Study of repeated arterial infusion chemotherapy with a subcutaneously implanted reservoir for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

We performed repeated arterial infusion chemotherapy (RAIC) in 114 advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, using a subcutaneous reservoir implanted under ultrasonic guidance. In 60 patients, this was the initial therapy for the primary tumor and the other 54 patients being treated for recurrent tumor. One hundred and seventy-one patients with advanced HCC who had been treated by transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) or single bolus arterial infusion chemotherapy before RAIC was available served as historical controls.

Extramedullary plasmacytoma of maxillary sinus with later involvement of the gall bladder and subcutaneous tissues.

We recently encountered a patient with extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) originating in the maxillary air sinus, who developed subcutaneous tissue and gall bladder involvement 2 years after initial local radiotherapy. Treatment with melphalan, prednisone and interferon led to a rapid and sustained regression of the gall bladder tumour. Complete remission was obtained by subsequent regional radiotherapy to the subcutaneous tumours in the extremities.