title: Postchemoembolization liver abscess: findings on hepatobiliary scintigraphy.
abstract: We describe a 41-year-old man with a 1-week history of nausea and vomiting 1 month after chemoembolization of a liver metastasis. The patient subsequently became febrile and developed right upper quadrant abdominal and midback pain. Findings of initial laboratory and imaging studies (a noncontrast computed tomographic [CT] scan and ultrasound) were not remarkable. Hepatobiliary scintigraphy, performed to rule out cholecystitis, revealed an abnormal area in the right lobe of the liver consistent with a focal bile leak into an abscess cavity. The patient was subsequently treated for liver abscess. In conclusion, hepatobiliary scintigraphy should be considered as a first-line test in the work-up of patients whenever a postchemoembolization complication is considered likely.
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine Section, Department of Radiology, Saint Vincent's Catholic Medical Centers of New York, New York 10011, USA.
authors.forename: Scott T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Sherif I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Heiba
authors.forename: Brian P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Whooley
authors.forename: Gina A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Ciavarra
authors.forename: Hussein M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Abdel-Dayem
mesh_terms: D001646:Bile / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008100:Liver Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019785:Technetium Tc 99m Disofenin; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019785:Technetium Tc 99m Disofenin