Therapy of hepatocellular cancer with iodine-131-Lipiodol.

Most patients with hepatocellular carcinoma are not eligible for surgery at the time of primary diagnosis. Portal vein thrombosis is frequent and represents a contraindication for transarterial chemoembolisation. Transarterial therapy with iodine-131-Lipiodol is superior to systemic therapy in tumours up to diameters of 5 cm and may be performed even in cases with portal vein thrombosis. Compared to other intraarterial therapy procedures, iodine-131-Lipiodol shows the same efficacy but less side effects.