Tumour calcification following repeated hepatic de-arterialization in patients: a preliminary communication.

A novel method of repeated hepatic de-arterialization is presented. A vascular occluder is placed around the hepatic artery and connected to an injection port. The hepatic artery can thereafter be occluded repeatedly. Patients with irresectable liver metastases from colorectal cancers were treated with occlusions of the hepatic artery for 1 h twice daily, in combination with intraperitoneal cyclic administration of 5-fluorouracil. The first three patients treated are presented. They all exhibited massive tumour calcifications in the liver reflecting tumour necrosis and resorption. This therapeutic principle must undergo further clinical trials.