Gelfoam powder embolization of the hepatic artery in liver metastases of carcinoid tumors.

Five patients with liver metastases of carcinoid tumors were treated with transcatheter embolization of the liver arteries with gelfoam powder. In three of four patients with flushing symptoms, these symptoms disappeared immediately after the treatment. One patient remained free of symptoms for 6 months. Another patient was free of symptoms at 1-month control but 1 year later he again had slight symptoms. The third patient had slight recurring symptoms at 1-month control. Liver angiograms performed on four patients 1 month after the embolization showed recanalized arteries and reduced vascularity of the tumors.