Rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma following transcatheter arterial embolization.

In one of our patients, intra-abdominal bleeding caused by rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma occurred after TAE. The tumor did not become completely necrotic after TAE and there was fairly rapid recurrence. TAE was then performed a second time and the tumor, which projected from the surface of the liver, ruptured after six days. Among the diagnostic imaging methods, CT proved most useful in locating the site of tumor rupture.