A clinical study of diagnostic imagings and FAM intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy for liver metastases of colorectal carcinoma

In a total of 119 patients with liver metastases of colorectal carcinoma, angiography (AG), ultrasound (US), and computed tomography (CT) were performed. US for 111 nodules in 89 patients revealed a high echogenicity in 80 nodules (72%). All 88 nodules in 88 patients were shown as low density areas on abdominal CT. In all 119 patients receiving AG, 93 patients (78%) had ring-like stains in the parenchymal phase. Forty patients received hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy with 5-Fluorouracil, Adriamycin, and Mitomycin C (FAM) via the left subclavian artery. Of 36 evaluable patients, one and 21 patients responded to the treatment completely and partially, respectively. There was no significant correlation between staining AG patterns and effects of FAM chemotherapy. CT findings in 22 patients responding to the FAM chemotherapy were decrease in tumor size in 10, decreased marginal density in 4, increased calcification in 2, dimpling sign of the liver in 3, and fatty liver degeneration and focal dilatation of hepatic duct in one. These findings are important signs in the evaluatioin of FAM chemotherapy and the management of patients. (Namekawa, K)