Oily chemoembolization of pancreatic head adenocarcinoma

Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2001 Nov-Dec;24(6):424-6. doi: 10.1007/s00270-001-0040-8. Epub 2001 Nov 8.

Abstract

Oily chemoembolization is a known method of treatment for hepatic malignancies but was never used for pancreatic cancer. We report the case of a 48-year-old patient with unresectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head treated by repeated chemoembolizations of the feeding (gastroduodenal) artery with gemcitabine-in-lipiodol. After 10 procedures there was a marked decrease in tumor. Radiologic examinations showed no signs of viable tumor. The patient is alive and symptom-free 22 months after the start of treatment. Oily chemoembolization should be investigated as a technically simple, safe, and potentially effective palliative management of unresectable pancreatic head carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Adenocarcinoma / therapy*
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage
  • Chemoembolization, Therapeutic*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Contrast Media / administration & dosage
  • Deoxycytidine / administration & dosage
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Gemcitabine
  • Humans
  • Iodized Oil / administration & dosage
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Contrast Media
  • Deoxycytidine
  • Iodized Oil
  • Gemcitabine