Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Widespread Metastasis: A Case Report

• Uzoechina Godswill Chidubem

  University of Nigeria - Teaching Hospital

  Author

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally, especially in geographic locations where hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic. The disease can progress from chronic HBV infection to liver cirrhosis, and eventually HCC. In this case series demonstrates the biological aggressiveness of HCC and difficulty in the treatment of patients with systemic metastases [1,2].

Case Presentation: A 46-year-old man with a history of chronic HBV infection presented with generalized abdominal distension gradually progressing over 1-year and bilateral leg swelling for 3 months associated with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and jaundice. Imaging studies showed liver cirrhosis and confirmed HCC with metastases to lung, heart, and skull. With the patient having huge ascites one also had substantially raised AFP (alpha-fetoprotein). All multidisciplinary consultations were to no avail; the neurosurgery team refused surgery given extensive disease and dismal prognosis. The patients were treated by palliative care aimed symptom management [3], palliative interventions [4].

Conclusion: Extrahepatic metastases add significantly to the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties for late-stage HCC. Timely detection and early intervention are important to prevent progression towards advanced disease. As curative treatments are generally not accessible in resource-limited settings, palliative care remains the main treatment approach [5,6].

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