The aims of the study were to evaluate therapeutic efficacy and to determine the prognostic factors for treatment success in patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer (CRC) treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). A total of 564 patients (mean age, 60.3 years) with liver metastases of CRC were repeatedly treated with TACE. In total, 3,384 TACE procedures were performed (mean, six sessions per patient). The local chemotherapy protocol consisted of mitomycin C alone (43.1%), mitomycin C with gemcitabine (27.1%), mitomycin C with irinotecan (15.6%) or mitomycin C with irinotecan and cisplatin (15.6%). Embolization was performed with lipiodol and starch microspheres. Tumor response was evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography. The change in tumor size was calculated and the response was evaluated according to the RECIST-Criteria. Survival rates were calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic factors for patient's survival were evaluated using log-rank test. Evaluation of local tumor control showed partial response in 16.7%, stable disease in 48.2% and progressive disease in 16.7%. The 1-year survival rate after chemoembolization was 62%, the 2-year survival rate was 28% and the 3-year survival rate was 7%. Median survival from the start of chemoembolization treatment was 14.3 months. The indication (p 5 0.001) and initial tumor response (p 5 0.015) were statistically significant factors for patient's survival. TACE is a minimally invasive therapy option for controlling local metastases and improving survival time in patients with hepatic metastases from CRC. TN stage, extrahepatic metastases, number of lesions, tumor location within the liver and choice of chemotherapy protocol of TACE are none significant factors for patient's survival.The development of liver metastases in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) substantially affects the prognosis of the patient. At the time of first diagnosis of CRC, 20-50% of all patients already present with synchronous liver metastases. Liver metastases develop in about 60-70% of CRC patients during the course of their disease and are the most common cause of death of patients with CRC. [1][2][3] Resection is the only potentially curative therapy for patients with liver metastases from CRC. 4,5 Only 20% of patients with liver metastases will be candidates for resection. With modern oncosurgical approaches, patients with resected liver metastases can experience up to 50-60% 5-year overall survival and a median survival of 46-64 months.6-8 Systemic chemotherapy may achieve this goal in 10-20% of initially unresectable patients. 9,10 The high rate of inoperable patients and intrahepatic recurrence rates are another relevant problem. Currently, the standard first-line treatment of metastatic CRC is a combination of infusional 5-FU, folinic acid with either irinotecan (FOLFIRI) or oxaliplatin (FOLFOX). The response rate to these schedules is 50%, and 50% of patients will progress within 10 months. In second-line therap...

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The cochlear nerve size and the cochlear to facial nerve size ratio are significantly smaller in patients with acquired long-standing SNHL. Advances in knowledge: The facial nerve can be used as a reference for assessment of the cochlear nerve in patients with acquired long-standing SNHL.