[Peritoneal hemorrhage following spontaneous rupture of a liver containing a hepatoma (author's transl)].
Two cases of a rare complication of this tumor have been reported. A hepatoma can provoke an intra-peritoneal hemorrhage in two different ways: either by tearing through the hepatic tissue which surrounds it or by necrosis and hemorrhage of the tumor itself. This complication may be the initial symptom and may require emergency surgery. Local hemostasis if often precarious and does not resolve the underlying oncological problem. At best, survival is limited to several months. Rapid removal of the tumor seems to be the only means of prolonging survival although there is not yet much data on this in the literature. At any rate the poor general condition of the patient, the frequent multiplicity of the tumoral locations and the habitual cirrhotic nature of the rest of the liver would rule out any possible surgical removal in 90% of cases. In the remaining 10% where surgery is possible, the average survival rate is 13 months.
D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous
Hémorragies péritonéales par rupture spontanée du foie sur hépatome.