Secondary hepatic involvement with lymphoma

Last revised by Tim Luijkx on 7 Mar 2018

Secondary hepatic involvement with lymphoma (secondary hepatic lymphoma) is common, much more so than primary hepatic lymphoma

Hepatomegaly with deranged liver function tests is the most common presentation. Jaundice is common. Rarely, patients may present with acute liver failure 4,5.

Hepatic involvement is more common at presentation in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (~20% of cases) than in Hodgkin lymphoma (~5% of cases) 4,6

Secondary hepatic lymphoma is typically diffusely infiltrating rather than a focal mass. It may sometimes have a miliary/nodular pattern. 

The liver is normal in ~25% of cases and features of secondary hepatic lymphoma are non-specific 2,3:

  • well-defined small nodular hypoechoic lesions
    • occasionally may be a "target lesion"
  • diffuse infiltrative disease
  • hepatomegaly (30%)
  • abdominal lymphadenopathy

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