Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41505040›Full record

ArticleLa Radiologia medica2026

Segmental versus subsegmental transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for small (< 3 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): Less selective, more effective? A propensity score-matched analysis.

Marco Fronda, Andrea Doriguzzi Breatta, Francesca Menchini, Margherita Viglione, Monica Balint, Laura Bergamasco, Paolo Fonio, Irene Bargellini, Marco Calandri

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in La Radiologia medica, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Marco FrondaInterventional Radiology Unit, Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Via Genova 3, 10126, Turin, Italy. mfronda@cittadellasalute.to.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1227-9040
Andrea Doriguzzi BreattaInterventional Radiology Unit, Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Via Genova 3, 10126, Turin, Italy.
Francesca MenchiniRadiology Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Torino - A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Via Genova 3, 10126, Turin, Italy.
Margherita ViglioneRadiology Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Torino - A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Via Genova 3, 10126, Turin, Italy.
Monica BalintRadiology Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Torino - A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Via Genova 3, 10126, Turin, Italy.
Laura BergamascoDepartment of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin - A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, C.So Bramante 88, 10126, Turin, Italy.
Paolo FonioInterventional Radiology Unit, Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Via Genova 3, 10126, Turin, Italy.
Irene BargelliniInterventional Radiology Unit, Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Via Genova 3, 10126, Turin, Italy.
Marco CalandriInterventional Radiology Unit, Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Via Genova 3, 10126, Turin, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo compare segmental (s-) and subsegmental (ss-) transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), in terms of early complete response (CR), local tumor progression (LTP) and impact on hepatic function (ALBI score). MATERIALS AND

methodsA single-center retrospective study was conducted on consecutive patients who underwent s-TACE or ss-TACE as exclusive treatment for small (< 3 cm) HCC between 2021 and 2023. The primary endpoints were 1-month CR and LTP rate during follow-up. The effect of the treatments on hepatic function, as assessed by the ALBI score, was analyzed as a secondary endpoint. Propensity score matching (PSM), based on both baseline and procedural data, was applied to minimize selection bias.

resultsEighty-nine patients with a total of 114 lesions were enrolled in a per-lesion analysis. No significant differences were found in terms of 1-month CR (74% vs.83%, p = 0.24). Twenty-five transplanted patients were censored at the date of transplantation. During a median follow-up of 16 months (range 7-28 months), ssTACE showed a significantly higher LTP rate compared to sTACE (38% vs. 7.5%, p = 0.001). The results were confirmed after applying PSM, with a hazard ratio of 4 (95% CI, 2-10) for LTP in the ssTACE group. The median time to LTP was similar for both groups (6.7 months vs. 5.6 months, p = 0.92). No differences were observed regarding the worsening of liver function.

conclusionsDespite similar early CR rates, ssTACE showed a significantly higher LTP rate compared to sTACE, with no significant differences in liver function deterioration between the two approaches.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, HepatocellularChemoembolization, TherapeuticLiver NeoplasmsAgedDisease ProgressionFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPropensity ScoreRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeCarcinoma, HepatocellularChemoembolizationLocal tumor progressionPropensity score matchingSmall hepatocellular carcinomaTherapeutic

Identifiers

PMID41505040

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.