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Hepatocellular carcinoma invasive to chest wall
T E Knight1, A S Woo, J M Blaisdell
1Division of Dermatology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu.
International Journal of Dermatology
|April 11, 1992
Summary
Hepatocellular carcinoma can present as a subcutaneous chest wall mass. Cutaneous metastases from liver cancer, though rare, may be the initial sign and are increasingly reported.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Dermatology
- Hepatology
Background:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer.
- Cutaneous metastases from internal malignancies are uncommon.
- Skin involvement can be the initial presentation of an underlying cancer.
Observation:
- A case of an 88-year-old man with HCC presenting as a large subcutaneous posterior chest wall mass is described.
- Forty-seven cases of cutaneous metastases from primary liver cancer have been previously reported.
- These metastases exhibit diverse morphologic features, commonly affecting the face and scalp.
Findings:
- Cutaneous metastases from HCC can be the presenting sign of the disease.
- The average survival after the development of skin metastasis is 5 months.
- Increased reporting may be due to improved patient survival and heightened clinical awareness.
Implications:
- Cutaneous metastases should be considered in the differential diagnosis of subcutaneous masses, especially in patients with known liver disease.
- Early recognition of skin metastases can aid in diagnosis and management of hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Further research into the mechanisms and clinical significance of skin metastasis in HCC is warranted.