Pulmonary Lipiodol Embolism after Transcatheter Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Park, Woo Ri; Kim, Jung Tae; Han, Hye Suk; Kim, Sung Jin; Choe, Kang Hyeon; Lee, Ki Man; An, Jin Young

doi:2011.71.1.50

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 71(1); 2011 > Article

Case Report

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2011;71(1):50-54.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2011.71.1.50 Published online July 1, 2011.

Pulmonary Lipiodol Embolism after Transcatheter Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Woo Ri Park, Jung Tae Kim, Hye Suk Han, Sung Jin Kim, Kang Hyeon Choe, Ki Man Lee, Jin Young An

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Chungbuk University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea. drahnjy@chungbuk.ac.kr
²Department of Radiology, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Chungbuk University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea.
³Respiratory Center, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Chungbuk University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea.

Abstract

Pulmonary lipiodol embolism is a rare but very fatal complication of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), Here we present the case of an unusual complication of TACE in a 67-year-old man who presented with dyspnea, hemoptysis, and a history of a third session of TACE for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that had been performed 3 days prior to presenting. On the basis of chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) scan findings, we diagnosed pulmonary lipiodol embolism. He was conservatively treated with oxygen and haemostatic agents. The patient recovered quickly without any significant sequela and was discharged.

Key Words: Carcinoma, Hepatocellular, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, Pulmonary Embolism, lipiodol