Therapeutic Chemoembolizations is a medical procedure involving the injection of chemotherapy drugs into the blood vessels that supply the tumor. The word is pronounced as /θɛrəˈpjutɪk kimoʊɛmboʊlɪˈzeɪʃənz/ . It consists of three parts; therapeutic, chemo, and embolization. The first part therapeutic is pronounced as /θɛrəˈpjutɪk/ which means medical treatment. The second part chemo is pronounced as /kimoʊ/ and refers to chemotherapy. The last part embolization is pronounced as /ɛmboʊlɪˈzeɪʃənz/ which means to block the blood vessels. Together, they describe a medical procedure for treating cancer that involves the injection of chemotherapy drugs into the tumor's blood vessels
Therapeutic chemoembolization is a medical procedure that involves the simultaneous delivery of chemotherapy drugs and embolic materials to treat certain cancerous tumors. It is primarily used to target tumors that are not amenable to surgical removal or other treatment options.
The process of therapeutic chemoembolization begins with the injection of embolic substances directly into the blood vessels that supply the tumor. These substances, such as small synthetic particles or gelatin sponge, block the blood flow to the tumor, effectively cutting off its nutrient supply. This embolization step helps to enhance the localized effect of the chemotherapy drugs and maximize their concentration within the tumor.
Following embolization, chemotherapy drugs are infused directly into the tumor through the same blood vessels. The drugs can penetrate the tumor more effectively due to the reduced blood flow, resulting in higher concentrations and longer exposure time. This targeted approach increases the effectiveness of the chemotherapy, while minimizing potential systemic side effects.
Therapeutic chemoembolization is commonly performed by interventional radiologists, using image guidance techniques such as fluoroscopy or computed tomography (CT) to accurately place the embolic materials and monitor the entire procedure in real-time.
Overall, therapeutic chemoembolization is a specialized treatment modality that combines embolization and chemotherapy to deliver anti-cancer drugs directly to tumors, improving local control and potentially reducing tumor size. It offers a minimally invasive alternative to surgery and may provide significant benefits for patients with certain types of cancer.
The word "chemoembolizations" is a combination of two terms: "chemo" and "embolization".
- The term "chemo" is an abbreviation of the word "chemotherapy", which refers to a medical treatment that utilizes chemicals to destroy or inhibit the growth of cancer cells. It is derived from the Greek word "khemia", meaning "art of metalworking" or "alchemy".
- The term "embolization" refers to a procedure in which a foreign substance, such as a blood clot or synthetic material, is intentionally introduced into a blood vessel to block the flow of blood or to target therapy to a specific area. It is derived from the Greek word "embole", meaning "a blockage" or "plug".