Radiology, Vol 193, 743-746, Copyright © 1994 by Radiological Society of North America
Multiple intrahepatic aneurysms following transcatheter arterial embolization. Work in progress
N Aso, N Matsunaga, T Fukuda, I Sakamoto, K Ashizawa, H Aikawa, I Isomoto, K Hayashi, T Fukushima and M Morikawa
Department of Radiology, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Nagasaki, Japan.
PURPOSE: To discuss the mechanism of multiple intrahepatic aneurysm
formation after transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) performed in five
patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TAE was
performed with gelatin sponge particles and iodized oil as embolic
materials. Mitomycin C was also used in four cases. RESULTS: Three to 14
aneurysms 1-6 mm in diameter were found in third-to sixth-order branches of
the hepatic arteries at repeat angiography performed 25-45 days after TAE.
Follow-up angiograms in three cases revealed that most aneurysms were no
longer apparent except in one patient in whom two aneurysms remained and
were larger than before. In none of the five cases were any signs of
aneurysm rupture noted. CONCLUSION: Radiologists should be aware of this
complication of TAE. It is speculated that the main cause of aneurysm
formation in these patients was the embolic agents used.
