Hepatocellular carcinoma with pleural metastasis complicated by hemothorax.
Hemothorax can be caused by rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hemoperitoneum is a well-known cause of death caused by rupture of a primary HCC lesion. Rupture of a HCC metastasis has not been adequately described. This is the first report of a HCC patient who died of hemothorax due to rupture of a pleural metastasis. The patient, a woman, died in respiratory failure 2 wk after rupture of her HCC metastasis in the pleura. Autopsy revealed moderately differentiated HCC in the liver, lung, and pleura. We discuss treatment options for ruptured pleura-based HCC metastases.
Takagi
H
H
First Department of Internal Medicine, Gunma University School of Medicine, Gunma, Japan.
Shimoda
R
R
Uehara
M
M
Takayama
H
H
Yamada
T
T
Ojima
T
T
Abe
T
T
Mori
M
M
Takehara
K
K
Suka
K
K
Nagamine
T
T
Yamasaki
S
S
Barber
A
A
D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous