Abstract:Objective: To explore the safety and curative effect of high intensity focused ultrasound(HIFU) in the treatment of portal vein tumor thrombosis. Methods: Sixty-two patients with primary hepatocellular carcinomas complicated with portal vein tumor thrombosis(Grade Ⅰ~Ⅲ) were treated by HIFU. The treatment effects included imaging changes and clinical symptoms. The rates of local control, clinical benefit response(CBR), average survival period and the frequency of complication were evaluated. Results: The rates of local control were 88.9% in grade Ⅰ, 33.3% in grade Ⅱ, and 5% in grade Ⅲ. The CBR was 83.3% in grade Ⅰ, 54.2% in grade Ⅱ, and 20% in grade Ⅲ. Average survival period for grade Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ was 15.3 months, 10.5 months and 6.1 months, respectively. No serious complications were seen in grade Ⅰ and grade Ⅱ. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding were observed in grade Ⅲ. Conclusions: HIFU was non-invasive, safe and effective palliative therapy for the patients with primary hepatocellular carcinomas complicated with portal vein tumor thrombosis. HIFU was effective for the patients who had bad general condition, hepatic dysfunction, ascites, and was intolerable to other treatments.