CASE REPORT: Steatonecrosis in the upper abdomen following transcatheter arterial embolization for hepatocellular carcinoma

A 66-year-old female with liver cirrhosis was treated by transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for a small hepatocellular carcinoma. She developed steatonecrosis with tenderness which occurred in the upper abdomen after TAE. The hepatic falciform artery from the middle hepatic artery was detected by arteriography. Necrosis in the upper abdomen was considered to be due to ischaemic changes caused by micromaterials for embolization of this artery, injuries of hepatic arterial endothelia slowly caused by carcinostatics, and chemotoxicity. It was considered that such complication as observed in this patient should be taken into consideration when performing TAE.