Objective       To analyze the causative factors of right inferior phrenic artery (RIPA) participating in the blood supply of primary liver cancer (PLC) at initial session of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) so as to provide important reference for judging whether there is blood supply from RIPA before TACE.       Methods      A retrospectively analysis was performed on the radiological data (MRI

CT or DSA) of 161 PLC patients who underwent RIPA angiography at the first TACE treatment in our hospital from November 2010 to November 2013. The patients were divided into RIPA group and non-RIPA group according to whether RIPA participated in tumor blood supply. Tumor size

location and tumor capsule were analyzed and compared between the 2 groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed in this study.       Results      Among the 161 cases

77 cases (47.8%) were founded to have the blood supply from RIPA at initial TACE session. Univariate analysis showed that tumor size (P0.01)

involving the liver capsule (P=0.034)

intact tumor capsule (P0.01) and liver segment of tumor location (P0.01) were significantly associated with the blood supply. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the tumor size

intact tumor capsule and liver segment of tumor location were independent predictive factors for whether the PLC has blood supply from RIPA or not at initial TACE session.       Conclusion      When PLC is located in the bare area or directly beneath the diaphragm and of massive type

especially located in segment 7 and without an intact capsule

there are more chances for RIPA participating in blood supply of PLC at initial TACE session.