[A case report of metastatic colonic carcinoma in the liver effectively treated by long-term, ambulatory and continuous, intra-hepatic-arterial infusion of 5-fluorouracil using disposable multi-day-type infusor].

ABSTRACT

A 42-year-old female was diagnosed as having sigmoid colonic carcinoma with multiple metastases in the liver. Following sigmoid colectomy and descending colostomy, a catheter was inserted from the right gastroepiploic artery to the proper hepatic artery. From the day of surgery 5-Fluorouracil was administered in doses of 250 mg/day continuously through a catheter over the 2-month period of hospitalization. After the patient was discharged, 250 mg/day of 5-Fluorouracil was administered at home using Vaxter Infusor according to a regimen of 10-day continuous infusion and subsequent 4-day rest. Five months after the initial operation, the serum CEA level decreased dramatically, and CT scan of the liver revealed the complete disappearance of the metastases. The patient underwent a second operation in which the colostomy was closed, and she is doing well at this writing. This case suggests that long-term, ambulatory, continuous and intra-hepatic-arterial infusion of 5-Fluorouracil can be a very effective treatment not only in reducing the hepatic metastases but also in improving the quality of life of patients with colonic carcinoma.