Acute hemoperitoneum from rupture of a hepatocellular carcinoma.
A male patient with cirrhosis presented with acute right upper quadrant pain, systemic hypotension, and falling hematocrit. Abdominal paracentesis confirmed acute hemoperitoneum, and abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated a large hepatic mass consistent with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This rare presentation of a malignancy uncommon in North America leads to a discussion of the differential diagnosis of acute hemoperitoneum and a review of the literature on acute hemoperitoneum and HCC.
Clarkston
W
W
Consortium for Health Education, Kansas City, Missouri.
Inciardi
M
M
Kirkpatrick
S
S
McEwen
G
G
Ediger
S
S
Schubert
T
T
D000208:Acute Disease; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006465:Hemoperitoneum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed