A new liquid embolic material for transcatheter hepatic arterial embolization

目的：探讨一种新的液体栓塞材料"Onyx"治疗肝肿瘤的可行性，材料与方法：“Onyx”是一种由6%（w/v）乙烯-乙烯醇聚合物溶于无水二甲基亚砜（DMSO）中与28%（w/v）钽粉混合而成的混合物。除6% Onyx外，我们还尝试了通过调整DMSO量制备的4%、2%和1%溶液。我们使用了15只白色家兔，通过经皮注射VX 2肿瘤细胞建立肝肿瘤。在4组（每组3只家兔）中，分别用6%、4%、2%和1% Onyx栓塞肝动脉，并在3只家兔中单独注射DMSO。注射在肝固有动脉分叉近端进行，然后进行腹腔动脉造影。尸检后，通过软组织X线摄影和肝组织切片显微镜检查肝脏。结果：对于6%、4%和2% Onyx，栓塞材料通过右肝动脉或左肝动脉的最大动脉分支点数量分别为11、15和16，但对于1% Onyx不可测量。6%、4%、2%和1% Onyx在肿瘤区达到的最小动脉直径分别为40μm、35μm、20μm和10μm，在非肿瘤区分别为35μm、5μm、5μm和5μm。

Purpose:To evaluate the feasibility of a new liquid embolic material, 'Onyx', for treating liver tumor.Material and Methods:'Onyx' is a mixture of 6%(w/v) ethylene-vinyl alcohol polymer dissolved in anhydrous dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) with 28%(w/v) tantalum powder. In addition to 6% Onyx, we also tried 4%, 2% and 1% solutions, prepared by adjusting the amount of DMSO. We used 15 white rabbits with liver tumors created by percutaneous injection of VX2 tumor cells. In 4 groups with 3 rabbits in each, the liver arteries were embolized with 6%, 4%, 2% and 1% Onyx, respectively, and in 3 rabbits DMSO alone was injected. The injections were performed just proximal to the bifurcation of the proper hepatic artery, followed by celiac arteriography. Post mortem, the livers were examined by soft tissue radiography, and liver-tissue sections microscopically.Results:The maximum number of arterial branching points passed by embolic material in either right or left hepatic arteries was 11, 15 and 16, for 6%, 4% and 2% Onyx, respectively, but was non-measurable for 1% Onyx. Minimum diameters of arteries reached by 6%, 4%, 2% and 1% Onyx in tumorous areas were 40μm, 35μm, 20μm and 10μm, respectively, and in non-tumorous areas 35μm, 5μm, 5μm and 5μm, respectively.Conclusion:This study suggests that Onyx may be feasible for treatment of hepatic tumors.