[Percutaneous ethanol injection therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatic dome directly under right diaphragma--the trial of artificial ascites method].

We tried to infuse 40 approximately 100 ml saline solution into abdominal cavity (artificial ascites method) in case of percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in hepatic dome directly under right diaphragma (hepatic dome) which is considered as dead space on ultrasonography. Consequently broad visual field was acquired on ultrasonogram and puncture to HCC in hepatic dome was able to be performed very easily. There were no side effects such as difficult hemostasis and peritoneal dissemination. It was concluded that artificial ascites method is very useful to widen visual field of hepatic dome on ultrasonogram and therefore dead space on PEIT disappeared by this method.