Prevention of post-embolization syndrome after transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma—is prophylactic dexamethasone useful, or not?

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common cause of death from cancer worldwide (1). In some treatment strategy, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was established for the treatment of HCC when surgical resection or other local treatment is not indicated and the recommended first line-therapy for patients in intermediate stage (2). Although a relatively safe procedure, TACE is often associated with post-embolization syndrome (PES) such as a clinical syndrome mediated by an inflammatory response associated with the embolization itself and/or chemotherapeutic agent delivered (3,4)