A Case of Portal Vein Thrombosis after Laparoscopic Colectomy for Sigmoid Colon Cancer

Abstract

Portal vein thrombosis rarely occurs after operation for colorectal cancer. We report a case of portal vein thrombosis after laparoscopic colectomy for sigmoid colon cancer with an isolated liver metastasis. A 72-year-old man underwent laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for an advanced sigmoid colon cancer with a single liver metastasis. Pathological examination revealed a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, pSE, pN1, ly1, v2. The postoperative course was good. Two weeks after the laparoscopic operation, we performed an abdomen CT to evaluate liver metastases. CT revealed slightly greater liver metastasis than preoperation, and a filling defect of 5 mm in the right portal vein. There were no symptoms. Resection of the right hepatic lobe was performed. Pathological examination revealed isolated liver metastasis without vascular invasion and a thrombosis in the right portal vein. The patient showed no recurrence and no thrombus for 6 months after the radi-cal surgery. In this case, we accidentally detected the asymptomatic portal vein thrombus which occurred after laparoscopic colectomy. Laparoscopic surgery is regarded as one of the risk factors for portal vein thrombus, and needs careful atten-tion during the perioperative period. vein thrombosis, laparoscopic colectomy, postoperation for sigmoid colon cancer