Hepatocellular carcinoma with skeletal metastasis: management with intraarterial radioactive iodine

Two patients with skeletal metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with internal radiation are presented. An oily contrast medium injected into the hepatic artery accumulates in the hepatic tumor tissue and remains there for long periods: therefore, an oily contrast tagged with radioactive iodine could intensify therapeutic effect on tumors. I-131 was tagged onto Lipiodol, an iodized oil, and injected into the arteries supplying the tumors of skeletal metastasis and hepatocellular carcinoma delivering high internal radiation to both primary and secondary lesions. At 6-month follow-up period, tumor has decreased in size and patients are alive and pain free.