Transcatheter arterial chemotherapy using doxorubicin, iodized oil and Gelfoam embolization in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Computed tomography (CT) was performed in 54 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma three weeks after transcatheter arterial chemotherapy using iodized oil and doxorubicin with or without gelfoam embolization. Patients with iodized oil retention in the tumor greater than 50 per cent of tumor size survived longer than patients with retention of less than 50 per cent. Differences were also found within Okuda stages I and II, but they were significant only in Okuda stage I (p less than 0.0001). These results suggest a possible relationship between iodized oil retention and survival. In addition to Okuda stage, several factors affected iodized oil retention: tumor vascularity, tumor size, portal thrombosis and Gelfoam embolization. These factors may thus influence the prognosis after transcatheter arterial chemotherapy.