[Regional transfemoral intra-arterial chemotherapy using selective catheter placement. Method and clinical results]

In a retrospective study on 108 arterial transfemoral perfusion treatments with cytostatic drugs, the authors describe the procedure and the response of patients shown by tumor markers, computed tomography, histologic findings, and subjective assessment by the patients. Then follows a critical discussion of the complication rate of a therapy which has proved since 1980 to be a valuable and effective treatment method. The objective remission rate was 67%, and a subjective response was observed in 75% of all cases. Compared to systemic chemotherapy, the tolerance was clearly better. Only in one case we found an arterial embolism which was treated by conservative measures. Intraarterial perfusion of cytostatic drugs is within the scope of palliative measures a very effective and, above all, relatively non-stressful treatment with regard to quality of life and survival time. This interventional therapy method should be offered by the radiologist to the clinical oncologist.