Segmental portal vein thrombosis after microwave ablation of liver tumors: Report of two cases

Microwave thermal tumor ablation is an expanding treatment option to obtain local control of focal liver tumors with complication rates similar to other thermal ablation techniques. We report two cases of portal vein segmental branch thrombosis identified by US and CT imaging 40 days following percutaneous microwave ablation. One patient was treated for hepatocellular carcinoma in a cirrhotic liver, the other was treated for metastatic colon cancer in an otherwise normal liver. Both patients were clinically asymptomatic when the thromboses were identified. Evaluation of the vascular anatomy surrounding the tumor and of risk factors for development of portal vein thrombosis is critical when selecting patients for microwave tumor ablation.