Arterial hepatic embolization of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma using a cyanoacrylate/lipiodol mixture.
OBJECTIVE
A survival analysis in 16 patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) using a combination of lipiodol and N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (5:1) was performed in a retrospective study.


METHODS
A combination of lipiodol and N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (5:1) was used for TAE. All patients had disease compatible with Okuda stages I and II.


RESULTS
Twenty-four embolizations were done; five patients had more than one embolization. Median alpha-fetoprotein levels declined from 116 to 48.6 ng/ml. A median of 0.3 ml cyanoacrylate was administered per patient. Median survival was 8.5 months (range 2-49 months). After a median follow-up of 4 years, 12 patients have died (75%). Okuda stage I and II patients had a median survival time of 34.4 and 5.5 months respectively. Few side effects (19%) were seen.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the TAE procedure used [lipiodol and N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (5:1)] is safe and produced only few side effects, thus constituting a valuable therapeutic option for patients with Okuda stage I and II HCC.
Berghammer
P
P
Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Vienna Medical School, Austria.
Pfeffel
F
F
Winkelbauer
F
F
Wiltschke
C
C
Schenk
T
T
Lammer
J
J
Müller
C
C
Zielinski
C
C
D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D003487:Cyanoacrylates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007459:Iodized Oil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis
D003487:Cyanoacrylates; D007459:Iodized Oil