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©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 14, 2012; 18(30): 4069-4070
Published online Aug 14, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i30.4069
Published online Aug 14, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i30.4069
Cerebral lipiodol embolism after transarterial chemoembolization for hepatic carcinoma: A case report
Zhong-Zhi Jia, Feng Tian, Guo-Min Jiang, Interventional Radiography, The Second Hospital of Changzhou, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou 213003, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: Jiang GM and Tian F performed the operation and analyzed the data and cause of the disease; Jia ZZ and Tian F wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Guo-Min Jiang, MD, Interventional Radiography, The Second Hospital of Changzhou, Nanjing Medical University, No. 29, Xing Long Road, Changzhou 213003, Jiangsu Province, China. jgm916@163.com
Telephone: +86-519-88132611 Fax: +86-519-88115560
Received: February 21, 2012
Revised: May 18, 2012
Accepted: May 26, 2012
Published online: August 14, 2012
Revised: May 18, 2012
Accepted: May 26, 2012
Published online: August 14, 2012
Abstract
We report a case of cerebral lipiodol embolism (CLE) after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for unresectable hepatic carcinoma (HCC). A 54-year-old man with unresectable HCC underwent TACE via the right hepatic artery and right inferior phrenic artery using a mixture of 40 mg pirarubicin and 30 mL lipiodol. His level of consciousness deteriorated after TACE, and non-contrast computed tomography revealed a CLE. The cerebral conditions improved after supportive therapy. The complication might have been due to hepatic arterio-pulmonary vein shunt caused by direct invasion of the tumor. Even though CLE is an uncommon complication of TACE, we should be aware of these rare complications in patients with high risk factors.