[Delayed recurrence of an endobiliary hepatocellular carcinoma without detectable intra-parenchymatous tumor]

Obstructive jaundice is uncommon in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. It can be due to compression of the common bile duct by the liver tumor or by enlarged lymph node metastases in the porta hepatis. Obstructive jaundice can also be due to direct extension of hepatocellular carcinoma into the bile ducts with or without a detectable primary hepatic tumor. These particular hepatocellular carcinoma have been termed "icteric type hepatoma" by Lin et al. in 1975, who emphasized their poor prognosis. We report a similar case of endobiliary hepatoma without a detectable intraparenchymal hepatic tumor in a seventy year-old man. This case is unusual because of its positive evolution and late recurrence.