Korean J Med.  2015 Feb;88(2):202-206. 10.3904/kjm.2015.88.2.202.

Cavitary Form of Lung Metastasis from Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

• Jo YS
• Bae W
• Kim JH
• Lee HY
• Kwak NW
• Ko SJ
• Lee CH

• KMID: 2269153
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2015.88.2.202

Abstract

The most common site of extrahepatic metastasis in cases of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma is the lung. A 60-year-old Korean male had been previously diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and was treated several times with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization prior to a regime of sorafenib after multiple bone metastases were detected. Despite 2 months of systemic treatment, the disease progressed, and newly developed cavitary nodules and ground glass opacities were observed on a chest computed tomography scan. Initially the patient was diagnosed with septic pneumonia and was subsequently treated with antibiotics over 2 weeks, with no observable improvement. A percutaneous transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy was performed to ascertain the noninfectious origin of the lung lesions. As a result, a rare form of pulmonary metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma was discovered. Unfortunately, there were no available treatment options for the patient and so end-of-life care was recommended.

Keyword

Hepatocellular carcinoma; Infection; Metastasis

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Biopsy, Needle
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular*
Glass
Humans
Lung*
Male
Middle Aged
Needles
Neoplasm Metastasis*
Pneumonia
Thorax
Anti-Bacterial Agents