Accumulation of iodized oil within the nonneoplastic liver adjacent to hepatocellular carcinoma via the drainage routes of the tumor after transcatheter arterial embolization.
OBJECTIVE
After transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) with iodized oil (Lipiodol), a relatively dense accumulation of Lipiodol is often seen in the nontumorous liver adjacent to a hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) nodule. We compared this phenomenon with the findings obtained with single-level dynamic CT during hepatic arteriography (SLDCTHA) and presumed its possible mechanism.


METHODS
Fifty-six patients with HCC underwent hepatic angiography including SLDCTHA followed by segmental or subsegmental TAE with a mixture of an anticancer drug and Lipiodol. We compared the drainage area of the HCC depicted on SLDCTHA with the Lipiodol accumulation in the nontumorous liver adjacent to the HCC on CT after TAE (LpCT).


RESULTS
In 26 of the 56 patients, a definite corona enhancement around the HCC, suggesting the drainage of blood from the tumor into the surrounding liver parenchyma, was seen on the late phase of SLDCTHA. In 17 of these 26 patients (65.4%), LpCT showed a more intense accumulation of Lipiodol in the nontumorous liver adjacent to the HCC that corresponded to the drainage area revealed on SLDCTHA.


CONCLUSIONS
The drainage of blood from the HCC was considered to be a possible mechanism of the accumulation of Lipiodol in the nontumorous liver adjacent to the HCC.
Terayama
N
N
Department of Radiology, Kanazawa University School of Medicine, Japan. tera@rad.m.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
Matsui
O
O
Gabata
T
T
Kobayashi
S
S
Sanada
J
J
Ueda
K
K
Kadoya
M
M
Kawamori
Y
Y
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D003287:Contrast Media; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007459:Iodized Oil / Q000032:analysis*; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media; D007459:Iodized Oil