A Cerebral Ethiodized Embolism after Lymphangiography: A Case Report and Literature Review

A cerebral ethiodized oil embolism is a rare and serious complication of lymphangiography. We herein report a case of a cerebral ethiodized oil embolism after lymphangiography. The patient underwent ultrasound-guided intranodal lymphangiography for refractory chylothorax and chylous ascites due to hilar cholangiocarcinoma. After the procedure, the patient developed a disturbance of consciousness and convulsions. Diffuse embolisms of ethiodized oil micro-droplets in the bilateral cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus, and cerebellum were detected using brain computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The onset of a cerebral ethiodized oil embolism should therefore be considered when patients present with neurological symptoms, such as consciousness disturbance after lymphangiography.