Hepatoma presenting as a retro-orbital metastasis

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Ophthalmology
• Hepatology

Background:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) typically presents with abdominal symptoms.
• Metastatic spread from HCC is usually to lungs, bone, or lymph nodes.
• Orbital metastasis from HCC is exceptionally rare.

Observation:

• A patient with hepatoma presented with a retro-orbital mass as the primary symptom.
• This retro-orbital mass was the initial clinical manifestation of the malignancy.
• Diagnostic workup confirmed the mass as a metastasis from the primary liver tumor.

Findings:

• The case underscores the unusual presentation of hepatoma.
• Orbital metastasis can be the first indicator of advanced hepatoma.
• Review of literature reveals limited documented cases of orbital metastases from HCC.

Implications:

• Clinicians should consider rare metastatic sites in the differential diagnosis of orbital masses.
• Early recognition of unusual metastatic patterns is crucial for timely HCC management.
• This case expands the understanding of HCC metastatic behavior.