Acute Intestinal Necrosis due to Diaphragmatic Hernia after Radiofrequency Ablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract Background: Radiofrequency ablation is widely used as an effective and minimally invasive treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. The complications of radiofrequency ablation are mainly associated with needle damage or local thermal damage, while the reports of long-term complications of radiofrequency ablation are relatively rare.Case Report: This report presents a case of hepatocellular carcinoma with diaphragmatic hernia after radiofrequency ablation. A 60-year-old male came to the hospital with sudden abdominal pain for one day, who had received radiofrequency ablation and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma located in segment 8 as an initial treatment 52 months ago. Computed tomography showed the right diaphragmatic hernia, small intestine intruding into the chest with intestinal obstruction. The patient underwent an emergency diaphragmatic repair with bowel resection and was successfully discharged 1 week after the operation. Conclusion: Diaphragmatic hernia is a long-term complication of radiofrequency ablation. Surgical treatment is recommended as the first choice when conditions permitted.