Korean J Pathol.  2000 May;34(5):381-385.

Hepatic Veno-occlusive Disease Developed after Irradiation: A report of three cases

• Har K
• Kim SH
• Park YN
• Park C

Abstract

Hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) is a rare disease due to occlusion of the terminal hepatic venules and/or sublobular veins, which is a result of endothelial damage from pyrrolizidine alkaloids in herbal teas, irradiation of the liver, or chemotherapy particularly in association with bone marrow transplantation. We recently experienced three cases of VOD developed after radiation therapy. Two cases occurred in hepatocellular carcinoma patients of a 37-year-old man with B viral chronic hepatitis and a 22-year-old man with B viral cirrhosis and the other in a 64-year-old patient with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. For the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, chemoembolization with lipiodol and adriamycin, and external irradiation on the liver mass were done. The total radiation dose was 5400 cGy and 3000 cGy in each case. Five months and 3 months after irradiation, respectively, the resected liver masses showed extensive necrosis due to pre-operative treatment. To treat esophageal carcinoma, pre-operative concurrent chemotherapy of 5-FU and radiation of 4500 cGY were done. One month after irradiation, the radical esophgectomy and wedge biopsy of the liver were done. The liver of all 3 cases showed a dark red appearance with severe congestion in contrast to the pale brown normal liver, which was not included in the radiation field. On micoscopic examination, the terminal hepatic venules and sublobular veins showed subintimal edema, fibrin deposition, and partial or total luminal occlusion by loose fibrous tissue. The centrizonal sinusoids were markedly dilatated and congested with atrophy of hepatocytes.

Keyword

Venoocclusive disease; Irradiation; Liver

MeSH Terms

Adult
Atrophy
Teas, Herbal
Biopsy
Bone Marrow Transplantation
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Doxorubicin
Drug Therapy
Edema
Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)
Ethiodized Oil
Fibrin
Fibrosis
Fluorouracil
Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease*
Hepatitis, Chronic
Hepatocytes
Humans
Liver
Middle Aged
Necrosis
Phenobarbital
Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids
Rare Diseases
Veins
Venules
Young Adult
Doxorubicin
Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)
Ethiodized Oil
Fibrin
Fluorouracil
Phenobarbital
Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids