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BMC Surgery
Published in: BMC Surgery 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Case report

HCC with tumor thrombus entering the right atrium and inferior vena cava treated by percutaneous ablation

Authors: Wei Li, Yang Wang, Wenfeng Gao, Jiasheng Zheng

Published in: BMC Surgery | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

In the advanced stages of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a tumor thrombus (TT) can form in the portal or hepatic vein. The management of patients with advanced HCC and a TT extending into the right atrium (RA) and inferior vena cava (IVC) is extremely difficult and risky.

Case presentation

We report the case of a patient with HCC and a large TT (85 × 45 mm) extending into the RA through the hepatic vein and IVC, which is very rare. We performed percutaneous microwave ablation of the TT and the two intrahepatic tumors (maximum diameter, 57 mm). The treatment shrank the tumors, and the patient is in good condition and has survived for 16 months thus far. A literature review was also performed. This is the first such case to be treated with percutaneous microwave ablation.

Conclusion

The outcomes in this case suggest that percutaneous ablation is useful for the treatment of TT extending into the RA and IVC in patients with HCC.
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Metadata
Title
HCC with tumor thrombus entering the right atrium and inferior vena cava treated by percutaneous ablation
Authors
Wei Li
Yang Wang
Wenfeng Gao
Jiasheng Zheng
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Surgery / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2482
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12893-017-0217-y

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