ARTERITIS FOLLOWING INTRAARTERIAL CHEMOTHERAPY FOR LIVER-TUMORS

Primary and metastatic tumors of the liver can be treated successfully with transcatheter chemoembolization (TACE) during selective arterial catheterism. Arteritis is a possible referred side effect which can l ead to tortuosity of the arteries, stenosis and occlusion of vessels. In our hospitals 117 consecutive patients were treated with TACE from January 1990 to December 1992; 61 patients were affected by hepatocell ular carcinoma (HCC) and 56 were affected by metastases from colorecta l carcinoma. Each patient received from 1 to 4 treatments at monthly i ntervals using epirubicin/Lipiodol ultrafluid (E/LUF) or a mixture of epirubicin and mitomicin C (MC)/LUF and followed by gelatine sponge in jection in the hepatic artery. Selective angiography performed 30-62 d ays after the first chemoembolization showed artery stenosis in 7 pati ents and thrombosis in 2 cases related to toxic arteritis due to chemo embolization. Reports about arteritis during TACE treatments are discu ssed.