Duodenal metastasis seven years after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies, with surgery being one of its primary treatment modalities. The common sites of distant metastasis primarily include the lungs and bones. A 69-year-old male patient reported bowel movement onset accompanied by dizziness and occasional chest tightness two months prior to consultation. Upon completion of the Computed Tomography (CT) examination, the patient's scan revealed a heterogeneous mass shadow in the descending segment of the duodenum, measuring approximately 9.3 * 7.8 * 9.0 cm in size. Enhanced scanning demonstrated uneven enhancement, leading to the consideration of a malignant neoplastic lesion. The surrounding fatty spaces were indistinct, with multiple enlarged lymph nodes visible, suggestive of perineural lymph node metastasis. Due to the massive size of the tumor, its nature could not be definitively ascertained preoperatively, prompting the patient to undergo surgical resection. Postoperative pathological analysis indicated duodenal metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. The metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma to the duodenum is exceedingly rare, especially in a patient seven years post-surgery from liver cancer. The treatment of duodenal metastasis from hepatic carcinoma is complex and necessitates individualized management strategies tailored to diverse clinical scenarios.