Portal vein thrombosis after radiofrequency ablation for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma.
Recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) deserves multidisciplinary treatment in addition to surgical resection. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an evolving, localized, thermal ablative treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Though the preliminary results of RFA in clinical studies are encouraging, its serious complications should not be underestimated. Portal vein thrombosis as a result of direct blood vessel injury by RFA is rarely reported and is potentially fatal in patients with limited liver reserve due to underlying liver cirrhosis. We present a case of portal vein thrombosis as a complication of RFA treatment for recurrent HCC and illustrate its underlying possible mechanism.
Ng
Kelvin Kwok-Chai
KK
Centre for the Study of Liver Disease, Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong Medical Centre, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
Lam
Chi-Ming
CM
Poon
Ronnie Tung-Ping
RT
Fan
Sheung-Tat
ST
D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000628:therapy*; D011169:Portal Vein; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*