Adjuvant Iodine131 Lipiodol after Resection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract EN

Background.

Survival after liver resection for HCC is compromised by a high rate of intrahepatic recurrence.

Adjuvant treatment with a single, postoperative dose of intra-arterial I131 lipiodol has shown promise, as a means of prolonging disease-free survival (DFS).

Methodology.

DFS and overall survival (OS) after a single dose of postoperative I131 lipiodol were compared to liver resection alone, for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Data were collected retrospectively for patients who had a curative resection for HCC between December 1993 and September 2011.

Seventy-two patients were given I131 lipiodol after surgery and 70 patients had surgery alone.

Results.

The DFS at 1, 3, and 5 years was 72%, 43%, and 26% in the surgery group and 70%, 39%, and 29% in the adjuvant I131 lipiodol group (p=0.75).

The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS was 83%, 64%, and 52% in the surgery group and 96%, 72%, and 61% in the adjuvant I131 lipiodol group (p=0.16).

Conclusion.

This retrospective study has found no significant benefit to survival, after adjuvant treatment with I131 lipiodol.