Ectopic hepatocellular carcinoma, an unexpected diagnosis of a retroperitoneal mass: A case report and literature review

Mohammad Rida, MD; Mariam Chalhoub, MD; Maryam Mansour, MD; Tonine Younan, MD; Georges Chahine, MD; Jinane Nassar, MD; Sami Slaba, MD

Radiology Case Reports (Oct 2024)

Ectopic hepatocellular carcinoma, an unexpected diagnosis of a retroperitoneal mass: A case report and literature review

Mohammad Rida, MD,
Mariam Chalhoub, MD,
Maryam Mansour, MD,
Tonine Younan, MD,
Georges Chahine, MD,
Jinane Nassar, MD,
Sami Slaba, MD

Affiliations

Mohammad Rida, MD: Department of Radiology, Hotel Dieu de France Hospital, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon; Corresponding author.
Mariam Chalhoub, MD: Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
Maryam Mansour, MD: Department of Radiology, Hotel Dieu de France Hospital, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
Tonine Younan, MD: Department of Radiology, Hotel Dieu de France Hospital, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
Georges Chahine, MD: Department of Hematology and Oncology, Hotel Dieu de France Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
Jinane Nassar, MD: Department of Radiology, Mount Lebanon Hospital, Hazmieh, Lebanon
Sami Slaba, MD: Department of Radiology, Hotel Dieu de France Hospital, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 19, no. 10
pp. 4429 – 4434

Abstract

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Ectopic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is defined as HCC arising from hepatic parenchyma located in an extrahepatic organ or tissue without any communication with the mother liver. It is very rare and difficult to diagnose by imaging alone. We report a case of a rare ectopic HCC mimicking a right para-aortic retroperitoneal mass and present a review of the literature. It is about a 79-year-old female patient, who presented with a progressive enlarged right paraaortic retroperitoneal mass, thought first to be leiomyosarcoma of vena cava on imaging. Subsequently, high alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level and biopsy allowed the diagnosis of primary extrahepatic hepatocellular carcinoma.

Published in Radiology Case Reports

ISSN: 1930-0433 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General): Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/radiology-case-reports

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