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©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 14, 2009; 15(18): 2280-2282
Published online May 14, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.2280
Published online May 14, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.2280
Embolization of an unusual metastatic site of hepatocellular carcinoma in the humerus
Andreas Hansch, Rotraud Neumann, Alexander Pfeil, Stefan Pfleiderer, Werner A Kaiser, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Erlanger Allee 101, D-07747 Jena, Germany
Ivan Marintchev, Department of Traumatology, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Erlanger Allee 101, D-07740 Jena, Germany
Mieczyslaw Gajda, Institute of Pathology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Ziegelmuehlenweg 1, D-07740 Jena, Germany
Author contributions: Hansch A, Neumann R, Pfeil A, Marintchev I provided the patient’s data, organized and wrote the manuscript; Gajda M examined the resected tumor, provided the figures and contributed to manuscript writing; Kaiser WA supervised and approved the final manuscript.
Correspondence to: Dr. Andreas Hansch, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Erlanger Allee 101, D-07747 Jena, Germany. andreas.hansch@med.uni-jena.de
Telephone: +49-3641-9324843
Fax: +49-3641-9324955
Received: February 20, 2009
Revised: March 30, 2009
Accepted: April 6, 2009
Published online: May 14, 2009
Revised: March 30, 2009
Accepted: April 6, 2009
Published online: May 14, 2009
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer in the world. This case documents an unusual metastatic presentation of HCC in the humerus. Preoperative palliative arterial embolization of the tumor was performed to arrest severe tumor bleeding caused by the biopsy. Embolization turned out to be useful also in limiting/preventing potential uncontrolled bleeding during subsequent amputation.
Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma, Humerus, Upper arm, Metastasis, Embolization