Autopsy and Case Reports
https://www.autopsyandcasereports.org/article/doi/10.4322/acr.2019.089
Autopsy and Case Reports
Article / Autopsy Case Report

Sudden onset acute liver failure in a patient with clinically occult small cell lung carcinoma: autopsy report and review of the medical literature

Massimiliano Guerriero; Arnaldo Carbone; Francesco Colasurdo; Valerio Pellegrini; Anna Maria Pollio

Downloads: 9
Views: 1409

Abstract

Liver metastases are commonly found in advanced cancer patients; however, acute liver failure secondary to diffuse liver infiltration is rare. Small cell lung carcinoma accounts for 15% of lung carcinomas. We describe the ninth case of small cell lung carcinoma massively metastatic to the liver, reported in the scientific literature, with sudden clinical onset and death after a few days. An autopsy was performed to understand the cause of death.

Keywords

Small Cell Lung Carcinoma, Hepatomegaly, Acute Liver Failure, Liver Metastasis

References

Früh M, De Ruysscher D, Popat S, Crinò L, Peters S, Felip E. Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC): ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2013;24(Suppl 6):vi99-105. [https://doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdt178]. [PMID:23813929]

Howlader N, Noone AM, Krapcho M, et al. SEER cancer statistics review, 1975-2010. Bethesda: National Cancer Institute; 2013.

Travis WD, Brambilla E, Nicholson AG, et al. The 2015 World Health Organization classification of lung tumors: impact of genetic, clinical and radiologic advances since the 2004 classification. J Thorac Oncol. 2015;10(9):1243-60. [https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0000000000000630]. [PMID:26291008]

Dearing MP, Steinberg SM, Phelps R, et al. Outcome of patients with small-cell lung cancer: effect of changes in staging procedures and imaging technology on prognostic factors over 14 years. J Clin Oncol. 1990;8(6):1042-9. [https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.1990.8.6.1042]. [PMID:2161447]

Watson AJ. Diffuse intra-sinusoidal metastatic carcinoma of the liver. J Pathol Bacteriol. 1955;69(1-2):207-17. [https://doi.org/10.1002/path.1700690128]. [PMID:13243188]

Spechler SJ, Esposito AL, Koff RS, Hong WK. Lactic acidosis in oat cell carcinoma with extensive hepatic metastases. Arch Intern Med. 1978;138(11):1663-4. [https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1978.03630360045020]. [PMID:214048]

Harrison HB, Middleton HM 3rd, Crosby JH, Dasher MN Jr. Fulminant hepatic failure: an unusual presentation of metastatic liver disease. Gastroenterology. 1981;80(4):820-5. [https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-5085(81)90147-5]. [PMID:7202952]

Wesbey G. Lactic acidosis in oat cell carcinoma with extensive hepatic metastases. Arch Intern Med. 1981;141(6):816-7. [https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1981.00340060124034]. [PMID:6263203]

Sheriff DS. Lactic acidosis and small cell carcinoma of the lung. Postgrad Med J. 1986;62(726):297-8. [https://doi.org/10.1136/pgmj.62.726.297]. [PMID:3012499]

McGuire BM, Cherwitz DL, Rabe KM, Ho SB. Small-cell carcinoma of the lung manifesting as acute hepatic failure. Mayo Clin Proc. 1997;72(2):133-9. [https://doi.org/10.4065/72.2.133]. [PMID:9033546]

Galus M. Liver failure due to metastatic small-cell carcinoma of the lung. Mayo Clin Proc. 1997;72(8):791. [https://doi.org/10.1016/S0025-6196(11)63603-3]. [PMID:9276611]

Ihara N, Yashiro N, Kinoshita T, et al. Diffuse intrasinusoidal liver metastasis of small cell lung cancer causing fulminant hepatic failure: CT findings-a case report. Radiat Med. 2001;19(5):275-7. [PMID:11724260]

Kovalev Y, Lurie M, Naschitz JE, Yeshurun D, Zuckerman E. Metastatic small cell carcinoma presenting as acute hepatic failure. Am J Gastroenterol. 2001;96(12):3471-3. [https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1572-0241.2001.05366.x]. [PMID:11774994]

Athanasakis E, Mouloudi E, Prinianakis G, Kostaki M, Tzardi M, Georgopoulos D. Metastatic liver disease and fulminant hepatic failure: presentation of a case and review of the literature. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2003;15(11):1235-40. [https://doi.org/10.1097/00042737-200311000-00014]. [PMID:14560159]

Rajvanshi P, Kowdley KV, Hirota WK, Meyers JB, Keeffe EB. Fulminant hepatic failure secondary to neoplastic infiltration of the liver. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2005;39(4):339-43. [https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mcg.0000155123.97418.06]. [PMID:15758630]

Alexopoulou A, Koskinas J, Deutsch M, Delladetsima J, Kountouras D, Dourakis SP. Acute liver failure as the initial manifestation of hepatic infiltration by a solid tumor: report of 5 cases and review of the literature. Tumori. 2006;92(4):354-7. [https://doi.org/10.1177/030089160609200417]. [PMID:17036530]

Kaira K, Takise A, Watanabe R, Mori M. Fulminant hepatic failure resulting from small-cell lung cancer and dramatic response of chemotherapy. World J Gastroenterol. 2006;12(15):2466-8. [https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v12.i15.2466]. [PMID:16688847]

Hwang YT, Shin JW, Lee JH, et al. A case of fulminant hepatic failure secondary to hepatic metastasis of small cell lung carcinoma. Korean J Hepatol. 2007;13(4):565-70. [https://doi.org/10.3350/kjhep.2007.13.4.565]. [PMID:18159155]

Gilbert J, Rutledge H, Koch A. Diffuse malignant infiltration of the liver manifesting as a case of acute liver failure. Nat Clin Pract Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008;5(7):405-8. [https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpgasthep1154]. [PMID:18521114]

Richecoeur M, Massoure M-P, Le Coadou G, Lipovac AS, Bronstein J-A, Delluc C. Acute hepatic failure as the presenting manifestation of a metastatic lung carcinoma to liver. Rev Med Interne. 2009;30(10):911-3. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmed.2009.01.016]. [PMID:19328604]

Miyaaki H, Ichikawa T, Taura N, et al. Diffuse liver metastasis of small cell lung cancer causing marked hepatomegaly and fulminant hepatic failure. Intern Med. 2010;49(14):1383-6. [https://doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine.49.3296]. [PMID:20647652]

Vaideeswar P, Munot S, Rojekar A, Deodhar K. Hepatic diffuse intra-sinusoidal metastases of pulmonary small-cell carcinoma. J Postgrad Med. 2012;58(3):230-1. [https://doi.org/10.4103/0022-3859.101654]. [PMID:23023366]

Sato K, Takeyama Y, Tanaka T, Fukui Y, Gonda H, Suzuki R. Fulminant hepatic failure and hepatomegaly caused by diffuse liver metastases from small cell lung carcinoma: 2 autopsy cases. Respir Investig. 2013;51(2):98-102. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resinv.2012.12.004]. [PMID:23790738]

Ke E, Gomez JD, Tang K, Sriram KB. Metastatic small-cell lung cancer presenting as fulminant hepatic failure. BMJ Case Rep. 2013;2013(1):bcr2012007865. [https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2012-007865]. [PMID:23616311]

Mishima S, Nozaki Y, Mikami S, et al. Diffuse liver metastasis of small-cell lung cancer presenting as acute liver failure and diagnosed by transjugular liver biopsy: a rare case in whom nodular lesions were detected by enhanced CT examination. Case Rep Gastroenterol. 2015;9(1):81-7. [https://doi.org/10.1159/000381140]. [PMID:25969674]

Maglantay R, Qin J, Lanjewar S, et al. Metastatic small cell carcinoma of the lung: an unusual cause of acute fulminant hepatic failure. Fed Pract. 2016;33(Suppl 5):30S-4S. [PMID:30766221]

Fodor D, Gurzu S, Contac AO, Jung I. Giant hepatic metastasis in a patient with coin-like small cell lung carcinoma incidentally diagnosed at autopsy: a case report. Medicine. 2017;96(11):e6366. [https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000006366]. [PMID:28296775]

Mitselou A, Papadatos SS, Tsoultsidou S, et al. Giant metastatic liver tumor of unknown primary origin: thoracic autopsy solves the mystery. Acta Med. 2017;60(4):163-6. [https://doi.org/10.14712/18059694.2018.14]. [PMID:29716684]

Arif H, Suchniak-Mussari K, Beg M, Morrissey S. Unusual acute liver failure from small cell carcinoma of the lung. Clin Exp Hepatol. 2018;4(4):275-7. [https://doi.org/10.5114/ceh.2018.80130]. [PMID:30603677]

Rowbotham D, Wendon J, Williams R. Acute liver failure secondary to hepatic infiltration: a single centre experience of 18 cases. Gut. 1998;42(4):576-80. [https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.42.4.576]. [PMID:9616324]

 

 

 


Publication date:
06/24/2019

5d1105ea0e88251a5d5a3d54 autopsy Articles
Links & Downloads

Autops Case Rep

Share this page
Page Sections