Hepatocellular Carcinoma Arising in a Non-cirrhotic Liver with Secondary Hemochromatosis

Intern Med. 2019 Mar 1;58(5):661-665. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.0973-18. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Abstract

A 70-year-old man was admitted for treatment of a single liver nodule that was detected by contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Twenty years earlier, the patient had been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome-refractory anemia and secondary hemochromatosis but had not received erythrocyte transfusions. The current histological, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging findings revealed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and non-cirrhotic liver hemochromatosis. The liver tumor was treated using radiofrequency ablation therapy. Secondary hemochromatosis may be a risk factor for HCC, even if the liver is not cirrhotic. In such cases, additional surveillance may be required to detect the development of HCC.

Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma; non-cirrhotic liver; secondary hemochromatosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biopsy
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / etiology*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / surgery
  • Catheter Ablation / methods
  • Hemochromatosis / complications*
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Liver Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms / surgery
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / complications
  • Risk Factors
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Ultrasonography