Catheter position for adequate intra-arterial chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer: evaluation with CT during arterial injection of contrast material.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the drug infusion vessel for use in obtaining the best drug distribution in arterial infusion chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer.


METHODS
In 16 cases of advanced pancreatic cancer (pancreatic head, n = 12; pancreatic body and/or tail, n = 4), computed tomography during arterial injection of contrast material was performed at the time of angiography. The sites of catheter placement were celiac artery, superior mesenteric artery, and their branches, such as gastroduodenal artery, inferior pancreatico-duodenal artery, or dorsal pancreatic artery.


RESULTS
In the cases of pancreatic head cancer, all except one with hepatomesenteric vascular variation were supplied by the celiac artery and superior mesenteric artery (dual supply). In the cases of pancreatic body and/or tail cancer, two were supplied by celiac artery alone and two showed dual supply. In the cases of pancreatic head cancer, when the areas supplied by the main trunk were compared with those supplied by its branches, three of nine cases on the celiac artery side and four cases on the superior mesenteric artery side showed that the areas were not consistent, with a partial defect observed in the areas supplied by branches of the superior mesenteric artery. In the cases of pancreatic body and/or tail cancer, on both sides, one of two cases was not consistent.


CONCLUSIONS
To achieve optimal drug distribution in arterial infusion chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer, drug infusion via both the celiac artery and superior mesenteric artery is required in the majority of cases. In many cases, optimal drug distribution is not attainable with drug infusion via a branch; therefore, drug infusion should be administered via the main trunk.
Tanaka
Toshihiro
T
Department of Radiology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho Kashihara, 634 to 8522, Japan. toshihir@bf6.so-net.ne.jp
Sakaguchi
Hiroshi
H
Anai
Hiroshi
H
Yamamoto
Kiyosei
K
Morimoto
Kengo
K
Nishiofuku
Hideyuki
H
Kichikawa
Kimihiko
K
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000098:blood supply; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003287:Contrast Media