Abstract

The medical records of 51 patients who had hepatic artery catheterization for unresectable primary and metastatic liver tumors were reviewed retrospectively. The median age was 59 and mean follow-up period was 11.4 months. Arterial catheterization was performed for liver metastases of colorectal carcinoma in 23 cases, liver metastases of gallbladder carcinoma in 4 cases, liver metastases of pancreas islet cell carcinoma and primary hepatocellular carcinoma in 23 cases. Peroperative mortality rate was 5.9% (three cases). Twenty-four of the patients (50%) responded to intra-arterial chemotherapy via hepatic artery where as 24 (50%) had no-response. Complete response was seen in two cases(4.2%), partial response in 11 (22.9%) cases and 11 (22.9%) cases had stable disease. Median survival time for all patients was 12 months and the probabilities of survival for 1, 2 and 3 years were 47. 1 %, 24.7% and 12.3% respectively. In conclusion, intra-arterial chemotherapy via hepatic artery chateterization in unresectable primary and metastatic liver tumors can be recommended as alternative therapeutic approach.