PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of selective chemoembolization in patients with colorectal metastases to the liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-six patients underwent the regimen, which involved use of doxorubicin and ethiodized oil, with 75% selectively administered to different subsegments and 25% into the respective main hepatic artery. RESULTS: In eight patients, the lesions disappeared and carcinoembryonic antigen levels returned to normal. Eleven patients showed no disease progression for 12 months; two others, for 24 months. Thirteen patients died; three were lost to follow-up in the 1st year. Six patients were followed up for 5 years, seven for 3 years, 16 for 2 years, and 30 for 1 year. Five of seven patients who survived 3 years or more exhibited homogeneous distribution of the chemoembolic agent throughout the metastatic tumor. CONCLUSION: Selective chemoembolization is recommended for treatment of patients with colorectal metastases to the liver, a resectable primary tumor, and no evidence of other metastatic disease.
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Lang et al. (1993) studied this question.