Aggressive Surgical Management of Recurrent Lymph Node and Pancreatic Head Metastases of Resected Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Report

  • Maciej Wojcicki Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Marie Curie Hospital. Szczecin, Poland
  • Jerzy Lubikowski Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Marie Curie Hospital. Szczecin, Poland
  • Mariola Post Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Marie Curie Hospital. Szczecin, Poland
  • Tomasz Chmurowicz Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Marie Curie Hospital. Szczecin, Poland
  • Anna Wiechowska-Kozlowska Department of Endoscopy, MSWiA Hospital. Szczecin, Poland
  • Marek Krawczyk Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw. Warsaw, Poland
Keywords: Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, Lymphatic Metastasis, Neoplasm Metastasis, Pancreas

Abstract

Context Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma is a rare liver tumor with the propensity to metastasize to the lymph nodes months or years after initial surgery. However, its metastatic spread to the pancreas was previously reported only in a child. Case report We present an unusual case of a young female patient who was repeatedly treated by surgical excision of abdominal and mediastinal lymph node recurrences between 2 and 6 years after left hepatic lobectomy for fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma. At 8 years following her initial surgery, the patient was diagnosed with pancreatic head metastasis and a pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. Postoperative course was uneventful and the patient did not experience recurrence within the last 18 months. Conclusion The metastasis of fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma to the pancreas is highly exceptional but possible and its excision appears warranted as well.

Image: 11C-acetate PET/CT scan showing a decreased uptake of the tracer within the pancreatic head.

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References

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11C-acetate PET/CT scan showing a decreased uptake of the tracer within the pancreatic head
Published
2012-09-10
How to Cite
WojcickiM., LubikowskiJ., PostM., ChmurowiczT., Wiechowska-KozlowskaA., & KrawczykM. (2012). Aggressive Surgical Management of Recurrent Lymph Node and Pancreatic Head Metastases of Resected Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Report. JOP. Journal of the Pancreas, 13(5), 529-532. https://doi.org/10.6092/1590-8577/839