[Transcatheter arterial embolization for multiple metachronal liver metastases of a rectal carcinoid tumor-a case report].

A man in his 60s was diagnosed with a rectal carcinoid tumor(15 mm in diameter) with SM invasion. We performed radical resection of the tumor, and 1 year later, abdominal computed tomography(CT) revealed multiple enhanced liver tumors. Liver biopsy revealed those tumors to be metachronal metastases of the rectal carcinoid. Operation was not indicated because of the spread in the liver, Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) was selected as the first-line therapy. Four months after 2 series of TAE, CT/magnetic resonance imaging revealed remarkable (80%) shrinkage of the tumors. Chemotherapy is known to be ineffective against liver metastasis of rectal carcinoid tumors. When surgery is not indicated, TAE may be the first-line therapy of choice because of its low invasiveness, repeatability, and efficacy.