Clinical Researches On The Suspension Of Tri-iron Tetroxide Microspheres And Lipiodol(STML) In The Treatment Of Unresectable Liver Tumors

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of hepatic artery infusion the suspension of tri-iron tetroxide microspheres and lipiodol (STML) in the treatment of unresectable liver tumors. MATERIALS: One hundred and thirty-two patients with liver tumors underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). The patients were classified by embolism into four groups, namely Group STML (TACE with STML, 42 cases), Group TM (TACE with tri-iron tetroxide microspheres, 30 cases), Group Lp (TACE with lipiodol, 30 cases), Group LG (TACE with lipiodol, followed by Gelatin sponge, 30 cases). METHODS: 1. Follow-up was performed by means of angiography after embolization and the following treatment. The effectiveness of TACE was judged by the change of tumor blood vessel after embolization with STML and LG. 2. Follow-up was performed by means of computed tomography (CT) a week later and the following treatment. The effectiveness of TACE was judged by the change of the shape of embolism accumulation and the retention of embolism within the tumor of Group STML. The effectiveness of TACE was judged by the change of tumor volume after embolization with STML and Lp. The guidance quality of embolism was judged by the quantity of embolism that deposited in the area of noncancerous after TACE with STML and TM. 3. Follow-up was performed by means of plain film after embolization and before the following treatment. The retention of embolism was judged by the change of thedensity of embolism accumulation within the tumor in different time after TACE with STML and Lp. The guidance quality of embolism was judged by the difference in the density of the area of noncancerous and cancerous where the embolism deposited after TACE with STML. 4. Follow-up was performed by means of Pre- and post-treatment serum biochemical tests-serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), serum Fe, and liver and renal function tests. The toxicity and side effects of the chemoembolization were judged by the change of the results of serum Fe, liver and renal function tests before and after treatment. The effectiveness of TACE was judged by the change of the results of AFP in AFP-positive patients ( >400 u g/L) before and after the treatment of Group STML and Group Lp.5. Soft x-rays were taken to observe the exact distribution of STML in the operative specimens. The effectiveness of TACE was judged by the degree of tumor necrosis after embolization with STML and TM. The guidance quality of embolism was judged by the quantity of embolism deposited in the area of cancerous and noncancerous after TACE in Group STML and Group TM with the tissue of tumor, the common boundary of tumor and noncancerous liver parenchyma, noncancerous liver parenchyma surrounding the tumor respectively for pathological examination.6. Follow-up was performed with regular interviews by observing the clinical status of patients after treatment. RESULTS: 1 .There are remarkable differences between Group STML and Group LG in the change of the tumor blood vessels after embolization (P<0. 05) . No significant difference between Group STML and Group LG was observed in collateral circulation after embolization (P>0.05) . 2. CT scan showed there were no significant changes in the shape of embolism accumulation and retention of embolism within the tumor of Group STML after embolization (P>0.05) . CT scan showed there were significant changes in tumor volume after embolization between Group STML and Group Lp (P<0. 05) . CT scan showed there was great difference in the quantity of embolism deposited in the area of noncancerous after TACE with STML and TM (P<0. 01) .3. Plain films also showed there was significant change between Group STML and Group Lp in the density of embolism accumulation within the tumor (P<0. 05) . Plain films showed there was great difference in the density of the area ofnoncancerous and cancerous that the embolism deposited after TACE with STML (P<0. 05) .4. Serum biochemical tests showed there were significant changes of the results of liver tests before and after treatment with TM o...