Implantable venous access port catheter fracture in a severely obese lung cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy: a case report

While implantable venous access ports (IVAPs) are a cornerstone of chemotherapy administration, they carry the risk of mechanical failures, including catheter fracture. We describe a rare instance in a 33-year-old patient with lung cancer and class III obesity (BMI 42.1 kg/m 2 ), who developed episodic pain around the port pocket. Diagnostic imaging revealed a structural failure of the catheter inside the port mechanism. A coordinated multidisciplinary effort ensured prompt retrieval of the device, averting potential migration. This report suggests that extreme obesity may exacerbate mechanical stress on IVAPs, necessitating enhanced surveillance for patients with high BMI.