Optimal injection protocol for CT evaluation during hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE. AS an imaging modality for follow-up during continuous or repeat ed hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy using a hepatic intra-arterial in dwelling catheter, the usefulness of CT while infusing contrast through the indwelling catheter (reservoir port) was examined. METHODS. Using reservoir ports implanted in eight patients with hepatic met astasis from colon cancer, radioisotope perfusion scintigraphy (RT), CT (th ree rates of infusion of contrast were used), and digital subtraction angio graphy (AG) were performed to compare the modalities' ability to,visualize the intrahepatic and abnormal extrahepatic distributions. RESULTS. CT (infusion rate 0.1 mL/sec) was superior to AG and RI in terms o f the ability to visualize intrahepatic distribution, particularly in small areas, and facilitated 3D delineation of the distribution, In evaluating e xtrahepatic distribution, CT also outperformed the other modalities. CONCLUSIONS. For imaging study follow-up during hepatic arterial infusion c hemotherapy, CT proved to be more useful than conventional RI and AG.