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Case Reports
. 2022 Oct 27:12:986603.
doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.986603. eCollection 2022.

Case report: Rare isolated cystic hepatic metastasis of a patient with squamous cell lung carcinoma history and the prognosis

Chunbao Liu  1   2 , Xiaomin Chen  1   2 , Hang Su  1   2 , Liang Xia  1   2 , Diyu Lu  1   2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Case report: Rare isolated cystic hepatic metastasis of a patient with squamous cell lung carcinoma history and the prognosis

Chunbao Liu et al. Front Oncol. .

Abstract

Cystic hepatic metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma usually develops from necrosis due to insufficient blood supply, yet metastasis initially resembling simple liver cyst is rare. Here, we present a case of a patient with squamous cell lung carcinoma history who found an isolated cystic mass in the liver. Historical MR studies indicated that the mass did not exist 12 months ago and emerged as a small cystic lesion 7 months ago. Radiological findings and tumor markers level suggested metastasis, while 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT showed moderate tracer uptakes in solid parts of the mass. Pathological study after surgery confirmed metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. Chemotherapy plus recombinant human endostatin and sintilimab therapy was employed after surgery; however, the patient developed remote metastasis of osteolytic lesions in the humerus bone and thoracic vertebra. Our case indicates that metastasis should be taken into consideration in emerging cystic hepatic lesion with malignant history.

Keywords: 18F-FDG; PET/CT; cystic metastasis; immunotherapy; squamous cell lung carcinoma.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Serial follow-up MR imaging (A–F) and contrast-enhanced CT scan (G–J) of the hepatic cystic lesion. The newly detected lesion (C, F) did not exist 12 months ago (A, D) and emerged as a small cystic lesion 7 months ago (B, E, arrow). Mild enhancement at the solid parts (arrowhead) was observed in contrast-enhanced CT scan.
Figure 2
Figure 2
18F-FDG PET/CT scan of the hepatic cystic mass. FDG-avid lesions (arrowhead) in MIP image (A) were demonstrated as moderate tracer uptakes in solid parts of the mass in axial images (B–G) and coronal images (H–J).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Pathological images of the hepatic mass. Hematoxylin–eosin staining (A) and immunohistochemical staining of CK5/6 (B), P63 (C), and P40 (D) confirmed the mass as metastatic squamous cell carcinoma.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Bone scan, CT imaging, and MR imaging of bone metastases (arrowhead) after 6 months of treatment. Bone scan (A, B) showed no increased radioactive uptake, while CT imaging (C, D) demonstrated the metastases as osteolytic lesions with hyperintensity in MR spectral attenuated inversion recovery (SPAIR) sequence images (E, F).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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