Scientific publications

Hepatic breast cancer dissemination after an iatrogenic hepatic laceration during talc pleurodesis: a case report

May 1, 2010 | Magazine: International Archives of Medicine

Bosch-Barrera J, Espinós J.
Department of Oncology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Universidad de Navarra, Calle Pío XII 36, 31008, Pamplona, Spain.


BACKGROUND
Talc pleurodesis is an effective treatment for malignant pleural effusion. We present a case of an asymptomatic hepatic laceration that occurred during pleurodesis in a breast cancer patient and led to hepatic tumor dissemination.

DISCUSSION
Pleurodesis is a relatively safe procedure, although previous studies have described malignant invasion of scar tissue.

CONCLUSION
To our knowledge, this is the first case report of tumor spread due to a liver puncture during talc pleurodesis in a breast cancer patient.

CITATION  Int Arch Med. 2010 May 6;3:6

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