Metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma

   August 20, 2020  Posted in Central Nervous System, Hepatobiliary system, Trauma

Case contribution: Dr Radhiana Hassan

Clinical:

  • A 52 years old male.
  • Background Hepatitis C with liver cirrhosis
  • Recently diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Presented with bilateral lower limb weakness for 2 weeks.
  • No history of trauma or fall.
  • Plain radiograph and MRI shows compression fracture of T10 vertebra.
  • Tumour markers AFP, CA 19-9 and CEA are raised. ALP slightly raised.
  • Left ear pain for 1 month, treated as mastoiditis and on medication from GP.

Bone scan with SPECT CT done

  • Generalised increased tracer accumulation of the left mastoid air cells which is opaque on CT. No lytic lesion or cortical destruction. This is likely due to underlying inflammatory process, chronic mastoiditis.
  • Mild increased tracer accumulation at the sides of the compressed T10 vertebra. No lytic lesion. This is more in favour with underlying benign cause rather than metastasis.
  • No abnormal tracer accumulation seen in the skeletal system to suggest skeletal metastasis

     

Progress of patient:

  • Had a fall at home about 5 months later
  • Presented with cerebellar sign and nystagmus.
CT scan in axial planes; post contrast in soft tissue and bone window shows a huge lesion epicenter at left occipital bone with marked soft tissue component
MRI in axial planes T1WI and T2WI shows posterior fossa mass causing significant mass effect to the cerebellum and brain stem
MRI brain in axial planes, post contrast images
MRI brain in coronal plane FLAIR sequence

Biopsy of the lesion was done:

  • Macroscopy: specimen labelled as posterior fossa tumour consist of multiple fragments of brownish tissue measuring 130mm in aggregate diameter, admixed with blood clot. Few bony tissue measuring 40 x 10 x 5mm, 30 x 13 x 5mm and 10 x 10 x 5mm are included.
  • Microscopy: Sections show tissue with extensive infiltration by malignant cells arranged in diffuse sheets, trabeculae and glandular patterns. The malignant cells display a highly pleomorphic, vesicular nuclei, some with prominent nucleoli and moderate cytoplasm. Many bizarre, enlarged cells and tumor giant cells are seen. There are numerous mitotic figures as well as abundant tumor necrosis and hemorrhages.The malignant cells are mainly seen at the perivascular areas. They also seemed to infiltrate the bony fragments seen within the specimen. Few normal brain parenchyma, nerve and muscle bundles and variable-sized thick walled vessels are seen.
  • Immunohistochemical profile: AFP and Glypican 3: strongly positive, CK20, CEA, CA19-9 and Hepar-1: focally positive and CK7 and PSA were negative.
  • Interpretation: Posterior fossa tumour consistent with metastatic carcinoma, morphological features and immunohistochemical profile are compatible with a liver primary.

Final diagnosis: Metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma.

Discussion:

  • Hepatocellular carcinoma is an aggressive tumour
  • Metastatic spread is by direct invasion, through ascites or via hematogenous or lymphatic routes.
  • The most common sites of metastases include lung, followed by lymph nodes, bone,mesentery and/or omentum, adrenal glands and brain.
  • The overall prognosis of patients with metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma is poor.

 

Author: radhianahassan