Alcohol Injection Therapy (Ethanol Ablation)

Alcohol Injection Therapy, also known as Percutaneous Ethanol Injection (PEI), is a minimally invasive treatment that uses concentrated alcohol to destroy tumor tissues. Guided by ultrasound or CT imaging, a puncture needle is carefully advanced through the skin into the tumor’s interior, where 100% alcohol is slowly infused. The alcohol causes cellular dehydration and protein denaturation, leading to tumor necrosis and shrinkage.

Typically, 5–6 doses of alcohol injection are sufficient to effectively treat the targeted tumor area. The procedure is performed under imaging guidance to ensure precise delivery, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.

Indications

This procedure is most commonly indicated for:

• Solitary liver tumors with a diameter less than 5 cm
• Liver cancers that are otherwise surgical
• Patients with fewer than three foci of liver cancer (each under 3 cm)
• Scar-related (fibrotic) liver cancer
• Liver cancers not close to the liver surface

While particularly effective for liver cancer, alcohol injection has also been applied successfully to several other solid tumors, showing promising therapeutic results.

Effective Rate

Clinical studies indicate that the effective rate of alcohol injection therapy varies depending on the tumor size:

• 90–100% effectiveness for liver cancers smaller than 2 cm
• 70% effectiveness for 3 cm tumors
• 50% effectiveness for approximately 5 cm tumors

These results highlight its strong potential as a safe, localized, and repeatable treatment option for specific liver and solid tumors.