Transient hepatic dearterialization followed by regional intra-arterial 5-fluorouracil infusion as treatment for liver tumors.

Twenty consecutive patients with secondary liver tumors were treated with a new method of liver dearterialization, performed by transient occlusion of the hepatic artery with strangulating slings, and followed by regional intra-arterial infusion of 5-fluorouracil. Tumor regression was confirmed by angiography, laboratory tests and symptom relief in more than 50% of the patients. For patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma the mean survival time after operation was 17 months and the median survival time was 11 months. The most common complications were abscesses and aneurysms. The treatment is judged suitable for patients with a tumor of moderate severity involving both liver lobes and without extrahepatic tumor growth.