Investigation of the utility of octreotide for malignant ascites

Abstract

Purpose: Although case reports on the use of octreotide for malignant ascites are occasionally seen, it remains unclear whether or not octreotide is effective in such cases. The aim of this study was to clarify the utility of octreotide for malignant ascites. Methods: This study was a retrospective study based on a survey of medical records. The subjects were taken from among cancer patients at our hospital who were given octreotide between April 1, 2008 and October 31, 2011 with the aim of reducing gastrointestinal symptoms accompanying gastrointestinal obstruction. These subjects were patients who had malignant ascites during the time octreotide was used and whose ascites could be evaluated by computed tomography before and after octreotide was started. Evaluation of ascites was classified into five levels of obviously decreasing, slightly decreasing, no change, slightly increasing, and obviously increasing. Results: Forty-nine patients used octreotide during the same period. Seven of these 49 patients met the eligibility criteria. The level of ascites was not classified as obviously decreasing or slightly decreasing in any of the patients. One patient was classified as no change. The other six were all slightly increasing or obviously increasing. Conclusion: In this study octreotide was not shown to be usuful for malignant ascites.