A 74-year-old man presented with a progressively worsening pain in sacrum and was diagnosed to have a sacral chordoma by biopsy in May, 2004. Percutaneous intratumoral injection with lipiodol-pingyangmycin suspension (LPS) was carried out under image guidance and repeated when the pain in sacrum recurred and the tumor increased. During a 6-year follow-up period, three sessions of this treatment were executed. CT imaging and Karnofsky Performance Score were used to evaluate the size of tumor and quality of life, respectively. The patient was free of pain after each procedure and had a high quality of life with a Karnofsky Performance Score above 80 points. The tumor lesion in sacral area was effectively controlled. No complications were observed. Percutaneous intratumoral injection with LPS under image guidance may be an effective and safe alternative for the patients with sacral chordoma.
Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/*administration & dosage ; Biopsy ; Bleomycin/administration & dosage/analogs & derivatives ; Chordoma/diagnosis/*drug therapy ; Ethiodized Oil/administration & dosage ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; *Sacrum ; Spinal Neoplasms/diagnosis/*drug therapy ; Suspensions ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To evaluate percutaneous intratumoral injection of chemotherapeutic agents lipiodol emulsion (CALE) for the treatment of primary liver cancer. Methods This study included 57 patients of hepatocellular carcinoma (n=49) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (n=8).53 were male and 4 were female,with a mean age of 48.02 years(range,19～70 years).In all,ninety CALE injections were assigned to 90 target areas within the lesions.Before the procedures,transcathetcr arterial chemoembolization (n=55) or infusion (n=2) was carried out in these patients.By arteriography,low blood supply of target areas was showed or it was concluded that superselective catheterization of supply arteries of lesions could not accomplished.Percutaneous intratumoral CALE injection was carried out under fluoroscopy or CT guidance.Therapeutic effect,side effect and complications were assessed based on clinical manifestation,laboratory examination and fluoroscopy or CT one week after procedure.Follow-up was carried out after 1,3,6 months and 1 year,and once every six months thereafter.Local recurrences were treated according to patients'will.Results 90 sessions of percutaneous injection were successfully performed on 57 patients,with 100% technique success rate.The volume of CALE iniected per session ranged 3.0-7.0 ml(mean,6.0 ml) in target size less than 3 cm,12.0-20 ml(mean,15 ml)in target size of 3-5 cm and 24-40 ml in target larger than 5 cm.Serum AFP was positive in 43 patients and decreased to normal in 14 patients(28%).54 lesions(60%)were with well distribution of the lipiodol-chemotherapy mixture on CT 1 month after procedure.Follow-up ranged from 2 months to six years(mean,16 months).The median survival time was 400 d.The cumulative survival rates at 200 d,600d was 85%and 30%,respectively.Complications included fever (n=22,24.4%),nausea and vomit(n=11,12.2%),and pain at the puncture site (n=17,18.9%).Conclusions Percutaneous intratumor CALE injection is safe and effective for the treatment of primary liver cancer.