Intra-arterial embolization with pingyangmycin-lipiodol emulsion for the treatment of hepatic cavernous hemangioma: an analysis of factors affecting therapeutic results / 介入放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the factors that might affect the therapeutic results of pingyangmycin-lipiodol emulsion intra-arterial sclerosing embolization (PLE-IASE) in treating symptomatic cavernous hemangioma of liver (SCHL). Methods PLE-IASE was performed in 89 patients with SCHL (32 males and 57 females). Before treatment the mean diameter of the hemangioma was (8.3±3.8) cm. Of 89 patients, 53 experienced anxiety, 35 suffered from right upper abdominal pain and the remaining one developed Kasabach-Merrit syndrome. Before PLE-IASE, the arteriographic classification was conducted based on hepatic arteriographic findings. Then pingyangmycin-lipiodol emulsion (PLE) was injected through the feeding artery. The dosage of pingyangmycin (PYM) was (9.8±4.4) mg and the dosage of lipiodol (LP) was (5.9±2.9) ml. The lipiodol deposition status was judged by the follow-up spot film taken immediately after PLE-IASE. The observations of the occurrence of complications, the relief of symptoms and the minification of SCHL were followed for 6-72 months after PLE-IASE. The linear regression analysis statistics was conducted by taking the minification as dependent variable and taking the arteriographic classification, lipiodol deposition status, the dosage of PYM, the dosage of lipiodol and the preoperative SCHL diameter as independent variable. Results Of all 89 cases of SCHL, hypervascular type was seen in 51, hypovascular type in 26 and arteriovenous shunt (AVS) type in 12. Good lipiodol deposition status was found in 64 patients and poor deposition in 25 patients after PLE-IASE. After PLE-IASE, the symptom of anxiety in 53 patients was relieved and the right upper abdominal pain was reduced in 33 cases although intermittent pain still remained in 2 patients. The blood platelet count of the patient with Kasabach-Merrit syndrome returned to normal after the treatment. The symptomatic relieve rate was 98.7%. No serious complications occurred in the follow-up period. The linear regression analysis showed that arteriographic classification, lipiodol deposition status and PYM dosage used in treatment had statistically significant impact on tumor minification, while the preoperative diameter of SCHL and lipiodol dosage used in treatment had no statistically significant impact on it. Conclusion PLE-IASE is an effective and safe interventional treatment for SCHL. Arteriographic classification, lipiodol deposition status and PYM dosage used in treatment have a significant correlation with the minification of SCHL, while the preoperative diameter of SCHL and lipiodol dosage used in treatment bear no relationship to the minification of SCHL.