, p=0.068). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed no significant differences in PFS (HR=0.68, p=0.131) or OS (HR=0.86, p=0.674) between the two groups. Higher baseline AFP (>200 ng/mL) was associated with worse PFS (HR=1.68, p=0.012) and OS (HR=2.33, p=0.021). Surgical resection improved PFS (HR=0.42, p<0.001) and OS (HR=0.31, p=0.004). Grade 3 or higher adverse events were more common in the combination therapy group (52% vs 15%, p<0.0001). Conclusion:No significant benefits were observed for combining TACE with MTT and PD-(L)1 in unresectable HCC patients. However, TACE may offer advantages for patients with AFP≤200 ng/mL or without PVTT.

Transarterial chemoembolization is a preferred medical intervention for unresectable advanced liver tumor patients. Its clinical efficacy is, nevertheless, undermined by poor control over drug release and immunosuppressed tumor microenvironment. In this work, we report on absorbable microspheres with excellent loading and controlled release of epirubicin and imiquimod, a toll-like receptor 7 agonist (EPI/IMQ@Asphere) for transarterial chemo-immuno-embolization (TACIE) in liver tumors. EPI/IMQ@Asphere while stable during storage steadily releases EPI in 4 weeks and IMQ in one week, continuously inducing immunogenic cell death and immune activation, respectively. Strikingly, one single injection of EPI/IMQ@Asphere into subcutaneous H22 murine liver tumor achieves complete regression in 5 out of 7 mice, all of which show complete resistance to tumor rechallenge, in line with robust and durable anti-cancer immune response. TACIE in orthotopic VX2 rabbit model reveals significant shrinkage of primary liver tumor and complete prevention of pulmonary metastasis, in which TACIE not only occludes tumor arteries and kills tumor cells but also amplifies tumoral CD8+/CD4+ T cell infiltration. Overall, TACIE based on EPI/IMQ@Asphere offers a highly appealing therapeutic strategy for advanced liver cancers.

Background: The dominant artery blood supply is a characteristic of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it is not known whether the blood supply can predict the post-hepatectomy prognosis of patients with HCC. This retrospective study investigated the prognostic value of the portal venous and arterial blood supply estimated on triphasic liver CT (as portal venous coefficient, PVC and hepatic arterial coefficient, HAC, respectively) in patients with HCC following hepatectomy. Methods: HCC patients who were tested by triphasic liver CT 2-weeks before hepatectomy and received R0 hepatectomy at the Yunnan Province Hepato-bilio-pancreatic Surgical Hospital between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2020 were retrospectively screened. Their portal venous coefficient (PVC), hepatic arterial coefficient (HAC), and other variables were analyzed for the prediction of overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and COX’s proportional hazard regression models. Results: Four hundred and nineteen patients (53.2 ± 10.6 years of age and 370 men) were evaluated. A shorter OS was independently associated with higher blood albumin and total bilirubin grade [hazard ratio (HR) 2.020, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.534-2.660], Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage progression (HR 1.514, 95%CI 1.290-1.777), PVC ≤ 0.386 (HR 1.628, 95%CI 1.149-2.305), and HAC > 0.029 (HR 1.969, 95%CI 1.380-2.809). A shorter RFS was independently associated with male (HR 1.652, 95%CI 1.005-2.716), higher serum alpha-fetoprotein ≥ 400 ng/ml (HR 1.672, 95%CI 1.236-2.263), BCLC stage progression (HR 1.516, 95%CI 1.300-1.768), tumor PVC ≤ 0.386 (HR 1.641, 95%CI 1.198-2.249), and tumor HAC > 0.029 (HR 1.455, 95%CI 1.060-1.997). Conclusions: Tumor PVC or HAC before hepatectomy is valuable for independently predicting postoperative survival of HCC patients.

Teleultrasound has gained significant traction in clinical practice in recent years. However, studies focusing on remote interventional ultrasound remain limited. To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of percutaneous puncture using a robot-assisted teleultrasound-guided interventional system (RTIS). This study was approved by the institutional animal ethics committee and human research review board. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. Two experienced interventional ultrasound physicians performed percutaneous punctures using both RTIS and conventional ultrasound guidance (CUG) in phantom and swine liver models, as well as in clinical settings. Puncture distance errors and operation durations were compared between the RTIS and CUG groups in the experimental models. For clinical applications, operation duration, success rates, and complications were recorded. No significant differences were observed in puncture distance errors between the RTIS and CUG groups in the phantom study (2.85 ± 2.07 mm vs. 1.79 ± 1.93 mm; p = 0.158) or the swine liver study (3.28 ± 1.20 mm vs. 2.56 ± 0.98 mm; p = 0.148). However, puncture operation durations were significantly longer in the RTIS group compared to the CUG group across all scenarios: phantom study (50 ± 19 s vs. 19 ± 7 s; p < 0.001), swine liver study (106 ± 19 s vs. 61 ± 32 s; p = 0.001), and clinical application (200 ± 27.02 s vs. 104.8 ± 33.92 s; p < 0.001). All six patients in the RTIS group and ten patients in the CUG group successfully underwent percutaneous puncture without complications. The RTIS demonstrated safety and feasibility for percutaneous puncture, providing comparable accuracy to conventional methods. The RTIS offers a safe and effective solution for percutaneous puncture, with the potential to address the scarcity of medical resources in remote and underserved regions. • Remote interventional ultrasound addresses critical needs in specific situations. • Puncture distance errors between RTIS and CUG were comparable in phantom and swine models. • RTIS was proven to be safe and feasible for percutaneous puncture.

Background: To evaluate the safety and the long-term outcomes of transarterial embolization (TAE) with lipiodol-bleomycin emulsion (LBE) plus N-Butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) in the treatment of children with large symptomatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH).Methods: This is a retrospective case serial study. Children (aged < 18 years) with FNH were treated. Indications for TAE were patients who were presenting with FNH related abdominal pain and the maxi-mum diameter of FNH is more than 7 cm, and who were not candidates for surgical treatment. Technical success, adverse events, symptoms relief rate, and changes in the lesion size after TAE were evaluated.Results: Between January 2003 and February 2018, 17 pediatric patients were included. Technical success was achieved in all patients. Mean follow-up was 67.5 months. All patients had complete resolution of ab-dominal symptom. The mean largest diameter of the lesions decreased from 10.5 cm to 1.9 cm ( P < 0.01). The mean volume reduction rate was 96.9%. The complete resolution of the FNH was observed in 16 pa-tients. No further therapy was needed for all patients.Conclusions: TAE with LBE plus NBCA appears to be a safe and effective treatment in pediatric patients with large symptomatic FNH. It could be considered as the first-line treatment for symptomatic large FNH. & COPY; 2023 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Context: Transarterial embolization/chemoembolization (TAE/TACE) has been shown to be effective against ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the early clinical mortality remains unpredictable.Objectives: To conduct a comprehensive quantitative evaluation of early mortality after emergency TAE/TACE for spontaneous HCC rupture and to perform an overall analysis of risk factors to gather more representative data.Methods: The PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched, and relevant studies were retrieved using the corresponding English keywords. Next, the literature was screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Finally, Stata version 15.1 and R Project 4.1.2 were used for meta-analysis.Results: A total of 24 studies (n =1,083) were included in this meta-analysis. The combined 30-day mortality following emergency TAE/TACE for spontaneous HCC rupture was 28.8% (95% confidence interval (CI): 23.4 -34.4%). After correcting for publication bias, the combined 30-day mortality rate was estimated at 28.1% (95% CI: 22.7 - 33.6%). The results of subgroup and regression analyses also revealed that preoperative liver cirrhosis and bilobar tumor distribution were significantly associated with increased 30-day mortality following TAE/TACE (P < 0.05 for all). After re-stratification of studies by publication time, it was found that the 30-day mortality after TAE/TACE treatment for spontaneous HCC rupture has decreased significantly in the past two years (P = 0.0074); the corresponding value was 19.1% (95% CI: 14.3 - 24.3%) during 2020 - 2021 and 31.6% (95% CI: 26.4 -36.9%) during 2001- 2010. Three independent factors, including liver cirrhosis, bilobar tumor distribution, and period of time, maybe potential factors for heterogeneity.Conclusion: In recent years, although early mortality has significantly reduced after emergency TAE/TACE for spontaneous HCC rupture, it is still not negligible. Before TAE/TACE, it is necessary for clinicians to predict the adverse outcomes, as well as the risk factors and disease-related factors, and to formulate appropriate intervention measures.

To compare the efficacy of transarterial embolization (TAE) with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles alone and lipiodol–bleomycin emulsion (LBE) plus PVA particles for patients with unresectable large symptomatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH). We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent TAE either with PVA particles alone (group A, n = 46) or LBE plus PVA particles (group B, n = 35) for large (≥ 7 cm) symptomatic FNH between January 2002 and February 2019. Propensity score matching (PSM) (1:1) was performed to adjust for potential baseline confounders. Technical success, adverse events (AEs), symptom relief, and changes in the lesion size after TAE were evaluated. Statistical analysis included Wilcoxon rank sum test and χ2 test. After PSM, no significant differences in baseline characteristics were found between the groups (31 in group A and 31 in group B, with a mean age of 31 years). Technical success was achieved in all patients (100%), without major AEs in both groups. Complete resolution of the abdominal symptoms was reported in 77.4% in group A and 100% in group B (p = 0.037) during a mean follow-up period of 72 months; complete resolution (CR) of the FNH rate was significantly higher in group B than in group A (93.6% vs. 67.7%; p = 0.019). Compared with the use PVA particles alone, TAE with LBE plus PVA particles in the treatment of patients with large symptomatic FNH had a significantly higher rates of CR of the FNH and complete relief of the symptoms. • Transarterial embolization (TAE) with lipiodol-bleomycin emulsion (LBE) plus PVA particles for the large symptomatic FNH yielded better results than with PVA particles alone, in terms of complete resolution of FNH lesions (93.6% vs 67.7%) and complete relief of the abdominal symptoms (100% vs 77.4%) during a mean follow-up period of 72 months (38–170 months). • No major complications were recorded in both groups, and no significant difference in the incidence of postembolization syndrome were observed between the two groups.

Purpose To assess the long-term outcome of performing uterine artery embolization (UAE) using small particles in women with symptomatic adenomyosis (AD). Methods Twenty-seven consecutive women (median age 42 years, range 29–53 years) with AD, in eight cases AD combined with fibroids, who underwent UAE between February 2015 and January 2019, were retrospectively analyzed. The embolization was performed using small-sized polyvinyl alcohol particles (100 μm and 300 μm). The patients completed the Uterine Fibroid Symptom and Quality of Life questionnaire at baseline and at a 42-month follow-up (range 24–71). The junction zone (JZ) thickness and uterine volume were also calculated at baseline and at a three-month follow-up. Results The total symptom severity score (SSS) decreased from a median of 59 (range 34–78) at baseline to a median of 9 (range 3–47) at the end of this study; the health-related quality of life score (HRQOL) increased from a median of 38 (range 23–49) at baseline to a median of 84 (range 46–97) at 42 months. Twenty of the 27 patients were asymptomatic. The clinical response of the remaining seven women was little improvement in their symptoms, and one of the seven women underwent a hysterectomy at 35 months. Twenty-six of the 27 (96%) patients had a preserved uterus at the 42-month follow-up. There was no difference after UAE in SSS, HRQOL, junction zone (JZ) thickness, and uterus volume between patients with pure AD and those with AD combined with fibroids (p = 0.729, 0.710, 0.973, and > 0.99). There was no difference in the JZ thickness and uterus volume at baseline between the asymptomatic women and the women with an insufficient response (p = 0.854 and 0.253), and there were no major complications afterwards. Conclusion From the long-term follow-ups, it could be seen that UAE using small particles is safe and effective in treating AD, especially in preserving the uterus. There is no relationship between the clinical outcomes and the initial presence of AD, with or without fibroids, and the JZ thickness at baseline does not seem to be a predictor for the long-term outcome of UAE.

目的:分析肝细胞癌(HCC)患者经导管动脉化疗栓塞术(TACE)术前后甲胎蛋白(AFP)的变化,来预测肿瘤的变化和患者的生存期.方法:评估自2005年1月至2007年12月在复旦大学附属中山医院肝癌研究所接受T ACE治疗的HCC患者的资料.根据患者TACE术前及术后1个月AFP浓度的变化,把患者分成3组:明显下降组、小幅下降组和无下降组.比较3组在生存期和疾病控制率(DCR)方面的差异,同时完成单因素和多因素变量分析.结果:在338例患者中,明显下降组患者113例、小幅下降组41例、无下降组184例.明显下降组、小幅下降组、无下降组中位生存期(月)和DCR(％)分别为:16.0和56.2;8.0和37.5;6.0和29.9,明显下降组患者的DCR和预后更优(P<0.001).单因素和多因素分析提示,AFP下降幅度可作为预测总体生存期的独立因素(P<0.001).结论:AFP下降幅度可作为HCC患者接受TACE治疗后,反映患者预后的一个临床指标.

Purpose To investigate the safety and efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with bleomycin for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) unresponsive to doxorubicin. Methods We did a randomized controlled trial in HCC patients resistant to TACE with doxorubicin to assess the survival benefits of the experimental group (TACE with bleomycin) compared with the control group (TACE with doxorubicin). 170 patients were allocated randomly between December 2015 and December 2017 and 80 patients of each group were accomplished and analyzed finally. The modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST) was used to evaluated the tumor response every 4-6 weeks. The primary endpoint was median progression-free survival (mPFS) and median overall survival (mOS). Safety was assessed by post-procedure complications. Results The study was stopped in October 2018. Objective response rate (ORR) of the experimental group was 27.5% (22/80) , mPFS and mOS was 5.8 and 8.1 months. ORR of the control group was 7.5% (6/80) , mPFS and mOS was 2.9 and 4.0 months. The ORR were significantly different between two grous ( χ²= 0.348, P ＜0.05). The differences of mPFS and mOS between the two groups were statistically significant (χ² = 2.865, P ＜0.05 and χ² = 0.926, P ＜0.05, respectively). There were no significant difference in post-procedure complications ( P ＞0.05) and no major complications occurred. Conclusion It is suggested that TACE with bleomycin is a safe and effective method for HCC and bleomycin can be a second-line chemotherapeutic agent for the HCC patients unresponsive to TACE with doxorubicin.

Purpose: To prospectively assess safety and efficacy of prostatic artery embolization (PAE) with bleomycin-eluting microspheres for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in a canine model. Materials and Methods: Twelve adult male beagles (mean age, 1.6 y +/- 0.2; range, 1.2-2.0 y) were randomly assigned to group A (n = 6; PAE, with bleomycin-eluting 30-60-mu m HepaSphere microspheres) and group B (n = 6; PAE with bland 30-60-mu m HepaSphere microspheres) between April 2017 and November 2018. Plasma bleomycin concentration in group A was measured within 7 days. Prostate volume (PV) and ischemic volume after PAE were measured by magnetic resonance imaging. Prostates and adjacent organs were harvested after the last magnetic resonance study and histopathologically examined. Results: Plasma bleomycin concentration peaked at 10 minutes at 2,055.0 ng/mL +/- 606.1 and lasted for 1,440 min at low levels after PAE. PV reduction percentage was greater in group A than in group B at 1 month (74.1% +/- 4.3 vs 63.7% +/- 3.5; P =.006) and 3 months (61.5% +/- 6.7 vs 46.1% +/- 3.8; P = .001) after PAE. Proportion of prostate ischemic volume was greater in group A than in group B (75.3% +/- 3.0 vs 62.0% +/- 7.1; P - .006) at 1 month after PAE. Proportion of prostate ischemic volume at I month positively correlated with PV percentage reduction at 3 months in group A (r = 0.840, P = .036) and group 13 (r = 0.844, P = .035). There were no complications or nontarget embolization to surrounding organs after the procedures. Conclusions: In a canine model, PAE with Neomycin-eluting microspheres was feasible and well d and caused ischemic necrosis and reduction in PV.

[4] of normal tissues. Hescot et al first reported on two To the Editor: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the [1] third most lethal malignancy globally. Besides sorafenib, patients who developed irreversible pancreatic atrophy [5] lenvatinib is currently the second approved targeted agent for the first-line treatment of HCC in 2018. Lenvatinib is an oral multikinase inhibitor that targets vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors 1 to 3, fibroblast growth factor receptors 1 to 4, platelet-derived growth factor receptor a, RET, and KIT. Patients who received lenvatinib experienced diarrhoea, and alopecia, and more instances of hypertension, proteinuria, and hypothyroidism. Here, we report two patients that developed irreversible pancreatic atrophy as a novel adverse event of lenvatinib.

OBJECTIVE:A large prostate size (>80 ​mL) of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is technically challenging to treat surgically. This study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of super-selective prostatic artery embolization (PAE) for the treatment of urinary retention caused by large BPH.METHODS:A total of 21 patients with urinary retention, indwelling urinary catheter, or suprapubic cystostomy as a consequence of giant BPH (prostate volume [PV] ​> ​80 ​mL) who sought treatment between January 2013 and December 2017 were enrolled. A microcatheter (1.9-2.7 Fr) and a "two-step embolization" combining 50-μm and 100-μm polyvinyl alcohol embolization particles were used in all patients. International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), PV, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 months post-PAE. Clinical success was defined as removal of urinary catheter or suprapubic cystostomy and ability to void spontaneously.RESULTS:The clinical success rate was 95.2% (20/21). Compared with pre-procedural values, IPSS, QoL, PV, and PSA showed statistically significant differences at 3, 6, and 12 months post-PAE (P ​< ​0.05). There were no serious complications after PAE.CONCLUSIONS:PAE was safe and effective for the treatment of urinary retention caused by large BPH in patients without surgical treatment options.

Prostate artery embolization is a well-known and promising treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, with the quantum leaps of research in medicine. We aim to provide an up-to-date review of the novel technique, including large retrospective studies and randomized control trials, ends with discussions of advantages and disadvantages of this minimally invasive technique.