Therapeutic Ivalon embolization of hepatic tumors.

Ivalon particles were used for 80 hepatic artery embolizations in 50 patients who had either primary or metastatic hepatic neoplasms. Ten patients died within 1-5 months and the remaining 40 patients were still alive. The post-hepatic embolization syndrome was identical to that following Gelfoam embolization. Follow-up hepatic angiography in 20 patients revealed tumor response to embolization in 17 patients. Ivalon particles were easier to use and caused more peripheral and persistent occlusion than Gelfoam. The results suggest that Ivalon particles were safe and feasible for hepatic artery embolization.