[Atypical presentation of distant metastases from hepatocarcinoma].
Hepatocarcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primary malignant hepatic tumour. These tumours usually develop in cirrhotic liver; for this reason, periodic screening using alphafetoprotein determination and abdominal ultrasonography is considered in cirrhotic patients with preserved hepatocellular function. This strategy allows early detection of HCC, increasing the proportion of curable tumours. The most frequent metastasic dissemination is portal vein neoplasic thrombosis, being unusual the occurrence of spread metastases in other organs. We present 3 cases of atypical HCC metastasis with non specific clinical manifestations which initial diagnosis was wrong. Because of a longer survival of these patients in recent years, spread metastasis might be considered in patients with known HCC and non specific symptoms.
Miquel
M
M
Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain. mmiquelp@yahoo.es
Masnou
H
H
Domènech
E
E
Montoliu
S
S
Planas
R
R
Gassull
Ma
M
D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005546:Forehead / Q000473:pathology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007085:Ilium / Q000473:pathology*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000209:etiology; D008067:Lipoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010014:Osteolysis / Q000209:etiology; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*