Korean J Med.  2006 Jul;71(1):52-57.

Clinical features of portal vein thrombosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

• Kim SH
• Kim MS
• Ahn HT

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma is frequently accompanied by portal vein thrombosis. In the setting of cirrhosis, refractory ascites, variceal bleeding and hepatic encephalopathy leads to dramatic course. Portal vein thrombosis is a negative prognostic factor for therapy. We conducted this retrospective study to evaluate the relationship between hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein thrombosis. We also studied the predictable factor of portal vein thrombosis by biochemical tests.
METHODS
A total of 153 hepatocellular carcinoma were examined. We investigated the relationship between hepatocelluar carcinoma and the presence of portal vein thrombosis by CT scan. Correlations between the existence of portal vein thrombosis and the result of biochemical tests were examined.
RESULTS
Portal vein thrombosis was found 60 patients (39%). The presence of portal vein thrombosis was not associated with size or number of tumor. Significant differences were seen in total bilirubin, AST, alkaline phosphatase, prothrombin time and AFP.
CONCLUSIONS
Our result suggest that hepatocellular carcinoma can accompany portal vein thrombosis in spite of small size and uninodule. So we should be alert to find portal vein thrombosis in early stage of tumor. In such an event, it would be beneficial to additional information concerning the probability of portal vein thrombosis from elevated total bilirubin, AST and alkaline phosphatase.

Keyword

Carcinoma; Hepatocellular; Portal vein; Thrombosis

MeSH Terms

Alkaline Phosphatase
Ascites
Bilirubin
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular*
Esophageal and Gastric Varices
Fibrosis
Hepatic Encephalopathy
Humans
Portal Vein*
Prothrombin Time
Retrospective Studies
Thrombosis
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Venous Thrombosis*
Alkaline Phosphatase
Bilirubin