Bone marrow metastasis presenting as bicytopenia originating from hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Author:
Young Mi HONG
1
;
Ki Tae YOON
;
Mong CHO
;
Dae Hwan KANG
;
Hyung Wook KIM
;
Cheol Woong CHOI
;
Su Bum PARK
;
Jeong HEO
;
Hyun Young WOO
;
Won LIM
;
S M BAKHTIAR UI ISLAM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Reports
- Keywords: Carcinoma; Hepatocellular; Bone marrow; Metastasis
- MeSH: Biomarkers/analysis; Bone Marrow/*pathology; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*diagnosis; Humans; Liver Neoplasms/*diagnosis; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Metastasis; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Protein Precursors/analysis; Prothrombin/analysis; Thrombocytopenia/diagnosis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; alpha-Fetoproteins/analysis
- From:Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2016;22(2):267-271
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: The bone is a common site for metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, bone marrow metastasis from HCC is rarely reported, and its frequency is unclear. Here we report a rare case of bone marrow metastasis that presented as bicytopenia originating from HCC without bone metastasis. A 58-year-old man was admitted for investigation of a liver mass with extensive lymph node enlargement that was detected when examining his general weakness and weight loss. Laboratory findings revealed anemia, thrombocytopenia, mild elevated liver enzymes, normal prothrombin time percentage and high levels of tumor markers (α-fetoprotein and des-γ-carboxyprothrombin). Abdominal computed tomography showed multiple enhanced masses in the liver and multiple enlarged lymph nodes in the abdomen. A bone marrow biopsy revealed only a few normal hematopoietic cells and abundant tumor cells. Despite its rarity, bone marrow metastasis should always be suspected in HCC patients even if accompanied by cirrhosis.
