Intramuscular recurrence in a Hepatocellular carcinoma patient with indolent disease course

Thomas Yau¹ , Hilda Wong¹ , Pierre Chan¹ , MC To³ and Ronnie T Poon²

¹University Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

²University Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

³University Department of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

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World Journal of Surgical Oncology 2008, 6:42doi:10.1186/1477-7819-6-42


Published:	23 April 2008

Abstract

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy worldwide and treatment options are depended on the stage of the tumour. In general, the prognosis of HCC patients with extra-hepatic metastasis is poor. The most common sites of extra-hepatic metastasis are the lung, abdominal lymph nodes and bone.

Case presentation

Here, we reported a 54-year-old man with an indolent clinical course of HCC. He had multiple extra-hepatic recurrences after initial hepatectomy for HCC and was benefited from repeated resections with prolonged survival. Eventually, he developed intramuscular recurrence in the thigh, which was initially mistaken as deep vein thrombosis.

Conclusion

Selected patients with indolent disease course of HCC may benefit from repeated resections of extra-hepatic metastases with prolonged survival.