Korean J Gastroenterol.  2014 Jan;63(1):47-50. 10.4166/kjg.2014.63.1.47.

Liver Abscess in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Sorafenib Treatment

• Shin SK
• Jung YK
• Yoon HH
• Kwon OS
• Kim YS
• Choi DJ
• Kim JH

• KMID: 1711306
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2014.63.1.47

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a critical global health issue and the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The majority of patients who present HCC are already at an advanced stage and their tumors are unresectable. Sorafenib is a multi-kinase inhibitor of the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway and was recently introduced as a therapy for advanced HCC. Furthermore, studies have shown that oral sorafenib has beneficial effects on survival. However, many patients experience diverse side effects, and some of these are severe. Liver abscess development has not been previously documented to be associated with sorafenib administration in HCC. Here, we report the case of a HCC patient that developed a liver abscess while being treated with sorafenib.

Keyword

Sorafenib; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver abscess

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use
Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects/*therapeutic use
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*drug therapy/radiography
Clostridium/isolation & purification
Clostridium Infections/drug therapy/microbiology
Humans
Liver Abscess/etiology/*microbiology
Liver Neoplasms/*drug therapy/radiography
Male
Middle Aged
Niacinamide/adverse effects/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use
Phenylurea Compounds/adverse effects/*therapeutic use
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Antineoplastic Agents
Niacinamide
Phenylurea Compounds

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Liver CT scan at the time of hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis, showing a 10-cm sized high density mass in the arterial phase (arrow) and washout in the portal venous phase, with portal vein thrombosis (arrow head) in the right lobe of the liver. (A) Arterial phase. (B) Portal venous phase.

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  Fig. 2. CT scan after sorafenib commencement, showing newly developed air densities with necrosis.

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  Fig. 3. CT scan after antibiotic commencement, showing the disappearance of air densities, but hepatocellular carcinoma aggravation and massive ascites.

Reference

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