title: Fatal liver necrosis following percutaneous ethanol injection for hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: A 76-year-old man underwent an injection of 5 ml of ethanol for the treatment of a hepatocellular carcinoma 3 cm in diameter. Shortly after the procedure, he had an attack of abdominal pain. His condition soon deteriorated and he died 5 days later. Massive hepatic necroses distant from the injection site and a myocardial infarction were found at autopsy. To our knowledge, this is the first fatality associated with percutaneous ethanol injection therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taavitsainen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vehmas
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kauppila
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional / Q000009:adverse effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol