Case report of skull metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma after a liver transplant

Exp Clin Transplant. 2014 Jun;12(3):265-8. doi: 10.6002/ect.2013.0019. Epub 2013 Jun 6.

Abstract

A solitary skull metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma is rare. A 38-year-old man with hepatocellular carcinoma presented to our institution with a palpable temporal scalp mass. We took a magnetic resonance image, and discovered an enhanced and osteolytic skull tumor. The tumor was removed by an occipital craniectomy, and the histologic diagnosis was a cranial metastasis owing to hepatocellular carcinoma. A skull metastasis owing to hepatocellular carcinoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with a subcutaneous scalp mass. Although a distant metastasis can affect the prognosis of the patient, early treatment may improve survival.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biopsy
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / secondary*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / surgery*
  • Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Craniotomy
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Liver Transplantation*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Reoperation
  • Skull Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Skull Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Treatment Outcome