[Bile lake: a complication of transcatheter hepatic arterial infusion and embolization therapy (TAI, TAE)].

A 74-year-old man with hepatocellular carcinoma developed cholangitis and bile lake in the liver after repeated TAI (anticancer drug-lipiodol suspension) and gelfoam TAE. Despite percutaneous transhepatic drainage, he died of hepatic failure 34 months after the first TAI and TAE. We speculate that cholangitis and bile lake were caused by chemical toxicity of highly concentrated anticancer drug to the bile duct and compression of the proximal bile duct by the tumor.