Successful treatment of dissemination of hepatocellular carcinoma to the pleura and diaphragm after percutaneous liver biopsy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Treatment for dissemination of hepatocellular carcinoma to the pleura and diaphragm following percutaneous needle biopsy has not been established. METHODS: The case of a 57-year-old man who underwent percutaneous needle biopsy for liver tumor is presented. RESULTS: Ten months after resection of the tumor (moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma), masses in the right pleural cavity and on the diaphragm were detected by computed tomography. Resections of the masses with surrounding tissue and the diaphragm and wedge resection of the right lung were performed. A wide range of the pleura and the diaphragm was coagulated with an argon beam coagulator. The patient is in good health without recurrence 4 years after the operation. CONCLUSION: Aggressive surgical treatment should be considered for patients with dissemination of hepatocellular carcinoma by needle biopsy when the lesions are limited.