Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2010 Jun 1;2010(4):3.
doi: 10.1093/jscr/2010.4.3.

A rare case of mistaken identity: metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma to the nose

Gk Lee  1 , Hp Lorenz  1 , Sv Mohan  1
Affiliations

A rare case of mistaken identity: metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma to the nose

Gk Lee et al. J Surg Case Rep. .

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma most often metastasizes to the lungs, abdominal lymph nodes, or bone. The identification of extrahepatic metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma to the sinonasal region has rarely been reported. We report a case of a 49 year-old man with a history of stage IV hepatocellular carcinoma presenting with two adjacent pigmented lesions on the tip of his nose. Initial pathological staining identified the lesion as a primary melanoma. However, upon further examination with the chemical markers CEA, CAM 5.2, and Keratin, it was determined that the lesions were consistent with hepatocellular carcinoma. This case highlights a potentially rare situation of mistaking a liver metastasis for a malignant melanoma.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Presenting lesion following initial biopsy at outside facility.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Expanded view detailing location of two distinct lesions on the nasal tip.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Katyal S, Oliver JH, 3rd, Peterson M, Ferris J, Carr B, Baron R. Extrahepatic Metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Radiology. 2000;216(3):698–703 - PubMed
    1. Magana M, Gomez L. Skin Metastasis from Hepatocarcinoma. American Journal of Dermatopathology. 2009;31:502–505 - PubMed
    1. Deng-Fu Y, Zhi-Zhen D. Hepatoma related gamma-glutamyl transferase in laboratory or clinical diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases. 2007;6:9–11 - PubMed
    1. Matsunoto T, Tagaki H, Mori M. Androgen dependency of hepatocarcinogenesis in TGFalpha transgenic mice. Liver. 2000;20:228–233 - PubMed
    1. Jan YJ, Ko BS, Hsu C, et al. Overexpressed focal adhesion kinase predicts a higher incidence of extrahepatic metastasis and worse survival in hepatocellular carcinoma. Human Pathology. 2009;40(10):1384–1390 - PubMed