Acute hepatic failure and multi-system organ failure secondary to replacement of the liver with metastatic melanoma.
BACKGROUND
Metastatic malignant melanoma to the liver resulting in fulminant hepatic failure is a rare occurrence.


METHODS
A 46 year old man presented to hospital with massive hepatomegaly, elevated liver enzymes and increased lactate three weeks following resection of a malignant melanoma from his shoulder (Clark level 5). Initially stable, he decompensated 24 to 48 hours subsequent to presentation with respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, distributive shock requiring high dose vasopressor infusion, coagulopathy refractory to plasma infusion, progressive rise in liver enzymes and severe metabolic abnormalities including hyperkalemia, acidosis, hyperphosphatemia, hyperuricemia and hypocalcemia. Refractory to aggressive physiologic support he received palliation. Autopsy revealed >80% liver infiltration by metastatic malignant melanoma.


CONCLUSIONS
We report a case of fulminant hepatic failure secondary to metastatic malignant melanoma infiltration of the liver.
Department of Medicine, University of Calgary and Calgary Health Region, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. ggkaplan@ucalgary.ca
Gilaad G
GG
Kaplan
Shaun
S
Medlicott
Bruce
B
Culleton
Kevin B
KB
Laupland
D001344:Autopsy; D001706:Biopsy; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors