Superselective Intra-Arterial Radiometabolic Therapy With I-131 Lipiodol in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Superselective transcatheter arterial radioembolization with radioiodinated lipiodol and gelatin sponges was evaluated in 11 patients with nodular hepatocellular carcinoma. Thirteen tumor nodules were treated using 3-5 ml of lipiodol labeled with 259 to 2220 MBq of I-131 followed by gelatin sponge with the following results: 1) there was elevated uptake in 12 tumor nodules with high tumor-to-background ratios; 2) there was excellent clinical tolerance to the treatment (stable cirrhosis in 5 patients and cirrhosis progression in 2 cases); 3) there was good disease control with size reduction in five tumor lesions (41%) and no increase in seven lesions (59%) followed for 2 years; 4) there was a 2-year survival rate of 70%; and 5) three deaths due to hepatic failure at 2, 3, and 20 months after therapy. Superselective arterial radioembolization with I-131 lipiodol is a useful palliative approach to inoperable hepatocarcinoma, providing long-term local control without severe complications in the progression of cirrhosis.