Hepatocellular carcinoma in the caudate lobe of the liver: variations of its feeding branches on arteriography

Jpn J Radiol. 2010 Oct;28(8):555-62. doi: 10.1007/s11604-010-0471-8. Epub 2010 Oct 24.

Abstract

There are usually multiple caudate arteries arising from the right, left, and middle hepatic arteries, and they are frequently connected to each other. Therefore, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the caudate lobe is frequently fed by multiple branches arising from different origins. HCC located in the Spiegel lobe is usually fed by the caudate arteries derived from the right and/or left hepatic artery. HCC in the paracaval portion is mainly fed by the caudate artery derived from the right hepatic artery; with low frequency, it is fed by the caudate artery derived from the left hepatic artery. HCC in the caudate process is usually fed by the caudate artery derived from the right hepatic artery. Because of the complexity and overlap of vascular territories, the tumor-feeding branch of a recurrent HCC lesion in the caudate lobe frequently changes on follow-up arteriograms. In addition, several extrahepatic collateral vessels supply the recurrent tumor. To perform effective transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for HCC in the caudate lobe, radiologists should have sufficient knowledge of vascular anatomy supplying HCC in the caudate lobe.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiography
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / blood supply*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / drug therapy*
  • Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / methods*
  • Hepatic Artery / anatomy & histology*
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / blood supply*
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Radiography, Interventional
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed