title: Extrahepatic spread of hepatocellular carcinoma: a pictorial review.
abstract: Although extrahepatic spread of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is uncommon, it can be found anywhere in the body. Most extrahepatic metastases of HCC occur in patients with advanced-stage intrahepatic tumor, but incidental extrahepatic lesions have also occasionally been found in patients with early-stage intrahepatic HCC. The detection of extrahepatic metastatic disease is crucial when planning therapy for patients with HCC and should be used to avoid unnecessary surgical intervention. In this study we illustrate the radiologic findings of extrahepatic metastases of HCC involving various sites. The presumed mechanism of extrahepatic extension of HCC is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 388-1 Poongnap-Dong, Songpa-Ku, Seoul 138-736, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Sook
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Tae Kyoung
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyu-Bo
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Pyo Nyun
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun Kwon
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Ah Young
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Moon-Gyu
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary*; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014565:Urogenital Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D019043:Vascular Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary