Hepatic intraarterial 131I iodized oil for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with impeded portal venous flow.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intraarterial hepatic iodine 131 iodized oil for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with impeded portal venous flow.


METHODS
Twenty-four patients (mean age, 61 years) with hepatocellular carcinoma underwent 38 courses of 131I iodized oil (one to three per patient), with a mean dose of 2,146 MBq injected into the proper hepatic artery. Hepatocellular carcinoma manifested as single nodules (n = 8; mean, 7.75 cm), multiple nodules (n = 13; mean, 5.46 cm), or a mass (n = 3) occupying more than two hepatic segments. Portal venous thrombosis was complete (n = 10), right (n = 9), left (n = 2), or multisegmental (n = 1). Two patients had hepatofugal portal flow.


RESULTS
Among the 23 patients with evaluable results, response to treatment was partial in three, and disease was stable in 12 and progressive in eight. Estimated actuarial survival rates were 70%, 33%, 12%, and 6% at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, respectively, with two patients alive at 9 and 11 months. The median survival time was 147 days. Adverse events were the early death of one patient owing to hepatic failure and transient symptomatic hepatic failure after 12 courses in nine patients.


CONCLUSIONS
In this preliminary experience, intraarterial hepatic 131I iodized oil did not demonstrate high efficacy in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with portal venous thrombosis, as side effects were not rare.
de Baere
T
T
Department of Interventional Radiology, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
Taourel
P
P
Tubiana
J M
JM
Kuoch
V
V
Ducreux
M
M
Lumbroso
J
J
Roche
A J
AJ
D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007459:Iodized Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; D010166:Palliative Care; D011169:Portal Vein; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D007459:Iodized Oil