[Liver metastases from breast cancer: survival and an attempt at cauterization and thermocoagulation therapy combined with selective intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy].
During the past thirteen years, 599 patients with primary breast cancer underwent surgery in our hospital. Nine of them died of liver metastases and the median survival time after detection of liver metastases was five months (range 1-32 months). Four are still alive with liver metastases. Based upon these results, we attempted intraoperative, ultrasound-guided cauterization and thermocoagulation for three patients to improve their prognosis and postoperatively treated them with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy. During surgery, a monopolar electrode was inserted with an ultrasonic guide. One round of cauterization lasted for 10 seconds at 100 W, and was repeated until the tissue around the tumor became hyperechoic. The antitumor effect of the therapy was assessed by histological examination of resected liver tissues. Tumor coagulation and necrosis were observed to be consistent with the cauterized area. On CT scanning, treated areas were shown to be of low density and homogeneous. Since this therapeutic approach acts directly on unresectable tumors and is safe, it seems to provide a useful means for intraoperative regional treatment of tumors.
Kitada
M
M
Dept. of Surgery, Toyonaka Municipal Hospital.
Shibata
T
T
Takami
M
M
Fujimoto
T
T
Takada
T
T
Tsukahara
Y
Y
Okumura
Y
Y
Saito
M
M
Murotani
M
M
Watanabe
T
T
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery; D006801:Humans; D015918:Infusion Pumps, Implantable; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D008872:Microwaves / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D015251:Epirubicin