🏥 A major centre for liver cancers
Cochin University Hospital AP-HP is one of the national reference sites for the management of primary and secondary liver cancers. Our medical imaging department brings together, on a single site, all the diagnostic and therapeutic expertise needed for complete, personalised care.
Our strength: every treatment available on a single site
Treatment of liver tumours in Paris
In Paris, Cochin Hospital AP-HP (14th arrondissement) offers percutaneous and endovascular treatment of liver tumours in its interventional radiology department: ablation (radiofrequency, microwave, cryoablation, electroporation), chemoembolisation (TACE), Y90 radioembolisation and portal vein embolisation before hepatectomy. They can replace or complement surgery, depending on the multidisciplinary tumour board decision. An opinion can be requested by form.
Request an opinion for a liver tumour · All treatments at Cochin
⚡ Liver cancer centre at a glance — At a glance
Our centre combines diagnostic imaging, biopsy and the full range of minimally invasive treatments (radiofrequency, microwave, cryoablation, TACE, Y90) for liver tumours, alongside liver surgery and transplantation.
| Criterion | Data |
|---|---|
| Treatments available | Percutaneous ablation, chemoembolization (TACE), radioembolization (Y90) |
| Decision-making | Always validated at a multidisciplinary tumour board |
| Local control (small tumours) | Local recurrence < 5% at 5 years for tumours < 3 cm |
| Cost | Covered by French national health insurance at Cochin AP-HP — no out-of-pocket fees |
Data validated by the team of Prof. Anthony Dohan, Department of Interventional Radiology, Cochin Hospital AP-HP, Université Paris Cité.
🤝 Complete multidisciplinary care
Every patient's case is discussed at a dedicated liver multidisciplinary team meeting (MDT), bringing together interventional radiologists, hepatologists, digestive surgeons, medical oncologists and pathologists.
🏥 Hepatology — Cochin Hospital
Specialist hepatology consultation, pre-transplant work-up, follow-up of chronic liver disease. Prof. Coriat — 01 58 41 42 43
hopital-cochin.aphp.fr →🔪 Digestive Surgery — Cochin
Laparoscopic and robotic liver resection, complex biliary surgery, management of liver metastases.
chir-digestive-cochin.com →🧬 Liver transplantation
Access to liver transplantation in collaboration with the transplant team at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital AP-HP, a national reference centre.
🩸 Haematology — Cochin
Dedicated haematology consultation for patients with liver involvement from blood cancers, liver lymphomas or amyloidosis.
🔬 Gastroenterology — Cochin
Digestive oncology, pancreatic cancers, neuroendocrine tumours (RENATEN network), colonoscopy. Prof. Coriat.
gastrocochin.com →🔬 Pathology — Cochin
Liver biopsy results available in under 72 hours for urgent cases. Molecular tumour analysis (NGS) on liquid and tissue biopsy.
🔧 Our liver tumour ablation techniques
🔥 Radiofrequency (RF)
Heat-based thermal ablation. The standard for HCC nodules < 3 cm and isolated metastases. Ultrasound or CT guidance.
🌊 Microwave (MWA)
Thermal ablation that is faster and more powerful than RF. Useful for tumours > 3 cm, close to vessels or in a fatty liver.
⚡ Irreversible electroporation (IRE)
A non-thermal technique using electrical pulses. Indicated for tumours close to the bile ducts or vessels that cannot be treated by RF/MWA.
💊 Chemoembolisation (TACE)
Chemotherapy injection + arterial occlusion. Standard for intermediate HCC (BCLC-B) and hypervascular metastases.
☢️ Y90 radioembolisation
Yttrium-90-loaded microspheres. HCC and multiple liver metastases. Enables downstaging towards transplantation or resection.
🫀 Portal vein embolisation
Pre-operative preparation: hypertrophy of the future liver remnant before major hepatectomy. Combined with radioembolisation if needed (TARE + PVE).
🩻 Expert liver imaging
Our department has recognised expertise in diagnostic liver imaging, essential for characterising lesions and planning treatment.
- Expert liver MRI: dedicated HCC protocols (LI-RADS), metastases, cholangiocarcinoma, diffusion MRI, MR elastography (stiffness)
- Multidetector CT: liver volumetry, triphasic CT, portography, embolisation planning
- Image-guided liver biopsy: priority pathology results in under 72 hours for urgent cases, molecular analysis available
- Liver elastography (FibroScan, MR elastography) for non-invasive fibrosis assessment
📊 Tumours treated
Primary tumours
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
- Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
- Klatskin tumour (hilar)
- Bile duct cholangiocarcinoma
- Symptomatic giant haemangioma
Secondary tumours
- Colorectal metastases
- Breast cancer metastases
- Neuroendocrine metastases (NET)
- Melanoma metastases
- Metastases from digestive cancers (stomach, pancreas)
🚨 Rapid referral — Liver emergency
For any patient needing urgent management or a rapid MDT discussion:
✅ Covered by French National Health Insurance · No additional fees · Cochin University Hospital AP-HP
❓ Frequently asked questions
✓ Why this page is trustworthy
Written by the Interventional Radiology team at Cochin Hospital AP-HP, Université Paris Cité. Medically reviewed by an interventional radiologist of the department. Last updated: August 2026.