Jaundice secondary to isolated porta hepatis metastasis in colorectal cancer: case report and review of the literature.
Colorectal cancer occurs mainly after the age of 50. The liver is the most frequent site of metastases, although isolated metastases to the porta hepatis are rarely reported in the literature. From 1924 to 1993, only 16 cases of periportal lymph nodes metastases were reported. We report a case of jaundice secondary to porta hepatis metastases from primary colorectal cancer. The appearance of symptoms was concurrent with the elevation of carcinoembryonic antigen in our case. This emphasizes the importance of polymerase chain reaction to detect the small amount of carcinoembryonic antigen transcript in blood or in peritoneal fluid before the appearance of symptoms. Polymerase chain reaction allows the prediction of high risk of recurrence and the presence of micrometastases. More trials are needed to assess the outcome after treatment by adjuvant chemotherapy for micrometastases.
Youssef
Souad S
SS
Division of Radiation Oncology, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Johnson City, TN, USA.
Kumar
Pullatikurthi Pradeep
PP
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000556:secondary*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000737:chemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen