title: Liver abscess complicating transcatheter arterial embolization: a rare but serious complication. A retrospective study after 3878 procedures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Liver abscess is one of the complications of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for hepatocellular carcinoma. We studied the clinical features and analysed the incidence, risk factors, helpful clinical clues, culture profiles and predictive factors of post-TAE liver abscess. The influence of abscess development on the evolution of the tumour process was also studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed records of 3878 TAE procedures performed over a 6 year period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten cases of liver abscess developed in nine patients (eight males and one female). The incidence was 0.26% (10 episodes/3878 procedures). The main clinical presentations included fever (91.7%), chills (50%) and abdominal pain (33.3%). All but one febrile patient presented fever in a recurrent form. The positive culture rates were 41.7% for blood and 83.3% for pus. Gram negative bacteria were found in 80% of blood cultures and 68% of pus cultures. Polymicrobial infections were encountered in 60% of the blood cultures and 70% of pus cultures. Management included antibiotics, drainage and operation. Four patients died due to the direct complications of liver abscess. One patient experienced total tumour resolution after successful treatment for liver abscess. Patients with larger liver abscesses and patients with greater age carried higher mortality rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liver abscess is a rare complication after TAE for hepatocellular carcinoma. Recurrent fevers after an initial symptom free interval should arouse suspicion of an abscess. The mortality is high and a large abscess and higher age predict an unfavourable outcome. Abscess formation can lead to complete tumour resolution.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Guan-Yeow
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.forename: Chi-Sin
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Changchien
authors.forename: Chuan-Mo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jing-Houng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hung-Da
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.forename: Seng-Kee
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chuah
authors.forename: King-Wah
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Shue-Shian
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: Yu-Fan
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Sheng-Nan
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008100:Liver Abscess / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies