Intraarterial injection of anti-tumor drugs dispersed in lipid contrast medium: a choice for initially unresectable hepatoblastoma in infants.

Intraarterial injection of anti-tumor drugs (THP-ADR, CDDP, 5-FU) dispersed in lipid contrast medium (Lipiodol, Laboratorie Guerbert, France) was used in an infant with initially unresectable hepatoblastoma. Lipiodol complex selectively accumulated in the tumor tissue and may keep the chemotherapeutic agents in the tumor tissue for a longer period of time, and a significant reduction of the tumor with a four-day half-life of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was followed immediately after the institution of chemotherapy. Successful resection of decreased tumor by extended right hepatectomy under more favorable conditions was performed 2 months after diagnosis. Intraarterial chemotherapy with Lipiodol was particularly useful in potentiating the cytoreduction of anti-tumor drugs and was also useful in reducing the toxicities of anti-tumor drugs to the host.