Korean J Hepatol.  1999 Sep;5(3):253-258.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Incidentally Discovered by Liver Abscess Associated with CBD Stone and Cholangitis

• Sung YJ
• Yu SE
• Park SM
• Kim DB
• Bae SH
• Kim JI
• Bang CS
• Park YM
• Chung KW
• Sun HS
• Park DH
• Lee SH
• Chang ED

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common fatal malignancies worldwide, especially in Korea. The recent advances in diagnostic techniques, such as serum tumor marker assay, ultrasonography, computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and angiography, allow us to detect HCC at early stage. Even though, it remains difficult to distinguish malignant nodules from benign space-ccupying lesions of liver. Distinction of HCC from benign entities such as liver abscess is important because failure of prompt diagnosis could result in a missed opportunity for curative treatment. The differential diagnosis of HCC and liver abscess, especially HCC presenting as abscess, is sometimes very difficult. We report a case of HCC with liver abscess caused by secondary infection of CBD stone and cholangitis, that mimicked the dynamic CT findings of liver abscess, in an elderly patient with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Keyword

Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver abscess; CBD stone

MeSH Terms

Abscess
Aged
Angiography
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular*
Cholangitis*
Coinfection
Diagnosis
Diagnosis, Differential
Hepatitis C, Chronic
Humans
Korea
Liver Abscess*
Liver*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Ultrasonography