Rare pulmonary complications after transarterial chemoembolisation for hepatocellular carcinoma: two case reports.
We report two rare cases of acute pulmonary complication after transarterial chemoembolisation for inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma. Both cases involved a large tumour and hepatic vein invasion. The first patient, a 27-year-old man, died of pulmonary tumour embolism 4 days after transarterial chemoembolisation. Acute dyspnoea developed in the second patient, a 63-year-old man, following the procedure due to pulmonary oil embolisation and chemical pneumonitis. The chest condition of this patient improved, but he subsequently died of liver failure 3 weeks later. Our cases illustrate the point that if locoregional treatment is offered as a palliative treatment, patients with hepatic vein invasion should be warned of the possible complications of massive tumour embolism, pulmonary oil embolisation, and subsequent death.
Kwok
P C H
PC
Department of Radiology and Imaging, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, 30 Gascoigne Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong. pchkwok@ha.org.hk
Lam
T W
TW
Lam
C L
CL
Lai
A K H
AK
Lo
H Y
HY
Chan
S C H
SC
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007459:Iodized Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology*
D007459:Iodized Oil