title: Calcified central venous catheter fibrin sheath: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: We present a 6-year-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who demonstrated on chest X-ray a radiopacity in the superior vena cava after removal of an implanted venous access device. This radiopacity was initially thought to be a retained catheter fragment. On review of previous imaging, we were able to document the temporal development of a calcified catheter cast as distinct from the catheter. This case represents a rare consequence of central venous catheterization in children. Knowledge of this finding as a possible complication may help avoid performance of unnecessary follow-up imaging or invasive procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Aryeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keehn
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rabinowitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Steve K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Taragin
mesh_terms: D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation*; D062905:Central Venous Catheters; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005337:Fibrin; D006801:Humans; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000628:therapy*; D011859:Radiography; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D005337:Fibrin
keywords: Central venous catheter; Complications of central venous catheters; Fibrin sheath; Venous cast