[Hepatocellular carcinoma with extension per continuitatem into the right atrium].
METHODS
A 61-year-old asymptomatic patient presented with a hepatocellular carcinoma and a history of 11 cycles of transarterial chemoembolization. Staging investigations revealed an enlarged hepatic tumour and a right atrial mass.


METHODS
Computed tomography of chest and abdomen showed a progressive tumour in both hepatic lobes with extension to the inferior vena cava, through the diaphragma and to the right atrium.


METHODS
The patient received supportive treatment and died 3 months later.


CONCLUSIONS
Inspite the incidence of 1-4%, hepatocellular carcinoma with extension to the heart has been diagnosed rarely. Although treatment is limited, early diagnosis by abdominal echography or echocardiography is necessary for the interpretation of cardiogenic symptoms and the prognosis.
Marstaller
B
B
II. Medizinische Klinik, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technischen Universität München. Bertram.Marstaller@LRZ.TUM.de
Lersch
C
C
Berger
H
H
Helmberger
H
H
Hellerhoff
P
P
Schulte-Frohlinde
E
E
D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006325:Heart Atria; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000473:pathology