[131-I-lipiodol in therapy of liver carcinoma--methods and case report]

Primary malignant liver tumors are successfully treated only by means of surgery, but no more than 10% of patients are candidates for surgical intervention. The rest receive only palliative treatment which is, as a rule, unsuccessful. 131I-Lipiodol therapy (commercial label LIPIOCISTM) applied to the hepatic artery through a catheter has been used since 1984, primarily for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this paper is to review the methodology of 131J-Lipiodol treatment of primary liver carcinomas. This treatment was applied for the first time in Yugoslavia.

A female patient, 46 years of age had an inoperable primary liver carcinoma. Since progression of the disease couldn't be controlled by chemotherapy, treatment with 131I-Lipiodol was indicated. After blocking the thyroid with Lugol, Sol. 2.22 GBq of 131I-Lipiodol was injected into hepatic artery via catheter, and the patient was isolated in a designated facility until discharged. Around 5 months later, second therapeutic dose of 1.11 GBq was administered. Early post-therapy complications were severe, but transient. After 131I-Lipiodol therapy, the tumor growth was stopped, but the patient's general condition slowly deteriorated. The patient died 7 months after receiving the first therapeutic dose.

In the reported patient, 131I-Lipiodol therapy stopped the tumor growth within the liver and significantly prolonged survival compared to the expected, but no improvement in quality of life was achieved. This treatment methodology is very complex. Medical staff providing care for these patients is exposed to substantial irradiation.