Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hepatic infarction is a rare liver condition. The purpose of this study is to report a case of hepatic infarction caused by thrombus formation following portal vein stent implantation in a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein tumor thrombus, and to explore the underlying causes. CASE REPORT: The patient in this study was a 52-year-old male admitted with diffuse hepatocellular carcinoma involving the right lobe and portal vein tumor thrombus. After undergoing portal vein stent implantation and (125)I particle strand implantation treatment, the portal vein was patent, and the pressure decreased. However, multiple instances of hepatic artery chemoembolization combined with targeted immunotherapy resulted in gradual reduction in the diameter of the hepatic artery and affecting hepatic arterial blood flow. Two months post-stent implantation, thrombus formation within the stent was noted, and the patient's condition did not improve with anticoagulant therapy, as evidenced by follow-up CT scans showing an increase in thrombi. Six months later, the patient suffered from gastrointestinal bleeding and, despite emergency esophagogastric variceal ligation and hemostatic treatment, developed hepatic parenchymal infarction and liver function failure. CONCLUSIONS: We reveal the underlying cause is that (1) thrombus formation within the portal vein stent, leading to portal vein embolism and obstructed blood flow due to exacerbate portal hypertension after various treatments; and (2) the effect of hepatic artery chemoembolization, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy on tumor angiogenesis, causing reduced hepatic artery diameter and impaired arterial blood flow. These factors disrupt the liver's dual blood supply system, ultimately contributing to hepatic infarction. To our knowledge, this is the first report of hepatic infarction as a complication following portal vein stent implantation for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus, and it holds significant reference value for guiding the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with concurrent portal vein tumor thrombus in a clinical setting.