title: Rapidly-progressive liver failure secondary to melanoma infiltration.
abstract: We describe the case of a 51-year-old man with a history of intraocular melanoma treated with radiotherapy 2 years previously. The patient was diagnosed with mild hypertransaminasemia that progressed to acute liver failure and death in a period of one month. Radiological investigations such as spiral computed tomography and abdominal ultrasonography failed to give an etiologic diagnosis. Autopsy revealed melanoma with diffuse infiltration of the hepatic parenchyma. Because diagnosis is usually delayed, the prognosis of intraocular melanoma is poor. In 40% of cases metastases are present at diagnosis, and the most frequently affected organ is the liver (93-95%). Presentation as acute liver failure can appear after a long disease-free period. For this reason, periodic laboratory tests and hepatic ultrasound examination are recommended in patients diagnosed with this malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, Spain. saioar@terra.es
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rubio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbero-Villares
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reina
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nieto
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: García-Buey
mesh_terms: D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006519:Hepatitis, Alcoholic / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D041781:Jaundice, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000209:etiology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D014463:Ultrasonography