Gas-forming liver abscess after transcatheter arterial embolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: report of a case.

A case of a gas-forming liver abscess developing after transcatheter arterial embolization for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a 65-year-old man is presented herein. He was admitted to hospital with fever and jaundice, following which ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography revealed a gas-containing abscess in the posterior segment of the hepatic lobe with multiple HCC. Percutaneous transhepatic drainage was performed using US. Antibiotics which were sensitive to the Escherichia coli bacteria detected in the abscess were administered both intravenously and through the drainage tube into the abscess. Four months later, the abscess had diminished and the patient was discharged after receiving percutaneous ultrasonographically guided ethanol injection therapy for the recurrent HCC.