[An autopsy case of sepsis following radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for metastatic liver carcinoma after bile duct reconstruction].

An autopsy case of sepsis following radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for metastatic liver carcinoma after bile duct reconstructive operation is reported. A 72-year-old man underwent pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy and reconstruction with the Suzuki-method (PD-III) for extrahepatic bile duct cancer in October 1998. A metastatic lesion was recognized in the liver (S3) in November 2001. Percutaneous RFA was performed for a recurrent lesion. A metastatic lesion was recognized again in the same segment in February 2002. Percutaneous RFA was performed again on February 26 and March 12. The patient was discharged without hemorrhage, infection, or hepatic failure on March 22. He complained of general fatigue on March 26. He was diagnosed with liver abscess, sepsis, acute renal failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation, and received intensive care, but died on April 1. The autopsy revealed liver necrotic abscess at the RFA locus and multiple microabscesses of the liver, heart, and kidney.