Skin metastasis from hepatocarcinoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Dermatology
• Hepatology

Background:

• Cutaneous metastases are secondary malignant skin tumors originating from a primary internal neoplasm.
• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer with rare instances of skin metastasis.
• Skin involvement from HCC can present with diverse morphologies, including papules, nodules, and masses.

Observation:

• A 41-year-old male patient with known hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic cirrhosis developed skin metastases.
• The patient's metastatic disease manifested clinically as a pyogenic granuloma-like lesion.
• This presentation highlights the varied clinical appearance of cutaneous HCC.

Findings:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma is an uncommon cause of secondary skin cancer.
• Metastatic HCC to the skin can mimic benign vascular tumors like pyogenic granuloma.
• A review of 38 literature cases and the current case demonstrates the protean nature of skin involvement in HCC.

Implications:

• Recognition of rare cutaneous metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.
• Dermatologists and oncologists should consider HCC in the differential diagnosis of unusual skin lesions, especially in patients with liver disease.
• This review provides a practical overview for clinicians managing patients with potential skin involvement from hepatocellular carcinoma.