A male patient underwent conventional transcatheter chemoembolization for advanced recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Even after the injection of 7 mL of lipiodol followed by gelatin sponge particles, the flow of feeding arteries did not slow down. A repeat angiography revealed a newly developed vascular lake draining into systemic veins; however, embolization was continued without taking noticing of the vascular lake. The patient’s level of consciousness deteriorated immediately after the procedure, and non-contrast computed tomography revealed pulmonary and cerebral lipiodol embolisms. The patient’s level of consciousness gradually improved after 8 wk in intensive care. In this case, a vascular lake emerged during chemoembolization and drained into systemic veins, offering a pathway carrying lipiodol to pulmonary vessels, the most likely cause of this serious complication. We should be aware that vascular lakes in HCC may drain into systemic veins and can cause intratumoral arteriovenous shunts.

HCCs showing high uptake of gadoxetic acid appear to be susceptible to chemoembolization.

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Herein, we present a case of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) thrombus as a complication of stent placement for celiac stenosis and coil packing of a pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm. The SMA thrombus was likely caused by thromboembolism from the guiding sheath in the SMA without a continuous heparin flush. It was promptly treated with aspiration thrombectomy, and there was no mesenteric ischemia. To avoid thromboembolic complications, periprocedural prophylactic antithrombotic therapy should also have been performed because a complex procedure involving the pull-through technique was performed.

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