[Diarrhea as first clinical manifestation of hepatocellular carcinoma]

Paraneoplastic syndromes are frequently associated with various types of malignant tumors but are fairly rare in the course of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We describe the clinical case of a 76 year old man with chronic hepatitis C infection related to liver disease who had suffered for several months from chronic runny but blood and mucus-free diarrhea, together with progressive weight loss and flushing of the face. Serological tests made on admission confirmed the chronic liver disease and showed an increase of serum levels of some neuroendocrine hormones, i.e. 5-hydroxytryptamine and vasoattive intestinal peptide. Ultrasound and CT scans led to the diagnosis of HCC. The diarrhea and the increase in some neuroendocrine hormones were therefore interpreted as expression of a paraneoplastic-like neuroendocrine syndrome that had preceded the onset of HCC by some months. The patient died a few months after the diagnosis of HCC, from total portal vein thrombosis and consequent liver and renal failure. This clinical report draws the attention to the possibility of paraneoplastic syndrome expression before the clinical onset of HCC and to the role that neuroendocrine hormones may have on the growth and spread of HCC.