Renal metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma after living donor liver transplantation

Abstract

Introduction We report a case of renal metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma in a liver transplant recipient. Case presentation A 66‐year‐old man who was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and considered to be in complete remission for 7 years underwent living donor liver transplantation. A residual tumor was found in the removed native liver. Computed tomography at 13 months after transplantation revealed a 24‐mm hypervascular tumor with arterial phase enhancement, venous phase washout in the right kidney, and increasing hepatocellular carcinoma tumor markers. Partial nephrectomy was performed and the renal tumor was diagnosed as renal metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Tumor marker levels decreased temporarily, but pulmonary metastasis and pleural dissemination subsequently appeared. Conclusion Renal metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma should be considered when renal tumors are detected in liver transplant recipients because the risks of tumor recurrence and metastasis are increased.

Keywords

• hepatocellular carcinoma
• kidney neoplasms
• liver transplantation
• partial nephrectomy
• renal metastasis