Yeungnam Univ J Med.  2012 Jun;29(1):48-53. 10.12701/yujm.2012.29.1.48.

Huge Hepatocellular Carcinoma Abruptly Developed within 3 Months

• Lee SH
• Kim BI
• Chon CU
• Bang KB
• Jeong EH
• Seo JY
• Park EH
• Seol JS

• KMID: 2138659
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2012.29.1.48

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in South Korea. To decrease its mortality rate, its early detection is very important. Screening for HCC detection has been accepted as the management modality for patients with chronic liver disease. Reported herein is a case involving the marked rapid growth of HCC detected at an advanced stage in a screening test with a 3 months interval. A 49-year-old male patient with chronic hepatitis B was admitted to the hospital due to a liver mass detected on CT scan. The patient underwent a first CT scan 3 months earlier, and no tumor was detected. Follow-up CT scan was performed and showed a 9.1 cm HCC with portal vein thrombosis. Percutaneous liver biopsy was performed, and the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma was confirmed. In the pertinent guidelines, the recommended screening interval for HCC is 6-12 months, but the screening interval and additional diagnostic methods should be considered due to the variation in the HCC growth rate according to the patient's clinical characteristics.

Keyword

Hepatocellular carcinoma; Cancer screening test

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
Early Detection of Cancer
Follow-Up Studies
Hepatitis B, Chronic
Humans
Liver
Liver Diseases
Male
Mass Screening
Middle Aged
Portal Vein
Republic of Korea
Thrombosis