Hepatic arterial chemoembolization for metastatic neuroendocrine tumors

Patients with neuroendocrine neoplasma, even with metastases to the liver, often have indolent disease and are treated conservatively. However, when debilitating symptoms from hormonal syndromes or mass effect arise, more aggressive treatment may be warranted.

Thirty-nine chemoembolization procedures were performed in 30 patients with significant symptoms, with carcinoids and islet cell tumors. An emulsification of intraarterial doxorubicin, iodized oil, and water-soluble contrast was followed by embolization with absorbable gelatin powder or pledgets.

Twenty-seven patients exhibited subjective improvement in clinical symptoms. Hormonal markers and/or tumor size decreased by at least 50% in 79% of patients. Inclusion of minor responses raises this to 92%. Seven complications were noted, and no procedure-related deaths occurred. Median survival was 24 months after chemoembolization or 53 months after diagnosis. Computed tomographic features of tumor vascularity, distribution of metastatic lesions, and distribution of ethiodized oil were not clearly correlated with outcome. Presence of a nonresected primary tumor had a negative effect on survival.

Compared with previously described treatments for neuroendocrine liver metastases, this technique appears to be more effective and to be associated with less morbidity, and is recommended for patients with significant symptoms who have failed to respond to more conservative therapy and who are not surgical candidates.