Treatment of hepatic carcinoma using iodine-125 seeds in conjunction with the transcathether arterial chemoembolization

Objective: To investigate the short-term efficacy and security of combined treatment of iodine-125 seeds and transcathether arterial chemoembolization in liver neoplasms. Methods: Transcathether arterial chemoembolization underwent in experimental group (28 cases) with liver neoplasm. The treatment plan was formulated with treatment planning system and a median of 25 seeds per patient (range, 15-40 seeds) were implanted under CT or B ultrasound guidance in 2 weeks after the procedure. Transcathether arterial chemoembolization underwent after the implanted regularity. Blood routine and liver function were detected before and after the procedure. X ray check and abdomen CT scan were performed each 2 months. Control group (32 cases) were treated with transcathether arterial chemoembolization alone. Analysis of variance and Chi-square test were used for statistics. Results: All seeds were released to the target places successfully and no seed was found to be lost or migrated in experimental group. Transient elevation of the serum ALT and AST but recovered in 2 week. WBC, Hb, IgA and IgG were showed no significant changes. The severe complication was not found in those cases. The responsive rate of tumor was 75.0% (21/28), 37.5% (12/32) in experimental group and control group, respectively(χ2=8.485, P= 0.004). The survival rate of 6 months was 92.9% (26/28), 75.0% (24/32) in experimental group, espectively (χ2=2.263, P=0.132). The surviral rate of 12 months was 72.0% (18/25), 43.3% (13/30) in experimental group and control group, respectively (χ2=4.556, P=0.033). Conclusion: It is simple, feasible, safe and short-termly effective for liver neoplasms in treatment combined iodine-125 seeds implantation with transcathether arterial chemoembolization. (authors)