Intraperitoneal drop metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma: CT and angiographic findings.
Our goal was to describe the radiological manifestations of intraperitoneal drop metastases (IPDMs) from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
Seven patients with clinically (n = 4) or pathologically (n = 3) proven IPDMs from HCC were retrospectively analyzed. Medical records, CT scans (n = 7), and angiographic findings (n = 5) were reviewed.


RESULTS
On CT scans, all seven patients had single or multiple nodular masses in the liver. In six patients, the hepatic masses showed an exophytic growth. Single (n = 4) or multiple (n = 3) discrete omental masses, 3-10 cm in diameter, were also demonstrated in all patients. Intratumoral necrosis in the omental mass and engorgement of adjacent omental vessels were demonstrated in five and three patients, respectively. On angiography, the omental masses showed hypervascularity supplied by omental branches (n = 4) and superior mesenteric (n = 2) and inferior mesenteric (n = 1) artery and also showed prominent draining veins.


CONCLUSIONS
The radiological manifestations of IPDM from HCC are single or multiple discrete hypervascular masses in the omentum. These are quite different from those of usually carcinomatosis peritonei.
Kim
T K
TK
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Korea.
Han
J K
JK
Chung
J W
JW
Choi
B I
BI
Park
J H
JH
Han
M C
MC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009366:Neoplasm Seeding; D009852:Omentum / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed