SUBCUTANEOUS NEEDLE-TRACT SEEDING AFTER P ERCUTANEOUS FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY OF A COLONIC LIVER METASTASIS

Subcutaneous seeding after percutaneous ultrasonically guided fine nee dle aspiration of liver tumours is a rare complication and only a few cases have been reported. We report a new case of cutaneous implantati on following a fine needle (21.5 gauge of external diameter) aspiratio n biopsy of a superficial colonic liver metastasis, as shown by a subc utaneous nodule and increased serum carcino-embryonnary-antigen. We di scuss the risk factors of this rare complication, especially the thick ness of the liver parenchyma along the needle tract and precautions wh ich can be taken for prevention.