High-dose intra-arterial plus intraperitoneal chemotherapy combined with hemofiltration in liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

Aims: Twenty-three patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer were entered into a prospective, phase II pilot study to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of intra-arterial high-dose chemotherapy (IAHC) + intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPC) combined with hemofiltration.

Methods: All patients had abdominal laparotomy to position a hepatic artery infusion port and in 15 cases an implantable system for IPC. A double-lumen filtration catheter was placed in the vena cava via the saphenous or femoral vein and connected to a modified hemofiltration unit.

Chemoembolization in liver malignant involvement. Experiences on 17 cases.

Introduction: Liver invasion is the major cause of organ failure in patients with primary liver cancer and metastatic large bowel cancer. Furthermore it causes high morbidity in many other carcinomas. The normal liver presents a double circulation: 75% from portal circulation and 25% from hepatic artery.

Treatment of pelvic osteosarcoma.

Pelvic osteosarcoma is a very rare disease, with poor prognosis affecting young people. Since June 1987 we have observed 26 patients, F/M: 12/14, median age 23 years (range 14-55), 7 with lung metastases at diagnosis. Four patients underwent surgery as first line treatment; 4 patients received intravenous (i.

[Intra-arterial neoadjuvant chemotherapy of sarcoma of the extremities].

Since 1987 we have treated 17 patients with bone sarcomas of the extremities (14 osteosarcomas, 3 malignant fibrous histiocytomas), with 2 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, consisting in iv high dose Methotrexate, Cis-Platin in 3 days in continuous infusion, and iv Adriamycin every 29th day. We obtained "good necrosis" (greater than 90%) in 13 patients (76.5%).

[Left atrial enlargement. Electrocardiographic, radiographic and echocardiographic evaluation].

Some ECG criteria and the radiologic method of Westcott are evaluated against echocardiography in the left atrial enlargement. ECG shows generally a very good sensitivity (72%); particularly when the diameter is more than 5 cm. The radiologic findings show significant correlative indexes in normal and in softly enlarged atria.