Subcutaneous implantation metastasis of a cholangiocarcinoma of the bile duct after percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD)

Abstract

Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) is the basis for most biliary interventional procedures. We recently observed the occurrence of a subcutaneous implantation metastasis after PTBD in a patient with incurable cholangiocarcinoma. Although tumor cell seeding along the catheter tract is a very rare complication, we think that PTBD should be avoided when curative resection is planned.