Hepatocellular carcinoma with skeletal metastasis

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Pathology

Background:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver malignancy.
• Metastatic spread of HCC can involve various organs, including bone.
• Understanding the imaging and clinical characteristics of HCC metastases is crucial for timely diagnosis.

Observation:

• This report details three cases of patients presenting with skeletal metastases originating from hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Diagnostic confirmation of the primary liver tumor was achieved through autopsy in two cases and biopsy in one.
• The observed skeletal lesions exhibited a lytic, expansile, and hypervascular morphology on imaging.

Findings:

• The hypervascular nature of these bone metastases poses a significant risk of bleeding.
• Hemorrhage can occur spontaneously or be triggered by procedures such as biopsy.
• Radiological and clinical features of HCC bone metastases include osteolytic, expansile, and hypervascular characteristics.

Implications:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with osteolytic, expansile, and hypervascular bone lesions.
• This is particularly relevant in individuals with a history of liver cirrhosis, a known risk factor for HCC.
• Awareness of these metastatic patterns can improve diagnostic accuracy and patient management.