Malignant lymphoma of the stomach after chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

A rare case of malignant lymphoma of the stomach after treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is reported. A 72-year old man presented with a large mass on the right hypochondrium, which was diagnosed as HCC associated with chronic hepatitis C with cirrhosis. The inoperable tumor was treated conservatively with cisplatin, etoposide, carboplatin, and Lipiodol infused into the hepatic artery, together with transcatheter arterial embolization. The patient presented 38 months later with features suggestive of gastric ulceration. Endoscopy and histological examination of biopsy material confirmed the presence of malignant lymphoma of the stomach. He ultimately died as a result of hepatic failure. The clinical presentation suggests that gastric lymphoma was possibly related to the lymphotropic effect of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and exacerbated by intraarterial injection of the cytotoxic drugs.