Centers of Excellence

The Society of Interventional Oncology is proud to host the Centers for Excellence Programs again in 2025. These sessions will offer a comprehensive in-depth analysis on advances and use of conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE). The experience allows visiting physicians the opportunity to go through the patient experience in real time with evaluation of pre-procedural assessments including: laboratory values, imaging, ECOG status, etc. Visiting physicians will then follow the patients into the IR suites and watch a real time cTACE procedure, giving an invaluable experience wherein you can interact with experts in the field and attending physicians at the Host Institutions.

Attendees will be hosted on site at a cTACE Center of Excellence wherein they will work with expert physicians during live cases to:

• Outline pre-procedural medication regimens to help mitigate side effects of cTACE
• Summarize current drug selection and dosage recommendation for cTACE
• Review optimal in room on table preparation of drug and lipiodol emulsion for cTACE
• Review appropriate equipment that is compatible with lipiodol
• Review angiographic approaches to location of catheter during treatment for cTACE
• Review in real time angiographic endpoints utilized in cTACE
• Suggest optimal embolic particle type and size
• Outline the role for adjunctive devices (eg: balloon occlusion catheters, pressure enable drug delivery catheters, etc)
• Define safe treatment parameters for cTACE performed via extrahepatic collateral vessels

• Attendees will participate in discussions around patient selection criteria, and who is appropriate for LDT.
• Attendees will review the current guidelines and approaches to patient with HCC, mNET, cholangiocarcinoma, etc.
• Attendees will participate in discussions of how to choose between all liver directed therapy options (ablation vs. DEB/cTACE vs. Y90 vs. SBRT vs. systemic therapy).
• Attendees will participate in presentations on the data on safety and efficacy of cTACE to help with future tumor board discussions.
• Attendees will be able to describe the optimal preparation (“the recipe”) from pharmacy for drug preparation prior to arrival in IR.
• Attendees will be able to develop an outline of appropriate patient follow – up and strategies of how and when to re-treat
• Attendees will be able to describe expected side effects from cTACE and tips on how to mitigate post embolization syndrome