Co-axial Super-selective Bronchial Arterial Chemoembolization for the Treatment of Bronchogenic Carcinoma

Objective To investigate the feasibility of co-axial super-selective bronchial arterial catheterization, and to assess the effectiveness of bronchial arterial chemoembolization for the treatment of pulmonary carcinoma.Materials and Methods Tumor-feeding arteries, mainly the bronchial arteries, in 17 patients with advanced bronchogenic carcinoma were successfully co-axially catheterized with microcatheters. Bronchial arterial infusion (BAI) and bronchial arterial embolization (BAE) were performed by slowly infusing atni-neoplastic agents and a suspension of atni-neoplastic agents mixed with Lipiodol. The retention of Lipiodol within the tumor after the procedure was observed with CT.Results Within 24 hours after embolization, on CT scans Lipiodol retention grade 0, Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ was seen in 1, 3, 7 and 2 cases, respectively. In most tumors, Lipiodol remained within the lesion for more than 4 weeks. The response rate was 61.5% (PR). No severe complications, including injuries of spinal cord, esophagus, intercostal artery and bronchial mucous membrane, occurred during the whole course.Conclusion Co-axial super-selective bronchial arterial catheterization is clinically feasible, and BAE with this technique is a safe and effective therapy for bronchogenic carcinoma.