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Migration of Gelfoam to the gallbladder after liver biopsy

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Abstract

Liver biopsy is a common procedure, with an inherent risk of bleeding. There are different ways to help avoid hemorrhage, including biopsy through a transjugular venous route or embolization of the tract with liquid or solid materials. We describe an image-guided percutaneous core needle liver biopsy with tract embolization using thick Gelfoam slurry in a pediatric oncology patient. Imaging studies acquired after the biopsy indicated that the Gelfoam mixture had likely migrated to the gallbladder and common bile duct. We report this rare occurrence with its striking imaging in order to make those performing biopsies aware of this possibility.

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Author notes

  1. Chris Riddle

    Present address: School of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Image Guided Therapy, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, Canada, M5G 1X8

    Chris Riddle & Bairbre L. Connolly

  2. University of Toronto School of Medicine, Toronto, Canada

    Bilal Ahmed

  3. Department of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada

    John Doyle

Authors
  1. Chris Riddle
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  2. Bilal Ahmed
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  3. John Doyle
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  4. Bairbre L. Connolly
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bairbre L. Connolly.

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Riddle, C., Ahmed, B., Doyle, J. et al. Migration of Gelfoam to the gallbladder after liver biopsy. Pediatr Radiol 38, 806–809 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-008-0818-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-008-0818-9

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