Identification and Removal of a Fractured Portacath

A 31-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer was referred for chest radiography after portacath malfunction. Imaging identified an incomplete catheter fracture at the internal jugular vein that subsequently progressed to complete fracture during removal. Lodged in the superior vena cava, the fractured fragment was retrieved using a loop snare via femoral vein access under fluoroscopic guidance. Postretrieval imaging confirmed no residual fragments, and the patient had an uneventful recovery. Though rare, portacath fractures have associated life-threatening complications such as vessel perforation, embolisation, cardiac tamponade and death. This case underscores the importance of early identification of portacath fractures and demonstrates interventional radiology techniques as a safe and precise method for their removal.