[Fulminant hepatic failure in malignant liver disease].
BACKGROUND
Fulminant hepatic failure is a rare disorder. Patients should be evaluated for liver transplantation. Malignant liver disease has been reported to cause the condition and this possibility should be excluded prior to listing the patient for transplantation.


METHODS
We present four patients with this condition caused by malignant liver disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Fulminant hepatic failure may be caused by diffuse and massive infiltration of malignant cells in the liver. If a regular liver biopsy cannot be obtained due to severe coagulopathy, bone marrow aspiration and fine needle aspiration from the liver should be performed.
Medisinsk avdeling, Helse Sunnmøre, Alesund sykehus, 6026 Alesund. christine.slinning@helse-sunnmore.no
Christine
C
Slinning
Kristian
K
Bjøro
Kirsti Muri
KM
Boberg
Erik
E
Schrumpf
D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology