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. 2011 Jun;28(2):258-60.
doi: 10.1055/s-0031-1280677.

Pleural tumor seeding following percutaneous cryoablation of hepatocellular carcinoma

Douglas Conners  1 , William Rilling
Affiliations

Pleural tumor seeding following percutaneous cryoablation of hepatocellular carcinoma

Douglas Conners et al. Semin Intervent Radiol. 2011 Jun.

Abstract

Numerous modalities for hepatic tumor ablation are currently used including ethanol injection, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cryoablation, and microwave ablation. The results and complications of these various tumor ablation techniques have been reported extensively, with the most data existing for percutaneous RFA. One of the most serious complications from tumor ablation is the seeding of cancer cells along the ablation tract. The incidence and risk factors for tract seeding in RFA have been reported, but little information regarding this complication with other ablation modalities has been reported. We report a case of tumor seeding into the pleural space following percutaneous cryoablation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Keywords: Hepatocellular; carcinoma; cryoablation; tumor seeding.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Enhanced computed tomography study demonstrates enhancing lesion in Segment 6 of the liver.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Unenhanced computed tomography scan shows cryoablation needle within segment 6 mass.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(A) Chest radiograph showing right pleural effusion. (B) Enhanced computed tomography scan showing right pleural effusion.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(A) Computed tomography scan (CT) shows enhancing lesions in the liver and pleural space with right pleural effusion. (B) Enhanced CT shows residual tumor at the cryoablation site.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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