Hyperammonemic encephalopathy: a rare presentation of fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma

Am J Med Sci. 2009 Dec;338(6):522-4. doi: 10.1097/MAJ.0b013e3181bccfb4.

Abstract

Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is a rare malignant hepatocellular tumor of unknown etiology, arising almost exclusively from noninfected, noncirrhotic liver of young adults. FLC has traditionally been considered to have better survival than hepatocellular carcinoma; however, this notion might be highly erroneous. Patients with metastatic disease at presentation have a dismal prognosis with 5-year survival of only 15%. We describe a case of highly aggressive metastatic FLC that presented as hyperammonemic encephalopathy, which has never been previously reported in the literature.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / complications*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / secondary
  • Humans
  • Hyperammonemia / etiology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / complications*
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Neurotoxicity Syndromes / etiology*