Image-Guided Subcutaneous Port Implantation in Patients with Malignant Diseases

To present the results of our retrospective study on 49 totally implantable subcutaneous venous ports inserted in angiography unit under ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance. 49 subcutaneous venous chest ports were placed in 48 patients (mean age, 49.3±16.7 years). One patient underwent port implantation twice. All the ports had single lumen catheters. The procedures were performed under ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance in angiography unit. All ports were placed on the anterior chest wall. The technical success rate was 100%. There was no procedure-related minor or major complication. There was no early complication (in the first month). Late complications occurred at a rate of 8.3% (n:4). In patients with malignant diseases, radiological implantation of subcutaneous venous ports can be performed with similar or lower complication rates, as compared to the surgical literature, due to the obvious advantage of imaging guidance. Hence, port implantation with imaging guidance may become a more preferred implantation method in the future.