Abstract
The frequency and severity of fatty infiltration of the liver in patients receiving 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and folinic acid has not been documented systematically. Its development can result in difficulty assessing disease progression, and treatment may be altered inappropriately. Twenty-seven patients with colon cancer and liver metastases receiving 5-FU and folinic acid were studied with computerized tomography (CT) before treatment and after six or 12 cycles of chemotherapy. Forty-seven per cent of patients developed hepatic steatosis during treatment. There was no correlation between development of hepatic steatosis and the dose of chemotherapy or the liver function tests. Hepatic steatosis occurs commonly in patients receiving 5-FU and folinic acid and can be severe. Its development can make hepatic metastases difficult to assess and if its benign nature is not appreciated treatment may be inappropriately altered.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 24 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $10.79 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Peppercorn, P., Reznek, R., Wilson, P. et al. Demonstration of hepatic steatosis by computerized tomography in patients receiving 5-fluorouracil-based therapy for advanced colorectal cancer. Br J Cancer 77, 2008–2011 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1998.333
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1998.333
This article is cited by
-
Imaging side effects and complications of chemotherapy and radiation therapy: a pictorial review from head to toe
Insights into Imaging (2021)
-
Does Chemotherapy-Induced Liver Injury Impair Postoperative Outcomes After Laparoscopic Liver Resection for Colorectal Metastases?
Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery (2021)
-
Missing colorectal liver metastases: the surgical challenge
Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery (2021)
-
Risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease after gastrectomy for gastric cancer
Gastric Cancer (2020)
-
Utility of Image Guidance in the Localization of Disappearing Colorectal Liver Metastases
Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery (2019)