Hepatocellular Carcinoma Without Cirrhosis Presenting With Hypercalcemia: Case Report and Literature Review.
J Clin Exp Hepatol 2015;
5:163-6. [PMID:
26155045 PMCID:
PMC4491641 DOI:
10.1016/j.jceh.2015.04.001]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Accepted: 04/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in non-cirrhotic livers is an uncommon finding and can present insidiously in patients. Another uncommon finding in HCC, and one of poor prognosis, is the presence of paraneoplastic diseases such as hypercalcemia. We report a case of a 66-year-old previous healthy Filipina woman who after routine laboratory evaluation was discovered to have hypercalcemia as the first sign of an advanced HCC without underlying cirrhosis. Because of the patient's relative lack of symptoms, healthy liver function, lack of classical HCC risk factors, and unexpected hypercalcemia, the diagnosis of a paraneoplastic syndrome caused by a noncirrhotic HCC was unanticipated.
METHODS
Case Analysis with Pubmed literature review.
RESULTS
It is unknown how often hypercalcemia is found in association with HCC in a non-cirrhotic liver. However, paraneoplastic manifestations of HCC, particularly hypercalcemia, can be correlated with poor prognosis. For this patient, initial management included attempts to lower calcium levels via zoledronate, which wasn't completely effective. Tumor resection was then attempted however the patient expired due to complications from advanced tumor size.
CONCLUSIONS
Hypercalcemia of malignancy can be found in association with non-cirrhotic HCC and should be considered on the differential diagnosis during clinical work-up.
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