Experiences with ethanol infiltration of the liver metastases of colorectal tumors (preliminary study).

With the aid of improvement in imaging technique and with the ability of detection of hepatic tumours, the successful treatment of primary and secondary hepatic tumours using surgical methods has gained importance. Metastasectomies were performed in 16 cases at our department in 1996. In 6 cases atypical resections and/or infiltration with 96% ethanol were performed. In 3 instances ethanol infiltration into the metastases were accomplished during the resection, in 4 cases--when metastases were discovered 1-4 year after the resection of the primary tumours--the same method was used during the relaparatomy. 96% ethanol was injected directly into the metastatic tumours during operations. The early ultrasonograph examinations proved the total destruction of the metastases in diameter of 1-3 cm, and partial necrosis of the large (d = 3-8 cm) tumours. Two patients were lost from the follow up. Five patients are still alive after 2-8 months of the ethanol infiltration. In one patient after the ethanol infiltration of metastases /d = 3-5 cm/ in 6 segments of the liver we observed the dissemination of the tumour.