Hepatic Resection for Multiple Liver Metastases of Rectal Cancer Following Transcatheter Arterial Embolization Therapy-A Case Report-

Abstract

A case of rectal cancer with synchronous multiple liver metastases treated by surgical resection of the primary lesion and the liver metastases after transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) therapy is described. The patient was a 59-year-old woman. Low anterior resection and TAE forliver metastases of segments 2-3, 6, 7, 8 were performed. Liver metastases were diminished, showing a partial response after the first TAE treatment. The serum carcinoembryonic antigen level was down from 61.6 ng/ml to 2.5 ng/ml. Anticancer drugs Farmorubicin, CDDP and MMC were used for the TAE therapy. Hypervascularity of the liver metastases was not detected by angiography, but computed tomography during the hepatic arterial angiography showed fine vascularity in the tumor. The liver metastases were well controlled by three additional TAE treatments. Finally we resected the liver metastases 19 months after the operation on the primary lesion, and the patient is doing well 39 months afterthe first operation.