Radiological evaluation of complications of implantable venous access port.

Objective: Clinical signs and symptoms sometimes throw suspicion on functio nal complications and venous thrombosis due to implantable venous access po rts. Objective was to determine frequency of these problems using radiologi c imaging. Methods: 61 patients were examined by means of fluoroscopy. If i ndication was given we injected radiopaque (contrast) medium. In the case o f suspected vascular thrombosis the radiological finding was verified by so nography, phlebography or by venous magnetic resonance imaging angiography. Results:Altogether 46 complications were documented in 37 out of 61 examin ed patients (61%). Occlusions of port-catheter were proved in 24 cases. It was the radiologically most frequently recorded complication (52%;) and fou nd coincident with other problems in 9 patients (37 %;). Pain frequently in dicates break of catheters. Implantation of catheters into jugular and axil lary veins predisposes to break of catheters just as port-catheters lateral implanted into subclavian veins ("pinch-off-sign"). Conclusions: Functiona l tests of Venous access systems using fluoroscopy and phlebography give in formation that helps to decide if clinically problematic port-systems shoul d be used furthermore. Directions of catheter which are predestined to comp lications should be avoided.