[Intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (IADSA) in liver metastases]

From Dec. 1988 to Dec. 1990, fifty cases of metastatic liver tumors were examined with IADSA. The present article analysed the DSA imaging in this series and divided the DSA appearances of the tumor vessels into five types: 1. Dilatation and enlargement, 29 cases (58%); 2. Stricture and narrowing, 17 cases (34%); 3. Zigzag and tangle, 39 cases (78%); 4. Intermittence and discontinuance, 20 cases (40%); 5. Removement and encirclement, 34 cases (68%). Sometimes several types could be found in one case. There were two cases in this group without any tumor vessels. The DSA appearances of tumor stains were also divided into four types: 1. Circular, cystiform and honeycomb-like, 9 cases (18%). 2. Nodular masses, 13 cases (26%). 3. Spots and flakes, 8 cases (16%). 4. Wadding-like, 15 cases (30%). There were 5 cases without any tumor stains. In no case there was AVM or cancerous embolus in portal vein. In this series, hypervascular lesions were observed in 17 cases (34%), midvascular lesions in 25 cases (50%), and hypovascular lesions in 8 cases (16%).