title: Short- to mid-term evaluation of CT-guided 125I brachytherapy on intra-hepatic recurrent tumors and/or extra-hepatic metastases after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety and short- to mid-term efficacy of CT-guided (125)I brachytherapy on intra-hepatic recurrent tumors and/or extra-hepatic metastases after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the ten patients, one died of liver failure 15 months and one of renal failure 29 months after brachytherapy. All other eight patients survived till the end of the follow-up. Four of them presented good control of local tumor and no systemic recurrence; the other four survived with tumor presence, including three with recurrent tumors undergoing a second (125)I brachytherapy and one switching to a biological target drug treatment. The local control rates after 4, 6, 12 and 24 months are 90.3, 84.0, 75.6 and 72.7% respectively. Procedure-related complications were minimal.
  
  
  METHODS
  From November 2004-May 2008, ten patients with intra-hepatic recurrent tumors and/or extra-hepatic metastases after liver transplantation for HCC underwent (125)I brachytherapy under the guidance of computed tomography. They were followed up for 4-44 months after brachytherapy and the treatment's efficacy was evaluated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT-guided (125)I brachytherapy is a safe and effective therapy on intra-hepatic recurrent tumors and/or extra-hepatic metastases after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma. It has the advantages of minimal invasion, significant short- to mid-term local control and minimal complications.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. drzfj@263.net
authors.forename: Fu-Jun
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chuan-Xing
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Pei-Hong
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: De-Chao
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.forename: Guang-Feng
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Duan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes