Hepatic artery embolization: Another option for tumors that cannot be removed is to reduce the blood flow through the hepatic artery, the artery that feeds most liver cancer cells. This is done by hepatic artery embolization (injecting materials that plug up the artery). Most of the healthy liver cells will be unaffected because they get their blood supply from the portal vein. This procedure involves inserting a catheter into an artery in the groin area and threading it up into the liver. A dye is usually injected into the bloodstream at this time to allow the doctor to monitor the path of the catheter via angiography, a special type of x-ray. Once the catheter is in place, small particles are injected into the artery to plug it up.
