A Case of Hepatocellular Carcinoma of Unknown Origin, Presenting as Huge Abdominal Mass in an 82-year-old Female Patient

Park, Bo Rha; Lim, Yun Jeong; Suh, Jeong Ill; Kim, Eo Jin; Choi, Jong Sun; Lee, Yong Seok; Lee, Jin Ho

Case Report

Journal of the Korean Geriatrics Society 2008;12(3):171-175.
Published online September 30, 2008.

A Case of Hepatocellular Carcinoma of Unknown Origin, Presenting as Huge Abdominal Mass in an 82-year-old Female Patient

Bo Rha Park, Yun Jeong Lim, Jeong Ill Suh, Eo Jin Kim, Jong Sun Choi, Yong Seok Lee, Jin Ho Lee

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea. limyj@duih.org
²Department of Pathology, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.
³Department of Radiology, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.

노인에서 거대 복부 종괴를 주소로 나타난 원인미상의 간세포암 1예

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) of unknown origin presents unusually in the elderly as a huge abdominal mass. Though most commonly associated with viral infections, about 10% of HCC in Korea arise from an unknown cause. HCC of unknown origin has a varying clinical picture and prognosis. It is known to have relatively good reserve liver function and rarely complications with previous cirrhosis or active hepatitis. Its pathogenesis may be not associated with an inflammation-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence. We recently managed an unusual case of moderately differentiated hepatocellular carinoma of unknown origin presenting with a huge abdominal mass. The 82-year-old female patient had no history of viral hepatitis and no other metabolic diseases were diagnosed. She received palliative care.

Key Words: Hepatocellular carcinoma, Unknown primary neoplasms