Venoocclusive lesions of the central veins and portal vein radicles secondary to intraarterial 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine infusion.

Venoocclusive disease is characterized by the occurrence of occlusive lesions of the central and subhepatic veins, usually involving the liver in a diffuse fashion. We report a case showing venoocclusive lesions of the central veins and the portal vein radicles affecting only a portion of the left lobe of the liver following intraarterial 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine therapy for metastatic adenocarcinoma of the colon. Possible mechanisms and the significance of venoocclusive lesions of portal vein radicles are discussed.