A case report of primary liver cancer with cerebral metastasis after hepatic resection

A 67-year-old male, who had a left hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma, was readmitted to our hospital because of a left hemiparesis. A brain computed tomography scan and an r-carotid angiogram revealed a large mass involving the right parietal area, and thus a brain tumor removal was performed. A histological diagnosis of the removed brain tumor found it to be a metastatic, hepatocellular carcinoma. The patient died of pulmonary congestion due to lung metastasis, approximately 2 years and seven months after hepatectomy, and 1 year and three months after the removal of this metastatic brain tumor. In selected cases, the removal of a metastatic brain tumor seems to bring about improvements in the quality and duration of life.     

A case of hepatocellular carcinoma with a duodenal invasion from metastatic lymph node

A 64-year-old male, who had been diagnosed as having hepatocellular carcinoma, was admitted to hospital and underwent transcatheter arterial infusion therapy. CT and US examinations revealed a large tumor with air in its center. Barium meal examination of the duodenum showed a large filling defect with a central excavation. At endoscopic examination, a dark reddish tumor was seen protruding into the duodenal lumen. A biopsy specimen from this tumor revealed a hepatocellular carcinoma. The patient subsequently died of hepatic coma following gastrointestinal bleeding. An autopsy revealed that metastatic lymph nodes had infiltrated into the adjacent duodenum. Nine previous cases of duodenal metastasis from a hepatocellular carcinoma have been reported in the Japanese literature.     

A successful case of systemic chemotherapy followed by liver resection for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with highly vascular invasion and multiple pulmonary metastases

The prognosis for hepatocellular carcinoma with extrahepatic metastasis or vascular invasion is very poor. We treated a case successfully by combining chemotherapy and liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma with multiple pulmonary metastases and vascular invasion. A 56-year-old man who complained of abdominal pain in his right side was transported to the hospital by ambulance. Because CT scan revealed the rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma, he underwent emergency transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE). A close examination revealed tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava and posterior segment of the portal vein branch, with multiple pulmonary metastases. We conducted right hepatic lobectomy and removal of the inferior vena cava tumor thrombus. After the operation, pulmonary metastatic lesions gradually grew larger, so the oral administration of S-1 at 120 mg per day was started. At the end of the first course, the CT scan revealed that multiple pulmonary metastases were significantly reduced, and treatment was maintained until the end of 4 courses. A prolongation of survival could be expected by combining systemic chemotherapy and liver resection for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma such as the present case.     

A case of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with multiple pulmonary tumor thrombi and rupture of its right adrenal metastasis

A 54-year-old man, who had the history of a blood transfusion 29 years ago, was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnea and abdominal fullness. Physical examination revealed jaundice and massive ascites and laboratory data suggested liver cirrhosis. The high level of AFP and a CT scan indicated the association of hepatocellular carcinoma and its metastasis to the right adrenal gland. On the 21st hospital day, he suddenly complained of severe pain in the right upper quadrant and the right flank, and fell into hemorrhagic shock. Blood transfusion was given, but he died on the 24th hospital day. Autopsy revealed liver cirrhosis, accompanied by hepatocellular carcinoma with the metastasis to the right adrenal gland and multiple pulmonary tumor thrombi. Massive hemorrhaging due to rupture of the right adrenal metastasis was seen in the retroperitoneal space.     

Lipomatous meningioma of the brain harboring metastatic renal-cell carcinoma: A case report

A 70-year-old woman presented with mild left hemiparesis and intermittent global headache. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a 6×6×6-cm tumor in the right frontal lobe, and abdominal computed tomography revealed a 8×8×7-cm mass lesion in the left kidney. Magnetic resonance imaging showed that the brain tumor consisted of a central hyperintense cystic component and an outer hypointense component. The patient underwent total surgical excision of the intracranial mass. Histological and immunohistochemical examination showed that the lesion was a lipomatous meningioma harboring metastatic renal-cell carcinoma. Both of these tumors are rare. The magnetic resonance imaging findings are indicative of but not specific to meningioma harboring metastatic tumor.     

Complete response of a massive hepatocellular carcinoma with lung metastasis to UFT (DPD inhibitory fluoroprymidines: DIF)

A 77-year-old man was referred to our hospital because a periodic examination for hepatitis C cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus at a nearby clinic had revealed an elevated AFP level. Abdominal ultrasound and CT scan revealed a giant tumor in the right hepatic lobe, and a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma was made with a biopsy. A pulmonary CT scan also revealed a diffuse granular shadow in the right lung field, leading to a diagnosis of multiple pulmonary metastases from the hepatocellular carcinoma. Arterial infusion chemotherapy was performed, but was ineffective. Thus, the administration of 600 mg/day of UFT was initiated. Both the AFP and PIVKA-2 levels, which had been increasing, returned to normal 3 months later. Ultrasound and CT scan showed that the hepatocellular carcinoma and lung metastatic foci had disappeared completely. The administration of UFT therefore appears promising for the treatment of hepatocelluar carcinoma and can be used safely, even with patients in poor general condition.     

颅内室管膜瘤的影像学诊断

目的：分析颅内室管膜瘤的CT、MRI表现。方法：回顾分析18例经手术病理证实的颅内室管膜瘤的CT、MR表现。结果：18例中，脑室系统14例，其中四脑室9例，三脑室1例，侧脑室4例，肿瘤为不规则形或类圆形，边界清楚，CT表现为混合密度肿块，部分可见斑点状钙化，MRI T1加权像为等信号或略低信号，B加权像为不均匀高信号，瘤周无水肿，增强扫描呈不均匀强化；脑实质4例，其中小脑1例、大脑3例均有囊变与瘤周水肿，其余多为实性肿块，肿瘤实质部分CT为等密度，易钙化，在T1加权像为略低信号，B加权像为略高信号，增强扫描实质部分呈轻-中度强化。结论：CT与MRI相结合，能更全面地为临床提供诊断、鉴别诊断及治疗所需要的信息，为治疗方法的选择提供可靠的依据。     

外周型原始神经外胚层肿瘤的CT和MRI影像特征

背景与目的:外周型原始神经外胚层肿瘤(primitive neuroectodermal tumor,PNET)用组织学方法检查难以与其它的小圆形细胞肿瘤(如尤文氏肉瘤)区别.本研究目的在于分析和探讨外周型PNET的CT和MRI影像特征.方法:回顾性分析7例经病理证实的外周型PNET的CT和MRI表现.结果:7例PNET发病部位分别为左鼻翼、右下颌骨、左/右胸壁、左精索、胸椎旁及腰段椎管内.发生于软组织的PNET CT表现主要为边界不清的软组织肿块,密度不均匀伴坏死、囊变,无钙化,增强后明显不均匀强化.发生于骨的PNET CT表现为溶骨性骨质破坏并伴巨大软组织肿块形成.发生于椎旁或椎管内的PNET MRI表现为与脊髓和马尾分界清的软组织肿块,在T1WI上呈稍低或等信号改变,在T2WI上呈稍高或等信号改变.结论:外周型PNET的CT和MRI表现缺乏特异性影像特征;CT和MRI检查可显示肿瘤的范围和发现远处转移,对确定手术的可切除性及评价治疗效果有重要参考价值.     

A case of solid neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast in a 40-year-old Woman

We report a case of neuroendocrine carcinoma in a 40-year-old woman who presented with two lumps in her left breast. Mammography failed to reveal any lesions because she had so-called dense breasts, but ultrasonography showed 4 irregular hypoechoic masses. Magnetic resonance imaging also showed 4 homogeneous lobulated tumors with early contrast enhancement, suggesting malignancy. Core needle biopsy and subsequent immunohistochemical examination of the specimens was performed. Neuroendocrine carcinoma was diagnosed. The tumor cells were diffusely positive for chromogranin A and synaptophysin, and some were positive for CD56. We performed total mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy, which showed no metastasis. Recurrence has not been detected at 36 months after surgery.     

Bilateral adrenal leiomyosarcoma treated with multiple local therapies

A 62-year-old woman presented with right flank pain, and computed tomography (CT) showed bilateral adrenal tumors (right, 8 cm; left, 4 cm). There were no abnormal findings on physical examination, and adrenal hormone levels in serum and urine were within normal limits. Radiological studies showed a right adrenal tumor with intratumoral hemorrhage, a cystic tumor in the left adrenal gland, and no sign of distant metastasis. Because laboratory tests showed normal levels of adrenal hormones, we considered the tumors to be nonfunctioning adrenal tumors. The right adrenal tumor was surgically removed because it was thought to be malignant, and histological examination revealed that it was a leiomyosarcoma. Postoperative CT showed a pleural metastasis in the right chest wall. The patient received combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, adriamycin, and dacarbazine. The metastasis was also treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Because the left adrenal tumor grew rapidly despite two courses of the chemotherapy, it too was surgically removed. After the operation, metastasis in the right iliac bone was treated with RFA and radiotherapy. Positron emission tomography detected bilateral femoral metastases, and these were treated with radiotherapy in combination with a low dose of cisplatin. A liver metastasis and a small metastasis in the left kidney were treated with RFA and a metastasis in the pancreatic tail was removed surgically. Sixteen months after the right adrenalectomy, the patient died due to systemic spread of the disease. Multiple local treatments including RFA, radiotherapy, and resection were effective for the local control of metastatic lesions of adrenal leiomyosarcoma.     

Hepatocellular carcinoma with a complete remission of bone metastasis achieved by arterial chemotherapy

Reported is the case of a hepatocellular carcinoma with a complete remission of the bone metastasis by arterial chemotherapy. The patient was 60 year old male, with the chief complaint being a tumor at the right side of the chest. The diagnosis was a hepatocellular carcinoma with a bone metastasis at the right 10th rib. The bone tumor showed no decrease in size after an intra-arterial injection of adriamycin, and radiation and or hyperthermia. Therefore, intra-arterial injections of mitomycin C mixed with lipiodol were instituted through the intercostal artery, and no bone tumor was noted after start of this therapy. Although the patient subsequently died, microscopic examination of a specimen obtained at autopsy revealed no malignant cells at the right 10th rib. Intra-arterial injections of anticancer agents mixed with lipiodol therefore are thought to be useful for the treatment of a bone metastasis.     

Association of breast cancer with meningioma: report of a case and review of the literature.

We report a case of meningioma subsequently developed in a patient with primary breast carcinoma. A 53-year-old woman received a left modified radical mastectomy because of stage IIA breast carcinoma. Histologically, the tumor was a predominantly intraductal carcinoma with negative lymph node metastasis. Estrogen receptor (ER) was negative but progesterone receptor (PR) of the left tumor was positive by immunohistochemistry. Four years later, cranial bone and/or brain metastasis was suspected from a routine follow-up bone scintigram. The patient showed no symptoms or signs at that time. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and angiography revealed that the right parasagittal mass was suspicious of meningioma. A complete tumor removal was performed. On histological examination, this brain tumor was a transitional-type meningioma (meningotheliomatous and fibrous type) without malignant findings. ER was negative but PR was positive also in this tumor. She is currently well 6 years after the initial surgery. A review of the literature is presented with emphasis on the association between breast cancer and meningioma, which indicates a possible hormonal relationship. The knowledge of this association is important in the differential diagnosis of patients with breast cancer who develop central nervous manifestations.     

Isolated Skull Base Metastasis as the First Manifestation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma—A Rare Case Report with Review of Literature

Introduction

Hepatocellular carcinoma rarely metastasizes to skull base.

Case Report

We report an extremely rare case of solitary skull base metastasis without metastasis to any other site, with right third, fourth, and sixth cranial nerve palsy as the initial manifestation of the disease.

Discussion

The biopsy specimen of skull base lytic lesion suggested metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma. Subsequent examination revealed a large mass involving superior segment of right lobe of liver, which was confirmed as hepatocellular carcinoma on histopathological examination.

Conclusion

Until now, there have been only 24 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma metastasizing to skull base cited in literature. We report here an unusual case of solitary skull base metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma prior to the diagnosis of primary tumor.     

Pathological clavicular fracture as first presentation of renal cell carcinoma: a case report and literature review

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for approximately 3% of all cancer cases. RCCs usually metastasize to the lungs, bones, liver, or brain. Only <1% of patients with bone metastases manifested clavicular RCC metastases. Thus, clavicular metastasis as the initial presentation of RCC is extremely rare. We report a patient with RCC metastasis to the left clavicle, which was first presented with pain caused by a pathological fracture. Magnetic resonance image revealed a renal tumor, and technetium-99m–methylene diphosphonate bone scintigraphy showed multiple osseous metastases. The patient eventually underwent surgery to remove the lateral end of the left clavicle and right kidney. Histopathology revealed renal tumor and clear cell carcinoma in the clavicle. Finally, we review 17 cases of clavicular metastases originating from different malignancies.KEYWORDS : Clavicle, metastasis, renal cell carcinoma (RCC), pathological fracture     

A case of resection of esophageal cancer infiltrating the left main bronchus following preoperative chemo-radiotherapy and resection of metachronous lung metastasis

We herein report a case of T4 esophageal carcinoma, which was resected after chemo-radiation therapy. In addition, the metachronous lung metastasis was also resected. A 59-year-old female with esophageal carcinoma, which invaded the left main bronchus, underwent chemo-radiation therapy (the combination of systemic chemotherapy of 5-FU/CDDP and external radiation therapy) from January 2004. After the therapy, although the imaging showed a downstaging of esophageal carcinoma, a severe esophageal stricture appeared with ingestion defective. So hyper-alimentation was performed. After the state of nutrition was improved, esophagectomy was performed on March 2004 without a complication. Histopathological study revealed that no viable cells remained. Nine months after esophagectomy, chest CT scan revealed that a solitary pulmonary tumor appeared in S6 of the right. The solitary tumor enlarged gradually. On August 2005, a surgical resection for the solitary pulmonary tumor was performed. Histopathologically, the lesion was compatible for metastasis from esophageal carcinoma. The patient is alive without recurrence more than 23 months after the last surgery.     

A case of bilateral 3-lung lesion (metastatic and primary tumour, tumourlet) resected simultaneously

A 70-year-old male patient underwent right nephrectomy for renal clear cell carcinoma. After 8 years an X-ray showed a nodule on the left lung, and CT scan detected it to be a 15 × 12 mm mass in S1+2 segment of the left lung. CT also detected another 15 × 7 mm mass in the right S3 segment. These lesions had a high FDG accumulation. Pre-operative diagnosis is bilateral pulmonary metastases from renal cell carcinoma, and bilateral lung segmentectomy was performed. Left S1+2 resected tumor was histologically clear cell carcinoma by intra-operative examination, then right S3 segmentectomy was done. And that time, small tumor was found in the middle lung lobe, and a wedge resection was performed. These specimens revealed a primary lung carcinoma of right S3, and tumourlet of middle lobe. It is very rare that three different histlogical types of lung tumor were found.     

A case of hepatocellular carcinoma of the caudate lobe relapsing with variable patterns after hepatectomy

A 61-year-old man was referred for evaluation of positive HBs-Ag and an unusually high level (28,396 ng/mL) of serum alpha-fetoprotein in serum. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a huge extrahepatically growing tumor which was originating from the caudate lobe and extended to the posterior segment of the right lobe of the liver and encircled the anterior half of inferior vena cava. Biochemical examination showed a good liver function with 8% of ICG R15 and 103% of prothrombin time. Total resection of the caudate lobe with posterior segmentectomy was performed. Relapsing tumors, which metastasized to the liver in 9 months, the right lung in 15 months and the left lung in 20 months after initial surgery, were totally resected, respectively. Radiation therapy was effective to mediastinal lymph nodes metastasized in 25 months after the initial surgery. He survived with good quality of life for 46 months until he died from brain metastasis. Therefore, the multidisplinary therapy combined with radiation and surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma of the caudate lobe may have improved a long-term survival.     

A case of hepatocellular carcinoma with left thigh-bone metastasis

A 57-year-old man with hepatocellular carcinoma with left thigh-bone metastasis is reported. He was admitted to the hospital with left leg pain. A diagnosis of bone metastasis of unknown origin was based on X-ray films. Physical examination revealed hepatomegaly. Liver function tests showed a slight increase of alkaline phosphatase, GOT and GPT. In serological tests, the levels of alpha-fetoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen were high. HBs antigen was negative. From the above data, hepatocellular carcinoma was diagnosed.     

Synchronous liver metastases of intracystic papillary carcinoma with invasion of the breast

A rare case of intracystic papillary carcinoma (IPC) with invasion had synchronous metastases to the liver at presentation. A 57-year-old postmenopausal woman noticed a right breast tumor 7 months prior to admission. Mammography showed an oval mass measuring 3.1 cm in diameter with no calcification, and ultrasonography showed an intracystic tumor with a papillary growth pattern. Fine-needle aspiration cytology revealed adenocarcinoma. Excisional biopsy revealed intracystic solid papillary carcinoma with invasion. The tumor was a clear-cell type with extracellular mucin. Two months after the initial biopsy, a screening ultrasonographic examination of the liver showed multiple hyperechoic masses. Abdominal contrast-enhanced CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed multiple hypervascular masses compatible with metastatic tumors. No suspicious lesions were detected on examinations for malignancy in other organs. Distant metastases in cases of IPC with invasion are very rare. The potential of distant metastasis in IPC with invasion and the difficulty of evaluating invasive foci should be recognized. Careful evaluation of distant metastases is recommended.     

An autopsy case of esophageal cancer with brain metastasis

A rare case of esophageal cancer with brain metastasis is reported. A 54-year-old man complaining of dysphagia was admitted to our hospital. Endoscopic and radiographic examinations revealed an advanced esophageal cancer with supraclavicular lymph node metastasis. Five months later, muscle weakness of right upper extremities developed. A brain CT scan revealed a low density area with a ring enhancement in the left front parietal region. The patient developed right hemiplegia and delirium, and died seven months later. Autopsy findings showed a hematogenous metastasis of the left precentral gyrus, measuring 3.0 x 2.5 x 2.5 cm.