Superselective radioembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma: 5-year results of a prospective study

• Published in: Nuclear medicine Vol. 33; no. 5; p. 206
• Main Authors: Rösler, H, Triller, J, Baer, H U, Geiger, L, Beer, H F, Becker, C, Blumgart, L H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.10.1994
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - diagnostic imaging; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - mortality; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - radiotherapy; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - therapy; Embolization, Therapeutic; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Liver Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Liver Neoplasms - mortality; Liver Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Liver Neoplasms - therapy; Male; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Radionuclide Imaging; Survival Rate; Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; Time Factors; Yttrium Radioisotopes - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0029-5566
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1629756

Twenty patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were followed up to 5 years after transarterial radiotherapy with 90Y-resin particles. Diagnostic radioembolizations of 99mTc-macroaggregates facilitated scintigraphic assessment of activity distribution, dose evaluation and final procedural verification. The overall survival rates were 56, 38 and 14% (after 1, 2 and 3 years, resp.). Patients with unifocal HCC and a single feeding artery (n = 7) even presented 83, 67 and 40% (2 alive after 2.75 and 4 years). With multiple arteries (n = 7), the longest survival was 26 months. Patients with multifocal HCC survived up to 33 months after selective radioembolization. Quality of life was improved in all. Survival was positively correlated with absorbed dose but residual/recurrent tumour occurred even after > or = 300 Gy. Post-treatment symptoms were minimal (35 applications), pulmonary shunt rates were correctly predicted and pulmonary complications avoided.