Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatic recurrence after curative resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Despite curative resection, hepatic recurrences cause a significant reduction in survival in patients with primary pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has recently been used successfully to treat primary and secondary hepatic malignancy.


METHODS
Between 2003 and 2008, 15 patients underwent TACE because of hepatic recurrence after curative resection of a pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The tumor response was evaluated based on computed tomography scans after TACE. The overall duration of patient survival was measured.


RESULTS
After TACE, a radiographically evident response occurred in six patients whose tumors demonstrated a tumor blush on angiography. Four patients demonstrated stabilization of a hypovascular mass. The remaining five patients demonstrated continued progression of hypovascular hepatic lesions. The median survival periods from the time of diagnosis and from the time of initial TACE were 9.6 and 7.5 months, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
TACE may represent a viable therapeutic modality in patients with hepatic recurrence after curative resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Kim
Jin Hyoung
JH
Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Choi
Eugene K
EK
Yoon
Hyun-Ki
HK
Ko
Gi-Young
GY
Sung
Kyu-Bo
KB
Gwon
Dong Il
DI