Reexamination of hepatic falciform artery: angiographic study]

Supraumbilical skin complication during hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy or transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for liver tumor has been reported by some authors. This complication is thought to be caused by the flow of chemotherapeutic, agent and embolus into the hepatic falciform artery (HFA). It is important for angiographers to be aware of the presence of HFA to prevent possible supraumbilical skin complication. The rate of visualization of the HFA on angiography has been considered to be only about 2%. In a retrospective study of celiac angiograms performed in 200 patients, we found an incidence of 32/200 (16%). The proximal side of this artery may be tortuous. In all cases, the flow of the HFA is slower than that of the hepatic artery. The paraumbilical vein was visualized with the HFA in 18 cases. Chemotherapy or transcatheter arterial chemoembolization was performed in 10 patients, and there was no postprocedure supraumbilical skin complication.