Supraumbilical skin necrosis after repeat transarterial chemoembolization.

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary medicine
• Interventional radiology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a standard treatment for BCLC-B stage hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) management often involves multiple treatment modalities.
• Alcoholic liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension (PHT) are common comorbidities in HCC patients.

Observation:

• A rare case of supraumbilical skin lesions is reported following TACE.
• The patient had a history of multiple prior treatments including radiofrequency ablations, alcoholization, and TACE.
• The skin lesions developed in the supraumbilical region after the procedure.

Findings:

• The development of skin lesions post-TACE is an uncommon complication.
• Detailed case presentation of an 80-year-old male with multifocal HCC and Child-Pugh A cirrhosis.
• The patient underwent four TACE procedures via femoral access.

Implications:

• Highlights the need for vigilance regarding unusual TACE complications.
• Suggests potential for cutaneous manifestations following interventional oncologic procedures.
• Informs clinical practice regarding patient monitoring after TACE for hepatocellular carcinoma.