title: Occult hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis: value of ultrasound-guided biopsy of portal vein system thrombus.
abstract: We report two cases of occult hepatocellular carcinoma associated with alcoholic cirrhosis, in which the diagnosis of malignancy was respectively established by ultrasound-guided biopsy of umbilical vein and portal vein branch thrombus. When measurement of serum alpha-foetoprotein, and liver ultrasonography and/or computed tomography failed to clearly demonstrate hepatocellular carcinoma, the presence of a thrombosis of the portal vein system is highly suggestive of malignancy, which may be easily confirmed by venous biopsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatogastroenterology, North Hospital, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Joly
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Delamarre
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Razafimahaleo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sevestre
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tossou
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Capron
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000473:pathology*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional