Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 7, 2026
04:23
Application of Hemostatic Devices in Laparoscopic Hepatectomy
Published on: April 19, 2022
3.0K
Sarcomatoid Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Spontaneous Intraperitoneal Bleeding
Yukinobu Watanabe1, Naoki Matsumoto, Masahiro Ogawa
1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Japan.
Internal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan)
|July 3, 2015
Summary
A rare case of sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presented with liver lesion and bleeding. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) showed tumor enhancement and extravasation, but the patient ultimately died.
Area of Science:
- Hepatobiliary Medicine
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Oncology
Background:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver malignancy.
- Sarcomatoid transformation is a rare, aggressive subtype of HCC.
- Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) is a valuable tool for liver lesion characterization.
Observation:
- An 80-year-old female presented with right hypochondralgia and an epigastric pain.
- Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a well-defined liver lesion in segments 5 and 6.
- CEUS demonstrated arterial phase enhancement with subsequent hypo-enhancement and tumor extravasation.
Findings:
- The patient experienced epigastralgia, indicating potential tumor rupture or bleeding.
- Abdominal angiography achieved temporary hemostasis, but the tumor showed rapid growth.
- Autopsy confirmed sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as the cause of death.
Implications:
- This case highlights the utility of CEUS in evaluating complex liver lesions, including rare HCC subtypes.
- CEUS findings of extravasation may indicate high risk for bleeding and poor prognosis in sarcomatoid HCC.
- Further research is needed to define specific CEUS characteristics for sarcomatoid HCC and its complications.
