Fluorodeoxyuridine causes bilomas after hepatic cryotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
Hepatic cryotherapy is a method of in situ cytodestruction used for unresectable liver tumours that can be combined with regional cytotoxic administration. We have used intra-arterial chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) after hepatic cryotherapy but changed to 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (FUDR) because of the arterial toxicity of 5-FU. A new complication was seen.


METHODS
A retrospective case note study was performed of 130 patients who had undergone hepatic cryotherapy followed by regional chemotherapy at our centre. Seven patients received FUDR; 123 received 5-FU.


RESULTS
Biloma at the cryotherapy sites was seen in three patients in the FUDR group; two other patients in this group had other types of hepatic collection. Our previous experience with intra-arterial 5-FU in 123 patients after hepatic cryotherapy showed no evidence of this syndrome.


CONCLUSIONS
Intra-arterial FUDR should not be used after hepatic cryotherapy, at least during the immediate postoperative period.
Department of Surgery, University of New South Wales and St. George Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
P S
PS
Soon
D
D
Glenn
J
J
Jorgensen
D L
DL
Morris
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001646:Bile; D017679:Cryotherapy; D005467:Floxuridine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D005467:Floxuridine