Case Report
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Radiol. Mar 28, 2012; 4(3): 115-120
Published online Mar 28, 2012. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v4.i3.115
Hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm after endoscopic biliary stenting for bile duct cancer
Manabu Watanabe, Kazue Shiozawa, Takahiko Mimura, Ken Ito, Itaru Kamata, Yui Kishimoto, Koichi Momiyama, Yoshinori Igarashi, Yasukiyo Sumino
Manabu Watanabe, Kazue Shiozawa, Takahiko Mimura, Ken Ito, Itaru Kamata, Yui Kishimoto, Koichi Momiyama, Yoshinori Igarashi, Yasukiyo Sumino, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Toho University Medical Center, Omori Hospital, 6-11-1, Omorinishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo 143-8541, Japan
Author contributions: Mimura T, Ito K, Kamata I, Kishimot Y, Momiyama K were responsible for patient care; Watanabe M, Igarashi Y, Sumino Y designed the research; Shiozawa K assisted with review of the literature; Watanabe M wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Manabu Watanabe, MD, PhD, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Toho University Medical Center, Omori Hospital 6-11-1, Omorinishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo 143-8541, Japan. manabu62@med.toho-u.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-3-37624151 Fax: +81-3-37638542
Received: August 28, 2011
Revised: November 14, 2011
Accepted: November 21, 2011
Published online: March 28, 2012
Abstract

We report a case of a pseudoaneurysm of the right hepatic artery observed 9 mo after the endoscopic placement of a Wallstent, for bile duct stenosis, which was treated with transcatheter arterial embolization. The patient presented with obstructive jaundice and was diagnosed with inoperable common bile duct cancer. A plastic stent was inserted endoscopically to drain the bile, and chemotherapy was initiated. Abdominal pain and jaundice appeared approximately 6 mo after the beginning of chemotherapy. A diagnosis of stent occlusion and cholangitis was made, and the plastic stent was removed and substituted with a self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) endoscopically. Nine months after SEMS insertion, contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a pseudoaneurysm of the right hepatic artery protruding into the common bile duct lumen and in contact with the SEMS. The shape and size of the pseudoaneurysm and diameter of its neck was determined by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography using Sonazoid. A micro-catheter was led into the pseudoaneurysm in the right hepatic artery, GDC™ Detachable Coils were placed, and IDC™ Detachable Coils were then placed in the right hepatic artery on the distal and proximal sides of the pseudoaneurysm using the isolation method. There have been a few reports on pseudoaneurysm associated with stent placement in the biliary tract employing percutaneous transhepatic procedures, however, reports of pseudoaneurysms associated with endoscopic SEMS placement are very rare.

Keywords: Pseudoaneurysm; Self-expandable metallic stents; Sonazoid; Transcatheter arterial embolization; Wallstent