Korean J Med.  2002 Mar;62(3):278-284.

A case of hepatopleural fistula complicated by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma with liver abscess

• Woo SG
• Jung SW
• Kim BS
• Kim YJ
• Lee BK
• Kim HS
• Kim WH
• Kim HJ

Abstract

Pleural complication is extremely rare among the complications of lung following transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma. We report a case of hepatopleural fistula complicated by TACE. A 50-year-old male was admitted to the hospital because of aggravation of cough and chest pain. Fifty five days before admission, a liver abscess had developed and treated by percutaneous drainage. A hepatocellular carcinoma had been diagnosed as a cause of liver abscess. Forty five days before admission, TACE had been performed for the hepatocellular carcinoma. Thirty days after TACE, dry cough and right pleuritic chest pain developed. After admission, serial CT scans of thorax and abdomen showed the pleural effusion containing the lipiodol from the liver through hepatopleural fistula. Chest tube insertion with a urokinase instillation was performed for the treatment of empyema caused by hepatopleural fistula.

Keyword

Liver abscess; Carcinoma; Hepatocellular; Chemoembolization; Hepatopleural fistula

MeSH Terms

Abdomen
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular*
Chest Pain
Chest Tubes
Cough
Drainage
Empyema
Ethiodized Oil
Fistula*
Humans
Liver Abscess*
Liver*
Lung
Male
Middle Aged
Pleural Effusion
Thorax
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator
Ethiodized Oil
Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator