[Analysis of cases with liver abscess following transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TAE) for malignant hepatic tumors].

A total of 182 TAE procedures were carried out in 98 patients with malignant hepatic tumors during the last five years. Liver abscess following TAE occurred in 3 cases (3.1%) and in 3 procedures (1.7%). All cases were discharged after successful percutaneous transhepatic abscess drainage. One case had hepatocellular carcinoma. Another case had undergone total gastrectomy and esophagojejunostomy with Roux-Y reconstruction for gastric leiomyosarcoma. The other had undergone right hemicolectomy and pancreatoduodenectomy for colon cancers and carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater. Communication between the abscess and the intrahepatic bile duct was recognized in 2 cases. In the abscess culture, E. coli and Citrobacter freundii were detected. These results suggest the major factor leading to abscess formation is biliary infection. Therefore, a previous bilio-enteric anastomosis should be regarded as a risk factor for liver abscess following TAE.