Partial hepatectomy for metastatic seeding complicating pancreatoduodenectomy

We present a case report of metastatic seeding at the percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage tract in a 68 year-old man who previously underwent pancreatoduodenectomy with bile duct resection for distal bile ductal carcinoma. Three years and 5 months after the initial operation, dilation of the left lateral segmental bile ducts was detected by abdominal ultrasonography. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography disclosed a stricture at the confluence of the ventral and dorsal branches of the left lateral anterior segmental duct. This region corresponded to the punctured point of the previous percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. Implantation of the bile duct carcinoma at the percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage sinus tract was diagnosed, and the recurrent tumor was successfully resected by an extended left hepatic lobectomy with a total caudate lobectomy. Currently, 8 years and 3 months after the second surgery, the patient is in good health without any signs of tumor recurrence. This case report discusses the entity of metastatic seeding, a rare but serious complication of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. An aggressive surgical approach is important for recurrent biliary tract malignancies.