Spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma

Saudi Med J. 2002 Jul;23(7):866-70.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common malignancy among males and the 7th among female patients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is due to the endemicity of hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma is rare. We report 4 cases of spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma. Initial control of bleeding was achieved surgically in 3 patients and by embolization in the 4th patient. All patients had very good hepatic reserve as reflected by Child-Pugh scoring (A & B). We found that the incidence of ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma among 85 patients was 4.7%. The prognosis of this subgroup of patients is poor as reflected by the low median survival ranging from 6-16 weeks.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / therapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Rupture, Spontaneous