Presentation
Anorexia and weight loss.
Patient Data
A large heterogeneous soft tissue mass with irregular borders is seen in the right lobe of the liver which shows heterogeneous enhancement during the arterial phase and a washout on the portal venous phase. There is a central hypoattenuating area consistent with necrosis. The superior aspect of the mass is confluent with a heterogeneous soft tissue mass which infiltrates the right hemidiaphragm. Findings are suggestive of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Multiple liver lesions show heterogeneous enhancement on the arterial phase and washout on the venous phase, representing metastases.
A small amount of perihepatic fluid is noted.
Case Discussion
The right hepatic liver mass was proven to be HCC by pathology.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary malignancy of the liver.
The major risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma is cirrhosis, particularly cirrhosis related to chronic viral hepatitis, alcoholic cirrhosis, cirrhosis caused by hemochromatosis, and primary biliary cirrhosis.
HCC is typically diagnosed in late middle age or elderly adults (average 65 years) and is more common in males (75% cases). The tumor can also occur in the pediatric population.